Wedding Planning Decisions, This vs That with Kelly McWilliams

Live Wedding Painting vs Guest Illustrations with Artist Brittany Branson

• Kelly A McWilliams • Season 5 • Episode 1

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Get ready to transform the way you view wedding artistry! Picture your favorite wedding moment captured on canvas, or your guests immortalized in personalized illustrations. Our guest, Brittany Branson, an accomplished live wedding painter, takes us behind-the-scenes, unfolding the unique world of live wedding painting and guest illustrations. She dives into the rich details of these two distinct styles, guiding us on the nuances and drawing comparisons between the two. Brittany illuminates how couples can select the best option to suit their preferences, considering elements such as canvas size, choice of an artist, and the entertainment value each brings.

Brittany's expertise and personal experiences offer an enlightening perspective on the intricate process of live wedding painting. She sheds light on how she collaborates with couples to decide on the wedding moment to eternalize on canvas. We also delve into the varying sizes of canvases available, and how to choose the right artist to meet your needs. Brittany underscores the benefits of having a live painter at your wedding, turning precious moments into lasting memories.

Providing memorable and unique experiences for your wedding guests is the icing on the cake, and Brittany's invaluable advice on this will leave you inspired. She offers tips on how to find the perfect live wedding painter, what to keep an eye out for, and how to create a personalized and efficient experience for couples with a large number of guests. Whether your heart desires a large-scale canvas painting or smaller guest illustrations, Brittany's insights will undoubtedly pave your way towards a memorable wedding that speaks volumes of artistry.

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Places to go - People to see:

Kelly's Site: http://www.kellymcwilliams.com
Kelly's Blog: https://www.kellymcwilliams.com/blog
Instagram: @kellyamcwilliams


About Kelly:
Kelly knows how incredible a well planned wedding can be. Every moment counts and every decision plays a part. Wedding planning should be fun and as easy to do as possible. Besides planning weddings, Kelly travels the globe as an industry speaker. Kelly is a Martha Stewart Top Wedding Planner & this podcast won Brides magazine and WeddingWire's best podcast.

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Speaker 1:

Hello and welcome to this Versus that making wedding decisions with Kelly McWilliams. This podcast is for you if you're making a wedding decision and want to know what to consider before saying I do to all the things that will make your wedding experience a great one. I'm your host, kelly McWilliams, and I'm so glad to be a part of your wedding planning journey. In each episode, you can count on me and my expert wedding co-hosts to give you everything it takes to make the best decisions for the wedding that you're dreaming of. I can't believe we are in season five of this Versus that. You guys. I never in a million years thought I would still be doing this podcast Like. I started it almost on a whim, almost. I mean, I thought about it for a year, but now we've just hit 50,000 downloads. Are you kidding me? It's been a long hiatus. So if you are new to this Versus that, first of all, thank you for joining us. I'm Kelly McWilliams, I am your host and every episode we do a little play. On which one would you choose? The whole goal is to help you make a decision that you're going to be making, and sometimes we're introducing you to new ideas, like we are on this episode. So on this episode I have my friend, brittany, who I met at a wedding conference several months ago, and she's a live wedding painter, and if you've never heard of live wedding paintings, then this is definitely the episode for you, because we're going to explain that and why you may want to include it in your wedding, but also, if you don't want to do a painting for your home, why you might want to instead do illustrations of your guests. So we'll explain what both of them are. Brittany's great at explaining all this because she's been doing it for, like, I think, nine years all over the world, and so she was like the perfect expert to come on as our co-host for this episode. I hope you enjoy it and I'm so excited to bring you this whole season. It's so pathful of the most incredible wedding experts. I'm just. I'm floored by everyone who came and I'm so excited to share it all with you.

Speaker 1:

So let's go ahead and get started with this interview with Brittany Branson. Of by Brittany, by Brittany Branson. That's a mouthful Okay. Good morning, brittany. Thank you so much for being the very first person on season five of this versus that, and I know I told you already this morning before I hit record. But just yesterday I got like this big email saying that we finally not finally, because it's shocking to me hit 50,000 downloads. Now I know that's not a lot in the world of podcasting, but to me, 50,000 times people have listened to this podcast. Amazing, that's spectacular, spectacular. I mean I don't want to hear it from all those fancy guys who have five million, but yeah, I don't have anything on us.

