The art of saying 'I Do': Live paintings add a personal touch to weddings

Weddings are no longer limited to grand venues and elaborate rituals; they have become a platform for creativity and personalisation. A new trend gaining popularity is the inclusion of live paintings at the venue, where artists capture the mood of the celebration in real time.

Catching up with the trend
Nowadays, social media reels play an important role in planning wedding ceremonies, helping couples catch up with the latest trends to personalise and make their D-day special. An artist from Ahmedabad shared that numerous brides have contacted him to inquire about live painting for their weddings. “Brides want to add a personalised touch to make their special day memorable. As a result, they often initiate inquiries about it,” says Krina Panchal, an artist.
On the other hand, Vivek Wagh, a Mumbai-based artist, notes that while the concept is relatively new in India, it has been popular in Western countries for many years. For Wagh and his partner, Varsha Nair, most of the demand comes from NRIs returning to India for their weddings. “In foreign countries, live painting at wedding events is a common practice. Many of our clients are NRIs who want to incorporate this service into their Indian weddings,” he explains.
“I always dreamed of a wedding painting, and live painting felt so fresh and unique. When I saw it on social media, I knew I wanted it. My husband helped me find the artists, and having them capture our special day was magical,” says Mahima Juneja, who got married in 2024.



Preserving the perfect moment
Many couples opt to have the pheras and varmala rituals painted, as these moments hold significant importance in weddings and evoke an emotional connection, states Varsha Nair, an artist. “I wanted the painting to capture our wedding’s meaningful moment—the saath pheras. A live painting felt perfect to preserve both the intimacy and festivity, creating a timeless keepsake to narrate the story of our celebration,” expresses Ahmedabad-based Nakshi Shah.
Speaking about other special moments, a US-based Mahima Juneja, who got married in India, expresses, “We’ll treasure the painting for a lifetime. That moment when my husband and I looked at each other, thinking, ‘It’s finally happening,’ was captured so beautifully—I couldn’t have wished for anything more perfect.”
Customised request
Detailing the couple’s faces, wedding attire, and mandap is key to the paintings, but some clients request personalised touches to make their big day even more special. “One client asked me to include a photo of her pet in the painting of a pool party she hosted before her wedding. Couples often have customised requests, as all the functions are significant,” says Krina Panchal, who started live painting at wedding events since last year.
Book in Advance
As the wedding season begins in full swing, artists are also busy travelling from one wedding event to another. According to artists, they are receiving an overwhelming number of bookings for the next year. “Bookings typically start two to three months before the wedding date. Our schedule is packed for nearly all the wedding dates,” says Nair.
“Most bookings come in for November and December, as many couples prefer to get married during these months,” adds Krina.