How does Live Wedding Illustration work and what happens on the day?
- Leela Taylor
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Live wedding illustration is a really fun talking point on the day of your wedding! It's entertainment for your guests, as well as providing memorable keepsakes.
I'm big on sentimental keepsakes, and my most popular live wedding illustration package includes post-wedding studio work, where I paint illustrations after the big day from photos I've taken on the day itself, to create a keepsake book filled with beautiful illustrated memories.
However, what happens on the day itself?
Firstly, every wedding is different. This is the beauty of this fabulous industry! There are endless options for wonderful suppliers who can help to craft a wedding as unique as the couple getting married. I try to be as flexible as possible, and fit in with your individual plans, so I am happy to tailor my packages into something completely bespoke to you.
For the purpose of this article however, I will assume that your wedding day flows along the usual lines of:
1) Guests arrival
2) Ceremony
3) Drinks reception
4) Wedding breakfast
5) Evening celebrations
On the day of your wedding I will arrive at your venue before your guests, so that I can set up and then have a little peek around! I either bring my own table and chair, or your venue might supply me with theirs. When your first guests start to arrive, I will approach the first few and ask them if they'd like to pose for a photo so that I can paint their portrait.
At this point, guests are often surprised and delighted, and also a little apprehensive as they haven't seen my illustration style yet! I use my phone to photograph the first few brave volunteers, and I retreat to my table where I start to draw, using the photos as reference.
After your ceremony is my favourite part of the day! The joy and energy at the drinks reception is always a wonderful atmosphere to experience. As your guests move into the drinks reception space, I aim to have the first few illustrations completed and on display so they can see what's going on - at this point my work starts to become a talking point!
I alternate between circulating around your guests and asking for more photos, and painting at my table. My aim is to get everybody photographed before the wedding breakfast, so that for the latter part of the day I can concentrate on illustrating!
Occasionally I will bring an assistant with me to your wedding, to help me with gathering photographs and keeping things moving smoothly.
I love it when guests chat to me about my art, and I hear lots of lovely things said when guests see their illustrations for the first time!
"Oh wow, it's us! This is fantastic!"
"This is going in a frame as soon as we get home!"
"What a lovely idea this is!"
"Awww, look! There's Aunty Sue! I recognise her and Uncle Bill straight away!"
Depending on your venue and the locations for each part of your day, I may move to another area once you and your guests go in for your wedding breakfast. I continue illustrating throughout the day, displaying the finished illustrations as I go.
The majority of my couples book me to illustrate the day guests, and so usually I aim to leave just before the evening guests arrive. Depending on the package chosen, I either leave the completed illustrations for your guests to take as favours, or I will take them all home with me. I always illustrate as many guests as I can on the day, and complete any remaining illustrations at home in my studio afterwards.
Illustrations of your guests make such a brilliant favour and special keepsake! Whether they are painted on the day itself or soon afterwards, they are a tangible memory of a very special day.
If you book me to illustrate your wedding guests, I always chat through the details and plans for your day with you and make a note of your individual requirements before the big day.
If you'd like to learn more, take a look at my live wedding illustration brochure here and let's talk about adding live illustration into your own big day!
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