Speaker 2:

No, congratulations.

Speaker 1:

Thanks, Thanks. I'm so excited to talk to you. The topic that we have today is live wedding painting versus live guest illustrations. So I think anyone tuning into this episode is going to be like what are you even talking about? Because I feel like so few people have been exposed to both of these things and I, fortunately, have had both kind of. So. I've had live wedding painting a few times. Live guest illustrations I have had one time with. It wasn't watercolor, it wasn't like painting, it was literal sketching. And then another time we had someone which is very different art, but cutting silhouettes.

Speaker 2:

I love those, yeah it was really, really cool.

Speaker 1:

It was, and I had never seen it before in person, so I thought that was so cool.

Speaker 2:

What's a talent I wish I had. How fast and just how one little shape, one little cut makes someone's face in sync.

Speaker 1:

I don't think I have the eyes to see people the way that these artists do Incredible An artist's eyes. I don't know how you do it. You're born with a talent, clearly. Okay. So I think it would be great, before we talk about one or the other, If you could explain you know kind of in detail what it is that live wedding painting is and what guest illustrations are.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so. First I'll start with live wedding painting and that to me and to my friends in the industry, when we hear that we define it as a very traditional canvas painting, where it's a single canvas, the artist is coming on site to capture a favorite wedding day moment on that canvas. You can go into whether they use acrylic or oil or whatnot, but it's a single heirloom painting capturing a favorite moment in time. So that's how my brain and always thinks of live wedding painting versus live guest illustrations is when you're bringing in an artist who will do just that. You know, basically, as it says, a guest comes up to their table and the artist produces a very quick, much smaller illustration, usually on paper, of the guest either their silhouette, their outfit but it essentially acts as a wedding day favor that the guest will take home, versus the live wedding painting, which is a piece that the couple themselves will take home.

Speaker 1:

Okay, got it. I think you described them perfectly. Thank you. Okay, so let's talk about why someone would want to do one versus the other. Let's start talking about the painting first. So the first thing that I thought about when, as you were describing it, is that it's a moment in time, so I assume that means that prior to the wedding day, you're deciding with the clients what part of the day you're painting. Is that true? Yes, absolutely Okay. And is there one over another that you would recommend? What do most people do?

Speaker 2:

Sure. So first I'll always say that every artist is different, right, Okay?

Speaker 2:

Good to know, you know, and I will say that in terms of the artist's individual process, I have friends who thrive on showing up the day of, and they choose the moment of, what inspires them the most and that's an act of trust that you know they work on with the couple beforehand. Obviously, the couple isn't going to contract them to come if that trust there for that choice isn't already established. So I have friends who work that way. Me personally, I work with the client to find out which wedding day moment is most meaningful to them or what they would love to hang on their wall forever.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

So that tends to like. The most popular ones are first kiss walking up the aisle and first dance are usually like the top three.

Speaker 1:

Got it, and when you do this, are you starting from scratch, or are there things that you put in place prior to the actual wedding day that are hopeful to you as an artist or to the couple?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's actually a really great question For me. Personally, I thrive on starting from scratch, always for the sake of the discovery call. When a client inquires, I'll, you know, look up the venues website, maybe check out their Instagram just to get a feel for it and also just so I can help in that brainstorming conversation initially. But I thrive on basically showing up on the big day, not having been in the space, seen it, and we go from there. That, to me, is part of my entertainment factor.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

I do have artist friends who, especially if they're coming from a more traditional studio background like that's how they trained and operated they might do multiple sessions. Sometimes, especially if the venue is local to them, they will show up. Sometimes they do pre sketches. They basically take their studio process and apply it to the wedding, which is also very cool. So there's no right or wrong way to do it. It's more, if you, if a couple, loves the artist's final work, I would hope that they trust that artist process.

