Your complete guide to wedding stationery and signage!

We all know organisation is key, and when it comes to your wedding, well you’re going to really want to have things run as seamlessly as possible! So, here comes into play your signage and stationery – from day dot sending out your save the dates, to your invitations, welcomes signs, menus and more. Deciding on the practicality and aesthetic of your design really is one of our favourite creative elements of your wedding planning. Not only is it a necessity, but it’s a gorgeous memento of your special day too. Meet 5 of Byron Bay’s most loved stationery and signage designers!

What signage do we need for our wedding day?

Inku Press
At Inku Press our most popular ‘on the day’ signage is a welcome sign, seating plan, and menus. Menus are usually personalised with guest names and if not then a separate place card is required so guests can easily find their seats. As well as these popular prints, we also offer table numbers, wishing well signs and tags to accompany the bonbonniere gift.

The Wedding Shed
Statement signage it’s definitely a style – a “must-have” these days.  There are many amazing options with neon and acrylic signs being very on-trend to display personalised messages. When choosing your signage, we highly recommend a welcome sign and seating plan to be a must, especially if you have a large number of guests. It really helps to keep the guests flowing to the reception stage of your day. Seating plans are essential as they not only look good but help with directing your guests to where they need to be for the dining. There’s nothing worse than having hold ups with great Uncle Bob and Granny Pam not knowing where to go!  This then has a knock-on effect with slowing down the service of the day. Bar menus, personalised name cards and menus are a great option too. We even offer a combined menu, with the guest’s name at the top. This saves paper and reduces clutter to create a simple and streamlined table setting. It can even be a keepsake for your guests to take home.

What is your signature style?

Inku Press
Strong yet minimal. Letterpress is all about that deep impression into the paper, creating something you want to touch. Our minimal designs on 100% cotton paper allow this tactile finish to stand out. We also receive many requests for our hand-drawn maps – a custom design for your individual wedding, pressed into the soft pillowy paper. They really are like a personal stamp for your wedding day.

The Wedding Shed
The Wedding Shed’s stationery is just a simple option to assist our couples with styling their table decor for the reception. We have a simple modern style in a DL and A5 sizes – on black and white with a current trend font.  Our name cards can be either tent fold or flat.

When do you need my final information for stationery and signage to be ready?

Inku Press
Invitation suites are usually sent out 3-6 months before the wedding date, with save the dates up to a year in advance. Allow even more time for destination weddings so guests have plenty of time to arrange accommodation and flights. We are a small studio and the letterpress process is an involved process – so to ensure each job gets the attention and detail needed we only take on a handful of jobs at a time. Our turnaround time is usually 4-6 weeks, often up to 8 weeks in peak periods.

The Wedding Shed
Printed signage will be a minimum of 4–6 weeks out, and for menus 1 week is fine. Handwritten chalkboards, which our stylist sign writers can create for you, can be created within 1 week of your wedding.

What’s the best way to display the menu; individually, a few per table or a large display?

Inku Press
This will depend on the style of your wedding and how your food is to be served. We usually recommend individual menus, especially for individual sit down meals – they look beautiful on the plates and finish off the table styling perfectly. If you were to hold back on quantity… shared platters or banquet style meals could get away with a few menus placed along the table. I’ve always liked having my own menu when at a wedding so I can refer to it while making my way through the courses, as I feel the beautiful letterpress!

The Wedding Shed
Here at The Wedding Shed we have a variety of timber easels, metal stands, timber VJ backdrops and plinths which you can use to display your signage and neon lighting. We advise dressing your signs with florals to make them stand out on a large scale, or for smaller pieces we have a variety of frames, brass holders, and acrylic table numbers. 

Any hacks for reducing paper waste, whilst ticking all of the stationery boxes?

Inku Press
I truly believe save the dates and invitations play an important role in setting the tone for your big day. They’re the first thing your guests receive and it gives them a sneak peek into the style and quality of what’s to come. I don’t believe you can compromise on these pieces. Being selective information detailing your wedding day and afterward can be shared through a wedding website. This can include details on gifts, transport, pre-wedding party, post-wedding recovery and thank you cards. As for ‘on the day’ stationery, it’s best to keep this to a minimum – weddings are already busy and tables are full of flowers, glassware, etc. A welcome sign, seating plan and menus should set the tone nicely and keep everything running smoothly for you.

The Wedding Shed
Our classic chalkboards are a great sustainable way to create some fun signage and menu displays for your wedding day. As well, our personalised menu reduces paper usage by combing two in one!

Learn more about Byron’s Wedding Stationery & Signage designers:
Inku Press // The Wedding Shed