In August 2015, my two close friends were getting married to each other. They wanted a semi-DIY wedding, where a number of their friends pitched in for their special day. I had the pleasure of making a simple DIY wedding sign for them.

Using balsa wood, wooden posts, wood glue, and a sharpie, I quickly made them a sign to direct guests to the ceremony and reception.

Initially, I began with thick cardstock paper I had lying around from previous photography projects, and I prototyped my handwriting. I soon realized that the cursive did not translate as effectively at the size I wanted and the rectangular shape of the cardstock diminished the goal of the arrows.

So, I began working on version 2. After a run to my local Michaels, I purchased a few slabs of balsa wood and wooden posts.

Once home, I wrote the sign labels of “Vows Here” and “Party There” in block uppercase using my Sharpie. Then, using my Exacto knife, I cut the balsa sheets into an arrow shape, of course using multiple slices to ensure a clean cut.

To ensure I had enough room, I used the floor with a cutting board below as my primary workspace.

Satisfied with the result, I duplicated my efforts to make a second set. Now, it was time to transform these basic 2D labels into a 3D signpost.

To combine the wooden square posts to the balsa sheets, I applied a thin layer of Elmer’s wood glue to each post, where they met the sheet, and then weighed the entire signpost down.

The newly-weds loved the signs (and the wedding), and the guests had no problem finding the ceremony and the reception. I consider my small evening project a success!