A wedding is full of magical moments that will be remembered far beyond the day itself. These special moments are created together with the people who are close to your heart. To thank your loved ones for their support and presence on this unique day, I capture you and your guests in small unique watercolor sketches. The lightness and transparency of the colors give each mini portrait a soft, dreamy touch that will make your day unforgettable as a special guest gift. Your guests (and you too, of course) come to me, I take a quick photo and after about 10 minutes they can hold the finished work in their hands – a unique memento of your special day that they can watch being created live on site.

I can also illustrate the invitation cards, place cards, menu cards and other special features for you.

Of course I am also happy to come to birthdays or other private parties! For commercial requests for events and company parties, you can find more information here.

“Mary-Lou drew our guests at our wedding as a gift. Many of our guests described this as the most personal and beautiful gift they had ever received at a wedding. Although Mary-Lou is incredibly fast, she received so many requests that we spontaneously added some time. The pictures are incredibly beautiful and a great personal memory of our beautiful day. We would recommend Mary-Lou 100%. ”

Aenne & Mathias

“Mary-Lou was one of the highlights of our wedding. The watercolor portraits were very well received by our guests, and we as the bridal couple also had a portrait of ourselves painted and now have it in our living room. The entire preparation with Mary-Lou was uncomplicated and very friendly. Gladly again for special occasions.“

Michaela & Robin

“I was able to work with Mary-Lou on a shoot and experience her incredible talent for color, composition and aesthetics up close. Mary-Lou loves what she does, you can feel that immediately when you watch her paint and draw. Her works belong at every wedding, JGA or birthday party.“

Lisa – Inh. von Trauliebe

Watercolor Sketches of Your Guests:
A Special Gift for Your Guests

On your special day, your guest gifts—in the form of personalized sketches—will be created live on-site. Every guest is warmly invited to watch me at work during the creative process. You’ll decide in advance which style and size best suit you and your celebration.

The Process

So that no one has to stand still for too long while I paint their portrait, I’ll quickly take a photo of the guests (or of you!). Then everyone can get back to the party while I paint the picture in watercolor.

• Paper size: Standard 14 x 19 cm (other sizes available upon request).

• Capacity: I can complete about 4–5 paintings per hour (which corresponds to about 8–10 people depicted).

• Duration: 3–8 hours of painting time

Choose your portrait style: The two styles

You decide which artistic style best suits your wedding.

Watercolor Guest Portraits WITHOUT Facial Details
This style focuses on the outfit, body language, and individual charisma. What makes it special: The faces are intentionally left out.

• Time per person: about 8 minutes
• Time for 2 people: about 10 minutes

2. Watercolor Portraits of Guests WITH Facial Details

In contrast to the faceless style, the clothing here is somewhat less detailed, while the faces are painted in a stylized manner.

• Time for 1 person: about 9 minutes
• Time for 2 people: about 12 min

Duration & Cost

You decide how long I’ll be there to illustrate your celebration live on-site. My fee is based on the number of your guests and the resulting duration of the session, to ensure that everyone receives a high-quality illustration.

• Hourly rate: 175 €
• Capacity & Guarantee: I guarantee that I can illustrate 8 people in one hour. Since couples and groups often come together, experience shows that the average is higher (about 10 people per hour). If the time spent on-site isn’t sufficient to paint all guests in the booked quota, I’ll complete the remaining portraits in my studio at no extra charge.
• Customized Live Experience: You decide how long I should be on-site.
  • Option A: I’ll be on-site the entire time, and your guests can watch me paint.
  • Option B: You book me for a shorter time slot (minimum 3 hours). I’ll photograph all guests on-site, paint as many as possible live, and finish the rest for you in my studio.
• Logistics & Travel: €100 per hour of travel time (from my studio in the Lüneburg Heath). This amount covers travel expenses as well as setup and takedown on-site.

Booking Examples (For Reference):

• 30 guests – 4 hours: 32 guests guaranteed (30 guests + the bride and groom); based on experience, up to 35 sketches are possible depending on the style; approx. 4 hours of live painting | 700 €
• 40 guests – 5 hours: 40 guests guaranteed; based on experience, up to 45 sketches are possible depending on the style; approx. 5 hours of live painting | 875 €
• 50 guests – 7 hours: 56 guests guaranteed; based on experience, up to 60 sketches are possible depending on the style | €1,125
• Travel costs example: The wedding venue is located 2 hours away from Schneverdingen. The cost for travel plus setup approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes beforehand is €200.

Note: Prices + 7% Tax

Optional Extras & Services

• Additional Orders and Finishing in the Studio
  In addition to the guaranteed number of sketches we’ve agreed upon, you can also have me take more photos on the spot or send them to me later. For an additional fee, I’ll then finish these in the studio and send them to you.

• Digitization:
  If you’d like to keep individual portraits of your guests or a “group photo” of all the watercolors as a keepsake, I can scan the finished watercolors on-site. For €150 (up to 40 guests), I’ll scan all the paintings on-site and provide them to you as edited individual files. A collage is also possible (see digital collage).
  

From Heart-to-Heart-Discount: What matters most to me is being able to spread joy through my art. If you’d really love to have a live painting session but are facing a budget challenge, please feel free to contact me anyway. If possible, I can also come to your wedding after we’ve worked out a personalized arrangement.

Watercolor Paintings of Bridal Couples:
Portraits & Scenes

Your wedding couple portrait or candid shots captured in watercolor—live or in the studio: Based on photos I take on-site, receive from your photographer, or create in the studio, I’ll capture you and your wedding moments in watercolor on fine handmade paper, using pastel tones and striking a beautiful balance between abstraction and realism.

The Magic and Abstraction of Watercolor Painting
I’ll lovingly create your portrait. So you know what to expect and can decide which size is right for you, I’ve included two examples of my watercolors here, along with the corresponding photo references. The larger the watercolor, the more detail I can include. However, it will never be photorealistic—meaning you’ll still recognize yourselves, but not as clearly as in a photo. I just want to be honest about this so you can make an informed decision about getting a watercolor portrait.

Watercolor Painting: Just the Bride and Groom (including abstract background)

• A4 starting at 300€/600€ (live, close-up only)

• A3 starting at 400€/800€ (live)

• 40×50 cm starting at 600€/1000€ (live)

• 50×70 cm starting at 1000€ (studio only)

Watercolor Paintings: Full Scene

• A3 starting at 700€/1000€ (live)

• 40×50 cm or 56×38 cm starting at 900€/1500€ (live)

• 50×60 cm starting at 1200€/1800€ (live)

• 50×70 cm starting at 1,500€ (studio only)

Note: Custom sizes are available. These are not canvas paintings, which means an additional frame is required for hanging.

Prices do not include 7% VAT and do not include a frame or mat.

Inquiries

Let’s discuss watercolor guest portraits together as part of your dream wedding. Please use the contact form or send me an e-mail to mary-lou@mlploss.art.

Are you interested in a company event? Then take a look at my weddings here!