Create a cohesive wedding day.
Carry your wedding theme throughout all elements of your event. Source items that have a consistent look and feel. I use the same fonts, colors, and design elements from your save the dates and invitations to create your day-of items. If you are having a rustic wedding: get wooden welcome signs, bar signs, and table numbers. Having a modern garden wedding? Showcase a geometric seating chart, or tie place cards to a flower and set them on each guest’s napkin or plate.
Tip: Pass on the chalkboard signs! Unless your wedding is at a schoolhouse, stop buying/renting them. I know you can come up with something more creative than that.
Your signage should be beautiful, yet serve a purpose.
Menus provide a list of the options available to your guests. Welcome signs make your friends and family feel good. Seating charts determine where everyone will sit for their meal. Signage should create a friendly environment—and people like structure—so give your guests information, but don’t overwhelm them. Below are have/have not lists. Save some money and cut out the extras.
YOU SHOULD HAVE:
- table numbers
- escort or place cards
- seating chart
- menus for main meal provided
- welcome sign
- bar menus
- cards and gifts sign
- wedding favors sign
- guest book sign
- “reserved for” signs
- unplugged wedding sign
YOU DO NOT NEED:
- ceremony programs (unless it is a church ceremony or cultural experience)
- “choose a seat, not a side” sign
- “here comes the bride” sign
- schedule of events sign
- “mr/mrs” or “bride/groom” signs for the back of your seats
- cake or dessert table sign
- photo booth sign
- directional signage
Tip: Your planner will help you with wedding decor. If you do not have a wedding planner, consider hiring an event design team or a custom stationery designer. Besides invitations, day-of stationery is the most popular item my clients order.
Rent whatever you can.
This is another reason to begin research on day-of decor in advance. Go on local FaceBook pages and ask around for your must-have items. Contact rental companies, they sometimes have more than what is listed on their websites. I’ve just recently started to rent signage to my clients because they can be expensive to create from scratch. Plus, what do you do with all of these items once the wedding is over?
Tip: Wedding and event planners are a great resource for these items. Even if you are not hiring a planner, call some companies in your area and ask if they would rent out the items in their inventory. Most will only charge a small daily fee.
