Frequently Asked
Questions

We work exclusively with premium acrylic and plexiglass — not the thin, brittle kind found in mass-market products. Our acrylic holds its finish over time, doesn't yellow, and photographs exceptionally well. We offer both mirror finishes (gold, silver) and opaque finishes (white, black, frosted, clear). The letters are precision laser-cut and raised in 3D — we don't use vinyl, stickers, or decals, which means no peeling, no scratching, no fading over time.

Mirror finishes (gold and silver) are reflective — they catch light beautifully and add a sense of glamour. They work particularly well in ballroom venues, candlelit spaces, and anywhere with warm lighting. One practical note: if you place a mirror welcome sign somewhere with a background, think about what will show in the reflection. A floral backdrop or a wall is ideal.

Opaque finishes (white, frosted, black, clear) have a cleaner, more modern look. They're easier to read in bright outdoor settings and pair well with minimalist or garden wedding aesthetics. If you're unsure which to choose, send us your venue photos and we'll give you a direct recommendation.

Yes. Acrylic is waterproof, UV-stable, and significantly more impact-resistant than glass. For outdoor use, we recommend opaque or frosted finishes over mirror, as mirror acrylic can produce glare in direct sunlight and make the text harder to read. If your ceremony is outdoors and you're set on a mirror finish, placing it in a shaded area or under a canopy works well.

Always. We send a digital design proof for every single order before anything goes into production. You'll see exactly how your names, date, and layout will look — proportions, font, spacing, everything. If you want changes, we revise until you're satisfied. We never proceed to production without your written approval. Getting it right matters more than moving fast.

Yes. If you have a font you love from your invitations or stationery, share it with us and we'll do our best to match or closely complement it. Our design process is collaborative — we're not filling in a template. If you have a specific aesthetic in mind (minimalist, serif-heavy, script-led, architectural), tell us and we'll design accordingly. The more reference you give us, the better the result.

Both. We have a range of established designs that can be personalised with your names and details, as well as a fully bespoke service where we design from scratch around your vision. If you have something specific in mind — a layout you saw somewhere, a design that matches your florals, a motif that means something to you — share it with us and we'll build from there.

Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Avoid abrasive materials, solvents, or alcohol-based cleaners — these can dull the surface over time. For mirror finishes, a microfibre cloth works best. Many of our customers keep their welcome sign as home décor after the wedding — acrylic is durable enough to hang on a wall long-term, and our designs are intentionally minimal so they don't look like temporary event décor.

If you're keeping it essential, the five must-haves are: a Welcome Sign at the entrance, a Seating Chart so guests know where to sit, Table Numbers to match, an Order of the Day so guests know the schedule, and a Bar Menu if you have an open bar. Beyond that, popular additions include directional signs for large venues, a cake table sign, an unplugged ceremony sign (asking guests to silence phones), and a guest book sign. We make all of these, and they're designed to work together as a cohesive set.

For outdoor and garden weddings, frosted or clear acrylic tends to work best. The airy transparency sits naturally in green surroundings without competing with the scenery. If you go with clear acrylic, keep in mind it reads better against a solid background — a hedge, a wall, or florals behind the sign will make the text pop. A plain sky or a busy outdoor backdrop can make clear acrylic harder to read from a distance.

Gold mirror acrylic is our most popular choice for ballroom and formal settings. The reflective surface picks up chandelier light and warm candlelight in a way that feels genuinely luxurious. If your venue has gold, brass, or warm-toned florals, gold mirror integrates seamlessly. Silver mirror is the cleaner, cooler alternative — it pairs well with white, grey, and eucalyptus palettes.

Clear or white opaque acrylic with a clean sans-serif or architectural font is the go-to for modern and minimalist aesthetics. The absence of ornamentation is the point — the sign works through proportion and restraint rather than decoration. Black acrylic with white lettering is another strong option for high-contrast, editorial looks.

Yes, and it can look intentional when done thoughtfully. A common approach is using a mirror finish for your statement pieces — the welcome sign and seating chart — and a cleaner opaque or frosted finish for table numbers and smaller signs. This creates visual hierarchy: the larger pieces draw attention, while the smaller functional signs don't compete. Share your venue photos with us and we can suggest a combination that works.

The welcome sign works best at the first high-traffic point where guests arrive — the venue entrance, the ceremony entrance, or the reception door. Think of it as the cover page of your wedding day: the first visual your guests see that signals the tone of everything to come. An easel works best for most settings. Check with your venue before renting one — many already have easels on-site. If placing it outside, consider whether the easel can be weighted or anchored in case of wind.

At minimum: a welcome line, both names, and the wedding date. That's enough for it to be meaningful and functional. Some couples add a short quote or a line that means something specific to them — that's a personal choice. If you plan to keep the sign as home décor afterwards, keeping it to just names and date means it will still feel right hanging on your wall years from now. Avoid cramming in too much text — the sign reads best when it has breathing room.

We recommend ordering at least 3–4 weeks before your wedding date. This gives enough time for the proof stage, any revisions, production, and shipping — without pressure. For seating charts, it's common to have guest list changes up until a few weeks before the wedding, so ordering 3 weeks out is perfectly normal. If you're ordering from outside Turkey, factor in international shipping time. For urgent orders, contact us directly and we'll tell you honestly what's possible.

