Materials Guide

Find the material that fits the moment.

From signage to finished artwork, the right material changes how a piece feels in the room. This guide is designed to help you compare the core finishes across Wedding Signs, Upload & Print, and Design Studio without getting lost in technical detail.

Used Across Gathurr

The same materials appear across signage, custom suites, and finished-artwork printing.

Best For Decision-Making

Use this page when the design is right but the finish still feels uncertain.

Guided, Not Overwhelming

The goal is clarity around feel, presence, and fit rather than technical overload.

How to use this guide

Start with the feeling you want the piece to have.

Some materials feel soft and paper-led. Others feel structured, polished, or more statement-making. The best choice is usually less about what sounds premium and more about what fits the setting, the visibility of the piece, and the mood of the day.

The Core Materials

Five finishes, each with a different kind of presence.

Flat Print

Our alternative to a regular paper poster, and a clear step up from it. A thick, smooth sheet with a soft matte finish and the color printed into the surface, so it reads rich with no glare and resists scratches on its own. Nothing shows through from behind, it lays flat and holds its shape where poster paper curls and creases, and it will not tear. Frame it or mount it to a board.

A step up from poster paper · Smooth matte · Lays flat, will not tear

Best for lighter-format signage, art prints, framed pieces, and softer visual styling.

Gatorboard

Lightweight, durable, and structured, gatorboard is often the practical choice when a piece needs to sit well on an easel or hold its own as a larger display.

Rigid foam-center board · Matte · Easel or wall

Best for welcome signs, seating charts, displays, and large-format pieces that need more support.

Acrylic

Crisp and polished with a modern finish, acrylic gives a design more clarity and presence. It works well when you want the material itself to feel elevated.

Clear cast acrylic · Polished edges · Standoffs or easel

Best for modern signage, keepsakes, gifts, and pieces that benefit from a clean architectural feel.

Gold Mirror

Reflective and more statement-driven, gold mirror brings light and drama into the room. It is most effective when the sign should feel like part of the atmosphere, not just part of the information.

Reflective gold mirror · Statement finish · Easel-ready

Best for bar signs, seating moments, evening receptions, and pieces that should feel more ceremonial.

Mirror Decal

Mirror decal is the most flexible option for brides who already have the mirror. It lets you apply the design directly to an Anthropologie mirror, a thrifted mirror, or another smooth glass surface you want to repurpose beautifully.

Applied vinyl lettering · For mirrors & glass

Best for repurposed mirrors, entrance moments, seating mirrors, bar mirrors, and one-of-a-kind pieces built around a mirror you already own.

Best By Need

A quicker way to narrow the right finish.

For softness

Choose flat print when you want the piece light, unframed or framed, and easy to place.

For structure

Choose gatorboard when the sign needs strength, scale, and an easy display format.

For polish

Choose acrylic when you want a crisp finish that feels elevated without becoming dramatic.

For presence

Choose gold mirror when the material itself should contribute atmosphere and visual energy.

For repurposing your own mirror

Choose mirror decal when you want to turn an existing mirror into part of the signage story instead of ordering a mounted sign.

Where It Applies

The same material question shows up in different parts of the brand.

Wedding Signs

Choose the finish that fits the wedding-day moment.

Materials shift the presence of welcome signs, menus, seating charts, table numbers, and bar signs even when the design itself stays the same.

Shop Wedding Signs

Upload & Print

Match finished artwork to the right display format.

If the artwork already exists, the material decision becomes the main way to shape how the final print feels once it is off-screen.

Explore Upload & Print

Design Studio

Use materials as part of the custom direction.

In Design Studio, material is considered alongside typography, layout, scale, and mood so the suite feels resolved as a whole.

Work with Design Studio

Decision Guide

If you are deciding between two, start here.

Flat Print vs Gatorboard

Choose flat print when you want a light piece that is a step up from poster paper, lays flat, and frames or mounts easily. Choose gatorboard when the piece needs more structure and display confidence.

Gatorboard vs Acrylic

Choose gatorboard when practicality and scale matter most. Choose acrylic when you want the piece to feel sharper and more elevated.

Acrylic vs Gold Mirror

Choose acrylic for clarity and polish. Choose gold mirror when reflection and atmosphere should become part of the visual effect.

Mounted Sign vs Mirror Decal

Choose a mounted sign when you want the material supplied and ready to display. Choose mirror decal when you already have a mirror and want to repurpose it beautifully.

Still deciding?

Choose the part of Gathurr that fits the moment you are in.

If you are ready to shop, start with Wedding Signs. If the artwork already exists, Upload & Print is the cleaner path. If you want the full suite shaped around your wedding, Design Studio is the better fit.

Shop Wedding Signs Explore Upload & Print