Live Illustration at a Gay Wedding in San Sebastián
Last june, I spent the cocktail hour at the Palacio Miramar, located in the city of San Sebastián in the Basque country, very close to where I am based. The beautiful palace has a an amazing view on La Concha Bay and on the palace garden which is a public garden. Therefor, the wedding took place inside of the Miramar palace.
I usually prioritise weddings coordinated by a wedding planner, because it makes the day easier for everyone. This was my only wedding this year 2026 without one, and it went surprisingly smoothly. The couple had prepared my table exactly as we'd agreed in a perfect location, and since the venue is small, so I found my spot as soon as I arrived!
Finding the right style for a short live wedding illustration session in San Sebastián
The couple first contacted me about faceless portraits. I understand some of the appeal: they're quick, and with a short three-hour session they wanted to draw as many guests as possible. But being personnally not fond of faceless portraits, don't offer them even if I have to turn down projects. For me, the whole point of a live guest portrait is that people recognise themselves, and weddings tend to have a lot of men wearing similar suits, which quickly becomes an issue if the face is not represented.
So we looked for another way to keep the pace up without losing the likeness and the charm of representing each person's unique facial features. Instead of watercolor, we chose line portraits: a single colour, fewer details and loose, lively lines.
Red ochre line portraits on personalised paper
To make the portraits feel part of the wedding rather than an extra, I drew them on personalised paper in red ochre, the same warm tone as their invitations and decoration. Each portrait fitted in with the rest of their wedding, and guests took home something that truly belonged to the day.
42 guest portraits in only 3 hours (!!)
With one colour and simpler lines, each portrait took 3 to 5 minutes on average. Over the three-hour session I drew 42 guests, about 14 an hour. That's on par with faceless portraits, or even faster, even though those usually go quicker because they leave out the face. It's also my record so far! I usually aim for the best possible portrait for each guest rather than the highest speed, but for this couple's brief, pace was the priority due to budget constrains. It could have been even more: my assistant usually takes the guests' reference photos so I can keep drawing without a break, but on this day she was held up by parking for part of the session, so I took several of the photos myself between portraits. If you go to this venue, parking is tricky because in San Sebastián, some areas don't allow you to park over a certain amount of time, and this venue is in the center city. They do have a very few parking spots, but unfortunately not enough for a wedding.
The speed didn't cost the likeness. Guests recognised themselves straight away, and the couple recognised every single guest when they saw the portraits. They were thrilled: the portraits matched their style and became a charming keepsake of the day.
The illustration of this beautiful couple, which a bit more details. It's their wedding after all !
Tips for couples planning live wedding illustration in San Sebastián:
Place the illustration table where guests naturally gather, near the buffet or the bar. People spot it straight away, watching becomes part of the fun, and it's the best way to get as many guests illustrated as possible.
Put a bin and a spot for empty glasses nearby. Otherwise the illustration table quickly becomes the place where everyone leaves them!
Plan parking for your vendors. Reserving a spot or sending parking instructions ahead of time means everyone is set up and working from the very first minute. This is especially important in San Sebastián
Recommend your guests to use uber or to find a nearby hotel. San sebastián is quite walkable so if your venue is central like Palacio Miramar, this is the best option!
Plan a covered spot. Weather on the Basque coast can turn quickly, so even for an outdoor reception, keep a sheltered place for the illustration table. Paper and rain don't mix. This wedding was on a very hot day so we did appreciate the AC indoor as well.
No planner? Take on the vendor details yourselves. Have the illustration table set up as agreed before the session starts, so the drawing can begin on time.
Tell your vendors exactly where to go. In a small venue it's easy. In a larger one, send a quick map or name someone to meet them on arrival. Getting married in San Sebastián or near Biarritz? I'd love to hear about your plans! Click here to chat about it!
