Wedding Ceremony Painter Explains Live Painting Process

Wedding Ceremony Painter Explains Live Painting Process

As a live wedding ceremony painter, it has been the honor of my lifetime to provide to create live art for wedding couples. Live wedding painting is a beautiful and unique way to capture the essence of a couple’s special day. If you’ve only seen viral videos of this service online, you might be wondering how it all works. And so, as a professional live wedding painter, I’m here to walk you through the entire process. I’m going to give you all the info you’re looking for: from booking to the final brushstroke.

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What is Live Wedding Painting?

Live wedding painting is exactly what it sounds like—a painting created live during a wedding.

Thank you for coming to my blog! Xoxoxo!

😉 I jest, I jest.

Live wedding paintings are a trend that is becoming more and more popular over recent years and involves a professional artist arriving to a couple’s wedding to set up and begin painting plein air (a fancy, artsy way of saying “painting outside”). An artist sets up at the venue and begins capturing the scene as it unfolds. This is a form of entertainment for guests and also a one-of-a-kind keepsake that couples can cherish forever!

For art lovers, this is an especially meaningful way to preserve the emotions of the day. Unlike photography, which freezes a single moment, a painting tells a richer story, incorporating movement, light, and vibrant colors. It’s a stunning combination of artistry and celebration!

My personal journey into wedding art began after my own wedding in 2018. I had already been designing custom wedding invitations and wanted a way to connect with couples in person. As someone who has loved painting for years, live wedding painting became a perfect way to merge my artistic passion with my love for weddings.

Every wedding is different, and I adore the challenge of capturing the unique energy of each couple’s big day. The reactions from guests and the couple make it even more rewarding!

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How Does the Booking Process Work for a Wedding Ceremony Painter?

If you’re interested in booking a live wedding painting, I keep the process simple:

1. Fill Out a Quick Form – Start by submitting basic details about your wedding, including date, location, and painting size. [Insert link to contact form]
2. Consultation Call – We’ll have a quick chat to discuss your wedding vision and what you’re hoping for in the painting.
3. Proposal & Contract – I’ll create a custom proposal, and once you approve, you’ll sign a contract and pay a retainer to secure your date!
4. You’re Officially Booked! – Your wedding is on my calendar, and I’ll see you on your big day!

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How Do Couples Choose the Scene to be Painted?

For couples that aren’t quite sure what they want to have painted, that is totally okay! I am more than happy to provide examples of different scenes/poses that tend to be popular. And that’s another reason why I love discussing your vision with you over the phone in order to get an idea for your wedding as a whole. For example if your wedding aesthetic is ultra romantic and modern, perhaps a first dance painting would be appropriate for you. Or if you’ve got a beautiful ceremony setup, maybe having your first kiss painted is the best choice. There are also options that we brainstorm and chat again a little closer to your wedding date in order to decide what makes the most sense for your event!

To make sure your painting is as personal as possible, I also like to know:

• Who should you include within the painting? Do you want just you as a couple, or do you want family, bridal party, particular guests, pets, etc.? Please note that additional people and pets included in your portrait does come at an additional cost, and there is a limit for how many people I can include per canvas size! To get more details, be sure to take note and ask me during our consultation call!
• What scene or background elements are important to make sure I capture, or do you want me to just paint based on what I see? Do you want the painting to reflect the time it is at your ceremony/reception, or do you want a romantic sunset moment instead? Any specific florals or décor you want featured? (For example if you want to make sure the reception florals are present at least a little bit in the ceremony space.)
• Should the couple be the focus, or should the setting play a bigger role? In other words, do you want the painting to be “zoomed in” on you and your spouse, or do you want me to capture the scale of the room because you’re obsessed with the majestic ceilings of your ballroom? Or do you feel like you prefer a mix of both where the viewer can clearly see both you and defining aspects of your wedding location?

All of these details help me prepare for your big day while still leaving room for artistic inspiration!

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How I Prepare for Live Wedding Painting

Unlike some artists who sketch a full layout beforehand, I create everything on the day of the wedding. My only prep work involves looking at venue photos to get a sense of lighting, layout, and potential painting locations.

