Inside my Patreon community, I recently asked members if they’d be interested in having me critique their work. And while “critique” can sound a little scary, I truly believe it’s one of the best ways to grow. Having fresh eyes on your work – especially with constructive feedback – can highlight things you might never notice on your own.
One member submitted a photo of a wedding sign they created. First, let me say: it was gorgeous. If I walked into a wedding and saw that sign, I’d think, wow, that’s beautiful – and I’m sure the couple and their guests did too.
But since they asked for critique, I broke down what I’d change, why, and then rebuilt a quick version of it to show the difference.
Supplies Used
- Ruler
- Paper
- Pencil – I used a Palamino Blackwing
- Eraser
- Brush Pen(s) – I used Tombow Dual Brush Pens (N15 + 815)
- Sharpie
Rather watch than read? Check out the full video by clicking the video below!
Let’s Get Started!
It’s really important to talk about what worked well with this initial design.
- The overall design and florals were lovely
- The piece was thoughtful and celebratory
- It clearly made an impression
So none of this is about “fixing mistakes.” It’s about refining an already beautiful piece so it feels even more polished and balanced.
Things I Would Change
As I said, this sign is beautiful and just fine as is. Below are some of the changes I would make though if I were designing it.
Change #1: Centering the Layout
The first thing I noticed was that the ampersand (&) looked squished in between the names, and the whole “Pete and Gena” portion felt slightly off-center. Fixing this instantly makes the names the true focal point.
Change #2: Adjusting Text Sizes
Some of the secondary text – like “Welcome to the wedding of” and the date – was larger than it needed to be. I’d shrink those so they take up less space, leaving more breathing room for the names.
Change #3: Simplifying the Border
The sign had a white border around the edge. While not bad, I found it made the layout feel crowded. Personally, I prefer letting the florals extend to the edges without boxing them in.
Change #4: Toning Down the Florals
Some flowers were colored in, which slightly distracted from the main lettering. I’d keep them simpler and lighter so they enhance the design instead of competing with the names.
My Quick Rebuild
Since I didn’t have the actual sign to work on, I mocked up the proportions on paper to show my process:
- I sketched out a border to imagine where florals might land
- Blocked in the top text (“Welcome to the wedding of”) in smaller letters on two lines
- Reserved a large central space for Pete and Gena as the star of the show
- Sketched the date at the bottom in smaller text again
- Tried a couple ampersand options – either a smaller, centered one, or block-style “and” between the names
Even rough, the rebuilt version showed how small adjustments in spacing and hierarchy can shift the whole feel of the piece.
The Big Lesson
When it comes to wedding signs, the names of the couple should always be the hero. Guests don’t really care if it says “Welcome to the wedding of…” – they care about seeing who’s getting married! Everything else should support that focus without crowding or distracting from it.
That’s a Wrap!
Interested in more critiques like this? This kind of exercise is something I’d love to do more of inside my Patreon community. Not only does it help the artist who submitted the piece, but everyone watching can pick up lessons they can apply to their own work.
If you’d like to be part of that community (and maybe even submit your own piece for future critiques), you can join us here. It’s a supportive, creative space – and I’d love to see you there.
And finally, your dad joke…
Have you heard about the submarine industry?
It really took a dive…
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