Speaker 1:

One of the best things about having the live artists there. I mean, obviously, it's really cool that you're going to have this painting at the end that you can put in your home, right, yes, and that becomes an heirloom. Like you know, we all look at art in museums and things like that, and you look at homes that have been there and established in, families that have passed down these paintings of their, their elders and the previous generations for years and years, and we can do that now with things like this. Absolutely, let's talk about the entertainment value of having a live wedding artist there. So how does that typically work? Like, do do you come in and you pick a spot that's good for you to paint from, or is it that the planner puts you in place in a specific area so that you're getting the most view? Like, what's that? What's the entertainment? How does that all work?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, excellent question and I apologize if I keep coming back to. Every artist is different, so I apologize for that. No, it's fine, it's fine.

Speaker 1:

And you can tell me from your perspective. Yeah, perfect.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so for me personally, I always tell my couples and my vendor partners that I personally don't allow logistics to interfere with the painting they ultimately want. So that can look a few different ways. For example, if a couple is having a church ceremony offsite but for entertainment reasons it makes the most sense for me to set up at the reception venue because that maximizes the amount of hours that guests will be present to watch the painting come to life. I've worked with the photographers. I've worked with the planners who are on site over at the church If they can snap sneaky reference photos for me, and I work off of those over at the reception. So the couple is still getting the ceremony painting they've always wanted, but we're maximizing the entertainment value and not sacrificing that part.

Speaker 1:

So when that happens, does that mean that let's say you are doing that, that the couple has chosen to have their ceremony as the moment captured in this painting, and so if you aren't there because we want the entertainment to actually be at cocktail hour or dinner or something like that, then the planner or someone at the ceremony takes a photograph and sends it to you and then you are painting off of an image.

Speaker 2:

Correct. Yeah, Now, sometimes, especially if the offsite ceremony is relatively local to the reception space, sometimes I'll go and attend. You know, I'll hang out in the back of you and take my own content because I'm taking photos and videos for social media purposes and everything. So I love to do that. Sometimes that's just not possible, especially if there's hours of gap or sometimes if the ceremony site is on like a military base and that's not always easy for me to kind of flip a flop in and out. Photographers and planners, family members, have always been amazing with helping me out in terms of capturing those reference images for me to work off of. Yeah, they just text me. I mean I've. Even if I can't connect with the photographer right away, sometimes at the reception they'll come up to me and I literally just snap a photo of their camera.

Speaker 1:

The back of the camera. Yeah, oh my gosh.

Speaker 2:

Whatever works you know, whatever it takes to get the job done.

Speaker 1:

What a testament to your talent, though. Oh, thank you. But do you find? Do you find that it's easier for you, though, or that the image your painting is better when you actually see it in person?

Speaker 2:

No, actually I'm pretty chill either way. Okay, and this is where I always say it's someone else's process. I have friends who are very adamant that like they have to be there, they have to be in the same room as the moment's occurring, and that's totally great. For me personally, the end result and maximizing the entertainment value is more important to me than being a I'm putting stickler in air quotes everyone being a stickler for the like my eyes on the moment.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so in the past when I've had a live artist, what we've done I actually haven't had anyone choose a ceremony. Almost all of mine have been in a reception, and I think that the reason is and you tell me if I'm wrong at the reception there's other key people that you can put into the painting. Am I right? Yes, and with that, is that something where it's been a little bit of time? So I think I recall that I helped the artists to know who were the VIPs that they preferred to have put into the painting at some place, correct?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so. All of my paintings are custom so I know going into the day like I have my list. If my couple wants any other individuals in the painting, I have my list. I personally do my best. Especially what's really helpful if they want parents or siblings, or what not added into the painting is the introductions into the ballroom before the first dance, because the DJ is like you know, physically announcing these people.

Speaker 2:

So I'm there and I'm taking those reference photos. But for me personally, I always tell my couples if you want all of these other individuals in the painting. It would help me out a lot if I were to take it home and then get back in touch with you, especially if you get your professional photos back in a particular time frame so that I can just cross reference that I took photos of the correct people.

