I've been making wedding signs for a long time, and I can tell you exactly which one brides save to their boards before anything else right now: the faux stained glass welcome sign. The colour-soaked florals, the leaded outlines, that little cathedral-window glow on an easel at the top of the aisle — it's the look of 2026, and it hasn't slowed down since it first took off.
Here's the part nobody expects: it's genuinely something you can make yourself. You don't need glassblowing skills, a year of lead time, or a $400 quote from a calligrapher. You need a printable design, a sheet of clear acrylic or a glass frame, a black paint marker, a few bottles of glass paint, and an evening or two with something good on in the background.
This guide covers everything I get asked before someone buys — what faux stained glass actually is, how it's made, the signs brides reach for most, and how to carry the look through to your table numbers. If you'd rather skip straight to the editable templates, it's all here in the stained glass collection.
What is a faux stained glass wedding sign?
A faux stained glass sign is a hand-finished sign that mimics the look of real leaded glass — without the cost, the weight, or the weeks of fabrication. The "lead" outlines are traced in black, and the colour panels are hand-painted on the back of a clear acrylic sheet or glass frame. Displayed near a window or a row of candles, it reads like a real cathedral panel.
The marryful template is the framework that gets you there. It's a DIY tracing guide: you print the design, slip it under your acrylic, trace the leading with a black marker, and fill in each section with glass paint. It isn't a finished print-only sign — it's the design that becomes one over a weekend.
Why brides are choosing it for 2026
- It photographs like a painting. The colour saturation under venue lighting reads rich and editorial, not like a printout taped to foam board.
- It works on any budget. Acrylic, a printed template and glass paint comes in under $50. A custom hand-painted panel runs $400 and up. Same look, very different receipt.
- It fits the "quiet luxury" mood. A muted, earthy palette — sage, terracotta, dusty rose, bone, antique gold — feels grown-up in a way bright signage doesn't.
- It scales across the whole day. One motif and palette can carry through your welcome sign, matching table numbers and a last-name keepsake — which is exactly where a template earns its keep.
See it in action
The signs brides reach for most
Faux stained glass is a style — the motif inside it is what makes the sign yours. These are the designs brides reach for most right now, and the ones I'd start with.
Calla lily keepsake
Tall, sculptural white callas around your married name — understated and elegant. One of my bestsellers, and made to keep long after the day.
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Wildflower meadow
Lavender, daisies and soft botanicals in a tall rectangular frame. The garden-wedding favourite, and the easiest palette to match to anything.
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Lily of the valley keepsake
Delicate white bells and soft green leading — quiet, classic and very of-the-moment. One of my most-loved designs.
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Sunflower keepsake
Sunny yellow petals around your last name — warm and joyful, and a strong seller. Recolour it rust or gold for an autumn wedding.
View template →More in the collection
There's plenty more beyond these — a coastal beach design, a climbing garden rose, pink and blue hydrangea, romantic red roses, a classic cathedral window and the sweet coquette bow. More floral themes are on the way too — and if there's a particular flower or palette you have in mind and don't see, leave me a message. I design new motifs based on what brides ask for.
A welcome sign you'll want to keep
Here's the part I love most: these are welcome signs — your names and a greeting at the entrance, the spot where guests stop to take a photo on the way in. When the day's over, you don't box it up or throw it away. Find a nice spot at home and it quietly becomes a keepsake of the wedding. That's exactly why the last-name versions, with your married name set into the glass, are such a favourite.
And if you'd like the look on every table, the matching table numbers come in both arched and rectangular shapes — pick whichever suits your tables. There's a wildflower and a calla lily version to start, with more motifs being added.
If there's a coordinating piece you don't see yet, message me — I add sizes and variants based on what brides ask for, and the collection is still growing.
How to make your sign, step by step
Once your template arrives, here's the whole process, start to finish.
Open and edit your template in Canva
These designs are Canva templates. After you buy, you'll get a PDF with a link that opens the template in Canva — free, browser-based, nothing to install. Edit your names, date and wording, then download as PDF Print for the cleanest line work. New to Canva? My step-by-step Canva guide walks you through opening the link and saving your own copy.
