When my neice Katie married Jon, the special ocassion was celebrated with a beautiful destination wedding at the historic Chateau Grimaldi in France. My husband and I grappled with what meanful gift we could give them. I really wanted to create a unique custom painting to capture the moment. One that would memorialize the event and last a lifetime.
So I put together this gift certificate as a promise of the gift to come.
The wedding was of course magical, and union made offical and Katie and Jon started building thier married life together.
A little while later, Katie sent me a photo that she particularly loved and asked me tu use this to create the painting. The photo, with its muted colored, represented the beauty of the chateau and rural France. Additionally Katie and Jon love soft muted tones and their lovely coastal home reflects this. So I took all this into account when creating the painting. In fact the final art is more of a watercolor, with a little pen work to give definition.
A couple of weeks ago I personally presented it to them and they LOVED it.
Here is a close up of the final custom painting.
Custom paintings as wedding gifts
Over the years I have created many wedding gift paintings — including churches, wedding venues, the couple’s first home, etc., but this one was very personal — not just for my neice and her new husband but her me as well, I did something different by including the couple in the painting. After all, original art is one-of-a-kind. Unlike mass-produced gifts, a painting or drawing can’t be duplicated, making it feel as unique as the couple themselves.
Here are three more of my favorite wedding gift custom commissions.
Maine church wedding gift
Original artt often reflects emotion, beauty, and story—perfect parallels to a marriage. A thoughtful piece of art can symbolize love, growth, or the couple’s journey together.
In alignment with this sentiment, a year or so ago, I was commissioned to do both a pen drawing and a pen and watercolor of the beautiful St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunkport, Maine, by the mother of the bride. This pen drawing was used for the weddingvinvition and the pen and watercolor painting was a wedding gift for the bride and groom, to commemorate the happy ocassion.
Celebrating Greek Synagogue in New York City
Hand-crafted art is both lasting and timeless. Unlike trendy items or gift cards, original art doesn’t fade in relevance. It’s something the couple can display in their home for decades, becoming a part of their daily life and shared memories.
Tucked between towering historic buildings on Broome St, in Lower Manhattan, I was honored to be asked to create a painting of Kehila Kodosha Janina Synagogue with its exquisitely unique brickwork. The structure is a combination of the Newoclassical and Moorish Revival architectural styles. It opened it’s doors in 1927 and has now been serving the Greek community for close to a century.
Old Town Alexandria wedding gift painting
Original artwork is emotionally powerful. It often carries emotional depth. It can be uplifting, calming, or inspiring—qualities that can enrich a couple’s shared space.
Towering above the roof tops in the heart of Old Town, the Balilica of St Mary Church has long served Alexandria residents. In fact I was able to view its magestic steeple from my home when living in Old Town. It is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the state of Virginia and it was a pleasure to transform this beautiful stucture into a work of art.
Lets not forget that art not only tells stories, it invites stories as well. A beautiful piece hanging in a couple’s home often leads to conversations about the wedding, the gift, and the giver, deepening your connection to them.
Working with me, you can commission original art tailored to the couple—like a portrait, a painting of their wedding venue, or something that represents their shared interests or heritage.
I’m always game for new challenges. I would be happy to discuss any ideas you have — no matter how crazy — for an original custom wedding painting.
Cheers, Leisa
