When you're deep in wedding planning, signs might feel like one of those “we’ll figure it out later” details—but they’re actually some of the most helpful pieces to have in place. Not only do they guide your guests and keep things running smoothly, but they also tie your entire event together visually.
Today, I’m sharing a breakdown of the must-have wedding signs, along with extra signs you may want (or need!) to help personalize your day and reduce confusion for your guests. At the end, you’ll also find a link to our free printable Wedding Sign Checklist to help you stay organized.
✅ Must-Have Wedding Signs for Your Big Day
These are the core signs I recommend for nearly every couple—whether you’re planning a big formal wedding or something smaller and more casual.
1. Welcome Sign
A welcome sign is the first thing your guests will see—it sets the tone for your day and adds a personal, polished touch right from the start. Whether you go with a large acrylic design, elegant framed mirror, or a printed poster, it's a great way to greet guests as they arrive.
2. Seating Chart or Escort Card Signs
Once your guests arrive at the reception, they’ll want to know where to go. A seating chart sign shows everyone their assigned table in one clean, central place. Some couples opt for escort cards instead—individual cards or objects that guide guests to their seats (and can double as favors or decor!). In this case you'll want a sign that fits the style of your escort cards. Creative spins like “Take a Shot and Find Your Spot” or “Please Find Your Seat” can add personality, too.
Choose whichever fits your venue, style, and setup best—just make sure guests can easily find their names! We recommend listing names alphabetically.
3. Table Numbers
Once guests know their table, help them find it quickly. Table numbers are small but essential for keeping things flowing during the reception—especially during that busy transition between cocktail hour and dinner. They eliminate confusion, prevent delays, and help your servers stay on track too.
But beyond their function, table numbers can also be a fun and creative part of your wedding decor. With so many options available—acrylic blocks, wooden numbers, framed prints, or even cards featuring photos of the couple—this is a great opportunity to tie in your personal style. You can match your wedding colors, coordinate with your signage collection, or choose a design that reflects your story as a couple.
It’s one of those small details that, when done thoughtfully, helps everything feel cohesive and makes a big impact on your overall guest experience.
4. Directional Signs
If your venue has multiple areas—like a ceremony space, cocktail hour lawn, and indoor reception—directional signs are a must. Keep guests informed and moving with clear arrows or labeled signs for restrooms, parking, ceremony entrance, etc.
5. Bar Sign + Cocktail Menu Sign
A bar sign helps guests know what’s being served—whether you're displaying a full drink menu or just highlighting the couple’s signature cocktails. It makes the bar more efficient and ensures guests don’t miss out on the drinks you’ve carefully chosen. You can also add a fun, decorative sign like “Sip Sip Hooray” or “Trust Me, You Can Dance – Alcohol,” which tend to get a lot of love in photos and add a playful touch to the setup.
Beyond being helpful, these signs are also another opportunity to get creative. Many couples name cocktails after their pets, inside jokes, or favorite vacation spots—turning something simple into a fun, personal moment. There are endless style options too, from clean modern acrylic to colorful, hand-lettered signs. Whether your theme is romantic, rustic, bold, or playful, your bar signage can match your overall aesthetic while adding one more personalized detail to your celebration.
✨ Extras You May Want (or Need!) for Your Wedding Day
These signs aren’t required—but they’re incredibly helpful and often become some of the most personal and memorable details of the day. Organized below in the order your guests would likely encounter them:
Ceremony Signs
Ceremony signage is one of those small details that can make a big impact—both in how your space feels and how smoothly things run. Think about how you want your ceremony to flow and what guests might need to know along the way. An unplugged ceremony sign is a gentle way to ask guests to be fully present and put phones away, while a program sign can let them know to grab one before finding their seat. If you’re keeping seating informal, you might include a “Pick a Seat, Not a Side” sign to encourage mingling.
There are also tons of other possibilities depending on your setup—like signs for tossing petals during the exit, custom aisle signage with quotes or lyrics, or instructions for a meaningful ritual. No matter what you include, ceremony signs help set the tone and make your intentions clear without needing to announce them aloud.
Reserved Signs
Reserved signs aren’t just for pews or ceremony seats—they’re helpful at the reception, too. Use them to designate family tables, sweetheart tables, or special areas for the bridal party, grandparents, or vendors.
Guestbook Sign
Traditional guestbooks may not need much explanation, but many couples are now choosing more interactive options—and those usually benefit from a little guidance. Whether it’s a Polaroid guestbook, a voice message guestbook, or a keepsake that guests will write a note on, a sign with a small explanation helps ensure guests understand how to participate—especially those who may not be familiar with newer setups.
Even something as simple as “Snap a photo and leave a note!” or “Record a message for the bride and groom” can make a big difference. You’ve put effort into creating a meaningful keepsake, so don’t let it go unnoticed. A thoughtful guestbook sign helps provide clarity and encourages guests to be part of something special.
Cards & Gifts Table Sign
A cards and gifts sign is one of those simple details that can make a big difference—especially for guests who arrive early. Before there’s a crowd to follow or someone at the table to direct them, guests may feel unsure about where to leave their card or present—and may feel a little awkward walking around the wedding with a gift in hand. A clearly labeled sign eliminates any confusion or discomfort and helps everything stay organized from the very beginning of your event.
If possible, place the cards and gifts table near the entrance so it’s easy to spot right away. Whether you're using a traditional card box, a keepsake chest, or something unique, a well-placed, matching sign helps draw attention to the space and ties it into your overall decor.
