How I Booked My First Live Wedding Painting Client in Switzerland

It’s a question I get asked all the time. Whether it’s out of pure curiosity during a conversation when I mention I’m a live wedding painter, or by aspiring artists eager to break into this niche yet magical field. People often ask: “How did you convince your first client when no one even knew this service existed in Switzerland?”

The answer lies in three words: intuition, persistence, and a healthy dose of being “delulu.”

The Pivot: From Political Science to Paintbrushes

Surprisingly, I thought my first bookings would come through social media. Spoiler alert: they didn’t. To understand the story, we have to go back to the summer of 2022. Freshly graduated with a degree in Political Science, I already knew I wasn’t destined for international relations or administrative offices. My mind was elsewhere.

One evening, I stumbled upon a video of a live event artist in the US. It was instant love. I was captivated by the idea of combining my drawing skills with my “love for love” (yes, it’s a cliché, and I own it!). As a teenager, I could spend hours obsessing over wedding proposal compilations on YouTube. Discovering that I could turn those fleeting emotions into a permanent piece of art, live on-site, felt like an epiphany.

Market Research: An Artistic Desert in Switzerland

Being pragmatic, I turned to Google to check the competition:

• “Live Wedding Painter Switzerland”
• “Peintre de mariage suisse”
• “Hochzeitsmalerei in der Schweiz”
• “Pittrice Matrimonio Live in Svizzera”

To my great surprise: nothing. At least, not in 2022. While live painting existed for corporate events or street art, it was virtually non-existent in the Swiss luxury wedding industry. I didn’t overthink it: if the offer didn’t exist, I would create it. This was the start of my journey as a creative entrepreneur.

Theory to Practice: The Self-Taught Artist’s Journey

There was one small problem: I knew how to draw, but I hadn’t mastered painting. The international trend wasn’t about quick pencil sketches; it was about fine art oil or acrylic on canvas. It’s more impressive, more prestigious, and becomes a true statement piece for the couple’s future home.

I decided to go into a “YouTube bootcamp” mode: color theory, atmospheric perspective, volume management, fast-drying techniques… I spent my days and nights practicing. Within a few months, I was proud of my progress. I created a “mock portfolio” using photos from real weddings to showcase my style and ability to capture light. Once I hacked together my website with my “pseudo-web designer” skills, I was ready.

I naively thought: “I’m a pro now. I’ll just post on Instagram and the inquiries will pour in.” Reality check: Silence. Algorithms crave movement, guest reactions, and atmosphere. Without a real wedding to film, my concept remained an abstract idea on a screen.

The Hustle: 100 Emails Later

Down but not out, I decided to take direct action. I stopped waiting for couples to find me and went where they were: Wedding Planners. I curated a list of the most prestigious agencies in Switzerland, Italy, and France.

I sent out a hundred personalized emails. Most of the time? Total radio silence or a polite “We’ll keep you in mind.” That’s the game when you don’t have “social proof” or photos of yourself in action. Until one day, Nicole Froelich from Nicole Please Weddings replied.

Nicole is the kind of visionary planner who doesn’t follow trends—she sets them. She saw something in my portfolio (thank God someone believed in my “delulu” stage!) and offered me a booking just one month later. Was it luck? Persistence? Or just my refusal to quit? Regardless, I had my first contract.

The Baptism of Fire: A Saudi Wedding at The Dolder Grand

This wasn’t just any wedding. It was a total immersion at The Dolder Grand in Zurich. Nicole and her team had transformed the ballroom into a mystical forest.

The decor was surreal: 404 real trees and 700 square meters of fresh moss carpeted the floor. The air was filled with the scent of Lily of the Valley, specially cultivated to bloom in January. Between the moss-covered tables adorned with golden candles and the monumental five-tier cake (featuring 25kg of fondant!), I was living in a painter’s dream.

It was the perfect setting. I had the privilege of immortalizing their first dance under dimmed lights and a shower of delicate “snow.” Capturing that exact moment—between the shadows of the trees and the glow of the newlyweds—was the most intense moment of my young career.

That is how it all began. Not with an algorithm, but with a lot of emails, a life-changing meeting, and the audacity to paint a story where no one expected it yet.

Being at The Dolder Grand that night allowed me to soak in the incredible atmosphere of the ‘Mystical Forest’ firsthand. While every wedding has its own rhythm—and for this specific celebration, the couple chose for me to capture references on-site and refine the masterpiece in my studio—the goal remained the same: to translate the soul of their day into a timeless work of art.

Moving from Political Science to this artistic path has taught me that flexibility and observation are key. Whether I’m painting live in front of your guests or gathering inspiration on-site to create a studio piece, I am dedicated to turning your most precious moments into a lasting legacy.

Let’s Create Your Heirloom

Are you planning a celebration in Switzerland or abroad? Let’s find the perfect way to capture your story.

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The Creative Team