Live Guest Portraits

Live guest portraits are a stand-alone experience designed to delight your guests while creating meaningful, take-home keepsakes.

Throughout the reception, guests are invited to have their portrait painted in watercolor — either individually or as a couple — based on a photograph taken during the event. Each guest portrait is created live and finished on site, allowing guests to collect their artwork before the evening ends.

The result is an elevated experience that feels personal, thoughtful, and unforgettable.

“How it works”

How the guest portrait experience works

Guests are invited to participate at their leisure during the reception.

Using their phone, guests take a quick photo—alone or with a partner—and send it to the number provided at the portrait table. From there, portraits are painted live throughout the evening based on the submitted images. Each guest portrait is painted on 5x7 watercolor paper.

In addition to the guest portraits painted during the event, a special larger painting of the wedding couple, created on 12 x 9 paper, is completed after the event and included in the guest portrait package for no additional charge.

Completed portraits are available for guests to collect before the event concludes. In the event not all guests were able to be painted on-site, the remaining portraits will be completed in my studio and mailed to the bride and groom along with their special portrait a few weeks after the event.

Watercolor painting of three couples dressed in formal evening wear, each pair standing side by side against a light background.

Artistic approach

a loose painterly style

Guest portraits are painted live using professional-grade watercolor, with focus on movement, personality, and style rather than strict realism.

Each piece captures the essence of the guest — their posture, attire, and presence — resulting in portraits that feel elegant, expressive, and cohesive as a collection.

Select details, such as flowing fabrics or evening attire, may be enhanced with subtle mica-based shimmer, adding depth and light-catching interest while remaining refined and timeless.

finishing Details

thoughtful finishing details

Each guest portrait is finished with care and presentation in mind.

Portraits include the bride and groom’s names and wedding date if requested, subtly noted on the artwork as a keepsake of the celebration. Once complete, each piece is placed in a clear protective sleeve, allowing guests to safely enjoy and take home their portrait the same evening.

A man and woman standing outdoors at a social gathering, smiling at the camera. The woman is holding a drawing of a couple, and the man is dressed in casual attire. The background features palm trees, umbrellas, and a table with decorations.
Watercolor painting of a bride and groom standing face-to-face in front of large wooden doors. The bride is in a white wedding dress holding a colorful bouquet, and the groom is wearing a blue suit with a white cowboy hat. The scene suggests a wedding ceremony.

The bride & groom signature watercolor portrait

Every Guest Portrait package includes a 9x12 watercolor created just for the bride and groom. While guest portraits are painted live during the event, this special couple’s portrait is completed after the wedding in the studio so it can receive the time and attention needed for a more finished, lasting keepsake that captures a special moment from the day.

Watercolor painting of three well-dressed people, two women and one man, standing close together with the women on either side of the man. The woman on the left is in a purple gown, and the woman on the right is in a red gown. The man is in a gray suit with a tie. Their faces are not detailed.
Watercolor painting of a woman in a glamorous gown and a man in a tuxedo, standing together.
Watercolor illustration of a man in a beige suit and a woman in a glamorous dress, both with faceless features, standing close together.
Watercolor illustration of a man and woman standing close together, with the woman in a long blue dress and the man in a blue shirt and beige pants, both with blurred faces.
A watercolor illustration of a man in a tuxedo and a woman in an elegant dress standing side by side with their arms around each other.
Watercolor painting of a man in a blue tuxedo and a woman in a black and gold dress, standing close together.
A watercolor illustration of a man and woman in formal attire, standing close together. The woman is in a red dress and has long wavy hair, blushing on her face. The man is wearing a green suit, white shirt, black tie, and sunglasses, with his hand in his pocket. The artwork is signed by Diane Moung.
A watercolor painting of a man and woman dressed in formal attire. The man is wearing a gray tuxedo with a black bowtie, and the woman is in a long, flowing yellow dress holding a black clutch.
A watercolor illustration of a couple dressed in formal attire, with the woman in a patterned gown and the man in a tuxedo with a red jacket and black bow tie, standing close together.

guest portrait Pricing

Guest portraits are priced based on the duration of the live painting coverage and the overall size of the event.

