Life Size Cardboard Cutouts

Make an Entrance with Life Size Cardboard Cutouts

If you want guests smiling from the doorway, life size cardboard cutouts deliver every time. They look impressive in photos, they guide people through the space, and they set the tone before the first speech. From birthdays and weddings to school formals, themed nights and corporate functions, a well-placed cardboard standee is the quickest way to say “party starts here.”

Styles that land your theme

Start with the star of the show.

Celebrity cutouts bring instant recognition. Think classic film icons, music legends or current favourites for red-carpet style entrances. Build a scene with layered party backdrops.

Kids character standees are perfect for themed birthdays and movie marathons. Place one by the cake table and you have photos sorted.

Sports player standees suit presentation nights, grand final screenings and club rooms. For courtside vibes, pair with basketball party accents.

Giant numbers and letters turn milestone ages and initials into bold backdrops for group shots. Complement with number balloons.

Welcome and directional standees help guests find the bar, dance floor or photo corner with a smile. Add clarity with a simple banner.

Mix one hero piece with a couple of supporting standees and your venue reads “on theme” at a glance, with layered texture from balloons where needed.

Setup that takes minutes, not hours

Cutouts arrive flat and free-standing with a fold-out easel back. Open the strut, lock the tab, and you are done. They are light enough to reposition during the night, which is handy if you want them on the dance floor after speeches or near the exit for farewell photos. Keep a small kit ready with party essentials.

Placement tips

Put the hero standee where sightlines are clear, about two steps back from doorways so arrivals take it in.

Frame with a balloon arch, shimmer wall or streamer backdrop for depth.

Keep a small weight or a piece of museum putty on the front toes if you expect foot traffic or a breeze from open doors.

For outdoor use, choose a sheltered spot and avoid windy forecasts; cardboard is happiest indoors or on a covered deck.

Photo-ready from every angle

Good light makes the effect. Aim a soft lamp or ring light toward faces to avoid heavy shadows. If your standee is metallic or glossy, bounce light off a wall for a gentle glow. For group shots, angle the cutout slightly toward the camera so it feels present in the frame. A few mini standees on tables tie the look together in the background of candid photos, supported by subtle party decorations.

Ideas for different events

Milestone birthdays: pair giant number standees with a favourite celebrity cutout and a message board for guests to sign. Add sparkle with milestone birthday balloons.

Weddings and engagements: use a classic film couple or a “Welcome to the Reception” standee at the entry, then move it to the dance floor for first-dance pics. Coordinate accents with wedding balloons.

Hens, bucks and themed nights: go playful with retro icons, a rock star standee or a cheeky character; add speech-bubble props for captions. Bring the look together with costumes and accessories.

School formals and graduations: create a walk-through of life size standees along the red carpet for a Hollywood arrival, then pose at a trophy table dressed with awards and trophies.

Office events: brand-coloured letter standees and a neutral icon make a tidy backdrop for team photos without clashing with dress codes. Keep the palette crisp with white accents.

Care, storage and reuse

Cutouts are made from sturdy cardboard designed to hold shape for the event and beyond. Keep them dry, avoid leaning heavy items against the face, and store flat in the original sleeve or between clean sheets of cardboard. Small surface marks wipe gently with a dry microfibre cloth. Treated kindly, a standee can star in more than one celebration.

Safety and venue friendly use

Because they are lightweight and free-standing, standees are a safe choice for homes, halls and function rooms. Keep them clear of heaters and open flames, and give busy doorways a little extra space so corners stay crisp. If young children are attending, place heavier props behind the cutout rather than in front where they may be tempted to climb.

From the first gasp at the door to the last photo by the cake, life size cardboard cutouts do exactly what great party décor should do. They set the mood, lead the eye and make memories effortless.