What wedding moment should I have painted?
“So, what moment are we thinking?”
This is a question I ask on every consult call for a live wedding painting, and while some people have an immediate vision, others respond with a hesitant “um.” Suddenly, something that has been an abstract concept becomes concrete, and the brain short-circuits. I’m going to walk you through some questions to help you figure out what moment would be best for your wedding, based on your tastes.
Question 1: Who is going to be in the painting?
Some people want the painting to be just of themselves and their spouse. This is the most flexible option, as the two of you will be present at every moment of the wedding. Some good moments of just the couple include the first look, the ceremony kiss, and the recessional (when you turn around and go back down the aisle). A custom, venue-specific photoshoot can also work well.
But, what if you want a whole gaggle of people in your painting? There are certain moments that lend themselves to a crowd. I find that it can feel awkward to have extra people in the ceremony kiss and first look moments. Those subjects lend themselves to a feeling of intimacy. I think the first dance and recessional are great moments where you can incorporate extra people in a way that feels natural. Cocktail hour is also a great option.
What about pets? I think pets are pretty easy to incorporate into any moment, given they aren’t, like, a horse or tarantula.
Question 2: What other things to do I want in the painting?
A painting is not just the people. The point of a live wedding painting is to capture the feeling of the whole day. If the tablescapes are important to you, then I would recommend painting a moment that occurs during the reception, like first dance or the grand entrance. Flowers are typically at every part of a wedding and, if they aren’t, can easily be added. So, unless there is a specific flower install you really want in your painting, I wouldn’t make a decision based on that. If the ceremony area features a breathtaking background, some good options for that are altar-moments: vow exchange, ring exchange, ceremony kiss, candle lighting, or recessional.
Question 3: What about the venue do I want to include?
You picked your venue for a reason! If there is something stunning about it that drew you there, that could be a good feature for your painting. For example, an elaborate stained glass window would make a beautiful backdrop. Or, perhaps, there’s a grand staircase you want to include! Don’t feel limited by moments that are already programmed into the wedding. Often, the paintings that break the trend are the most captivating.
Question 4: What atmosphere do I want the painting to have?
If you are a dark and moody kinda bride or groom, I would not recommend getting a painting done in harsh sunlight in summer in Texas. I’m sure it would make a beautiful painting, but I’m not sure it would be “you.” Same goes for my light and bright couples! If you are all about high exposure and saturated colors, don’t choose a moment that’s happening at night or in a dark location. While I can make some adjustments to the key of the painting, such as toning down saturation or brightening shadows, there are limits. If I try to make a dark and gloomy first dance look like Midsommar, it’s gonna feel off.
Question 5: What Easter Eggs do I want to add?
What I love about art is that we can do pretty much anything. We can turn a blank canvas into a whole other world. This gives you the freedom to add extra Easter eggs or lore to your painting. Maybe we sneak in an inside joke, or add in a drink from the night you met. We can encapsulate so much more than just one night in the painting.
Master List of Wedding Painting Moment Ideas:
Altar moments:
The “giving away” of the bride
Vow exchange
Ring exchange
A prayer
A blessing
A candle lighting
Ceremony kiss
Recessional
Other typical scheduled moments:
First look
Private vow exchange
First touch
First dance
Couple during toasts/speeches
Grand entrance to the reception
Cocktail party
Signing the marriage license
There are infinite ideas for venue-specific moments, but I’ll list a few!
A dip on a grand staircase
On a tree swing or porch swing
Under a gazebo
In a garden
Sitting on the edge of a fountain
By light streaming through stained glass windows
Through a window
