Choosing a welcome sign sounds simple until you start scrolling. Clear acrylic, mirrors, foam board, wood, fabric. Each one gives a different feel, and each one behaves differently once it's at your venue and in front of your photographer's lens. If you're deciding on a wedding welcome sign material, here's an honest comparison of the three most popular options: fabric, acrylic and foam board.
Acrylic Welcome Signs
Clear or frosted acrylic signs have been a wedding favorite for years. They look sleek and modern, and lettering seems to float in the air.
What we love
- A clean, contemporary look that suits modern and glam weddings
- Easy to wipe clean and durable for outdoor use
- Works well with bold, graphic lettering
What to consider
- Glare and reflections. Acrylic reflects light, so sun, string lights and camera flash can show up as bright spots in photos, and lettering can get lost against a busy background.
- Weight and breakage. Larger acrylic signs are heavy and can scratch, crack or chip in transit.
- Harder to store. A rigid sign needs a large flat space after the wedding.
Foam Board Welcome Signs
Printed foam board is the most budget-friendly option and is easy to find from print shops and online sellers.
What we love
- Lightweight and usually the lowest cost
- Prints photos and detailed graphics clearly
- Quick to produce
What to consider
- It can look flat in photos. A smooth printed surface has no texture, so it can read as paper rather than a design detail.
- It's delicate. Foam board dents and bends easily, and corners can crush in transit. Humidity and heat can cause warping outdoors.
- It's usually disposable. Most foam board signs aren't kept after the wedding.
Fabric Welcome Signs
Fabric signs are the newest of the three, and they've quickly become a favorite of planners and photographers who love a soft, editorial look.
What we love
- Texture and movement. Linen-look fabric has depth you can see in photos, and it moves gently in a breeze, which adds life to wide shots.
- No glare. Fabric diffuses light instead of reflecting it, so lettering stays readable in bright sun, at golden hour and under string lights.
- Easy to transport. A fabric sign is light, packs easily for travel, and is simple to hang on a stand.
- A true keepsake. Many couples keep their fabric sign and display it at home, frame it, or reuse it for an anniversary.
- Room for details. Satin ribbon bows and ties in your color add a soft finishing touch that rigid signs can't.
What to consider
- Wrinkles. Fabric can crease in transit. A quick steam before the event smooths it out. Please don't iron our signs.
- Display. A fabric sign needs a stand or a spot to hang from. Our gold metal stands are designed to hold fabric banners.
- Bold graphics. Fabric is best for elegant lettering and simple artwork rather than full-color photos.
Side-by-Side Comparison
- In photos: Fabric is soft and textured with no glare. Acrylic is sleek but reflective. Foam board is flat.
- Transport: Fabric is light and packable. Acrylic is heavy and fragile. Foam board is light but dents easily.
- After the wedding: Fabric is easy to store and display. Acrylic needs flat storage. Foam board is usually thrown away.
- Best for: Fabric suits garden, romantic, editorial and timeless weddings. Acrylic suits modern and glam weddings. Foam board suits tight budgets and photo-heavy signs.
So, Which Should You Choose?
Choose acrylic if you want a crisp, ultra-modern look and your sign will be indoors or in shade. Choose foam board if budget is the top priority and you won't keep the sign afterward. Choose fabric if you want a sign that looks romantic and editorial in photos, travels easily, and becomes a keepsake.
For Brian and Liana's wedding at Sunstone Villa, a fabric sign with black ribbon accents stood under an olive tree beside a champagne wall, soft and elegant in full sun. See their wedding here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fabric signs work outdoors?
Yes. Fabric signs are lovely outdoors, and the gentle movement in a breeze is part of their charm. On a windy day, make sure your stand is placed on level ground.
Will my fabric sign arrive wrinkled?
It may have soft creases from shipping. Steam it before your event and it will hang smoothly. Please don't iron it.
Can I match a fabric sign to my wedding colors?
Yes. Choose from our designs and add a satin ribbon in your choice of color. For custom colors or artwork, message us.
How do I display a fabric sign?
Hang it on a freestanding stand, or from an arch, a wall or a bar front. We offer gold metal stands made to pair with our signs. They ship disassembled and may arrive separately from your sign.
Ready to Choose Fabric?
See our custom fabric wedding welcome signs, read our welcome sign wording ideas, or reach out with questions. We'd love to help you create yours.