Illustration and weddings?
The perfect match
I love illustration. And I love love. Is there any better way to combine the two than live illustrating the loveliest, most magical day of your life?!
I’m Linda, a self-confessed lover of love and the pen-and-paintbrush-wielding-human behind The Wedding Illustrator.
Your wedding day is the most beautiful day of your life - and I count myself one of the luckiest people alive, because I get to enjoy your day with you whilst bringing it to life, in all its glory, through my illustrations.
How I became The Wedding Illustrator
My love for drawing began early on.
I could spend hours drawing anything and everything, from family pets to family members - whatever I saw, I drew. Hand me a sketchbook and a pack of pencils and I’d happily draw away for hours on end.
While many lose their creative spark as time goes by, my desire to create has only intensified, becoming an artist has always been my dream.
I’ve not followed a straight path to wedding and events illustration, that’s for sure. But the one constant in my life has always been drawing, illustrating and capturing the little moments of colourful joy life has to offer.
I’m a classically trained Animator from the prestigious Irish School of Animation, who then went on to train in Fine Art followed by a dash of Digital Media Design along with Business Planning (see, I told you it wasn’t linear!) and I’ve worked for big brands , small studios and everything in between. No matter what I was doing though, the drive to create stuck with me.
And it’s that drive that’s brought me to where I am right now - live illustrating the weddings of (literally) hundreds of couples, guests and venues that come together to create the most magical day of your life.
A part of your special day.
I never underestimate the privilege it is to play even a small part in your wedding day.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, shared with family and friends, and I am always honoured to be involved. After over 800 hours of wedding and event illustration, that honour never fails to amaze me.
Witnessing the joy of eternalising your love is one thing. But being able to play a part in making your day that extra bit special? That’s the cherry on top.
Every piece of art I create is done in the moment. If you ever catch me taking photos, it’s for my memory-bank - every illustration is created in real-time, capturing the very essence of the moment as it really was - just real, unaltered beauty captured there and then.
And when I’m not illustrating weddings…
…. I’m pretty much a hands on person! I often swap paintbrushes for knitting needles or a garden spade. I enjoy all things creative pursuits and opt to take the slower pace to life.
Aside from illustrating, I’m a big fan of travelling to soak up every little gem nature has to offer. I spend a lot of time painting in the wild outdoors of the Irish countryside and prefer to travel off the beaten track to find the crème de la crème of the natural world.
Oh, and one more thing I adore - animals! My cherished companions, Chico the poodle, my trustworthy sidekick during countryside escapades, while Kim and Archie, my Siberian forest cats, who offer unwavering company within my studio. This multifaceted tapestry of passions shapes and enriches both my creative work and my outlook on life.
Wedding Illustration - everything you need to know
I know how much you’ve got on your plate right now. Planning a wedding is intense! So let me make things easier for you and answer all of your wedding illustration questions to put your mind at ease - and if you don’t see your question here, drop me a note and I’ll be happy to help!
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That depends on which package you choose!
If you choose the Draw My Guests option, you’ll decide whether you want a full day (a total of 5 hours, split across the drinks reception and after the meal reception) or a half day (2.5 hours, during the drinks reception).
If you go for the Draw My VIP’s option, I’ll be at your wedding illustrating away for 5 whole hours. I draw in 2.5 hour slots (to save my poor hands!), so I’ll be drawing during the drinks reception and after the meal reception.
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Depending on other commitments, I can! Extra illustration time is charged on an hourly basis, you can contact me for a custom quote for the additional work.
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Not at all! I only ask that guests face me while I’m illustrating them. In fact, I much prefer guests to act naturally and not sit stiffly for illustrations, as it means I’m able to properly capture their personalities.
Illustrations of guests are often done in couples or pairs and I’ll usually draw guests from the waist up. Each illustration takes between 6 and 10 minutes - the perfect time to enjoy a chat or a canapé or a glass of bubbly!
With Draw My VIPs package, we know that VIP guests are incredibly busy, especially on wedding days. That's why I offer to draw them from photos for our VIP drawing package, recognising their hectic schedules on the big day.
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Absolutely! All of my illustrations from each package are done on the day, in the moment. So every guest who’s drawn on the day will get their custom illustration to take away with them!
Guest illustrations are drawn on high-quality artistic paper, branded with your names, your venue and your wedding date as a constant reminder of your special day. Illustrations will be popped into a protective pocket to keep them safe and sound until your guests get home.
