How to Make Wedding Fans

Wedding Fans are a unique personalized favor for your guests to keep

Wedding fans are a unique accent to any wedding. You can design your own special wedding fan program as relief from summer heat at an outdoor wedding. Your personalized wedding fan programs can contain as little or as much detail as you would like.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock
• Wooden craft sticks
• Craft Glue
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Choose color of card stock and ribbon that will work as an accent to wedding colors. Choose a shape you would like. Contact local copy center and inquire if they do custom cutting. This way your card stock can be printed, cut and be ready for assembly. Otherwise if cutting them yourself be sure to make a sample out of paper first. You will need to make a note of times that items will be completed and ready to assemble. So that you do not find yourself rushing at the last minute.

2. 

   Plan layout of fan. If using as a program include names of bride and groom, date, time and place. If adding a picture choose a shot that looks good in black and white or sepia. As they tend to look the best. Cut out a mock shape of what you have decided on. After choosing font and size print up and place it where you would like it to be. Bring everything to copy center for printing or if you have chosen to do it yourself do so and then cut card stock into desired shape.
   If you choose to leave one side of the fan plain, embossed card stock adds a nice touch.

3. 

   Prepare wooden craft sticks and ribbon. If you prefer for the sticks to be a different color you can paint them. You can purchase craft paint at any craft store. Paint both sides of the stick. But only paint half of the stick. The other half will be glued between the two sheets of card stock. Tie a ribbon into a bow around one of the craft sticks. Find a length that you like and cut all ribbon to proper length. You can also customize further by ordering personalized ribbon for wedding favors. I can be use to decorate the basket for the fans or as an addition to bows or other wedding favors.

4. Assembling the wedding fan.
   Lay printed portion of fan face down on flat surface. Use ruler to find center of fan at the bottom. Make a small pencil dot to mark. You may use the mock up fan to mark each before you start. Place glue on one side of craft stick unpainted portion. Press wooden craft stick to fan, turn over gently smooth away any bubbles. Set aside to dry.

5. Attaching second half of fan. Apply glue to half that contains stick. Now place second half face down ( printed side or side to be shown should be facing you) starting at top to make sure they are aligned. Set aside allow to dry.

6. Adding ribbon. Tie ribbon into bow tightly. Place small dab of glue between bow and stick allow to dry. This will keep bow in place against stick. As soon as they are dry they are ready to go.

7. Display fans at wedding in a basket or place on chairs if it is an outdoor wedding. If displayed in basket you can add tissue paper or tulle in the bottom of the basket for decoration and to slightly lift fans for better display.

Tips & Warnings

• Scrap Book stores have a variety of vendors and may be able to help you find a special card stock.

• Scrap book stores also have Die Cut machines that can cut your card stock into special shapes usually at a small cost.

• Do not add too much detail. Sometimes simple is the best way to go. You do not want the fan to seem busy or cluttered.

• See my other great Wedding Favor idea

• How to make Plantable Confetti Wedding Favors

• Card stock is flammable, do not place directly in front of or near any lit candles.