Quick Answer
A wedding welcome sign needs a greeting line, your names and the date, with the venue or city as an optional fourth line. "Welcome to the wedding of" is the most chosen opening: about 4 in 10 of the couples who pick a greeting line with us choose it. Keep the sign to 3 or 4 lines.
The welcome sign is the first thing guests read and one of the most photographed details of the day. It has very little room, so every word has to earn its place.
What should a wedding welcome sign say?
Four parts, top to bottom:
- A greeting line. "Welcome to the wedding of", or a short line in your own voice.
- Your names. First names, or your new last name as a family.
- The date. Written out or in numerals, to match the style of your invitations.
- The place (optional). The venue or the city, when it adds something.
That's the whole sign. Guests read it in a few seconds as they arrive, and the names are what they're looking for, so they get the largest lettering and the greeting sits above them.
Which welcome sign wording do couples choose most?
Over the past year, of the couples who chose a greeting line when ordering a welcome sign from us, these were the most popular:
| Greeting line | Share of couples |
|---|---|
| Welcome to the wedding of | About 4 in 10 |
| Their own wording | About 1 in 7 |
| Forever starts here | About 1 in 8 |
| For a lifetime | About 1 in 18 |
| Forever and always | About 1 in 24 |
| Welcome to our forever | About 1 in 24 |
| With joy we welcome you | About 1 in 30 |
"Welcome to the wedding of" leads for a reason: it works in every style, it reads naturally into your names, and nobody has to wonder what the sign is for.
Which welcome sign wording fits your style?
Pick the tone that matches the rest of your day. Each line below sits above your names and date.
Classic and formal
- Welcome to the wedding of
- Welcome to the marriage celebration of
- Thank you for celebrating with us
Romantic
- Forever starts here
- For a lifetime
- Forever and always
- It's always been you
- Welcome to our forever
Warm and personal
- With joy we welcome you
- We're so glad you're here
- Thank you for being here
- Welcome, and thank you for sharing our day
Modern and minimal
- Welcome
- Here's to forever
- Better together
- Let's get married
Light and playful
- The party starts now
- Finally
- Let's eat, drink and get married
For a sign that greets guests at the reception rather than the ceremony, a line like "Here's to forever" or "Let's celebrate" fits better than "welcome to the wedding of."
For the rehearsal dinner and the shower, see Bridal Shower and Rehearsal Dinner Signs.
Should it say "Welcome to our wedding" or just "Welcome"?
Either works; they read differently. "Welcome to the wedding of" followed by your names is written from the guests' point of view and needs nothing else. "Welcome to our wedding" is written in your voice, which suits a warmer, more personal sign. A single "Welcome" above your names is the most minimal choice and works especially well on large signs, where the names carry the design.
How should you write your names on a welcome sign?
- First names: decide the order once and use it everywhere, on the welcome sign, the seating chart and the invitations.
- Your new last name: write it as a plural family name, with no apostrophe. Smith becomes "The Smiths" and Kennedy "The Kennedys"; names ending in s, x, z, ch or sh add -es, so Jones becomes "The Joneses" and Fox "The Foxes".
- Both first and last names: first names large, with "The Smiths" in a smaller line beneath. Count it as one line when you plan the sign.
- Different last names: use first names only, or both full names joined by "and".
We set your names in your collection's script and the rest in its serif or sans, so the names stand out without you having to ask for it.
Can you add other things to a welcome sign?
You can, but less reads better. A welcome sign is read in passing, so every extra line makes the names smaller. If you want to share more, give it its own sign:
- A schedule belongs on a wedding timeline sign.
- An unplugged request reads best on its own sign at the ceremony entrance.
- A hashtag or photo-sharing code fits on a small table sign at the bar or guestbook.
One extra line that does work on a welcome sign: the venue or city, especially for a destination wedding.
What size and colors read best?
Our most popular acrylic welcome sign size is 24x36, and for linen, 24x71. Both leave room for a greeting, names, date and place without crowding. An 18x24 sign suits a tabletop or a small entrance, with three lines rather than four.
For lettering, black outsold white on our welcome signs this past year, about 3 to 2. Black reads on white, frosted and light painted backgrounds; white reads on black, mirror and darker colors. You can send your wording any time up to about 4 weeks before the wedding, so there's no need to decide today.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write on a wedding welcome sign?
A greeting line, your names and your wedding date, with the venue or city as an optional fourth line. "Welcome to the wedding of" followed by your names is the most common choice.
What is the most popular welcome sign wording?
"Welcome to the wedding of" is the most popular by far; about 4 in 10 couples who choose a greeting line with us pick it. "Forever starts here" and "For a lifetime" are the most popular romantic alternatives.
How do you write a last name on a welcome sign?
As a plural family name with no apostrophe: "The Smiths", or "The Joneses" for names ending in s, x, z, ch or sh.
Should a welcome sign include the venue or a hashtag?
The venue or city fits well as a fourth line. Put a hashtag, schedule or unplugged request on its own small sign so the welcome sign stays easy to read.
When do I need to decide my welcome sign wording?
You can order now and send your final wording about 4 weeks before the wedding.
Browse acrylic welcome signs and linen welcome signs in all four collections, and send your wording when it's final.
Find your welcome sign
Acrylic or linen, in all four collections. Send your wording when it's final.
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