Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wedding Wednesday: Signage Success

Last week, I told you that Mom and Jon (and the reality of our finances) encouraged me to cut the miscellaneous décor line in our budget because, in the end, I had to admit it was just how I made excuses for all the pretty things I saw on Pinterest that I wanted to incorporate into our wedding but that didn't really fit our day.  I was talked out of the pom-pom garlands, the rustic floral bunting, and both the striped straws and the flag stirrers for cocktails - and, actually, I'm okay with all that.  The one thing I did fight to keep, though, was the signage.

I love the look of posters on easels all over the venue.  (Honestly, I did try for chalkboards at first, but even I recognized quickly that we didn't have the money for them!)  We're going to have one welcoming everyone to the wedding that's a blow-up of our invitation.  Another will be our seating chart.  We're making cards in the same design to label the cheeses and the desserts on their respective tables.  And my favorite of all will be a big sign at the entrance to the ceremony saying:

please, sit wherever you'd like - after all, we're about to become family!

Our amazing stationery guru, Caroline from Pink Orchid Invites, is creating the design for every piece of signage.  However, because some of them will be a decent size, it doesn't make sense to have them all printed here in DC.  Jon's fortunately got some printing contacts in London through work, so the bigger posters will be printed there - that way I won't have to deal with bringing them on a plane and risking damage!  Below are some of the inspirations I've been drooling over - but first, does anyone in England know where we can rent school-style easels?  Help!

[ clockwise from top left: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 ]


24 comments:

  1. I'm also a sucker for signage! And I love the idea of an open seating sign as well - there's one I've seen that says something like "As two families become one, please remember to choose a seat now a side" - when I showed it to Jurgen he burst out into fits of laughter, so we'll see if he actually goes for it when the plans start to become finalised hehe


    xxx
    Jenna

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  2. haha that's a good sign? (no pun intended!) it's not at all an issue for our families, of course, but the thought of our mutual friends from our life in London having to choose the bride's side or the groom's side makes me kind of uncomfortable.

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  3. The signs look like a great idea! I know it's absolutely crazy, but I loved making a seating chart. It was like a big puzzle. I think I'm the only person I've ever met who actually enjoyed doing that. :)

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  4. haha I'm excited about that too! when my mom suggested assigning tables but not seats I almost cried. we are weird Betsys :)

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  5. I used to work at an art gallery and we could normally get plain wooden easels for $15-$20 at our local art supply store. With a coat of paint they looked great!

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  7. Funny story. We had these arrow signs that my stepdad made for our ceremony and reception. I didn't see them before the wedding day. Guess what? He did the backwards. Oops. But we survived. We had lots of other stuff. But I do think about those signs and laugh!


    The one thing I will warn about the "sit wherever you like" is that we went to a wedding like that and it was really awkward and unpleasant. People became clique-y and would save seats at this table and that but rarely ever would have enough people to save the whole table, so then couples or singles would have to fill in the blanks and many people didn't enjoy it. Alex and I, for example, arrived earlier than most to the reception and we were a part of those "couples" and as we wandered around trying to figure out where to sit, we noticed people looked at us like we were going to get in the way. We ended up at a table with some extended family and while they were nice and all, it was very uncomfortable. When we went up to the buffet, the discussion over the buffet was about just that... how strange the seating was. An acquaintance also did this at her wedding and my friends who attended had similar stories to tell. Just a fair warning.... it sounds sweet and all but it depends on the group of people. ;)

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  8. eek, that does sound awkward! we were just going to do that for the ceremony, which will last all of 6 minutes - at dinner, the seats definitely would be assigned. that we we can stage set-ups! hehe :)

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  10. This was really good information to have Tina! I'm getting married next year and feedback like this is so important! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Signage is so important and I think it's functional too :) I don't know what we're going to have yet but I'm definitely having Rob's Dad build us some easels and things of that nature

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  12. I don't know the overall look/feel of your wedding, but I think if executed the right way the flag stirrers could work really well! (assuming you have drinks that require stirrers) in my head I could see that incorporating some of the transatlantic-ness of your relationship - especially considering the American flag and the British flag have the same colors and some kinda similar elements. but that's just where my brain went when I saw that pin. I bet your signs are going to come out really great!

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  13. does he want to make some for us too? haha!

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  14. I think the flag stirrers will work their way back in... Jon was just anti when they were glaringly lifestyle bloggery, you know? but actually he was the one to suggest real flags in the first place, so I think I might take your encouragement to heart :)

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  15. Have to say I totally love reading your blog! I'm getting married at Bruisyard next year (17th April) and love that so many of the things you've mentioned have really got me thinking! Love wedding Wednesday! Ps I'm currently also a fan of my fitness pal! X

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  16. pinterest is either the best form of inspiration or the biggest soul crusher, depending on 1) skill and 2) monies. I love the idea of signs, though! Especially the big one at the entrance!

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  17. OMG BE CAREFUL. That is the best engagement advice I can give anyone, and now that you're engaged - excuse me, but aaaaahhhhhhh! - be careful not to get sucked in without someone nearby to help you with a reality check!

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  18. hello YAY welcome and that's awesome! I totally looked at weddings from this summer and fall at Bruisyard to get ideas for mine :) definitely email me if you want to talk more!

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  19. Ahhhh! So awesome! I love the idea of using an enlarged wedding invitation!

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  20. Very cool! An enlarged invitation is such a fun idea!

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  21. yay thanks! the idea is to frame it after the wedding and hang it in our house :)

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  22. Jon had to talk me down from getting it, like HUGE - haha :)

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