What should I expect on my wedding day?
I will show up to your venue a couple hours before the start of your wedding- to set up and get settled. If you have a particular place in mind for the background, I may start the underpainting process before we get the photos of you. If you have a couple of location changes in mind, I can adjust accordingly.
I will bring my camera, and take a video of you both- this is great because it allows me to capture spontaneous moments even in planned poses.
I am more than happy to work with you on your wedding plan to fit in a good time to shoot. I do need to have a decent amount of time to paint, 4-5 hours at least, so for paintings that feature events that will happen later in the night, we will have to stage the photography part closer to the middle or beginning of your wedding.
Please inform your photographer that I will also be there and have a camera. You will not receive photos or stills from any videos I take- I am not here to compete with a photographer, and the point of the video is to be reference material. A video will not be the same quality that a photographer would give you. My goal with paintings is not to replicate a photograph perfectly. It’s more to capture a vibe, a feeling, an emotion.
Wedding painters are not just there to make you an unforgettable keepsake. We are also there to entertain your guests- after all, most people are intrigued at the way a painting can come together. Some guests, particularly the ones who like art, may come back again and again to take a peek at the progress and watch it happen in real time. I’m more than happy to answer questions about the process, crack jokes, vibe with the DJ, and help make your wedding a beautiful memory. I can even let your guests paint a little bit- maybe show them how to paint some grass, or a cloud, making it a big collaboration!
When the painting is finished, we can have an official “unveiling” where I cover your painting and show it off to you and your wedding party dramatically. Or, if you prefer to look at the progress throughout the night without an official unveiling, that is also perfectly okay! This is something I am happy to coordinate with you to fit into your wedding plan. You can expect that the painting will be finished near the end of the night.
In the vast majority of cases, your painting will be entirely complete at the end of the night. If for some reason it isn’t, I will finish it up at my studio or the hotel room over the next several days.
Can you paint multiple family members too?
Yes, I can, but I think most wedding paintings turn out the best when only the couple are featured. It looks more timeless, iconic, and the focal point can truly just be you. It also allows for the background to be more atmospheric and dreamlike.
My pricing only includes the happy couple- but if you decide you really want to include more people, it will increase the price of the artwork depending on how many people you want to include. The painting will also probably not be finished on your wedding day if we go this route, since more people take a lot more time to paint.
Can you do a wedding as a surprise?
Yes, I can! At some point, though, the jig is going to be up! For coordination and planning purposes, it’s best that you loop the wedding planner or coordinator in on the surprise. That way we can plan for the extra time needed to shoot the happy couple during the wedding- and when I will be revealed to the couple! Weddings are often timed very carefully, so we don’t want to throw everything off.
Wedding bouquet paintings don’t require this extra planning, so if your bride has a very tightly coordinated wedding, and there’s no extra time, we can work with that, and simply have me paint the bouquet! Another potential option would be to have me paint from an existing photo of the bride and groom. Perhaps the engagement photo- or we could do a sneak attack, do a special photo shoot with the couple somewhere before the wedding, and blow their minds when they see me again at their wedding.
How far will you travel for a wedding?
I live in Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville specifically, and I love to travel, so this is a great question! I include up to 2 hours of travel time in all of my wedding booking prices. This covers these major cities: Eureka Springs, Harrison, Fort Smith, Muskogee, Branson and Joplin. 2 hours is also close enough that I can safely drive home after a wedding without needing to book an additional hotel room. Check out the map below for an idea of the 2 hour drive time (It’s the lighter circle close to the heart).
If you live outside the 2 hour radius, don’t worry! I can still paint your wedding. Up to 6 hours away, I will drive to you. My milage rate is $0.67 per mile, which is standard for plenty of industries. This is represented on the map by the pink outer circle covering parts of 10 states. I also require a hotel room as lodging if you’re outside the 2 hour radius for safety reasons. The cost of the hotel is not included in the price of your painting. I will stay one extra day to make finishing touches on your painting (if needed) before traveling back.
If your wedding party has booked a hotel as a group, I’d be happy to stay with the rest of the guests. However, this is not a requirement. Hotels do not have to be fancy, but I don’t stay at sketchy places such as Motel 6 or Super 8 for safety reasons.
If you live outside the 6 hour radius, represented by the grey states, I can fly to you. My local airport is XNA.
If you wish to have me travel to you internationally, I can do that! I may choose to stay in your country a couple extra days if I am going out of the USA, but you will not be required to cover lodging for those extra days. Any travel outside of the USA requires at least 6 months prior notice so that travel can be arranged ahead of time.
How far out are you booking?
You can reserve up to 3 years in advance. Wedding painters tend to get booked up fast, much like photographers- so if you know your date, reserve it today.
To reserve, fill out my reservations form, and I will let you know if I have any availability for that date. I require a 20% reservation fee upfront, as well as a signed contract.
Reservation fees are non-refundable unless something goes wrong on my end- like an illness, or unavoidable circumstance that prevents me from attending.
How much will it cost?
Being very upfront here: I am new to this industry, though I am not new to painting live. Art college involved a lot of painting from live models, and I’m very comfortable with talking to your guests while I paint. Live wedding painting is not just about the art- it’s also entertainment for your guests.
As a newbie, I’m charging less than the going rate for most wedding painters. This is bound to go up as I get more experience. All wedding packages include at least 5 hours of live painting, however prices are dependent on the size of the canvas and medium that you choose.
What mediums do you offer?
I work in either watercolors or acrylics! Acrylics are known for that bold, vibrant look that you probably think of when you think of most paintings. Paint is thicker, and opaque. Canvases are ready to hang as soon as they are finished. Acrylics dry fast and are easy to paint over. This option is ideal if you would like to include a lot of guests in your painting.
Watercolors give an airy, otherworldly vibe to your painting. Watercolor is more difficult than acrylics because there’s a limit to how much you can “subtract” from a watercolor painting. Watercolor paintings are also not immediately ready to hang- they will require a frame to really shine. I can include framing services for my work for an additional charge.
Acrylic
Watercolors
All the materials I use are archival. This means that they will not fade, yellow, or age with time. Your piece of artwork will be able to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Do you do events besides weddings?
Yes, I do! I can do quinceaneras, faith dedications, corporate events, charity events, sports events, grand openings, anniversaries and more.
Can you paint my culture? Do you paint LGBTQ+ weddings?
I am more than happy to paint any couple. There are absolutely no restrictions with this- I love the beautiful natural variation in skin tones. If there’s any specific cultural details you’d like me to include- for instance your henna, or a moment from a handfasting ceremony, I would be happy to.
LGBTQ+ weddings are very welcome!
What do you need to set up at my wedding?
I only need a chair to paint at your wedding. I will bring my easel, the paint, the canvas, my camera, a small folding table and tablecloth, battery power backup, lights to ensure color accuracy in the painting, and my laptop or iPad. My mindset is that I want to make your day as magical as possible, that means not being fussy. I have painted in some really random locations- the side of a highway, farmers markets, restaurants, random fields and parks… all that is really needed is the paint and a canvas.