If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Pinterest, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the hundreds of different ideas for wedding signs. From sweet quotes to practical instructions and literally everything in between.
Wedding signs are super helpful for your guests to know where to go and when. And they can add a personal touch to your wedding space!
When it comes to your destination wedding in Punta Cana, you’ll need to think ahead. You don’t want to be traveling with big, heavy signs in your luggage. You’ll quickly regret that decision as you’re making your way through the airport, trying to gather all your bags.
Thankfully, with a bit of planning and some help from your wedding planner, you can be prepared. And you’ll have all of the wedding signs you need for the big day.
Down below, I’ll go through all the signs you may want to display on your wedding day. I’ll start from the ceremony and work through to the reception. And then I’ll show you a few fun ideas for wedding signs that you may not have thought of before.
Wedding Signs for the Ceremony
For your wedding ceremony, you’ll need to rely on the signs you display to get your guests where they need to be. Remember, you’ll be the last one to arrive at the ceremony so you won’t be there to supervise. You won’t be able to give directions. Your guests need to be able to get there without your help. But you can help them out ahead of time.
Here’s a tip:
Take a few key people to the ceremony location the day before. Show them where to go and how to get there. Then, arrange a central location on the resort for all of your guests to meet and walk together. Your wedding party can lead the way and make sure everyone arrives at the right spot. This way, there’s no confusion on your actual wedding day.
For an off-resort wedding:
Arrange transportation with your wedding venue so you don’t have to worry about this. Your guests will be taken straight to your ceremony location. Then there’s no room for doubt on the wedding day!
If your guests are walking from the resort to your venue, then I’d definitely recommend a tour beforehand. Walk with a few guests the day before your wedding to show them the way. Again, this will minimize any confusion on your wedding day.
You don’t want anyone getting lost and wandering around the beach instead of enjoying your wedding ceremony.
To help even further, set out a Welcome Sign so your guests know they’ve made it to the right spot.
Welcome Sign
Your Welcome Sign is the first thing your guests will see when they arrive at your venue. It should let your guests know they’re in the right place. It can also give them an idea of what’s to come by tying in your overall wedding style.
If you’re having a tropical or rustic wedding, a piece of driftwood with calligraphy looks great. For a romantic or elegant wedding, adorn your welcome sign with roses matching your color palette. Or set candles all around to set an ambiance of romance and love.
Either way, your goal is to welcome your guests to your wedding venue. Here are a few ideas:
Once guests have arrived, there are a few other signs you can display at your wedding ceremony. First of all, I always recommend having an unplugged wedding ceremony.
Unplugged Ceremony Sign
Well, first off… What is an unplugged ceremony? An Unplugged Ceremony means that no phones, cameras, or tablets are allowed during your ceremony.
It’s an opportunity for your guests to be fully present. In the moment. Actually watching the love right in front of them. Not watching it through a screen.
If this sounds perfect to you, then set up a sign at the entrance to your ceremony letting guests know that devices are not permitted.
Your photographer and videographer will be there to capture everything, so you and your guests don’t need to worry about a thing.
Just be present, and enjoy it.
Seating Arrangements & Reserved Seats
Most couples have forgone the tradition of separating the two families at their wedding ceremony. Offer open seating instead! This creates a more relaxed atmosphere which is perfect for your beach wedding in Punta Cana.
Get a cute sign that says “Pick a Seat, Not a Side” or “Assigned seating is not our style, sit anywhere that makes you smile.”
There are several variations to this sign so choose one that fits your personality. And again, tie it in with your wedding style so everything flows smoothly.
Even though there’s open seating, you’ll likely want to reserve seats for your parents and/or grandparents. Or anyone else that’s extremely special to you. For a destination wedding, typically the first row is reserved for these guests. If you have a bigger wedding, it could be the first two rows. You can print out your Reserved Signs or purchase hanging signs made from wood or acrylic.
If you have loved ones that aren’t able to attend the wedding, reserve a seat for them with a framed photo and a loving quote. This is typically reserved for loved ones who have passed away. Otherwise, it could also be for any guest you’re missing that isn’t able to travel for your destination wedding.
Ceremony Instructions
If you want to do anything special for your ceremony, feel free to set out a sign and let your guests know.
Some brides ask their guests to take off their shoes for their beach wedding. Your guests will love to sink their toes into the sand as you say I Do.
You can also choose to display your wedding program for the day. Let guests know what to expect while they’re at your wedding. If you have those antsy family members that are always wondering “What’s next?” then add this sign to your decor.
Ease the stress a little!
Do you have a favorite prayer or loving quote? Display this at your ceremony! Line the aisle with a few different signs that go together. Or keep the quote together on one large sign. Create what you envision for your wedding day. And fill your venue with love.
Signs for the Flower Girl & Ring Bearer
If you have little ones in your wedding party, why not add a cute sign for them to carry down the aisle?
I love the funny ones like “Don’t worry ladies, I’m still single” or “I’m just here for the cake.”
But if you’re having a more elegant wedding, something like “Here comes your forever” written in calligraphy will look nicer. And it’s still adorable!
I mean… how cute are these?!
Now that we’ve made it through the ceremony, it’s time for your guests to head to the cocktail hour. Here are a few signs you may need.
Cocktail Hour Wedding Signs
After the ceremony, your guests will head to the cocktail hour, and you and your new husband will sneak away with the photographer to get some amazing couple’s portraits. We can’t miss the chance to capture that “just married” bliss.
