Buy the one that works the day after, not just the day of. A name or a number in Warm White gets kept; a phrase with a specific age does not.
Order at least 35 days ahead. Your sign is made and delivered in 7 to 12 days with express shipping, or 18 to 25 days with free shipping counted from when you approve the drawing, not from when you order.
The reusable versus single use decision
This is the whole article, really. A birthday sign costs the same whether it works once or for years, so the only question worth answering carefully is which one you are buying.
| Wording | Life after the party |
|---|---|
| A first name | Goes straight on a bedroom wall. The best value option |
| A milestone number | Reused at every party in the family. Surprisingly practical |
| A short universal phrase | Works at any celebration and on a wall in between |
| Name plus a specific age | One use. Fine if you know that going in |
Size and placement
- ✓ 80 to 120 cm for a photo backdrop. It needs to read in a wide shot with people in front of it.
- ✓ 50 to 80 cm on a cake table or bar, read close up.
- ✓ Leave two to three meters of clear floor in front of it so phones can frame a person and the sign together.
- ✓ Consider a stand if it is going to a venue. No wall fixing needed and it packs down.
Color
Warm White photographs best and flatters everyone standing under it, which matters at an event where the whole point is the pictures. Hot Pink is the most popular color we make and looks spectacular, but it tints everyone pink in the photographs. Multi color, different words in different colors, costs nothing extra and is worth using here.
Timing
Your sign is made and delivered in 7 to 12 days with express shipping, or 18 to 25 days with free shipping from the moment you approve the drawing. Large or complex pieces sit at the top of that range. Allow 35 days before the date to be comfortable, 21 to 34 if you approve promptly and use express shipping. Under 21 days, ask us before you order rather than after.
The commonest cause of a missed date is not production. It is a drawing sitting unread in an inbox.
Put the name up, in Warm White, around a meter wide, and let the balloons carry the age. It photographs better, it costs the same, and it is still on a wall next year. If you want the age in neon, buy the number on its own rather than attached to a name, and you will use it again.
Frequently asked questions
What size neon sign works as a party backdrop?
80 to 120 cm wide, so it reads in a wide shot with people standing in front of it. Table top pieces on a bar or cake table work at 50 to 80 cm. Leave two to three meters of clear floor in front so phones can frame a person and the sign together.
Should the sign include the age?
Only if you are happy for it to be a one use item. A first name goes on a bedroom wall the week after, and a milestone number on its own gets reused at every party in the family. A name attached to a specific age works once.
How far ahead should I order for a party?
At least 35 days. Your sign is made and delivered in 7 to 12 days with express shipping, or 18 to 25 days with free shipping, counted from when you approve the drawing rather than from when you order, so the approval step is where most lost time goes. Between 21 and 34 days is workable with prompt approval and express shipping.
Can I use a neon sign at a venue that does not allow drilling?
Yes. A free standing sign on a stand needs no wall fixing at all, packs down for transport and travels to the next event. Check the venue's rules before ordering, because it changes what we supply.
What color photographs best at a party?
Warm White. It flatters everyone standing under it, which is the point at an event built around photographs. Saturated colors look spectacular but tint the people in front of them, so Hot Pink means everyone comes out pink.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
