Wedding preparations can be hectic in many ways, but one thing many people really care about is the welcome board that greets guests.
A lot of people want to make it themselves, and these days there are so many video tutorials that it’s hard to decide which one to try.
Here we’re sharing plenty of ideas for welcome boards.
Use them as inspiration when you make your own, or when you create one as a gift for a friend.
Some of these are very easy to do, so you can adapt them for events other than weddings, too!
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Handmade ideas for welcome boards (1–10)
Antique-style welcome board
These days, antique-style furniture and accessories are trendy, and many people are incorporating them into their interiors.
Authentic antique plates and the like can be quite expensive, but how about making a welcome board by aging inexpensive wood—intentionally giving it a weathered, vintage look? Even if you don’t have woodworking or DIY tools, many home improvement stores now offer wood-cutting services and tool rentals, and there are plenty of reference videos available.
After the ceremony, it would look adorable displayed in your entryway or on your balcony!
Photo transfer using canvas
For those who think a welcome board made with a regular photo is a bit ordinary, here’s a perfect method: transferring a photo onto canvas.
Print your photo on paper, apply decoupage medium, let it dry, apply again, and repeat several times.
Then use water to adhere it to the canvas and rub away the excess with a sponge.
One important note: since you’ll be transferring the photo, use a mirrored version of the image.
These days you can even find decoupage medium at 100-yen shops, so it’s an easy DIY to try.
Welcome boards using pet photos and illustrations
Many people live with pets like dogs, cats, and rabbits.
These days, some wedding venues allow pets—dogs, for example—especially for “pet weddings,” but such venues are still rare.
It’s even harder for cats to participate, and some people keep more unusual animals.
You may want your pet, a member of the family, to join your wedding, but if that’s not possible, how about having them “attend” via a welcome board? Whether it’s an illustration or a photo, create your favorite piece and let your pet help liven up the celebration!
A board using kimono-style photos from the pre-wedding shoot
The so-called “pre-wedding photos,” where you put on your wedding dress and have pictures taken outdoors or in a studio before the ceremony.
Many people also choose to be photographed not only in a wedding dress but in a colored dress or traditional Japanese attire, even if they won’t wear them at the ceremony.
Since you’ve gone to the trouble of taking photos in traditional attire, why not decorate your welcome board with those photos you won’t be wearing at the ceremony? Even without being flashy, simply featuring traditional Japanese attire will catch the eye and make for a wonderful welcome board.
glass engraving
A welcome board made with glass engraving that is this simple yet exudes luxury and an elegant atmosphere—there might not be anything quite like it.
Not many people have glass engraving as a hobby, but wouldn’t it be worth taking lessons or attending a class just for this? If you’re not confident, go ahead and order from a professional without hesitation (haha).
It’s simpler than using photos, and after the ceremony you can display it as interior decor to preserve your memories—an elegant, two-birds-with-one-stone welcome board.
Welcome board made with trunks and picture frames
A welcome board and welcome space that express a charming worldview.
This welcome board really showcases the creator’s sense of style: use a trunk as the main feature and decorate it with old books, picture frames, flowers, and more.
Adding candles of different sizes and colors would be adorable, too.
It will evoke the world of fairy tales like Alice in Wonderland, and your guests will surely want to take photos! Use the video as inspiration, pack the trunk with things you love and plenty of your personality, and create your own world.
storyboard
A welcome board is the face of your wedding—the first landmark that greets your guests—and many couples choose to make theirs by hand.
How about going bold and crafting a large, eye-catching board to create a powerful first impression? This isn’t just any welcome board; it’s filled with the two of you—your history and all your cherished memories.
It serves as a history board that looks back through photos from your births and upbringing, to your meeting, and all the way to your marriage.
It’s a deeply moving welcome board that also lets you revisit memories with your families.