For most weddings, an 18×24 inch (45×60 cm) sign is the sweet spot — visible from a distance, proportionate on a standard easel, and not overwhelming in smaller spaces. For grand ballroom entrances, large outdoor ceremonies, or venues with high ceilings, a 24×36 inch (60×90 cm) sign makes a stronger statement. The larger the space and the further guests will be standing when they first see it, the bigger you want to go. If you're unsure, share a photo of your venue entrance with us and we'll give you a direct recommendation.

Up to 75 guests: 18×24 inches works well with a clean two-column layout. 75–150 guests: 24×36 inches gives enough space for names to remain legible without feeling cramped. Over 150 guests: we recommend either a single oversized board with a condensed layout, or two 18×24 panels displayed side by side. The key factor is legibility — guests need to find their name quickly, often while holding drinks. Font size and column spacing matter as much as the overall sign size.

Our standard table numbers are sized to be visible from across the table without dominating the centrepiece. For round tables with a central floral arrangement, a 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) number works well. For longer banquet tables where guests need to see the number from further away, 5×7 inch (13×18 cm) is more appropriate. The height of your centrepiece also matters — if you have tall florals, the table number needs to sit above them or be placed at the edge of the table where it's unobstructed.

A single large chart makes a stronger visual statement and is simpler to set up. For weddings under 150 guests, one board is almost always the better choice. For larger weddings (200+), two boards placed side by side can prevent a bottleneck where everyone crowds around a single sign. If you go with two boards, we design them as a matched pair — same layout, same finish, split alphabetically or by table group so guests know which one to look at.

Yes. We produce custom sizes regularly — for specific easel dimensions, venue alcoves, or oversized statement pieces. Message us with your requirements before placing an order and we'll confirm feasibility and pricing. Custom sizing typically doesn't affect production time.

The simplest approach: stand at the point where guests will first see the sign and estimate the distance. For a welcome sign viewed from 3–4 metres away, 18×24 inches is easily readable. For signs viewed from 6+ metres, go to 24×36 inches. You don't need precise measurements — a photo of the space with a person standing in front of the intended sign location tells us everything we need to recommend the right size.

Once you approve your design proof, production takes 1–3 business days. Business days exclude weekends and public holidays. Orders placed after 5:00 PM (GMT+3) are considered received on the next business day.

During busy periods, production times may extend slightly. If that happens, we'll notify you by email. Every item is made entirely by hand in our Istanbul and İzmir ateliers — we don't outsource or batch-produce, which is why the quality is consistent and the timeline is tight.

We ship worldwide via FedEx — fully tracked, fast, and carefully packaged to protect your order in transit. Once your order ships, you'll receive a tracking number by email. Tracking updates may take 24–48 hours to activate after dispatch.

Estimated delivery times after dispatch:

United States & Europe: 1–4 business days (FedEx Express)
Other countries: 2–8 business days

These are estimates — delivery times can vary depending on destination, customs procedures, and carrier operations. We do not ship to P.O. Boxes.

United States: No customs duties, import taxes, or additional fees apply to NouArch orders shipped to the US.

All other countries: Any applicable customs duties, VAT, or local import taxes are determined by your country's authorities and are the responsibility of the buyer. We have no control over these fees and cannot predict their amount in advance.

If you're unsure whether duties apply in your country, we recommend checking with your local customs office before ordering. Shipping costs are calculated and displayed at checkout.

Cancellations and modifications are only possible before production begins. Once production has started, we're unable to make changes or accept cancellations — because each piece is made specifically for your order.

If you need to cancel or amend your order, contact us immediately at info@nouarchstudio.com. During the proof stage, design changes — wording, layout, size, finish — are always welcome. That's what the proof process is for.

Because every NouArch product is custom-made and personalised to your order, we are unable to accept returns on personalised or made-to-order items. This is consistent with EU consumer law (Directive 2011/83/EU, Article 16(c)), which excludes the right of withdrawal for goods made to a consumer's specifications.

We do have a 7-day return window for non-personalised items received in their original, unused condition with tags and proof of purchase. To start a return, contact us at info@nouarchstudio.com. Returns are sent to: Turkmen Mah. Mesrutiyet Cad. No 7A, 35750 Ödemiş, İzmir, Turkey.

EU customers: If your order is shipped into the European Union, you have a 14-day cooling-off period for eligible (non-personalised) items.

Items sent back without first requesting a return will not be accepted. Sale items and gift cards are non-refundable.

Please inspect your order as soon as it arrives. If your item is defective, damaged in transit, or incorrect, contact us within 48 hours of delivery at info@nouarchstudio.com — include photos of the damage and your order details. Claims submitted after this window may not be accepted.

We take full responsibility for items that arrive damaged or wrong, and we will make it right. Over 12,000 orders shipped worldwide, and we've never walked away from a problem.

Once we receive and inspect an eligible return, we'll notify you whether a refund has been approved. If approved, the refund is issued to your original payment method within 10 business days. Banks and card providers may take additional time to process and post the amount.

If more than 15 business days have passed since your refund was approved and you haven't received it, contact us at info@nouarchstudio.com. Refunds do not include the original shipping cost.

Occasional delays can be caused by customs inspections, international shipping restrictions, or carrier disruptions — these are outside our control and do not constitute grounds for cancellation or refund once production has started.

If your tracking shows no movement for several days or your order appears lost, contact us and we'll investigate with FedEx on your behalf. Please make sure your shipping address is complete and accurate when ordering — we cannot be held responsible for delays or failed deliveries caused by incorrect address information. Address changes may not be possible once processing begins.