The Art of Live Guest Painting: Behind the Scenes of a Wedding Artist 🎨✨👰🏽
Have you ever seen a live wedding guest painter in action? It’s an experience that mesmerises guests, adds a touch of luxury to weddings, and creates stunning keepsakes that couples cherish forever.
As a live wedding guest artist, I bring an interactive and artistic experience to weddings, capturing guests in real time through faceless watercolour portraits and bespoke bride & groom paintings. But have you ever wondered what goes into live painting guests at a wedding?
In this behind-the-scenes look, I’ll walk you through the entire process of what it’s like to be a live wedding artist—from setting up to painting during the event and, finally, presenting the finished artwork to the happy couple and their guests.
1. Preparing for a Live Wedding Painting Booking 🎨
Before I even step foot at a wedding venue, careful planning and preparation go into ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
Steps I Take Before the Wedding:
✅ Client Consultation: I discuss with the couple or person who has booked me what type of personalisation they’d like— names, date, and venue name can all be put on the paper.
✅ Venue Research: I check lighting conditions, setup space, and event logistics to ensure I have the right workspace and get travel there easily.
✅ Packing My Kit: I bring high-quality professional artists watercolour paints, fine art watercolour paper, a variety of brushes, mini easels for display, coloured pencils for the details and any extras like glitter or embellishments.
✅ Pre-Stamping (If Needed): Al personalised text on the paper is pre-stamped before the event to save time on the day.
💡 Pro Tip: All of my packages include personalisation to make the live guest paintings extra special!
2. Setting Up at the Wedding Venue 🏛️
On the wedding day, I arrive at the venue between 1 hour to 30 minutes before my painting session starts to set up my art station.
My Live Painting Setup Consists of:
🎨 A large table to match the wedding’s theme; this is provided by the wedding venue and usually set up before my arrival
🖼️ Mini wooden easels to display completed guest portraits as they dry
🖌️ A selection of watercolour paints, fine brushes, and coloured pencils
✨ High-quality watercolour paper, pre-stamped and pre-cut to size A6
💡 Pro Tip: I have an easel sign with what i do and how guests can get a painting. It reads: 1. I take your photo, 2. I paint your portrait, 3. You collect it later.
3. The Live Painting Process at a Wedding 🎭
Once guests begin arriving, the magic starts happening. Here’s what a typical live wedding guest painting session looks like:
🖌️ Step 1: Capturing the Moment
As the event unfolds, I either walk around the room taking pictures of guests, or they line up at my table for a picture. I capture their outfits, hairstyles, and accessories—ensuring the painting still looks elegant despite my faceless style.
🎨 Step 2: Painting in Real Time
Using fast sketching and precise brushstrokes, I create quick watercolour portraits of guests in 10-15 minutes each. The faceless style adds an elegant, timeless quality while making the process efficient. I usually paint 4 paintings at a time to allow the previous one to dry and vice versa, like a rotating art station. Once the watercolour is dry, I used coloured pencils and glitter glue to add the finer details.
✨ Step 3: Displaying & Drying the Art
Finished paintings are placed on mini easels for guests to admire while they dry. Guests love watching the process unfold and often take pictures to share on Instagram & TikTok!
💡 Pro Tip: I add metallic details or light glitter accents to outfits to make each painting shine under the wedding lights!
4. How Guests React to Live Wedding Painting
One of the best parts of being a live wedding painter is seeing the pure joy and excitement on guests' faces when they receive their paintings.
Here’s how guests usually react:
💖 “Wow! This is so beautiful! I’ve never had my own portrait painted before!”
📸 “Can I take a picture of you painting? This is amazing!”
🖼️ “I can’t wait to frame this at home!”
Many guests are so excited to see their portraits that they keep checking back at my table to see if they’ve been painted yet!
💡 Pro Tip: I encourage guests to tag me on Instagram and TikTok when they share their portraits—this creates more exposure and helps future clients discover my work!
5. Completing the Bride & Groom’s Wedding Painting
I always make sure to capture a painting of the married couple. This painting, along with the rest of the wedding party such as the Bridesmaids, Best Man, Groomsmen, and parents of the married couple are top priority to be painted before the rest of the guests.
Options for Wedding Paintings:
💍 Bride & Groom Full-Length Watercolour Painting – A detailed, elegant keepsake of the couple
🌿 Paint My Day Package – 5-6 smaller paintings capturing key wedding details (cake, flowers, venue)
🖼️ Framed & Delivered After the Wedding – Perfect for couples who want a museum-quality keepsake
6. After the Wedding: Packaging & Delivery 📦
Once the event is over, my work isn’t finished yet! For any paintings, I don’t get finished on the day I complete them in my studio.
💡 Fun Fact: Many couples request the A4 married couple full-length detailed painting add-on to their booking. This is painted and posted after the wedding, usually from one of the professional photographer’s photos to remind them of their special day!
7. How to Book a Live Wedding Painter for Your Big Day
If you want luxury wedding entertainment that is also a meaningful keepsake, hiring a live wedding painter is the perfect choice.
📩 How to Secure Your Date:
✔ Step 1: Inquire about availability 6-12 months in advance if possible. I can do last-minute bookings, but the chance of your date being available is slim
✔ Step 2: Choose your package – Bronze 4 hours, Silver 6 hours or Gold 8 hours
✔ Step 3: Secure your booking with a deposit & sign the booking form
✔ Step 4: Pay the balance 6 weeks before our event, then enjoy a personalised, unforgettable wedding experience!
📍 Available for Weddings in Manchester & Across the UK!
💌 Limited 2025 & 2026 dates available – Contact me today to reserve your wedding date!
Final Thoughts: Why Live Wedding Painting is the Ultimate Wedding Experience
A live wedding artist doesn’t just paint—they create an unforgettable experience that keeps guests entertained and leaves couples with a timeless, luxury keepsake of their special day.
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
✔ A completely unique & interactive guest experience
✔ A wedding favour guests will cherish forever
✔ A high-end touch that elevates the beauty of your wedding
🎨 Ready to Make Your Wedding Unforgettable? Let’s Create Art Together!
📩 Contact me today to check availability and discuss your dream wedding painting!
✨ Follow me on Instagram, TikTok & Pinterest for live wedding painting inspiration!