Speaker 1:

So when you're there painting that night, you would be painting basically the bride in the groom or the couple, whatever you know, but whoever's getting married, and then their surroundings, and then later on adding in key players.

Speaker 2:

That's my personal process. Now, what I will say to all couples listening is that this comes down to what's most important to you, right? Because I certainly have live artists, friends, who they thrive on the challenge of adding in everyone and their mother into the painting that night. So if that wow factor is important to you, I would allow that to what's the dictionary word I'm looking for. I would allow that to inspire your decision in terms of the artist you ultimately choose, if that makes sense, whereas for me, I just think the types of couples I attract or who ultimately want to work with me, that's not up high up on their priority list. They're actually totally cool with me taking the painting home because they don't want to be responsible for it after a night of drinking anyway, sure.

Speaker 1:

Sure, I can't imagine. I can't imagine In general. Are there different sizes? Or is it like every artist? It's like, oh no, everyone does 12 by 12 kind of thing.

Speaker 2:

Great question. Yeah, I have seen me and my artist friends offer the gamut of all sorts of stuff, so I personally offer three. I thrive on slightly bigger. It's funny bigger canvases actually allow me to work better and faster, even though logically that may not make much sense. So, especially in terms of pricing, I'll have a lot of couples who love the idea of a live painting but they've never seen it, they've never come across it, they wouldn't know. So I think in their brains they're thinking, oh, the smaller the canvas equals a lower price, like inches equals to price. But that's not the case, not for me. It's actually me. Bigger helps me work faster. However, do I have a lot of artist friends who thrive on smaller, like even in the 12 to 16 range? Absolutely. So again, another factor to consider when choosing the best artist fit for you.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I have two last questions before I move to illustrations. Yeah One, what is something that people need to do before they pick a live artist, because the number one thing that I notice is that they're all drastically different. Yes, so is that? How? How should someone go about picking their artist?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, great question. I always say two primary things that always come to mind. One is, of course, the style, because this piece is gonna be hanging on your wall forever. So, even though, if you as a couple, if you're in love with the idea of having a live artist, I wanna make sure that you love, you ultimately love the painting, because the painting is a lot harder to hide than a USB full of your photos.

Speaker 1:

Sure.

Speaker 2:

If you hate them, you put them in a drawer.

Speaker 2:

Yes, it's gonna be a little bit more difficult to hide away a 24 by 30 canvas if you don't love it. So I want you to love the style, and so that's why I always encourage couples to don't settle. Like, if you find that artist immediately in your area, don't speak to you style-wise. I encourage you to look outside. It's why I travel a lot. There's not too too many of us and a lot of us do travel because we understand that we don't want couples to settle for the handful of people who may be available locally If that makes sense I couldn't agree with you more on that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and because I've had to go look a few times and I don't know it's because of where I'm at in the world, but there's very few there and they're not for everyone.

Speaker 2:

And so.

Speaker 1:

I think it's really important to consider. Even if you're trying to stay local, for something like this, it probably is best to search nationwide for your artists and know that that's a very, very normal thing. My last question before I move on is and maybe this isn't shouldn't be a last question Maybe this should be like the question that leads us to the next one.

Speaker 2:

What.

Speaker 1:

When it comes to entertainment value, do you find that your guests and the couple are more entertained by the live wedding painting or the illustrations? And I hate to pin one against the other, but I figured you're the person to ask because you're the person that sees it all the time.

Speaker 2:

See, I don't even take that as pinning one against the other. Where I mentally go to is that decision ultimately speaks to the couple's personality, because the live painting, to me, is something for them. Yes, you are providing your guests the entertainment. People are not gonna dance for four hours straight. They're always gonna need a break. You're always gonna have a mix of ages and personality. So, providing them with something that is not the band or DJ they get a kick out of, but in the end that piece is going home to the couple. The end result is for them, whereas the guest illustrations are for the guests. It may not be so much of a highly visible entertainment, but the piece is going home with the guests. So that, to me, just speaks to the personality of the couple of. Hey, if we have X amount in our budget to have some sort of artist come in, what's more important to us? Sure, a piece for ourselves or something tangible for our guests, right?

