Live Wedding Painting at Porte des Iris: When Two Families Become One
Khanh Linh Dang
At every wedding, there is a moment I look forward to the most: the vows.
It has always been my favourite part of the day. This time, something else took its place.
I did not see it coming. And it came from two children.
A Bride Who Wanted Something With Meaning
Malvina, the bride, contacted me because she loves art. She wanted something with meaning.
I could feel that sensitivity to art throughout the whole wedding. It was in the details, in the way the day was put together, even in the presence of a sand artist among the performers. I loved it.
Two Children, Painted at Their Side
There was one thing Malvina absolutely insisted on.
The groom has children, and she wanted them to be in the painting, at their side. Not in the background, not as an afterthought, but standing next to their father and his bride, as part of the family that was being formed that day.
It would not be a portrait of two people. It would be a portrait of a family.
Painting a Ceremony While It Happens
The ceremony took place outdoors, in a garden of tall trees, with flower-covered arches and wooden benches set out on the grass. It was a beautiful setting: a lot of light, a lot of green, and flowers everywhere.
So I did what I always do. I set up my easel right there, under the trees, and I started to paint during the ceremony itself.
Light filtered through the leaves, and the canvas slowly filled with colour.
I took my reference photos: the garden for the background, and a moment of the ceremony for the pose. In this one, the groom, paper in hand, speaks to his bride. Later, I brought it all together on the canvas, with the two children at their side.
The Reveal, in Red Light
By the evening, I was painting under the old wooden beams of the venue, in a deep red light.
As always, a live painting is not quite finished on the night. After the wedding, I took it back to my studio for a final round of touch-ups. And here is the result (oil on canvas, 50 × 60 cm):
The Moment I Remember Most
And then there were the speeches.
I could hear, through what was said for the newlyweds, how much meaning this wedding held. It was not only a celebration of two people. It was a celebration of the families around them.
And the moment that moved me the most was the speech of the groom’s two children. Usually, the vows are what I carry home from a wedding. This time, it was them.
Because a wedding is not only about love. It is also the union of two families.
Painting a Blended-Family Wedding
If your wedding brings two families together, a live painting can hold that in its own way. Here is what I would suggest:
- Tell me who must be in the painting. Children, parents, grandparents. If someone is important to you, they belong on the canvas.
- Think about where they stand. Next to you, in front of you, or watching from the benches: the position says a lot about the story.
- Choose a moment, not a pose. A speech, a look, a walk down the aisle. It does not have to be a kiss. You can find another example of a candid moment at Le Mirador on Lake Geneva.
If you are curious about how it works and what it costs, you can read about my live wedding painting, its prices, or browse the portfolio.
Planning a wedding that brings two families together?
Tell me about your date, your venue and the people who must be on the canvas. I would love to hear your story.
The Creative Team
- Wedding Venue | Porte des Iris
- Wedding Photographer | Nicolas Righetti
- Florist | Tavola Floral
- Celebrant | Humanisthme
- Sand Artist | Delphine De Raemy
- Music | We Are Music Concept
- Live Painter | Dang de toi