Pricing reflects the time spent printing and preparing the materials, painting live on-site during the reception, and completing any unfinished portraits in the studio after the event. Because each event is different, final pricing is confirmed in advance based on the selected coverage.

Guest portrait experiences begin at $1600 for up to three hours of live painting coverage, ideal for events with up to 100 guests.

Four-hour coverage begins at $2000, ideal for larger events of up to 150 guests.

Additional coverage time is available at $400 per hour.

Events with significantly larger guest counts or travel outside the local area are quoted individually.

All portraits completed during the event are provided directly to guests when possible. Any unclaimed portraits, as well as portraits completed in the studio after the event, are carefully packaged and shipped to the Client.

The Client is responsible for distributing any shipped portraits to individual guests after delivery.

Each guest portrait experience also includes a finished watercolor studio portrait of the wedding couple, completed after the event and delivered by mail to the Client, along with any unfinished guest portraits.

Have questions about guest count, timing, or setup? Additional details can be found in the FAQs below.

Request Guest Portrait Availability

guest Portrait Process

Booking begins with a confirmed availability check, followed by a brief consultation by phone or email to discuss timing, guest count, and event details. Based on this information, I provide a custom proposal tailored to your reception.

Once a proposal is selected, a signed contract and a 50% retainer are required to reserve your date. The remaining balance is due two weeks prior to your event.

Guest portraits are painted live during the reception. Following the event, the couple’s portrait is thoughtfully completed in the studio and delivered by mail as part of the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Guest portraits are done during the wedding reception. Sessions are offered in four-hour or five-hour blocks, depending on the number of guests and the pace you’d like for the evening.

  • Each guest portrait is created on a 5×7 card in a protective sleeve and typically includes one or two guests, and in some cases, several figures.

    Guest portraits are created live during the reception, with an average of 6-8 paintings or 12-16 guests painted per hour, depending on the flow of the event and the number of people in each portrait.

    If not all guests are able to be painted during the scheduled time, I will complete any extra photos in the studio following the event based on the package tier.

    • $1600 - 3 hours live painting/up to 100 guests

    • $2000 - 4 hours live painting/up to 150 guests

    • $2400 - 4 hours live painting/up to 200 guests

    This allows additional guest portraits to be completed after the wedding using reference photos, so more guests can receive a hand-painted keepsake even if time runs short on the day of the event.

  • A small guest portrait station is set up at the venue, including a covered table and a tabletop easel. Clear, printed instructions are displayed at the station so guests know exactly how to participate.

    During the reception, guests take a photo of themselves (or as a couple) and text it to the provided number. They are then free to enjoy the celebration while their portrait is painted. Finished portraits are displayed as they are completed and can be collected towards the end of the evening.

  • Guest portraits are painted live in a loose, expressive watercolor style on 5×7 paper, allowing many guests to be captured quickly as part of the celebration.

    The couple’s portrait is a larger 9×12 watercolor created after the wedding in the studio, giving it more time for refinement and detail.

    This makes it a more finished keepsake designed specifically for the bride and groom. The completed artwork is typically completed within a few weeks after the wedding and mailed to the couple.

  • Guest portraits are created live in a loose, expressive watercolor style on 5×7 watercolor paper. The focus is on capturing each guest’s outfit, pose, and overall presence rather than detailed facial features, giving each piece a stylish, modern feel that suits a lively wedding reception. 

    Professional artist-grade watercolor paints or alcohol markers are used, and in some cases, subtle metallic or reflective accents may be added to enhance details found in jewelry or fabric.

  • Guest portraits are created during the booked event or reception and are typically collected toward the end of the evening by the guests. Because the service is time-based, not every portrait may be completed during the event.

  • Guest portrait services are booked by event date and availability is limited. To ensure a date can be reserved, booking several months in advance is recommended, particularly for peak wedding season.

  • Guest portraits are typically available for guests to take home during the wedding reception, creating a meaningful and interactive experience for everyone in attendance.

    Any portraits that are completed or finished after the event are carefully packaged and shipped to the Client.

    Each piece is treated as an original artwork and handled with care to ensure it arrives in excellent condition.