A welcome sign is often the first thing guests see, and also one of the easiest decor pieces to get wrong. Too small, and it disappears next to flowers. Too big, and it crowds the entrance. The right size depends on where it stands, how far guests are when they read it and what is around it.
This guide gives you working sizes, placement ideas and wording you can adapt. These are rules of thumb from common practice, not fixed standards, so check them against your own venue.
Pick a size by where it stands
| Placement | Typical size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| At the ceremony entrance | 24 x 36 inches on an easel | Guests read it while walking in |
| Reception entrance | 18 x 24 to 24 x 36 inches | Seen from a few feet away |
| Welcome table or guest book table | 8 x 10 to 11 x 14 inches | Read up close |
| Arched or outdoor spot | 30 x 40 inches or larger | Competes with scenery and distance |
If guests arrive in a crowd, go larger. If it sits beside a guest book table where people pause, smaller is fine.
Lettering and readability
- Letter height: letters you can read comfortably from about ten feet away are usually at least an inch tall.
- Contrast: dark lettering on a light background, or the reverse, reads best. Soft gray on cream looks pretty but vanishes in photos.
- Fewer fonts: one script for names and one plain font for details.
- Matte finish: glossy signs reflect sun and photographer’s lights.
Where to put it
- Where guests slow down: a doorway, driveway turn or end of an aisle.
- At eye level: an easel or stand is easier to read than a sign on the ground.
- In good light: shade is better than glare. Check where the sun will be at ceremony time.
- Away from the line: if guests queue to sign a book, put the sign near the front of the line, not behind the table.
Our wedding day timeline helps you schedule who sets signs up and when, so they are in place before guests arrive. See also our guide to reception decor for how signs fit with the rest of the room.
Wording that works
Keep dates and names clear. If you use a hashtag, write it in CamelCase so it reads easily. Our hashtag generator can help.
Materials and budget
Printed foam board, wood, acrylic and chalkboard signs all work. Wood and acrylic last longer and can be kept afterward; foam board is lighter and costs less. Whichever you choose, ask who will carry the sign to the venue and who will take it home afterward.
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Confirm details with your vendors, venue, officiant and local authorities.
Questions people ask
What size should a wedding welcome sign be?
A common size for an easel sign is about 24 by 36 inches. Smaller signs of 8 by 10 to 11 by 14 inches work for a table. Size it for the distance guests will read it from.
Where should the welcome sign go at a wedding?
Put it at eye level where guests slow down, such as the ceremony entrance or reception doorway, in good light and not hidden by flowers.
What should a wedding welcome sign say?
Keep it short: a greeting, your names and the date, and perhaps a line of thanks. Avoid long paragraphs.
