What is live guest portrait illustrating?
Artist, Jes McGinley, will sketch your friends and family during your wedding cocktail hour and reception in her signature back-facing style. Live event sketching gives your guests the best of both worlds: fun entertainment and a guest favor they will actually keep!
I am available anywhere from 4-6 hours on-site. On average, I can draw 1 guest in roughly 5-6 minutes & 2 guests in roughly 9-11 minutes. Please take into account transition times between each guest/drawing. I can approximately draw 4-6 couples or 8-10 guests per hour.
I am currently only booking weddings in 2023. If you are interested and your wedding is in 2024, feel free to reach out, and I will give you further infomation. Thanks for understanding!
NEW! FRONT FACING DRAWINGS
Now you can choose to upgrade to a front facing style. This is Jes' new style where the guest's will be drawn from the front in a detail less face fashion style.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book you for my wedding?
You will begin by filling out my inquiry form. If your wedding date is available on my design calendar, I will respond with a custom quote for booking. Once you are ready to proceed you will see there is a contract to sign and invoice to pay. I require a 50% non-refundable retainer that will be due after the contract is signed. The rest would be due a month prior to your event.
How many portraits can you complete in one event?
I try to limit to one or two people per drawing, but I will accept three people if time allows. All drawings will be drawn in my signature back-facing style. I can draw 1 person in roughly 5-6 minutes or 2 people in about 9-11 minutes. Depending on your wedding guest list size, not all guests may get drawn. Please keep in mind, not everyone will ask for a portrait as well. I do offer an add-on package that will cover additional portraits to be completed after your wedding for those interested in a similar style and mailed directly to you to include in their thank you card.
How do guests know what to do?
I provide signage for my table as well as an assistant who helps with organization and getting the crowd up to speed with what is going on. Having your DJ shout out the station is always an awesome idea as well.
Will you travel?
I am located in Columbus, Ohio, but I am willing to travel. I do have very limited spots open for travel. I will charge a travel fee that covers time and expenses such as hotel, flight, food, and transportation.
What type of art medium do you use?
I am a marker artist, which means no dry time!
How many hours should I book you for?
I require a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 6 hours. Typically I will be drawing during the cocktail hour until the end of the reception.
Do the guests need to stay at your table while you draw them?
No, they do not. They are, however, welcome to hang around as I draw their portrait live! Once a guest approaches my table, my assistant or I will proceed to take their photo so your guests can get back out on the dance floor – fomo is real. If the guest prefers to watch as I draw their portrait, that's totally fine! I love meeting and chatting with your friends and family!. We ask the guests to pick up their drawing no later than the end of the night. I will only draw from photos that I or my assistant take during the event.
How far in advance should I book you?
I suggest reaching out 6 months - 1 year before your wedding date. I have limited spots open each month and once a date and/or month is booked, it is no longer available. I follow a first booked, first served basis where your contract and retainer must be completed to secure your spot.
Will you draw the bride and groom?
I won't say no if they come to my table (obviously) but included in your package is a custom bride and groom drawing that will be delivered after the wedding in a much more refined, detailed style. This allows for the couple to interact and be super present on their wedding day with their guests!
What will we (the couple) need to provide?
I will bring my art supplies, table lights and signage. I require you to provide a 6-8 foot table decorated as you wish with 4 chairs. Please no circular tables. If your cocktail hour is located in a separate location, I require a table to be set up in both locations, and my assistant and I will move my art supplies into the reception space when your guests begin to transition.
MEET THE ARTIST
Hi! I'm Jes, artist and owner of JesMarried. I am a marker artist focused in the wedding industry. I started my business while I was planning my own wedding. I created a back-facing portrait of all of my besties to ask them to be in my bridal party. Six years later, I am a full time artist working on portraits, invitations and signage in my studio and traveling to weddings in Columbus and beyond! I have a husband and two pups who I adore, I eat pizza pretty much every Friday and I love Tik Tok!! I can't wait to meet you, your friends and family on your special day!
Jes McGinley
Owner and Artist
"Jes did live Illustrations for our wedding and she was absolutely amazing! The guests loved having it there as entertainment and having something to take home and it was a great way to capture the evening. Jes was so responsive and easy to coordinate with and even took pictures of our guests to draw during times when guests weren’t able to come to her table (during dinner and speeches). I highly highly recommend her for live illustrations in addition to all the wonderful items she offers!"
- Emily E.
Columbus, Ohio | Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph
INVESTMENT
Live wedding guest illustrations with JesMarried start at $2000. Pricing will vary based on number of hours on-site, add on packages & travel fees.
"Thank you so much for being there! Everyone kept telling me what a fun idea the portraits were and how awesome you were!"
- Christine N.
Fogelsville, Pennsylvania | Glasbern Inn