Trend Alert: "Big Head" Cutouts and Photo Signs for Parties

They are silly, they are huge, and they are all over Instagram. Here is why you need "big heads" at your next bash.

If you've scrolled through social media lately, you've seen them: massive, floating heads bobbing on the dance floor. Custom face cutouts (affectionately known as "big heads") have graduated from sports stadiums to weddings and birthday parties.

We mentioned them in our 25 happy birthday sign ideas, but this trend deserves its own spotlight.

Why are they so popular?

• Instant ice breaker: It's impossible not to laugh when you see a 2-foot version of the groom's face.
• The perfect prop: They solve the "what do I do with my hands?" problem in photo booths.
• Embarrassment factor: Printing a big head of an embarrassing childhood photo is the ultimate roast for a 30th or 40th birthday.

How to get a good big head print

The quality of the cutout depends on the quality of the photo. Follow these rules:

1. High resolution: Don't use a screenshot from Instagram. You need the original camera file.
2. Even lighting: Shadows across the face look strange when blown up to 24 inches.
3. Close up: The printer needs to cut around the hair and chin. A photo where the person is a tiny dot in the distance won't work.