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Real Wedding: Live Wedding Illustration Surrounded by Spring Florals and Rustic Charm at Northumberland's Healey Barn


A watercolour illustration of the outside view of the barn wedding venue Healey Barn. A rustic barn with lawn to front and small trees lining the building, it has planters in front, a large green barn door and a venue front door with curved beams leading inside.
Healey Barn in Northumberland - Illustration by Leela Illustrates

In April I had the pleasure of providing live illustration services for Molly and Jonny on their wedding day at the beautiful Healey Barn in Northumberland. This beautiful barn venue features gorgeous exposed stonework, rustic beams and flagstone flooring, and is complemented by a luxurious wedding breakfast space and bar area, and outside courtyard area.


I arrived to typical Northumberland grey skies however it brightened and warmed up while I was setting up in the courtyard area, and I took a little peek around this beautiful venue before the first guests appeared.




The ceremony space was adorned with a spectacular spring florals display by Wild in Tyne, above the huge fireplace where candles were burning. Sweet bud vases also featured on the tables in the wedding breakfast space, where the showstopping cake by Lottie McPhees awaited.




As the first guests started to arrive, I approached some and asked them to pose for a quick photo, and then went through to the courtyard and started illustrating, while the ceremony took place. Afterwards the guests and the happy couple gathered for their drinks reception in the courtyard, and I continued working and chatting to interested guests about what I was doing. What a lovely talking point live illustration is! Weddings are such happy occasions and the guests I spoke to were all delighted with the idea of such a personal illustrated keepsake.


A selection of wedding guests, illustrated in watercolour, in a charming children's illustration style.
A few of the guest illustrations I painted

After the drinks reception, guests moved through to be seated for the wedding breakfast, and the lovely staff at the venue kindly helped me move my equipment inside, where I was seated near the great fireplace. Guests regularly passed back and forth in front of where I was working, and were able to see the display of illustrations as they were being created. There were so many lovely comments from guests as they started to spot themselves or recognised other guests!



It was lovely to meet David and Emma of David E Williams Photography, and they kindly took some photos of me working!


Molly and Jonny chose my Platinum package which includes extra wedding illustrations, and all their guests painted and so when it was time for me to leave (before the evening guests arrived), I gathered up all of the illustrations painted during the day and took them home with me to scan in and produce a keepsake book for them containing copies of all illustrations.


Molly looked radiant in her off the shoulder gown and her and Jonny couldn't stop smiling! It really was a beautiful day in such a gorgeous Northumberland venue just brimming with rustic charm.


If you'd like to explore my live illustration packages for your own special day, download my brochure here!


A watercolour illustration of a bride wearing a long off-the-shoulder gown and a groom standing next to her wearing a dark coloured suit, pale tan waistcoat and light green tie. The bride holds a bouquet of pink, yellow and orange flowers. Two cats, one ginger and one silver tabby, sit by their feet.
The Happy Couple and their beloved cats

Watercolor drawing of smiling couples and cats on a textured background. Some wear formal attire in grey, blue, and red. "Leela Illustrates" text.

Watercolor illustration of a vibrant floral bouquet with red, yellow, and blue flowers and lush greenery. Text: "Leela Illustrates".
Another of the floral displays by the talented Wild in Tyne

 
 
 

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