If your friends are anything like mine, they’ll be rushing to the bar asap.
If you’re getting married at a resort, you can set out signs directing your guests where to go next. Outside venues are usually smaller so the cocktail area will be pretty obvious, and you won’t need a sign for that.
Set out a sign for your signature drinks if you have them. Otherwise, a drink menu works too. If you have an open bar at your cocktail hour, you may choose to skip the sign here as guests can order whatever they’d like.
You can also encourage guests to sign your Guestbook during your cocktail hour since they’ll have a little extra time. Or save that for the entrance to your reception (which I’ll talk about below.)
Don’t forget to tell your guests about your special wedding hashtag. They’ll be snapping tons of photos. And I’m sure they’ll want to post that epic beach pic right away. Who wouldn’t?
Add a sign at your cocktail hour so that all of your guests know which hashtags to use.
After a couple of cocktails and some beautiful photos, you and your guests will be ready to head to the reception. Let’s talk about the wedding signs you may need.
Wedding Signs for the Reception
Time for dinner and the party! There are a lot of different options for your reception wedding signs depending on your wedding style and personality.
You’ll want to include a sign for your guestbook table, the gift/card table, any wedding favors, and of course, for the seating arrangement.
Let’s go through each one-by-one.
Signs for Your Guestbook Table
If you didn’t display your guestbook at the cocktail hour, then you can have it at the entrance to your reception instead. This will allow guests a chance to sign before heading to their seats.
You may want them to sign a book, drop a heart into a box, or take a photo of themselves. Whatever the case, just lay it out clearly so your guests know exactly what to do. And the easier the better so that all of your guests will actually sign.
Wedding Card Box Signs
Since you’re having a destination wedding, you probably won’t ask guests to bring a gift to your wedding. (If you do, that’s fine! Just remember you’ll have to find a way to bring all those gifts back home. In your suitcase…)
Regardless, your guests will still want to give you a nice card. After all, they’re happy for you!
Feel free to set up a place where your guests can drop their cards. It will make it easier to collect them at the end of the night. You may even ask your maid of honor or wedding planner to collect them for you so it’s one less thing for you to worry about.
Here are a few ideas for wedding card box ideas:
Signs to Display Your Wedding Favors
Wedding favors tend to speak for themselves, so it’s not absolutely necessary to display a sign here.
You may even choose to display a favor at each seat instead of all together. But if you have them placed out on a table, and you’d like to make it very clear for your guests, just add a little picture asking your guests to take one.
And don’t forget to Choose Destination Wedding Favors That Your Guests Actually Want.
Sweetheart Table
Mr. and Mrs. signs are so beautiful to display on your sweetheart table or hanging from the back of your chairs.
For a boho style, your signs can be hanging in macrame. For a rustic look, stick with wood or adorned with dried flowers. With a more romantic style, gold and glitter will be your best friend.
Connect your sweetheart table to your wedding decor theme, but don’t be afraid to go bigger and bolder than the rest of the tables. It is your day after all! And everyone will be looking at you. So make it count!
Wedding Seating Arrangement Signs
Last, but certainly not least, is a sign for your wedding seating chart. Let guests know where to sit when they enter the reception. Decorate your seating chart with flowers that match the centerpieces. Or skip the seating chart altogether and go with escort cards instead.
Beach weddings are usually more relaxed so it’s common for tables to be assigned but not exact seats. This keeps a little bit of structure in the seating plan while still allowing your guests some freedom. And this is where escort cards will come in handy.
If you’re having a more formal wedding, you’ll need to set place cards at each seat. This is a headache for most brides (especially if you have a large group) but it will ensure that all of your guests are in the right place. If you like to be in control of everything (hey, no judgment here!) then place cards are the way to go.
Keep in mind that you’ll still need a seating chart display at the entrance to let guests know which table they’re at. Otherwise, they’ll be wandering aimlessly searching for their name.
If you need help with this, check out The Stress-Free Guide to Creating Your Wedding Seating Chart.
Now that we’ve covered the basic signs for your wedding, you can always add in a few other statement pieces throughout your venue. Here are some ideas.
Statement Wedding Signs
Make a statement with bright signs spelling out LOVE or FOREVER in LED lights. Your guests will love to take photos in front of these! Plus, they make a perfect backdrop for your first dance.
You can also display little signs throughout your venue to show a touch of your personality. You can remind guests not to drink too much – or to definitely drink too much. Post your new last name (if you’re taking his). Or feature big letters with each of your initials.
Another nice touch is to display a Thank You sign, thanking your guests for being a part of your special day. You can also add in a few photos of the two of you if you want to show off any special moments from your relationship.
And don’t forget to set out sparklers for your send-off with a little sign to notify your guests of your plans.
If you’ve lost a special family member, you can set out a framed photo and a sign showing your love. The most popular are always the signs that read “We know you’d still be here today if heaven wasn’t so far away” but feel free to display any sign that connects to your heart.
Here are a few other wedding sign options to get those creative juices flowing:
Final Thoughts
Whatever signs you choose to add to your wedding day, don’t be afraid to get creative, and have fun with it!
Talk to your wedding planner about what they can set up on-site and which signs you’ll need to bring with you. Every wedding venue and all-inclusive resort is different, so be sure to ask before you travel.
You’re now one step closer to your wedding day!
If you need more tips about your wedding decor, be sure to check out The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Decor.