Speaker 1:

Well, I guess really, when you think about it, they can get an illustration of themselves too.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and that's what I do, like it's sort of my surprise element. We don't talk about that on the call. So, like for guest illustrations, I tend to work in like an eight by 10 paper range, but I always give my couples like an 11 by 14, more detailed something for them. Oh, that's cool. They're a little surprised at the end. Yeah, now they know.

Speaker 1:

Yes, oh, oh, okay. All right, I'm so glad we went through all those and those were like the big questions. I thought, like these are the things that people don't always know about. So, yes, okay. So, if you've got that in place, okay. So now let's talk about live guest illustrations and, like you said, that's where you set up a table and you're illustrating guests as they come up. I think my number one thing that I would like to lay about this and that I think is so important that people ask if they don't know, is how long does it take for each person to be illustrated and how many people can be illustrated at your wedding when you have an artist.

Speaker 2:

I know it's gonna be.

Speaker 1:

I know you're gonna tell me it's different for every artist, but let's do on average what you think, and I know you're only yourself, but give me the goods.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So if we're talking a sketch like, let's just say, a black and white quick sketch of the guest, I would say in the five minute range.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Now that, like I do, that that's possible. There's also an option where I use paint. It's almost like a quicker version of what someone would get in the canvas live painting.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

That could take up to 15 to 20 because it's much more detailed. So I always say this is where numbers comes into play of if a couple loves my style in terms of the height, much more detailed illustration that suits a much more intimate wedding Okay, Because I have more time to dedicate to each guest For volume purposes if they've got even, I would say, more than 30 to 40 people the quick sketches best. Okay, Unless you are open to bringing in more than one artist and we can work as a team to field the volume.

Speaker 1:

That's actually a really, really good idea. Yeah, and with that are there like is it that the couple comes up and you take a photo and then you sketch it, or does the couple have to stay there for five to 10 minutes? Great, yes.

Speaker 2:

Everyone's different, but for me personally, the quick sketch where it's like black and white fashion illustration they can stand there and bippity, boppity, boo, I do it in a few minutes. Okay, for the more detailed option, that's when either myself or in that case I usually bring an assistant to help kind of field the interest. We take a full body photo of them. It gets sent to my iPad. That's kind of like hanging out in front of me on the table and that's what I work off of, so that they're free to go off and enjoy the cocktail hour or reception. And once I complete the painting, I provide like a plastic sleeve and a cardboard backing and I leave it out on my table so that they can grab it whenever they're ready to, because I'm very self-conscious about a line forming and people having to wait all of this time when they can be off enjoying other aspects of the wedding.

Speaker 2:

So I'm very self-conscious of that, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And I think that's the hard part for planners, like line the bar, line the art is. It's the one thing we don't want to have happen. Yeah, is it public? Is it something where and I don't know if you've done this in the past where maybe you could go to more than one event the wedding? Let's say they're having a wedding weekend and they're going to have rehearsal dinner and a welcome party and then the wedding or maybe a brunch. Is it something? Is it possible that you could like make it higher for the weekend, just so that you can get as many of their guests Illustrated as possible?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. Um, I mean, I the only thing with that is Depending on the personality of the guests. I don't know if they would be Self-conscious of the fact that their outfit is changing. Like what they're, would they want to be illustrated in their welcome party attire Versus their wedding day attire? I don't know if, like, would they care? I don't, I don't know, um, but is it? Is that a possibility? Yes, or what I would even think is the like. Ultimate option, especially for a couple that loves and appreciates art, is Bringing me in for something like the welcome party or rehearsal dinner, because that's gonna be a much more intimate affair.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, With a number of guests that I can really spend time with them and and talk and engage with them and give them this piece Because they're the VIPs of the week. Yes, yes, but then the next day, on the big day, that's live painting.

Speaker 1:

That makes so much sense to do that that makes so much sense and from your perspective, reaction wise from the guests. Do you think that they're More excited or wowed by the live painting or the illustrations? I know this is a tough question to answer.