Food Signs & Buffet Labels
If you're planning a buffet, family-style meal, or plated dinner, food signs and menus can make the dining experience smoother and more thoughtful for your guests. For a buffet, small signs labeling each dish are a helpful way to let guests know what’s being served—especially when there are dietary considerations like vegetarian or gluten-free options. Be sure to check with your caterer first, though—many include food labels as part of their setup.
For family-style or plated dinners, menus at the table are a great way to set expectations and enhance the experience. You can go with a small printed menu at each place setting or one slightly larger menu sign per table. There’s nothing worse than having a dish placed in front of you and not knowing what it is—especially for guests with allergies or dietary restrictions. Including a menu helps your guests feel informed and cared for without needing to ask your servers or guess what’s on their plate.
Specialty Station Signs
One of the most fun parts of planning your wedding reception is personalizing the details to reflect you and your partner—and sharing the things you love to experience together with your friends and family. Whether it’s a hot cocoa bar, s’mores station, coffee bar, mimosa bar, cigar bar, or even a charging station, these thoughtful little extras create memorable moments for your guests—and signage helps make sure those stations are enjoyed to the fullest.
A well-placed sign invites guests to participate and lets them know what’s available. For example, a sign that says “Warm up at the Cocoa Bar” or “Build Your Own S’more” can add personality while guiding guests to join in. Without a sign, people might hesitate or assume it’s not open yet.
This is also a great place to have fun with wording or design. Whether you keep it simple and elegant or lean playful and thematic, specialty station signs help bring these setups to life and encourage guests to enjoy the little extras you’ve thoughtfully included.
Memory Table Sign
A memory table is a beautiful way to honor loved ones who have passed and can’t be there to celebrate with you. Whether you’re displaying framed photos, candles, or small mementos, this quiet tribute can bring a lot of meaning to your day.
Including a sign on the memory table helps guests understand its purpose without needing any explanation. Especially if the display is subtle or tucked into a quieter corner of the venue, a sign like “In Loving Memory” or “We know you’d be here today if heaven weren’t so far away” brings context and invites reflection. It allows your guests to pause, acknowledge those you’re honoring, and appreciate the significance of that space.
Dessert Table or Candy Bar Sign
If you're offering a dessert display or candy bar, a sign helps let guests know it's open and ready to be enjoyed. These stations often become a highlight at the reception, especially if you’re offering a mix of treats or a fun late-night option.
Including a sign—whether it says something playful like “Love is sweet, take a treat” or simply “Dessert Bar”—adds a decorative touch and gives your guests permission to dig in. Without one, guests might hesitate, unsure if they’re allowed to start or if it’s being saved for later. A well-placed sign helps the table feel intentional, ties it into the rest of your wedding decor, and keeps the evening flowing smoothly.
Favor Table Sign
Favors are a sweet way to thank your guests for celebrating with you, but without a sign, many people may not realize they’re meant to take one. Whether you’re offering edible treats, personalized keepsakes, or donation cards, a favor table sign helps clarify the purpose and invites guests to grab one on their way out.
There’s nothing worse than being left with a table full of thoughtful favors simply because guests weren’t sure they were allowed to take them. A small sign with a message like “Please Take One” or something personalized to your theme ensures your favors are enjoyed and not forgotten. It also adds a finishing touch to the display, helping it feel more intentional and connected to the rest of your wedding decor.
Photo Booth or Hashtag Sign
Photo booths are still popular, and a sign helps guests know where to go and how to use it. If you're using a custom hashtag or digital photo album, this is the place to display it—just make sure it fits your vibe (or skip the hashtag altogether if it's not your style).
Send-Off Signs
If you're planning a formal exit—like a sparkler send-off, petal toss, ribbon wands, or even a bubble tunnel—a small sign can help cue guests on when and how to participate. It’s especially helpful if you’re handing out items like sparklers or confetti, or if the timing isn’t obvious. A sign like “Meet us outside for the send-off at 9:45” or “Light the way for the new Mr. & Mrs.” adds clarity and excitement, and ensures everyone is part of the moment.
📝 Download Your Free Wedding Sign Checklist
Planning a wedding comes with a thousand little decisions—so we created a tool to help simplify at least one piece of the puzzle. Our free printable Wedding Sign Checklist walks you through each part of your wedding day, from guest arrival to the reception send-off, helping you think through what signs you might need based on your actual event flow.
This isn’t just a generic list—it’s designed like a planning worksheet, so you can visualize your day, section by section, and make thoughtful decisions about which signs are essential, optional, or just nice to have. Whether you’re keeping things simple or going all out with personalized signage, this checklist will help you stay organized, avoid last-minute stress, and create a smoother experience for your guests. Print it out or use it digitally on your tablet while you plan!
👉 [Click here to download your free Wedding Sign Checklist]
💍 Need Custom Signs for Your Wedding?
We offer a full collection of custom acrylic, wood, and printed wedding signs designed to match your style—from classic welcome signs to seating charts, table numbers, bar menus, and more.
Take a peek at the full collection here:
👉 [Browse Wedding Signs]
💐 Final Thoughts
You don’t need every sign on this list, but the right ones can make your wedding feel more polished, more organized, and more personal. Whether you're going big or keeping it simple, having thoughtful signage in place helps your day flow more smoothly—and creates some pretty beautiful photo moments along the way.
Planning your wedding? Let us know what signs you’re including in the comments below—we’d love to hear your ideas.
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