I had been looking forward to this wedding at the stunning St. Charles Hall in Meggen for weeks. Upon arrival, I set up my drawing space with all my paper, brushes and palette, leaving me with half an hour to quietly explore the grounds before the guests arrived. This quiet window before an event is always my favourite moment to absorb the atmosphere of a venue.
As soon as the reception began, the room filled with energy. Working independently without an assistant means my time on-site is strictly structured. Managing every detail alone involves welcoming guests, taking reference photos, executing live portraits, documenting the finished artwork, and carefully packing them all.
Managing the Queue: When Time Runs Out
Nobody quite expected the overwhelming enthusiasm from the guests. A long queue formed almost immediately at my table, and although I was booked for two hours during the reception, time flew by.
Working independently without an assistant means managing every detail myself, from taking reference photographs to packaging finished artwork. Even by extending my drawing time and packing up after the event concluded, drawing 21 individual guests in two hours meant that only half of those waiting could be illustrated on the day.
A Seamless Process: Photos Instead of Long Queues
To ensure guests can fully enjoy the party without standing in a long line, my live process is wonderfully relaxed. Guests simply pop by my table for a brief chat while I take a quick reference photo, allowing them to return to the celebration straight away while I draw.
At St. Charles Hall, the response was overwhelming and many guests came by to be photographed. During my two-hour live drawing slot, I focused entirely on creating portraits on-site, completing 21 individual illustrations before moving on to the post-event wrap-up and pack-down.
The Solution: Post-Wedding Studio Artwork
Because I take reference photos of everyone who visits my table, we had a seamless structure for the remaining guests. Within 48 hours of the wedding, I provided a digital gallery of the reference photos to the bride and groom.
The couple selected the additional guests, friends, and family members they wished to include. Back in my studio, I completed these remaining portraits as a post-wedding order and sent the full collection to the couple for distribution.
This experience was a wonderful example of how flexible wedding illustration can be. My live presence brings immediate entertainment to the reception, while studio follow-ups ensure that no memory is missed.
Planning Your Wedding Art
Are you currently planning your wedding and interested in live illustration for your reception? I would love to hear about your venue and discuss how we can create a tailored experience for your guests.