Beautiful, bespoke, and brilliantly useful – here’s how to weave illustrated maps into your wedding
When it comes to adding personality and charm to your wedding, few details are as delightful (or as practical) as a custom wedding map. Whether you’re planning a wedding weekend in the UK or hosting a destination wedding, a hand-painted map is a thoughtful way to guide your guests - and it just so happens to make a stunning keepsake too.
Each wedding map I design is completely custom – from the colours to the landmarks and decorative elements. I can incorporate design details in keeping with the location - farm animals for barn weddings, palm trees, shells and tropical flowers for destination weddings and lobsters, anchors and boats for coastal weddings.
Here are 3 ways to use a wedding map in your celebration:
1. Wedding Invitation Set with Map
A wedding map is a perfect addition to your invitations – especially if your wedding takes place across multiple venues or you're hosting a destination celebration.
You have a few options:
- As a separate card: Tuck a map card in with your invitation, the cards can be layered and varying in size and tied with ribbon or a belly band to keep them together. This allows guests to take only the cards they need to the wedding - such as the itinerary and wedding map.
- Printed on the back of a folded invitation: Ideal if you're having a gatefold invitation. This is cost-effective as you are printing on the back of the invitation, which would otherwise be blank space, rather than adding in an extra card to your suite.
- As an insert in a folded invitation: Some clients prefer the map to be printed on a separate card. This can be a slightly smaller card that slots inside the folded invitation.
Maps can include ceremony and reception locations, nearby accommodation and tourist spots that your guests might want to visit. With delicate watercolour illustrations and colours that match your wedding palette, they set the tone for a fun wedding weekend with plenty to enjoy.
2. Wedding Maps Itineraries
These are perfect for popping into welcome bags and are a lovely way to keep guests in the loop with everything that’s happening.
One side features the hand-painted map, beautifully illustrating your venue, key locations and charming icons - and the reverse side can be printed with either your order of the day if it’s a one-day event, or your wedding weekend itinerary, including timings for pre-wedding drinks, the ceremony, brunch, and more.
This kind of practical design is appreciated by guests - and it makes for a cute keepsake they’ll want to take home.
3. Wedding Signs with Maps
Custom wedding maps can be incorporated into your signage too, and printed on your welcome sign or combined with an order of events.
Here are some ideas:
- Welcome Sign with a Map: Combine your welcome message with a small illustrated map to orient guests as they arrive — especially useful for larger or multi-space venues.
- Order of Events Board: Print your itinerary alongside a map for a combined sign that’s both eye-catching and informative.
- Combine with a QR Code: You could also print a QR code in the corner, for guests to upload photos they have taken on the day.
Thinking of including a map in your wedding design? I’d love to help. Get in touch to chat about your ideas — from custom crests to dreamy destination details, I’ll bring your map (and your wedding vision) to life.