Speaker 2:

No, I actually, I, my heart says the live painting really okay.

Speaker 2:

I do. I do because I think, um, I Feel like the vast majority of us even if it's not a wedding, if it's a festival, it's a, if it's a whatever, I think we've all come in contact with some sort of Personal illustrative experience, whether it's a caricature artist or whatnot and so that expectation is set, or that that experience has been experienced, whereas I mean, even though I had a live artist at my wedding in 2015, so we're, this is gonna be eight, nine years the amount of people that I meet every weekend who have never heard of a live wedding painting.

Speaker 1:

I know there's so many.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so many, which is, like I'm one-handed shocking, but it's also not not at all, yeah, shocking. You know, I think I'm just too close to what I do, so that there's always the wow factor, whereas with the guest illustrations, they, they very much appreciate it and they get a kick out of like, hey, look, it's me, how cute, yeah, um, but then there, I think there's a valley.

Speaker 1:

If that makes sense, have, I'm gonna go off the beaten path here for just the last couple minutes here, just because I'm curious now I just popped into my head I've been, I've received In inquiries from digital sketch artists. Yeah, is that something that's kind of new to weddings and do you feel like that's something that people would get just as much joy out of? Or do you feel like that's something that it's gonna be just like a photo booth? You know, everything's so digital these days and I I just wonder what your thoughts are on it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I, I agree, I don't think Anything, and this is especially Interesting in terms of all of the like AI conversations we're having. Oh, both in and outside of the industry. I don't think the the excitement of having a tangible Item created for you will ever waver. If anything, I think, especially as we talk more about AI and seeing all of this digital technology influence our lives, I think people are gonna be craving something tangible more so.

Speaker 1:

I Fully agree with that statement. It was what I hoped you would say, but I wanted yeah, I couldn't sway you. You know I was. You know I just had to ask the question Because I know that it is available now. But yeah, my thought is, because I've experienced it and because I know digital so well, I would be so much more excited myself to have something I can frame and put on, like even if it was to, honestly, Brittany, even just to put it on my refrigerator. Do you know what I mean? Like that Absolutely. To me it's like like how cool is that? It's not something I can do myself. And yes, I know you can go get your pictures printed off of your throne anywhere. It's just not the same thing.

Speaker 2:

It's not the same and I think there's and I don't mean for this to come across as harsh, because I respect digital artists immensely- the way they're I fully agree.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the way their brain works is so different from mine, and so I have a lot of respect. But I think, as technology continues to influence our lives the way it has, I almost think there's almost like a distrust of, even if you have the best digital artist come because it's digital. There's almost like a gut feeling in me of, like, did they really do all of that by hand, or did they grab a graphic off the internet, did they? You know, was the shape just automatically, perfectly, they just have to click a button and this appears. So there's a little bit of distrust.

Speaker 2:

Whereas you can't argue with the artist who's sitting in front of you and you can watch their hand on paper. I think you just If that made any sense.

Speaker 1:

Oh, my gosh boy, did you ever just like spill the tea right there with like? Well, seriously, brittany, like think about it, you're right, they can go back in a race Like it's not it's. You're losing that moment in time. You know, yes, and I'm with you. I have so much respect for them I can't do it, and it is really cool, but I feel like it's not going to have that longevity and the value that something like done with pen or paint or anything like that does.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, there's yeah, I agree. Where I see digital like that coming into play is for volume purposes.

Speaker 1:

Where if?

Speaker 2:

you have such a big like especially I even think of conferences, if you're okay, even just speaking outside of the learning sphere, where if there's a high volume you're not able you can imagine the amount of paper and supplies that would need to be present to you know, field these crowds and the flexibility of being able to like execute the illustration and then just like email it to someone or post it to someone Like I and I so regret I forgot her name. I've talked to her quite a few times, but she has a brilliant business, mainly for the conference industry, where she will live illustrate the speeches and create graphics and stuff. Oh, how cool, wonderful. I couldn't do that, but she threw her cause.

