At the beginning of my semester break, I stumbled across the website of a wedding fair. Out of pure curiosity, I clicked through to the exhibitor application form. I had no big expectations, but I filled it out and sent it off anyway.
To my surprise, I received an offer not long after. At first, though, the price for the booth seemed a bit too steep for me. I didn’t want to turn it down right away, but I knew I had to think creatively if I wanted to make this work.
That’s when the idea hit me: what if I could offer live illustrations on-site, drawing guests in real time and selling those pieces directly? It would be a way to both showcase my skills and cover the cost of the booth.
But there was a catch. According to the fair's terms and conditions, direct selling on-site wasn’t allowed. Instead of giving up, I decided to ask if there might be a way around this with a special permit. And to my surprise, not only did I get permission, I was also offered a collaborative opportunity with the event organizers.
So long story short: this fall, at 19 years old, I’ll be exhibiting at a wedding fair as an illustrator.
Right now, the bulk of the preparation is on hold, since I’m in the middle of studying for my university exams. But a few things can’t wait. I’m already developing a strategy, collecting ideas, and working on early sample illustrations.
There’s a mountain of work ahead: booth design, creating dozens of sample pieces, sourcing materials and so much more.
If you’re curious how this all unfolds, subscribe to my YouTube channel and check in on my website every now and then. I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes content, updates, and progress along the way.
Let the countdown to the fair begin!