Print at 100% scale
The 16×20" can be tiled across home-printed sheets, but for 18×24" and 24×36" take the PDF to a local print shop — Staples, FedEx Office, Office Depot and most local shops handle these sizes easily. The one rule: print at 100% scale, no resizing, so the design stays true to size.
Tape it behind your acrylic or glass
Secure the printout behind a clear acrylic sheet (cut to your sign size) or a clear glass frame so nothing shifts while you trace. Acrylic is lighter, safer to transport, and what most brides use.
Trace the leading, then fill the colour
Trace the lines with a black paint marker or glass liner, then fill each section with glass paint in your chosen colours. Work in sections and let each layer dry before the next — that's what gives it real stained-glass depth.
Dry fully and display
Let everything cure, then set it on an easel or in a frame — ideally near natural light or candles for the full glow. That's the moment it stops looking like a craft project and starts looking like the photo you saved.
Block out a Saturday. A welcome sign takes most brides 3–5 hours of painting spread over an evening or two; table numbers run 30–45 minutes each. It's a lovely job to do with a maid of honour and a film on — not something to start the night before.
The questions brides ask most
These are the real things people type into Google before buying, and the ones that land in my inbox most weeks.
Is faux stained glass printed, or do I paint it?
It's a DIY tracing guide, designed for hand-painting. You print the line-art design, place it under a clear acrylic sheet or glass frame, trace the lead lines with a black paint marker, and fill each section with glass paint. The hand-painted finish is what gives it that real stained-glass depth.
What size should the welcome sign be?
The template includes three sizes: 16×20", 18×24" and 24×36". The 24×36" is the classic "easel at the entrance" size, 18×24" suits a smaller easel, and 16×20" is great for an intimate venue or to frame.
Can I change the colours and wording to match my wedding?
Yes — that's the whole point. You edit the names, date, message, fonts and layout in Canva, and you choose your paint colours at the painting stage. Match them to your florals, your bridesmaid dresses, or your venue lighting. No two finished signs look the same.
Do I need design software like Photoshop?
No. The template opens in Canva, which is free, browser-based and beginner-friendly. After purchase you get a PDF with a direct link that opens it in Canva, and if you've never used it before, my Canva guide takes you through every step.
How does the template arrive?
It's an instant digital download. You'll get an instructions PDF; inside it, you click the link to open your template in Canva. Edit your details, download as PDF Print, then print at 100% scale and start tracing. The full opening guide is here.
Can I print at home or do I need a print shop?
The 16×20" can be tiled across home-printed sheets. For 18×24" and 24×36", a local print shop is easiest — Staples, FedEx Office, Office Depot and most local shops handle these sizes. Just print at 100% scale with no resizing.
What paint and supplies do I need?
For the leading: a black paint marker or a glass liner (like Gallery Glass black liquid leading). For the panels: glass paint (Pebeo Vitrail or Gallery Glass) gives the truest translucency. Acrylic paint mixed with a clear medium also works and is more forgiving for first-timers. Paint it on a clear acrylic sheet cut to size, or a clear glass frame.
How long does the painting take?
A welcome sign is usually 3–5 hours of painting spread over an evening or two — you'll want layers to dry before continuing. Smaller pieces like table numbers run 30–45 minutes each.
Will it work for a baby shower, bridal shower or baptism?
Absolutely. There's a baptism design built for christenings and first communions, and the hearts and coquette bow designs are favourites for bridal and baby showers. Just change the wording in Canva.
Can I use it for an anniversary or vow renewal instead of a wedding?
Yes — the template is occasion-flexible. Change the text, keep the design. The last-name keepsake version is especially popular as an anniversary gift.
Every design is editable in Canva and ready to download today — you'll find the full stained glass collection just below. And if you'd like to hear first when I add new motifs and matching table numbers, join the newsletter for launches and subscriber-only discounts.
Please note that some images may be generated by artificial intelligence for illustrative purposes only.
