Southern Living, Wedding

DIY Oyster Shell Place Cards

These DIY Oyster Shell Place Cards were a huge hit at our wedding! They also served a dual purpose as our wedding favors! Everyone was so impressed and they turned out so beautiful in our wedding photos!

oyster shell place cards

I had seen this idea on Pinterest and also in Southern wedding magazines. I researched pricing with Etsy, as well as local artists, and found that they can add up to be really expensive! Even though I had less than 75 people at my wedding, the oyster cards alone were adding up to be over $200!

So I decided to give it a shot and make my own! I was so surprised (and excited) with how they turned out and just how easy it was! So for any future Lowcountry brides or for your next party/holiday gathering, these place cards will impress all of your guests!

What You’ll Need For DIY Oyster Shell Place Cards

  • Oyster Shells
  • Mod Podge
  • Mod Podge Applicator
  • Decocolor Gold Fine Tip Pen
  • Large Tray
  • Parchment Paper
  • Bleach
  • Dish Soap
  • Large Bucket
  • Hard Bristle Brush

How To Make Them

First things first, you need to make sure the oyster shells you’re using are properly cleaned. Bleach is a must and I like to soak them for at least 48 hours. You want to make sure all the smelly bacteria is gone and it makes scrubbing the shells and excess mud much easier.

After they’ve soaked, place all oysters in your biggest sink full of hot water and dish soap. After they’ve soaked for at east 15 minutes, scrub each shell with the hard bristle brush. Afterwards, let the shells dry thoroughly.

Now for the fun part! You want to hold the shell steady as you’re writing out each name. Once you’re done, apply the Mod Podge with the applicator and place the shell in the baking sheet lined with parchment paper to dry,

oyster shell place cards

The Mod Podge give the shell a beautiful and polished shine. Let the signed shells dry for at least an hour before handling.

And there you have it! Gorgeous DIY oyster shell place cards! You can use this technique on almost any shell that has a flat surface to write on.

Here’s How Mine Turned Out For the Wedding!

oyster shell place cards
oyster shell place cards
oyster shell place cards

Happy Crafting Y’all,