DIY Rustic Wedding Signs

These rustic wooden wedding signs are such joys to create! Perfect for outdoor wedding celebrations, receptions, luncheons, or bridal showers, these DIY personalized wedding signs are almost effortless and create a super rustic aesthetic for the wedding couple and their guests.

Want even more DIY wedding crafts and ideas that are simple and oh, so fun? Be sure to check out this list of 100 wedding ideas!

Make Your Own Rustic Wedding Signs

You’re going to love these easy DIY wooden wedding signs. So easy to customize with so many different colors and options, this rustic wedding decor idea is a breeze to make and ready in 15 minutes or less– amazing, right?

Supplies Needed

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• Darice Unfinished Wood Arrow Plaque Sign
• DecoArt Walnut gel stain
• DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic Paint in Black and White
• Sandpaper: You can find this at the local hardware store or online.
• Foam brush: This can be found at the local hardware or paint store.
• Paintbrush: Can be found at the local art or hardware store.

Note: Be sure to keep newspaper, paper towels, or something else handy to prevent a mess.

 How to Make Your Rustic Wedding Sign

You’re going to love how easy this DIY rustic wedding sign is! Although there are more than a handful of steps, this project is truly a breeze and feels effortless: there is more repetition than anything! For the full steps and details, scroll down to the card.

Step 1

First, coat the front and sides of the wedding sign with the gel stain. Wipe off the excess and set it aside to dry.

Step 2

Next, dab a small amount of paint onto the paintbrush and wipe most of it off. Swiftly move it across the wedding sign. See an example below.

Step 3

After that, brush the wooden sign with the stain again, but only in some places. Wipe off the excess and allow the sign to dry.

Below is a photo of what the wooden sign should look like with the stain in some areas of the wood. You want to create a weathered effect.

Step 4

Next, sand the sign. Concentrate in the areas with paint to make it appear more rustic.

Step 5

Mix the gel stain with water to create a thinner version of the dark stain.

Step 6

Brush the stain mixture over the wooden sign, then immediately wipe off. Allow the sign to dry.

 Step 7

Next, mix the white paint (or your choice of color) with water. This is a white wash for the sign.

Step 8

Brush the sign with the paint wash, then immediately wipe with a rag. Next, allow the sign to dry once again. Below is an example of what the sign should look like.

Step 9

Use sandpaper to roughen up the surfaces and edges. If you want, you can concentrate on certain areas more than others to make them appear more distressed and rustic.  

Step 10

Next, dry brush the white over the top of the signs one last time. Below, the sign on the right is complete while the one on the left still needs to be dry brushed. Allow it to dry.

Step 10

Now we can add the lettering. Make sure the sign is completely dry before proceeding with this step. I used black paint with a touch of white mixed in for a very dark grey color.  

 To make these feel REALLY rustic, I hand-lettered the wooden signs just free handing the writing with my brush. You can absolutely use a stencil but I was going for an old worn handcrafted look. 

Step 11

Allow your lettering to dry, then go over it HEAVILY with sandpaper. Wear the lettering off completely in areas. Remember we want rustic, old, worn– new lettering just does not do anything for these signs.

Step 12

To take care of the edges, go back with white paint and a dry brush to touch these areas up. You can also finish the sign black if you would prefer.

 I used a very dry brush and white paint to touch over the lettering on the front to add just a little bit of an extra something. After that, I allowed the entire thing to dry and the paint to harden. I am ready for a wedding, reception, or luncheon! You can absolutely add a spray sealer over the top of your project as well to protect it from the elements.

How to Use

These DIY wedding signs are great to hang on trees, walls, posts, and so much more. You can even suspend these signs from the ceiling!

Want to make restroom signs for your guests? You can easily make more personalized signs from this tutorial!

Love This Idea for Rustic Wedding Signs and Want More? Click the Links Below!

• Country Wedding Decor Ideas
• 50 Wedding Crafts
• Mason Jar Wedding Gift Ideas
• Mason Jar Wedding Favors
• Wedding Chair Reservation Signs

Want to print the instructions for these rustic wedding signs? You can use the card below!

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Rustic Wedding Signs

These rustic wood wedding signs are such a joy to create! Perfect for outdoor wedding celebrations, receptions, luncheons, or bridal showers, these DIY personalized wedding signs are almost effortless and create a super rustic aesthetic for the wedding couple and their guests.

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Supplies

• Darice Unfinished Wood Arrow Plaque Sign
• DecoArt Walnut gel stain
• DecoArt Crafter's Acrylic Paint in Black and White
• Sandpaper
• 1 Foam brush
• 1 Paintbrush

Instructions

• First, start with the gel stain and coat the front and sides of your wedding sign. Wipe off any excess with a rag or paper towel. Allow to dry. 
  
• The use of a “dry brush” method is very helpful in getting the correct look on your signs. Dab a very small amount of paint onto your brush and wipe most of it off on a paper plate or towel. Then swiftly move it over the entire front of your wedding sign. Allow to dry.
  
• Use your sponge brush with stain once again and make “lines” of darker areas as shown below. Wipe off excess after 3 minutes or so. Allow to dry.
  
• Sand the wood.
  
• Mix one part gel stain with one part water to make a thinned out version of your dark stain. 
  
• Brush this mixture over your wedding sign then immediately wipe off with a rag or paper towel. The wedding sign on the below left has been completed. Allow this to dry. 
  
• Mix one part paint to one part water but this time with the white. This makes a white wash for the sign.
  
• Again brush over the entire sign then immediately wipe away with a rag. Allow to dry.
  
• Next, use sandpaper to rough up the surface and edges. You can concentrate in an area to make it rougher than other areas.
  
• I then dry brushed white over the top of the signs one last time. Allow this to dry.
  
• Your sign base is complete and we are ready to add the lettering. Be sure your sign is dry completely before continuing. I used black paint with just a touch of white mixed in for a very dark grey color. You can play with the amounts until you like the look.
  
• We have been concentrating on the front of our sign and neglected the edges. Remember to go back with that white paint and a dry brush and touch these edges. Just to make them appear to be not so new. You can also finish the back if you desire (I did not).
  

Notes

• You can use any colors you would like– maybe even add some gold leaf!
• Make sure the paint is fully dry before painting the letters.
• Make sure to sand down the areas to give the signs a “weathered” look.

Tried this project?tag us to show off your work!