Linen Sign Stands: How to Hang a Linen Wedding Sign

An easel is built to hold a rigid board against its ledge. Linen is fabric: set it on an easel and it folds over the ledge and slumps. Hung from a crossbar, the same sign falls straight, moves a little as guests pass, and shows off the frayed edges and texture that made you choose it.

What kind of stand holds a linen sign?

Anything with a crossbar at the right height. Choose by where the sign will stand and how far it has to travel.

Display	Best for	Good to know
Adjustable metal hanging stand	Welcome signs and seating charts, indoors or a sheltered outdoor spot	Comes apart and packs flat; adjust the height to the sign
Freestanding wood frame	A finished, furniture-like look at an entrance	Heavier and steadier; check the inside height and width before you order
Arbor or ceremony arch	Ceremony welcome signs and quote signs	Tie on with ribbon; ask your florist and venue first
Beam, mantel or wall hook	Rustic venues, homes, rehearsal dinners	Only with your venue's permission
Edge of a table	Sweetheart table signs	Lay it along the front edge, held with florals, ribbon or tape

The adjustable metal stands and wood frames we use ourselves are on our Wedding Sign Stands page. We don't make stands, and no rod or stand comes with a linen sign, so plan the display when you order the sign.

How tall does a linen sign stand need to be?

Taller than the sign is long, plus a few inches for the rod and a gap at the floor. Measure from the floor to the top of the crossbar.

Linen sign	Length	Crossbar at least
18x35 (sweetheart, memorial, bar)	2 ft 11 in	3 ft 6 in
18x51	4 ft 3 in	5 ft
24x51	4 ft 3 in	5 ft
24x71	5 ft 11 in	6 ft 6 in
24x84	7 ft	7 ft 6 in

24x71 is the length couples choose most for a linen welcome sign, and with a crossbar near 6 feet 6 inches it falls almost to the floor. If your stand stops lower, choose 24x51 or raise the stand rather than letting the hem pool on the ground. A 24x84 needs a stand that reaches 7 feet 6 inches, which suits a high-ceilinged room. Outdoors, a 7-foot panel catches the most wind, so give it a sheltered spot.

Check the stand's inside width too: at least 28 inches for our 24-inch-wide signs, so the linen hangs flat.

How do you hang a linen sign on a stand?

Every linen sign we make has a sewn 3 to 4 inch rod pocket across the top and a small slit on each side for ribbon. That gives you two ways to hang it.

• With a rod. Slide a wooden dowel or a slim metal rod through the pocket. We'd recommend a rod 4 to 6 inches wider than the sign, about 28 to 30 inches for a 24-inch-wide sign, so the ends show. On most hanging stands, the crossbar itself slides through the pocket. Brass or black finials make it look finished.
• With ribbon. Tie a length of ribbon through each side slit and knot it over the crossbar, an arbor or a hook. Ribbon lets you set the exact drop, which helps when the stand is a little too tall.

Then:

1. Check it straight on. Stand where guests will first see it. Even the drop on both sides so the lettering sits level.
2. Steam it in place. Fold lines relax fastest once the sign is hanging (more below).

For a linen seating chart, the same rules apply, and we cover choosing its length in our linen seating chart guide.

How do you hang a linen sign from an arbor, beam or wall?

Use the ribbon slits. Tie two equal lengths of ribbon, loop them over the arbor's crossbar or a beam, and knot them at the height you want. On an arbor, have your florist work the knots into the greenery so only the sign shows.

On a wall, use only what your venue approves. A rod resting on two hooks hangs straighter than ribbon from one.

Small linen signs have their own places. Our linen sweetheart table signs, 18x35 ($95) or 18x51 ($115), usually lie along the front edge of the sweetheart table, held in place by your florals, a ribbon or a little tape. They have the same sewn rod pocket, so they can also hang from a small sign holder. An in loving memory sign in the same sizes drapes over a saved chair at the ceremony.

How do you get the folds out of a linen sign?

Steam them out. Our linen signs ship folded, so expect soft fold lines when you open the package. They come out easily.

• When it arrives: check the wording, then keep the sign in its protective wrap until the wedding.
• The morning of: hang the sign and run a hand steamer over it from a few inches away. Hanging, the fabric's own weight helps pull the lines flat.
• If you need to iron it: turn it face down and use the lowest heat setting. Never iron directly on the lettering.
• To clean it: spot clean or hand wash, then hang it to dry.

The lettering is UV printed in permanent ink on the linen, so steaming doesn't affect it. Pack the steamer with the stand, and tell your coordinator it's there.

Can a linen sign stand outdoors?

Yes, in a sheltered spot on a calm day. Linen moves in a breeze, which is part of its charm, but a steady wind turns a hanging sign into a sail and can tip a light stand.

• Weigh down the base. Sandbags, or florist's weights hidden under greenery.
• Stand it against something. A wall, a hedge or the side of a building, never in an open gap where wind speeds up.
• Keep it out of the rain. Linen isn't made for wet weather. Choose a covered spot, or have a place ready to move it to.

For an exposed outdoor spot, acrylic is the steadier choice; we compare the two in Acrylic vs Linen Wedding Signs.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of stand do you use for a linen sign?

A hanging stand or a freestanding wood frame with a crossbar, not an easel. Slide a rod or the stand's crossbar through the sign's top pocket. An arbor, a beam or a wall hook also works, with your venue's permission.

How tall should a linen welcome sign stand be?

Taller than the sign is long, plus a few inches. A 24x71 linen sign needs a crossbar at least 6 feet 6 inches high, a 24x51 at least 5 feet and a 24x84 at least 7 feet 6 inches.

Can you put a linen sign on an easel?

Not well. An easel holds rigid boards against a ledge, and fabric folds over it. Hang linen from a crossbar instead, on a hanging stand, frame or arbor.

Does a linen wedding sign come with a stand?

Ours don't. Each has a sewn rod pocket across the top and a slit on each side for ribbon, but the rod and stand aren't included. We share the stands we use on our Wedding Sign Stands page.

Can you hang a linen sign without a stand?

Yes. Tie ribbon through the slit on each side and knot it over an arbor, a beam or a hook your venue approves. Ribbon also lets you set the exact drop.

Choose your linen welcome sign in Haven, Capri, Claire or Quinn, and plan the stand alongside it. Send the wording whenever it's final.