6 Ideas for Wedding-related Custom Paintings

It’s the most momentous of occasions that prompt us to think about the fleeting nature of time and how to capture them in our memories forever. Commissioned paintings can be an amazing way to not only freeze a special moment but to also re-experience the emotions that came with it. Whether it’s as a gift or to indulge yourself, and whether it’s a pre-wedding commission to display at the event or a post-wedding painting to place in a first home, an upcoming wedding conjures numerous ideas for custom art. Here are just 6 to get those creative juices flowing!

1. The Dress

Plenty of people save their wedding dresses as a memento of the special day, but it usually ends up in a bag in the attic somewhere. A painting of your dress allows you to enjoy it every day, while adding a touch of glamour and sophistication to your interior.

2. The Ceremony

A painting of the ceremony allows you to capture your wedding day exactly the way you imagined it. Perhaps it’s based off of your professional photos, or maybe it’s a scene that didn’t get captured by the photographer. Either way, it carries the feelings of the moment you thought was most important in declaring your love for each other.

3. The Couple

This is always a classic choice. Your portraits could be from the first photo you took together, a shot during an engagement session, or a re-imagining of one of your wedding photos. If it’s either of the first two, it could also serve as part of a fabulous display at your special event!

4. The Jewelry

Commissions of rings, or of hands wearing them, is a beautiful way to commemorate one of the most potent symbols of commitment. If that’s not your speed, what about immortalizing that ‘something borrowed’ or a precious heirloom you wore on your wedding day?

5. The Honeymoon

The beautiful photos you took on your romantic getaway can be the perfect inspiration for a serene landscape, to be placed in a master bedroom. This commission can transport you back to that idyllic evening at an exotic location during a once in a lifetime trip together.

6. The Cake

The cake was a work of art in and of itself, and just because you and your guests went to town on all 12 tiers doesn't mean you only want one evening to admire it!

For more ideas on your own wedding-related commission, brainstorm with a CoCo Consultant for free!

Commission Spotlight: Ganesha

Ganesha, by Laura S. — *Ganesha*, by Laura S.

When Vijay and Kalyani bought their home near Los Angeles, they worked with a designer to make sure their own personal style came through their choice of furnishings. They had a unique idea for a 70”X30” painting in their foyer, which had to be customized. CoCo Gallery artist Laura S. teamed up with the couple and their designer to bring their vision to life. Here’s how it all happened.

CoCo: What was the inspiration for your commission?

Our wedding invitation had a very modern representation of the Hindu god Ganesha, who stands for new beginnings and good luck. When we bought our new home, I thought that customizing a work of art around that special day in our life would be a great way to commemorate our space. We immediately thought that the symbol of Ganesha, rendered precisely the way it was on our wedding invitation but on a large wooden panel, would be the perfect thing.

CoCo: Why did you choose that particular CoCo Artist?

We felt like the artist really understood what we wanted to achieve and how we wanted our end product to look like. She had even done some of her own research on the subject (about the significance of Ganesha in Hinduism) before we talked to her the first time. I knew she could deliver on our vision because she was so willing to work with us. She also gave us some advice on colors that would work best and types of materials to use.

This digital rendering was done by the couple's designer and gave CoCo Artist, Laura S., an understanding of their vision.

CoCo: Were you nervous about anything going into commissioning?

I think Laura understood us very well and made a huge effort to make us feel comfortable. During our first Skype conversation, we took her on a tour of our home so that she understood our taste a little bit as well. During the sketching process, she even presented four mini-paintings with different background colors/textures so that she could better understand our preferences in this regard. In the end, the painting was even better than what I had expected it to be.

CoCo: What aspects of CoCo’s services were most valuable in your commission process?

CoCo Gallery was invaluable in helping us choose Laura as an artist. We had originally liked the style of another artist, but our consultant suggested that this piece was less about style and more about technique since the artist had to use silver foil and we had a very clear vision for the painting. She made it so easy to correspond with the artist, and she made sure that each side was being understood properly. All of that helped us feel extremely comfortable in the process.