11 Event Signage Ideas You Should Know About

8. Graffiti

Street art is hot! A legitimate spray-painted backdrop is ideal but sometimes logistically impractical. If that’s the case, use photo editing software to create a custom backdrop. Again, create signage that serves a dual purpose: if your guests use it as a photo op with your event’s hashtag, even better!

9. Gallery

Lead guests from location to location in a purely visual — rather than verbal — manner. Take them on a journey by lining the walkway with walls filled with framed movie posters, photographs, or vintage ads to use as their guide.

10. Marquee

Design a wall of boxwood, macramé, or spangles as a backdrop for your event signage! It will add depth and color, as well as fill an otherwise empty spot. This is a place for otherwise simple event signage: advertise a rose bar or petits fours station.

11. Chalkboards

They are definitely played out as cutesy signs at weddings (“choose a seat, not a side!”), but they’re still practical and attractive as an event sign to complement food and drink. Everyone has a dietary sensitivity these days. You’ve put in a tremendous amount of effort to make sure that there are options that are gluten-free, vegan, and keto.

While your caterer should be responsible for labeling their food, why leave it up to chance? Think schoolhouse-style writing slates or, even better, a giant piece of slate as a flat food display, with labels written directly on the table.

Additional event signage tips and reminders

Be mindful of reflective surfaces

Avoid using mirrors as signage. The 3-D effect of paint or vinyl in the glass is distracting and hard to read. Not to mention, it’s impossible to avoid checking one’s hair and teeth in the reflection.

Use a straightforward, easy-to-read font

Swirling, overly feminine fonts and blocks of written noise are on their way out. Guests find them confusing and, let’s face it, they smack of adolescence.

Avoid uninspired signage

Under no circumstances should you have your agenda printed on poster board, laminated, and propped on a flimsy easel. If you really did forget to plan for thoughtful event signage, strategically place an effervescent, confident associate to act as concierge.

Keep your signage simple

No matter what the purpose or occasion, keep your event signage clean and uncluttered. It should be attractive without distracting from the purpose: to offer direction!