Weddings, retirement parties, anniversaries, bar and bat mitzvahs and baby showers all take a great deal of planning. When it comes to a keepsake from the day, it's easy to settle for the simplest option. Presents at big events are often large and flashy, but most of us simply want something that reminds us of the day itself. That's where the signature picture frame comes in.
Despite the name, it isn't a frame bearing your name or a personalised design. It's a large, simple frame with an oversized mount around a smaller-than-usual picture in the centre. The mount leaves room for every guest to write a message.
Where to get one
Any framing shop can make a signature frame. You only need to decide the size of the frame, the size of the image and how much writing space you want on the mount.
On our Picture Frames & Mounts page you enter the size you need and then plan the mount. You can adjust it to the millimetre, choose from a range of colours and see a preview of the finished frame as you go. You can add a second mount, so the central image gets a border of its own, or choose a multi-aperture mount to hold several images in one frame. Then choose your frame style and glazing, and we dispatch it within three days. The only thing we can't do is the signatures.
What makes a good signature frame
- A matt mount. Your guests need to write on it, so choose a matt surface that takes ink easily.
- A light colour. White, ivory, cream, blush pink, baby blue or mint green all let the ink show. If you're feeling adventurous, choose a black mount and have guests write in gold or silver metallic ink.
- Enough room. Think about how many guests you have and how long you'd like their messages to be. The mount usually needs to be at least 100mm wide on every side.
- A quiet frame. The signatures and the central image should stay the focus. A fairly narrow frame in black, white, natural wood or gold works well.
- UV-resistant glazing. It protects against fading.
The centre doesn't have to be a photograph. It could be a poster or flyer from an event that mattered to you. The closing night of a concert or theatre run is the perfect time to frame a poster and get everyone signing.
Getting your guests to sign
Set up a table near the entrance to your event. Ask for the frame without glazing (with an EasyFrame order, simply take the glazing out) and stand it somewhere stable, a safe distance from food and drink. An artist's easel works well if you secure the frame at the back.
Before the event starts, ask a couple of people to leave messages so that other guests can see what to write. Then nudge everyone else to join in over the course of the evening.
Test a pen on a small area of the mount first, either on the back or on a scrap piece from the framer. If it writes well, leave that pen out for your guests. Every signature will then be in the same ink.
Finishing the frame
At the end of the event, return the frame to the framing shop to be finished. If you ordered from EasyFrame, simply put the glazing back and decide where to hang it.
A signature frame also makes a wonderful gift. If you're organised, and sneaky, you can arrange the signing behind the scenes at a loved one's big event, take the frame away at the end of the night, finish it and wrap it up.