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I hope so! In my 800 hours of wedding illustration, most guests absolutely love being able to get their own portraits drawn at the wedding. Unlike “normal” wedding entertainment that’s over in a flash (and, let’s face it, guests have probably seen it a hundred times before), live illustration is an experience that most guests haven’t had before - and it gives them something to take home and treasure too!
I’ve bumped into guests years later at other weddings and they’ve all commented that they still have their original illustrations - framed and in pride of place!
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Absolutely not! I love getting to know your guests and answering any questions they have while I’m drawing.
The most common question I get while I’m drawing might surprise you… “Is this your real job?” (it’s mostly from Irish dads - and yes, it is my real job!).
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That’s up to you! You know your venue best, so I’ll take my lead from you. I’ve drawn in gardens, beside dancefloors, next to bars and in the corner of dinner halls - so it really is up to you!
All I ask is that I have a space with a desk-height table and two chairs for guests to sit on while being illustrated (and sipping champagne, of course). If it’s an evening reception, I’ll also need to be near a socket for my table lamp - but other than that, I’m flexible!
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Of course, it’s the highlight of my day!
Usually I draw the happy couple after the meal call, while guests are being seated. But I know how hectic a wedding day can be, so I’ll draw you whenever fits best with your day. If time runs away from us, I’m happy to draw from a photograph after the day.
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Dilemmas, dilemmas!
Draw My Guests and Draw My VIPs are both incredible packages. Each one promises to create memorable keepsakes that will leave your guests with beautiful mementos of your wedding day. The unique illustrations capture the joy and love in the air, making for a truly special and engaging form of entertainment at your celebration. Guests love being part of the artistic process and are excited to receive their custom illustrations that reflect their individuality. I will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression, ensuring that your wedding day is fondly remembered for years to come.
Draw My Guests is a delightful service that all guests can avail of during the wedding day. Moreover, Draw My VIPs is an exclusive offering reserved for esteemed guests personally chosen by the couple in advance. These cherished individuals may include treasured grandparents, the beloved bridal party, and that special friend who journeyed a great distance to partake in the celebration with you!
If you're struggling to decide, just send me an email. I'd love to hear about your wedding plans and help you make the right choice.
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Each package varies.
I draw guests the day, in the moment so that I capture the detail perfectly, for Draw My Guests package. If you ever see me taking photos, it’s for my own memory - not to draw from!
I may have to work from photos for Draw My VIPs package, I know that VIPs are incredibly busy, especially on wedding days. That's why we offer to draw them from photos for our VIP drawing package, recognising their hectic schedules on the big day.
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Definitely! I love a bit of custom wedding artwork and would be delighted to add it to my illustration paper. We’ll sort out all the little details, including the design of your illustration paper, in the run up to your wedding.
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I’ve illustrated weddings across Ireland, so travel isn’t a problem!
Weddings in County Meath don’t incur travel fees, but if your venue is outside of the County Meath area, I add a small travel fee (60c per kilometre) to my prices to cover travel costs.
If your wedding is much further afield, I’d still love to illustrate it! Get in touch to discuss a custom quote for wedding venues further away.
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It’s simple!
First thing: get in touch to let me know your wedding date, your venue and which illustration package you’d like and I’ll put together a quote for you (including any additional illustration time needed and travel fees, if applicable).
If you’re happy with your quote, I’ll send over a contract with Terms & Conditions for you to sign (digitally). To secure your booking, I take a €150 deposit via PayPal or bank transfer - after that, your date is officially booked in!
Three months before your wedding date, I’ll be in touch again to invoice for 50% of the remaining fee and start discussing the finer details, including the design of your illustration paper and any other requirements.
The remaining balance is due the week of the wedding.
And then, once the day itself arrives, it’s all go! I’ll arrive 30-minutes before your illustration slot begins to get everything set up, but there’s nothing else you need to worry about - other than enjoying your day!
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Because I’m pretty good at it! Live illustration is what I thrive on and after over 800 hours of wedding illustration I’m a dab-hand at it.
When you book me, you book The Wedding Illustrator - someone who knows what they’re doing, has years of experience, an endless thirst for skills and knowledge, and an insatiable eye for detail.
I also love people and really enjoy getting to know you and your guests. I bring an extra ounce of fun and connection to your special day!
If you want to know more about me, you can read my story here.
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Certainly not! I have drawn at all types of exclusive private and corporate events, working with some incredible global brands including CHANEL, L’Oreal, Clarins, Wix, and Dubai Duty Free. Whether it’s a brand activation event or a lavish private gathering, I ensure to bring my artistic flair and professionalism to every occasion. If you are interested in collaborating with me for a corporate event, feel free to check out my corporate work website for more details and to explore my portfolio here.
