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Bespoke trophies for extraordinary moments

Bespoke Trophies

Why Wooden Plaques are a Timeless Material Choice

Where do you want your plaque to sit in ten years’ time? Do you want it to hide at the back of a shelf gathering dust, or take pride of place on someone’s wall?

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Adam Hutchinson

July 16, 2026

Categories

Sustainability Trophy Design
Jacobsen-Plaque-copy

It’s important that your plaque still commands attention after the awards ceremony ends. Some materials shout for a season and then fade. But wood never does. It’s the gold standard of plaque materials that gets better with age, carrying presence and prestige long after the presentation is over.

If you’re weighing up which material to choose, here’s why a wooden plaque deserves a place at the top of your list. 

Why Choose a Wooden Plaque for Your Event?

Built to Last

Wood is extremely durable. A well-made wooden plaque stands up to the everyday wear and tear of busy offices, schools, and public buildings, so it still looks the part years after it goes up on the wall.

Yours to Shape However You Like

Wood can be customised to suit your brief exactly. It takes engraving and print equally well, so you can go bold and colourful or subtle and understated, depending on what suits your brand. It also pairs beautifully with other materials – more on this below.

A Sustainable Choice

If sustainability is important to your brand or event, then wood is the way to go. Our wooden plaques at Gaudio Awards are responsibly sourced, helping you meet your environmental goals without compromising on quality or design.

Heathrow partner recognition plaque

Real Presence and Prestige

Wood carries an association with craftsmanship and prestige that no other plaque material can replicate. A wooden plaque tells your recipient that you have put real thought and care into their recognition – it’s not just a quick tick-box exercise.

No Two Plaques Are Ever the Same

Every piece of wood has its own grain, meaning that no two wooden plaques are ever completely identical. This gives your award character and warmth, which is something that a mass-produced alternative simply can’t offer.

North London Reinforcement Safety Champion Plaque

As Classic or Contemporary As You Need

Every wooden plaque we create is completely bespoke, which means you’re never limited to just one look. Whether you’re looking for something traditional or modern, we can craft a showstopping wooden plaque that perfectly suits your brief.

Suitable for Almost Any Occasion

Wooden plaques have a wide range of uses, including:

  • Long-service and employee recognition awards
  • Industry and internal awards
  • Accreditation
  • Milestones and anniversaries
  • Supplier or partnership recognition 

Whatever event you’re hosting, a wooden plaque is the perfect way to celebrate it.

Light oak, aluminium and acrylic wall plaque for the London Lifestyle Awards

Can You Pair Wood with Other Materials?

You’re never restricted to just wood alone. Wooden plaques work beautifully alongside other materials, including acrylic and aluminium.

We can layer acrylic onto wood to create a dual-layer plaque. Or, we can add it as a protective face over printed details so that your design looks sharper for longer. When it comes to aluminium, we can profile it into the shape of your logo, or use it as an additional layer to bring extra contrast and detail.

Here’s how we’ve brought this to life for our clients:

Heathrow partner recognition plaque - stand-offs

What Finishing Options Are Available for Wooden Plaques?

The finish you choose will shape how your wooden plaque looks and feels. At Gaudio Awards, we mainly work with light oak that’s finished with a clear protective coat. However, we can also offer alternative wood stains and wood types, including bamboo and beech, if you’re after something a little more unique. Here are your options:

Paint

We can colour-match paint to match your brand. Depending on the finish you’re after, we can either prime the wood for a smooth result, or leave the grain visible beneath the paint for extra texture.

Stain

We offer different tones of wood stains, from cool greys through to warm honey shades. The stain is applied over the top to add colour and depth, but the natural grain is still visible beneath the stain.

Read More

Lacquer

We can also add a layer of lacquer to your plaque. This protective layer dries hard and keeps your engraving and surface finishes looking sharp against everyday wear.

Royal College of Physicians Plaque

Ready to Design Your Own Wooden Plaque?

We design and craft every wooden plaque in-house at Gaudio Awards HQ, giving you a one-of-a-kind award that’s built around your brief, your brand, and the achievement you’re celebrating. From classic engraved designs to bold dual-layer pieces combining multiple materials, we’ll help you create a plaque that still commands attention in ten, twenty, thirty, or forty years’ time.

Submit your brief today to get started.

FAQs

Is a wooden plaque more expensive than other plaque materials?

Wooden plaques are competitively priced compared with other plaque materials. The total cost depends on the quantity, size, finish, and any additional materials used. Our team can talk you through various options to suit your budget.

Can I personalise a wooden plaque with my company logo?

Yes, you can personalise a wooden plaque with your company logo. It can be personalised using engraving or print, which allows your logo to be reproduced in fine detail.

How long will a wooden plaque last?

If you choose a wooden plaque from a high-quality maker and opt for the right finish, your wooden plaque can last for decades. Lacquer and stain finishes help to protect the wood and keep any engraved or printed details looking sharp over time.

Can I add names to my wooden plaque after it’s been made?

Yes, you can add names to your wooden plaque after it’s been made. Let us know that this is a requirement when you submit your brief and we’ll include space for custom name plates, so you can add new winners as needed.

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Blank

When you order a blank trophy, it will arrive without any personalised details. The trophy is blank for you to add your own personalisation, or use as a decorative piece.

Engraved

Engraving etches your design into the surface of the trophy.

Printed

Print is colour-matched. Based on variations in computer and screen settings, and manufacturing tolerances, colours may appear differently to what you see on screen.

Personalise Online

Select your layout using the dropdown menu, then enter your details. The live proof shows you an approximate visual of how your trophy will look when it’s engraved. Once you’ve added the details you want and purchased your trophy, we’ll begin manufacture right away.

Please note: The live render is an estimate of how your trophy will look, and the final result may vary in size, colour and placement.

Gaudio Proofing Service

With the Gaudio Proofing Service, simply add your chosen trophy to your cart and checkout as normal. A member of the team will be in touch to collect the required details, and we’ll send you proofs to approve before manufacture. Delivery time excludes proofing.