What a wonderful time we had on November 25th!
I had the absolute privilege and pleasure of providing a Live Wedding Painting for my friends at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Eastern Pennsylvania. It was a gorgeous Fall day with rich earth tones, crisp air, and some snow that was laid the night before! It was a picture-perfect scene and a beautiful evening. But what even goes into making a Live Wedding Painting happen? What can you expect from a Live Painter at your wedding? Though this wedding was a tad different from my norm (Joe and I were half guest/half vendors), I’ll walk you through the process. Let’s rewind to the beginning.
Pre-Wedding Meeting
About a month before the big day, I got together with the bride and asked about her wedding! My goal in this meeting is to visualize as much as possible beforehand so I can come prepared on the wedding day. We had a great time chatting about her vision for the painting, the vibes and colors she was planning, things to be included in the painting, all the visual details. The bride mentioned that everything would be jewel-toned, that I didn’t need to add in anything or anyone that wouldn't be there, and the gold details in her dress were important for me to capture. She also explained that they wanted to pose for their painting sitting on the ski lift. How cute! I drew up a quick sketch that was approved by the couple, and we were all set.
The Venue
In my humble experience, one of the most stressful parts about being a vendor is figuring out exactly where to go. Joe and I got to Bear Creek and the receptionist had no idea where to send us or what we were talking about! Obviously I didn’t want to bother the bride by texting her as she was about to do her first look, so Joe and I raced around the resort trying to find the ski lift I was supposed to meet them at. There were three identical lifts. Talk about stress! We eventually figured out that the timeline had shifted, and had time to grab a bite to eat. The photographer (shoutout to Right Start Studios!) was so helpful. Always connect with other vendors beforehand if you can! Once the time came, I met the bride and groom at their ski lift, got awesome photos of them, and I was able to get to painting immediately after.
The Painting
The cocktail hour and reception were held in the same space (love when that happens!). I set up in a back corner around 4pm, which is when the ceremony began. I had an hour to begin the live painting and have the general scene established as people began coming in for the cocktail hour. Many friends and family watched as I painted from the photos we had taken. I imagine that it’s always fun for the guests to see where the painting began, and how it looks throughout the night!
This being a friend’s wedding, I painted as much as possible while still being a present guest. I took a long dinner break to enjoy the meal and the company, but besides that it was work all night! Joe, the wonderful assistant that he is, brought me a plate of cookies to enjoy while I was painting. Many guests came over periodically to see the progress and offer their compliments. Unfortunately for me, the groom’s father came to watch me paint right as I completely ruined his son’s face…don’t worry though, it was an easy fix and he looks great!
End of the Night
The live painting was looking great near the end of the night. I had set the whole background scene, had the bride's and groom's figures painted, and added fun details like the flowers and background foliage. We got the videographer to join us in capturing their AWESOME reaction, which is always my favorite part of the night. Joe and I packed up at about 9:30, left the painting on display, and joined the dance floor for the last bit of the celebration!
Post-Wedding Update
After a few weeks in the studio, the painting was delivered to the bride and groom. It now hangs in the entryway of their home. I could not be more grateful for the fact that I could be a live painter at this wedding. It is a dream to paint for people’s big days, but even sweeter to do it for friends. I can't wait for my next wedding!
HB
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