Wedding Ornaments

After the wedding, the invitation may go into a drawer and the photographs into an album. At Christmas, the date appears again on a much smaller thing: two names on glass, wood, ceramic, or metal, hung among ornaments collected long before the couple met.

The lettering from the invitation can make the ornament recognizably theirs. So can the first-dance photograph, the outline of the venue, or simply the two names and date. My favorites use one of those details and leave enough empty space around it to be seen from across the room.

Borrow from the invitation

Look at the invitation again before choosing the artwork. Its typeface, monogram, flowers, or line drawing of the venue can carry straight across to an ornament. For a design that reproduces the invitation itself, upload a clean scan or a straight-on photograph without shadows. That gives the maker a clear image to crop.

Choose one wedding photograph

At ornament size, one photograph gives the faces more room than a collage. A first-dance frame, the walk back up the aisle, or a quiet portrait away from the reception can all work. If I had three favorites open, I would shrink each to the width of a coffee cup and choose the one that stayed clearest.

Names, titles, and whose comes first

Copy the name order from the invitation or wedding website; it will already look familiar to the couple. If you are ordering your own, use the order you write when signing cards or thank-you notes.

Titles are optional. Mr & Mrs, Mrs & Mrs, and Mr & Mr can suit a formal design. Two first names work without titles or a shared surname, so they are the straightforward choice when you do not know what the couple chose.

The date can be formal or quiet

June 12, 2026 takes up space and gives the design some of the formality of an invitation. “Est. 2026” feels lighter. The year alone is quieter still, especially when the names or a photograph should lead. If the invitation used a date treatment you loved, I would repeat it. Otherwise, I would choose the shortest version that still feels like your wedding.

The material changes the mood

Engraved wood is lovely for names, dates, monograms, and simple venue lines. Printed ceramic or metal is where I would go for a photograph or invitation artwork. Clear acrylic lets the lettering do most of the work. Glass feels traditional and looks at home beside older ornaments, although it asks for more careful storage in January.

The rest of the tree can help with the choice. Old glass birds and collected baubles make an easy home for another glass or ceramic piece. A tree with wood, paper, and quieter colors may suit an engraved design better.

Giving one as a wedding gift

A wedding ornament can travel with the main gift or sit inside the card box. Before ordering, check three details: the spelling of both names, the wedding date, and whether the couple is sharing a surname.

Before the wedding, the invitation gives you everything needed for a names-and-date design. Afterward, if you want to use a photograph, I would ask rather than lift one from social media. The couple may have a favorite you have not seen.

For an anniversary

Years later, an anniversary ornament can use the original wedding date again. It might repeat the names and date, add the number of years, or pair a wedding photograph with one from now. For a twenty-fifth or fiftieth anniversary, I would keep the front uncluttered and put the number small beneath the names.