The Barns At Wolftrap Wedding, Virginia - Live Wedding Painting
Every so often I get hired by a family member to paint live at a wedding.
Neha's brother , Raj, found my work on Instagram and reached out to me about painting live at his sister, Neha's wedding in Virginia . We had a couple of phone and email conversations .He wanted this to a be a surprise for his sister and brother in law, Ben. But eventually decided to loop Neha into the logistics about where I'd paint at the venue among other details.
It's not very often that I get invited to a walkthrough for a wedding. That actually never happens. I'm a live painter , so isn't absolutely necessary for me to be at a walkthrough .Neha and Ben's wedding venue was The Barns at Wolftrap in Vienna, Virginia in December 2022. (Yes, things are making their way to the blog very slowly !) The venue is very local to me - which makes it easy to figure out logistics.
I was excited when they asked me to accompany them for a walkthrough at The Wolftrap, 2 weeks before their wedding, to figure out a good spot for me to paint their wedding .
I enjoyed meeting them prior to the wedding - in a more relaxed and calm setting - and we chatted about the right spot for me to paint live . I was given the stage - literally - to paint . The ambience of the barn is so warm and intimate and I couldn't wait to paint here .
There were a lot of personalized aspects to this wedding. Raj was the officiant for the wedding. Neha and Ben said their own vows. It was a simple ceremony with friends and family present. The wedding was device free - everyone focussed on what was actually happening :)
Ben's grandmother was one of the original donors for The Wolf Trap. What a beautiful moment it was for the family to have a wedding at a venue that is so personal for them .
I arrived on site a couple of hours ahead and painted the backdrop - the stage and the floral details. After the ceremony , I painted as much as I could until the party winded down . I completed the painting in my studio at home .
Apart from having me paint their wedding , Raj also asked if I could add a few unique details to the painting that were very significant to Neha . Their mother's name translates to Lotus . Neha loves dolphins and elephants . I added these easter eggs to the painting that really did customize it for Neha. Can you spot them below ??
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I'm treated with a lot of care at every wedding that I paint live or sketch at . The couple and their family members always check in on me to make sure I'm comfortable. Raj , Neha , Ben , their parents and extended family members were extremely kind to me . I felt the love and warmth from every single person who spoke to me .
There’s something to be said about being present and painting live at a wedding on site . I can never express it fully in words- hopefully it’s captured on canvas 🎨 🖼️ Interaction with the couple, the family , friends, other vendors , experiencing the space, the decor , the details and just the pure love and joy is something that I really enjoy .
Congratulations Neha and Ben !
If you are interested in having me paint live at your wedding or corporate event , feel free to reach out to me !
The amazing team that worked on Neha and Ben's wedding :
Details Made Simple , Andrea Cable Photography, Nana Floral. Event , Kolour by Khloe , Spilled Milk DC , DJ Taj Productions, Hilton McLean, Wolf Trap