Speaker 2:

Like for me and how I'm a natural learner, like I'm an auditory learner for, like, some things I remember back in college, but for others I'm highly visual. So if you can imagine you're sitting in a keynote and maybe it's very dense and you have this incredible artist there who is live taking the speaker's points and illustrating them, that's amazing. So there's definitely space there and there's value in that. Sure, again, I think it all comes back to, especially for weddings, the couples' personality, what's important to them and what's important to them to give their guests.

Speaker 1:

This has been the best interview. Yeah, oh my gosh. No, it really has. I'm so excited just to be here on season five and to start it with this episode, because I think there's so much value in what we were able to expose everyone to in this episode. It makes me so happy, Like this is something that I think people just gonna be. Like I never even thought about that, like that would be really cool, you know and I will say, because I actually had both.

Speaker 1:

Like I said, it is really cool. It is very, very cool, and I understand it's another line item on the budget, in the spending plan, but it's definitely something that I feel like everyone should put on their wish list and consider placing into their allotment for their entertainment line items. You know, you've got your band, you've got maybe you have a vocalist come in or I don't know someone who does something else. There's all kinds of things, but this is something that not only is an entertainment value, but you can also use it as a gift to your guests or to your wedding party, even if you just did like you said at the key players at the rehearsal dinner or something like that.

Speaker 1:

So so many different things, brittany, thank you so much. Can you quickly tell us where people should reach out to you for this and if you can just spell your name out? So, because I find when I listen to podcasts people will say, oh yeah, I'm Samira at Live Painter. Well, not everyone knows how to spell Samira you are. So if you can go ahead and give us that information where they should find you, and also if you can say what people should Google to find live artists and illustrators, because I sometimes just got to start from scratch.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely no. That is actually a wonderful point. So for me personally, my website and Instagram are all by Brittany Branson, so BY, but then my name not like Spears, b-r-i-t-t-a-n-y and Branson. So those are a website and Instagram.

Speaker 1:

By Brittany Branson.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, all my friends say I sound like a girl reporter from the 40s, like Brittany Branson on the scene. Great question about what to search for. If you are interested in what we chatted about in terms of live wedding painting, that's exactly what I would search for Live wedding painter near me, live wedding painter in certain city here. I feel like my colleagues and I that's SCO, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Those are the words I use on a regular basis, and we should call you a live wedding artist. What would we call?

Speaker 2:

I say painter not offended by artist and then especially for like corporate and stuff, they'll say live event painter if you're at non-wedding event, but live wedding painter. It ranks really high For guest illustrations. I personally say live guest illustration. Sometimes what ranks really high is like live watercolor portraits.

Speaker 1:

Oh, okay.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a lot of us do use watercolor to execute those, because it's quick and malleable and dries relatively fast. So if you're not having as much success with just live guest artist or illustrator, try the watercolor route. The live watercolor, and you may get some really great people popping up that way.

Speaker 1:

Wonderful. Oh, brittany, thank you again so much and I cannot wait to get this out to everyone. And thank you for being here for my 50,000.load party.

Speaker 2:

Oh, my God, I am so honored.

Speaker 1:

And episode one of season five. Okay, well, enjoy the rest of your day and I hope that I have you at a wedding really soon.

Speaker 2:

Me too. Thank you, Kelly.

Speaker 1:

Okay, bye. I'm so glad to be able to share my wedding experiences and expertise with you, and that my co-hosts are so giving it theirs. We truly do want you to have the best time at your wedding, and our hope is that this podcast is helping you to make your engagement time while planning your wedding that much easier. May I ask a favor of you? If this is the case, would you just take a moment to leave a review of this podcast on your listening platform? It helps people just like you to find the podcast and to also find out their answer so they can make decisions.

Speaker 1:

I would also absolutely love for you to give this versus that podcast a shout out on your social media. You can find us at this versus that wedding podcast on Instagram, and if you would like me to help you with a specific question, a wedding decision, please by all means ask. Send me a DM. I would love to hear from you and maybe, just maybe even have you as a wedding guest on a future episode. How fun. We'll see you soon at another great wedding.