Image courtesy Karen Raidy
Attending a wedding means, sure, posing for the occasional photo, jumping to catch the bouquet or garter, and grooving (embarrassingly so) on the dance floor. Now imagine those memories captured as a painting that will last for years. It’s just the latest addition to the ever-growing list of ways to commemorate the big day and keep guests entertained.
Enter such vendors as Wedding Art Live: Artist Karen Raidy can create a masterpiece of the ceremony, reception, or rambunctious after-party. While it’s usually those getting hitched who give her a call, guests can give the painting as a gift. (You might want to let the couple know beforehand that an artist will be in attendance.)
Of course, classic ways to capture the big day will never go out of style. For example, recording the wedding—or broadcasting the occasion on Facebook Live for family and friends who couldn’t make it—is a trend. Such services as Applause Weddings also offer a mix of old and new, including fish-eye lens photo booths and videography.
Finding new life for costly wedding items is another way to combine old and new. Once you’ve spent a pretty penny on floral arrangements, take them to Webster Groves–based Cast Paper Art, where they can be repurposed as stationery through Floral Expressions.
Even wedding gifts have expanded beyond the expected. Online registries allow guests to help defray honeymoon costs and contribute to the purchase of other pricey items. Goodbye, toaster oven; hello, Belize.
