Why 2021 is the Best Time to Hire a Live Wedding Painter
Wedding plans have become increasingly non-traditional, so it’s the perfect time for unique vendors to shine. More intentional, pared-down celebrations have become not only the norm, but necessary. With that in mind, live wedding paintings are one of the best choices for personalized, safe, and unforgettable wedding entertainment in 2021.
The concept of live wedding painting is fairly self-explanatory: On the day of your celebration, an artist arrives at your venue and paints a beautiful piece of art as he or she witnesses your special moment. Paintings can depict your ceremony, reception, or any other aspect of your day. By the end of the night, your artist will have created a custom masterpiece featuring you and your new spouse as the focus!
Jamie Pogue is the owner of Event Painting by Jamie, a live wedding painting service based in Florida. Says Jamie, “I love being able to contribute one of the most personal aspects of my couples’ weddings. Many of my couples have had to make major changes to their weddings, and it’s been an honor to still be able to create something truly special for them that celebrates their love story.”
Here are just a few reasons why 2021 weddings are better served with a live painter in attendance:
A Painting is Worth a Thousand Words
Live painting is one of the few wedding services that offers both entertainment on the big day as well as a physical keepsake afterwards. “I always tell my couples that when they look at their painting over the next week, the next year, or the next 50 years, my hope is that they’ll be instantly brought back to their special day. A painting helps people connect with their memories in such a unique and emotional way,” says Jamie.
A Great Backup Plan
Wedding reschedules and postponements are still a reality for some couples right now. One of the best things about a live painter is their flexibility and versatility. While your band, food truck, or dessert bar may be unavailable to attend your new wedding date, your painter can always create a beautiful painting based on photos after the event - even if he or she is unavailable to be physically present for your big day.
Artistic License
Paintings are unique in that they can bend reality to fulfill your unique vision. In some cases, there are loved ones who can’t attend your wedding. Those loved ones can be added to your painting as a way to commemorate their missed presence on the big day. “There’s no limit to what we can do in a painting,” says Jamie. ”We can still include your pet in the painting even if he or she can't attend! If your grandma is on the shorter side, we can simply paint her in front of other guests so she isn’t obstructed. These edits and additions are a great way of capturing all of your favorite wedding moments in a way a photo may not be able to do.”
Perfect for Any Guest Count
Whether your wedding grows to 200 guests or shrinks to 25, your painter can still create a beautiful piece of art that celebrates your big day. Says Jamie, “Since my job is to create a painting based on a special moment, it doesn’t necessarily matter how many guests are in attendance. Since guest count isn’t a factor with live painting, it’s been the perfect entertainment for weddings of any size.”
Intentionally Unintentional
No matter how much you plan with your artist, you’ll never know exactly what your final painting will look like. This fun and dynamic element of live painting provides for an exciting display of talent and creativity, and turns every wedding into a truly unique work of art. “The painting process is actually a lot like the marriage itself,” says Jamie. “There are some fun phases, some ugly phases, and some tough phases, but they’re all important parts of making something beautiful.”
Big Things in Small Spaces
Social distancing has become our norm, and a live painter is perfectly suited to provide guests and vendors with adequate space. Most live painters take up a small footprint, or can provide ways of distancing guests from their paintings. Guests can get a perfect view of the painting at a distance, especially with larger pieces.
A Gift For YOU
There are so many decisions in the wedding planning process that are aimed at guest satisfaction, and so many compromises are made by engaged couples in order to ensure a great event for all in attendance. Live wedding paintings are one of the few (if not the only) wedding services that are 100% for the couple. “One of my favorite things about my job is that I’m one of the few vendors that really gets to focus solely on the couple and their happiness,” says Jamie. “At the end of the day, this painting will be hanging in their home, and they’ll see it every day. It means so much to me that I get to create a work of art that truly celebrates the most important part of the wedding - the happy couple and their love for one another.”
Jamie Pogue is a live wedding painter based in Orlando, FL. He creates wedding paintings all over the United States and is available internationally. For more of Jamie’s work, see his website at Event Painting by Jamie.
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- Lighting, Entertainment & Photo Booth: Event Painting by Jamie
- Photographers: Sami G Photography
- Photographers: Stephanie Lanni Photography
- Photographers: I Got Shot by Lisa Marie