How to Choose the Right Banner Font for Your Event
When you order a custom letter banner, the font style you choose sets the entire tone. A cursive script banner says "elegant wedding." A bold block letter banner says "milestone birthday." A Western-style font says "rodeo party" (or a really committed country music fan).
We offer 10 different letter banner styles, and each one has a distinct look and personality. Picking the right one comes down to three things: the type of event, how much space you need to fill, and how long your message is.
This guide compares every style we offer so you can choose with confidence.
Our Banner Styles at a Glance
Here's a quick overview of every style, what it looks like, and where it works best.
Script (Cursive)
What it looks like: Flowing, connected cursive letters in both uppercase and lowercase. Our most popular style.
Best for: Weddings, baby showers, engagement parties, bridal showers, birthday celebrations, and any event where you want something classic and polished.
Message length: Works well for both short phrases (names, "Mr & Mrs") and longer sentences. The cursive letters overlap slightly, so longer messages stay compact.
Why people choose it: Versatile, readable, and elegant without being overly formal. This is the safe choice when you're not sure which style to pick.
Fancy (Formal Script)
What it looks like: Oversized capital letters with decorative flourishes, paired with elegant lowercase letters that overlap. More ornate than the standard Script style.
Best for: Formal events, upscale weddings, anniversary dinners, galas, and any event with a sophisticated or black-tie feel.
Message length: Best for shorter phrases and names. The oversized capitals and overlapping lowercase letters look beautiful on shorter messages. Very long sentences can get busy.
Why people choose it: When the standard Script style isn't dressy enough. The Fancy style makes a statement at formal events.
Modern (Bold Sans Serif, All Caps)
What it looks like: Clean, bold, all-capital letters in a contemporary sans serif font. Minimal and trendy.
Best for: Milestone birthdays, modern weddings, corporate events, baby showers with a minimalist theme, and any event with a clean aesthetic.
Message length: Works well for short to medium messages. Because it's all caps and bold, very long messages can feel heavy. Great for short names and punchy phrases.
Why people choose it: The clean look matches modern party decor trends. It photographs well and reads clearly from a distance.
Narrow Block (Tall, All Caps)
What it looks like: Tall, slim capital letters with a condensed width. Takes up less horizontal space than other styles.
Best for: Situations where you need a long message in a tight space, or where you want to fill a vertical area like a doorway, window, or tall photo backdrop.
Message length: This is the style to choose when you have a lot to say. The narrow letters let you fit more text into a smaller horizontal span.
Why people choose it: Practicality. Sometimes the space dictates the font. If you need "Happy 50th Birthday Jennifer" to fit across a standard doorway, the Narrow Block style makes it work.
View the Narrow Block Banner →
Slab Serif (Bold, Wide, All Caps)
What it looks like: The widest and boldest letters in our lineup. Chunky capital letters with thick "slab" serifs. Impossible to miss.
Best for: Making a big, bold statement. Great for short messages where you want maximum impact, like a name or a short phrase ("CHEERS," "50," "CONGRATS").
Message length: Keep it short. These letters are wide and take up a lot of horizontal space. A few words will fill a large area quickly.
Why people choose it: When you want the banner to be the focal point of the room. The Slab Serif style commands attention and reads clearly from far away.
Rounded (All Caps)
What it looks like: Soft, rounded capital letters with a friendly, playful feel.
Best for: Kids' birthday parties, classroom decorations, grade school events, and any celebration with a youthful or casual vibe.
Message length: Works for short to medium messages. The rounded shapes are easy to read and approachable.
Why people choose it: It's cheerful and kid-friendly without being cartoonish. A good fit for first birthday parties, school events, and informal gatherings.
Western
What it looks like: Bold capital letters with a classic Western or saloon-style aesthetic.
Best for: Western-themed parties, rodeo events, country music events, cowboy/cowgirl birthdays, and themed celebrations.
Message length: Works for short to medium messages. The style has a strong visual identity that shines on shorter text.
Why people choose it: If you're throwing a Western-themed event, this is the style. It's specific, fun, and instantly sets the theme.
Wilderness
What it looks like: Rugged, slightly irregular capital letters with an adventurous, outdoorsy feel. The edges are intentionally rough.
Best for: Camping-themed parties, outdoor adventure celebrations, national park themed events, lumberjack birthdays, and nature-inspired decor.
Message length: Short to medium. The rough styling adds character but can get visually complex on very long messages.
Why people choose it: Perfect for a very specific aesthetic. If your party has a mountain, forest, or adventure theme, this style matches it.
Haunted
What it looks like: Eerie, irregular letterforms with a creepy, hand-drawn quality. Letters vary in size and alignment for an unsettling effect.
Best for: Halloween parties, haunted houses, gothic-themed events, Tim Burton-inspired celebrations, and wizard or dark fantasy parties.
Message length: Short messages have the most impact. The intentional variation in letter sizes means longer messages look more chaotic (which could be exactly what you want for Halloween).
Why people choose it: When you want your decor to match a spooky or gothic theme. This is a niche style that does its job very well.
Spooky
What it looks like: A companion to the Haunted style with its own distinct spooky character.
Best for: Halloween events, Day of the Dead celebrations, and any spooky-themed gathering.
Message length: Short phrases and single words work best.
Why people choose it: An alternative spooky option for when you want something eerie without the extreme irregularity of the Haunted font.
Choosing by Event Type
If you're still not sure, here's a quick reference based on common event types.
Weddings and bridal showers: Script or Fancy. Script is the crowd-pleaser. Fancy is for more formal or upscale events.
Birthday parties (adults): Modern, Script, or Slab Serif. Modern for a clean look, Script for a classic feel, Slab Serif when you want it bold and loud.
Birthday parties (kids): Rounded or any themed style that matches the party. Rounded is the safest all-purpose option for younger kids.
Graduation parties: Modern or Script. Both read well and feel celebratory.
Baby showers: Script, Modern, or Rounded. Depends on the overall aesthetic of the shower.
Themed parties: Match the style to the theme. Western for cowboy/cowgirl, Haunted or Spooky for Halloween, Wilderness for camping or outdoors themes.
When you need a long message in a small space: Narrow Block.
When you need a short message to fill a big space: Slab Serif.
How to Preview Your Banner
Not sure how your message will look in a particular style? Use our online banner designer to type your text and see an instant preview in different sizes. This also gives you a size estimate so you know how much space your banner will take up.
Ready to Order?
Browse all of our custom banner styles and pick the one that fits your event. Every banner is custom-cut from premium glitter or matte cardstock and ships ready to hang.
Need help choosing? Contact us with your event type and message, and we'll recommend the best fit.