From flowers to desserts, your wedding day is an opportunity to paint the picture of your love story and share it with your guests. In telling your tale, wedding symbols offer a cohesive and personalized way to capture the essence of your union in every detail.
Monograms, crests, and logos are all creative ways to highlight unique elements of your partnership, like shared interests or family heritage.
“A monogram is typically based on the couples’ initials,” explains Jen Sulak of Weirdo Weddings. “A crest is more of an intricate design that centers on personalities and family heritage and has a more detailed, ornate feel. A crest can hold a monogram within it as well, so don’t get the two confused!”
On the other hand, “a wedding logo is a personal symbol created by the couple to show unity and love, and can be used as many centerpieces and inspirations in the wedding décor,” Sulak adds.
With a signature wedding symbol to represent your love, you’ll have a timeless emblem that lasts long after your big day. Follow these three steps to create a design that fully represents your shared love.
Decide how you’ll use your wedding symbol
Whether you opt for a simple monogram or an elegant family crest, there are countless ways to integrate it into your wedding day design. So, before diving into the design stage, sit down and consider how you’ll use your emblem to ensure it fits its purpose.
“If a couple chooses to include a wedding symbol, the first step is to think about where they would incorporate it into the overall design,” confirms Katy Padilla of Scarlet Rose Events. “This will determine the size and overall look of the symbol.”
Many couples choose to “weave it throughout the day — custom napkins, on top of wedding day menus and programs, on the dance floor, projected on the wall via a gobo, on the card box, and even on their gift tags for favors,” reveals Lilia Shatnaya of Plume and Stone Invitation Studio. “Tie this all together with a monogram on the Thank you card, and you have a personalized, branded event with your unique design.”
But it’s not just about the big day itself! Live wedding artist Brittany Branson of By Brittany Branson also recommends considering how you might use your wedding symbol after the big day. “If the couple envisions incorporating their wedding symbol into, let’s say, their future paper stationery, a complex wedding crest may take up too much space on the paper,” she notes. “An elegant monogram of the couple’s initials will do.”
If you plan to use your wedding symbol in multiple forms, consider playing with different design elements. For instance, if you have a custom-designed crest with your initials and a hand-drawn oak tree, you might display the monogram with a light wash while adding the tree illustration to your stationery. There are no wrong answers!
Get creative with personalized details
Your wedding symbol is meant to feel personal, so it stands to reason that you’d want to incorporate elements that speak to your history together. The key is to find harmony between your personalities and the overall feel of your wedding day.
“Couples should decide on a wedding symbol that fits the theme (or vibe) of the wedding but also represents a couple in some way,” assures Kelley Nudo of Momental Designs. A few ways to add a personal touch is by “including illustrations of pets, venues, wedding florals, banners with the wedding date, and other icons that are special.”
If you’re hosting a themed wedding, you can even pull inspiration from the décor. For example, a seaside wedding could feature nautical elements such as a seashell or lifesaver. Or if boho is more your style, you might use a dreamcatcher with your initials woven into the design. The key is to find something you like and make it your own!
Trust a professional with its design
If you or your soon-to-be spouse are pro designers, consider yourselves lucky! Your wedding symbol will be a fun and intimate project to share with one another. However, if you don’t know the difference between balance and proportion, it’s best to leave the design to the experts.
“Work with your stationer designer to come up with something fully custom for you,” recommends Juls Sharpley of Juls Sharpley Events. “Find ways to hint at things to come, which really elevate the guest experience, and then tie them all together at the end! The customization options are endless.”
Since your wedding symbol can serve as a lifelong emblem, try to avoid cutting corners. A well-designed custom monogram, crest, or logo can adorn anything from wine glasses to charcuterie boards in your married life, so it’s worth the investment now!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