Otherwise, I will do the underpainting (painting a solid color background instead of painting directly on the white canvas—this helps provide harmony to the painting and adds richness to the tones that go on top. Then, while I’m waiting for the ceremony to begin, I start to paint in the background and create a vague sketch for where I want different elements and to begin to capture different proportions and angles within the scene.

This approach keeps the artwork spontaneous and true to the moment!

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During the Wedding

I keep my setup compact and non-intrusive. All I need is:

• A space with at least a few feet of clearance.
• An outlet and access to water (if possible).

For wedding ceremony paintings, I position myself behind guests so I can capture the full view without blocking anyone’s line of sight. Otherwise, I set up and stand somewhere out of the main line of traffic so that I am not distracting from the main event (your wedding!).

I often get asked about how I handle guest interactions during the wedding.

Honestly, enjoying conversations with guests during the course of the event is so fun for me! I am totally fine with guests coming up to ask me questions or to watch as I work. Sometimes I even hand my paint brush over so that guests can share in the moment and help create the piece! That way your guests can be an artist for a moment too and can brag that they put their touch on that tree riiiiight there. 😉 Once the DJ pumps up the jams, you can be sure that I’ll be dancing and singing while I paint and enjoying the celebration as a whole!

I have definitely received the request for guests to be included in the painting I am working on, even if it wasn’t something the bride and groom decided they wanted. In instances like those, I am completely comfortable to politely inform your guests that we already discussed what and who would be in the painting before the wedding day, and that is the concept I am using to create the painting. I always aim to be friendly, professional, and provide clear communication!

Regarding weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances…

Weather conditions may happen and have happened. In cases like those, I am happy to follow the direction of the wedding planner. If the ceremony goes on outside even in the rain (so beautiful!), I will capture photos and videos as best as I can under an umbrella and then continue the painting process back indoors. Otherwise, any other types of unexpected changes that may occur during a live event will be handled with professionalism and clear communication!

How much should I expect to be complete be the end of the night?

During the wedding itself, you can expect that the painting will be around 75% to 80% completed, if not more. I’ll have blocked in the background and the people, I’ll have probably begun to add facial features as well. Throughout the course of the evening I will also work on shadows, light, composition, etc. before packing up at the end of the night to bring the painting back to my studio.

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After the Wedding

Once your big day comes to a close, you can be sure that I almost always bring the painting home with me to do extra detail work like facial details, fix any wonky proportions, adjust lighting as needed, and make sure that the piece as a whole looks cohesive and complete. I also give ample time to allow the paint to dry all the way through before I professionally varnish and carefully pack and mail it to you to keep in your home!

I typically spend 6-8 weeks after the wedding with the painting in studio before I mail it to my clients! This way I can also give myself a little bit of artistic distance to help me look at the painting with fresh eyes and see what changes or fixes I want to make to ensure that it is up to my standards.

Wondering whether you can add something while I still have your painting? There are always options for enhancements like framing services or to add in additional people or animals even after the wedding day has come and gone. To do something like that, all you need to do is ask and I am happy to discuss in more detail!

For local couples, I am happy to deliver in person, but I usually just professional pack and mail via UPS and provide tracking to my couple.

Curious about my painting process?

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Choosing E Stokes Creations as your Live Wedding Painter

I believe what sets me apart as a wedding ceremony painter is the joy and energy I bring to each event. I am truly excited to be there, creating a live piece of art that captures the magic of your day. My goal is to make the experience fun and engaging for both you and your guests while ensuring that every brushstroke is intentional and meaningful.

I pour love and attention into each painting, carefully highlighting the most beautiful aspects of your wedding day. My dedication to quality means that you receive a timeless piece of art that reflects the joy and emotion of your celebration. This is more than just a painting—it’s a treasured keepsake you can cherish for years and years (and years) to come!

So if you’re looking for a fun, engaging, and personalized way to capture your wedding day, I’d absolutely love to chat with you! Let’s create something beautiful together!