If you're considering a live wedding illustrator for your wedding, one of the first questions you'll probably have is: how much does a wedding illustrator cost?
Like most wedding suppliers, prices can vary depending on the artist, the style of illustration, the number of guests and how long you'd like them to be there.
Here's a guide to what you can expect when budgeting for live wedding illustration.
What affects the cost of a wedding illustrator?
There isn't one standard price for wedding illustration. Every illustrator works slightly differently, but there are a few things that will usually affect the price.
The length of the booking
One of the biggest factors is how long you'd like your illustrator to be at your wedding.
A shorter booking might be perfect if you'd like illustrations during your drinks reception, while a longer booking gives your illustrator more time to create artwork for a larger number of guests.
For example, a couple with 50 guests may need something very different from a couple with 150 guests.
The number of guests
The number of guests doesn't necessarily mean your illustrator needs to draw every single person individually.
Depending on the artist's process, illustrations may include individuals, couples or groups, and some artwork can also be completed after the wedding in the illustrator's studio.
This means your guest numbers and the number of illustrations you'd like are worth discussing when choosing your package.
The style of illustration
Every wedding illustrator has their own style.
Some create detailed digital portraits, while others work in watercolour, coloured pencil, ink or a more loose and expressive style.
The time required to create each illustration can therefore vary considerably.
When choosing your illustrator, I'd always recommend looking at plenty of examples of their work rather than choosing based on price alone. You want to know that you love the finished style before booking.
Your location
If your wedding is further away from your illustrator, there may also be additional travel costs.
For example, an illustrator based in Staffordshire travelling to a wedding in Cheshire, Derbyshire or Yorkshire may charge a travel fee depending on the distance.
If your wedding is particularly far away, accommodation may also need to be considered.
What is included in the price?
This is something worth checking carefully when comparing wedding illustrators.
Some packages may include a specific number of illustrations, while others may be based primarily around the number of hours booked.
Some artists may also offer additional illustrations completed after the wedding, guest books, prints or other keepsakes.
Make sure you understand exactly what you're receiving before comparing prices between suppliers.
Is a wedding illustrator worth it?
Of course, whether a wedding illustrator is right for you depends on what you're looking for from your wedding entertainment.
What I love about live illustration is that it combines entertainment with a personal keepsake.
Your guests get to watch their artwork being created, have a little moment with the illustrator and then take their finished illustration home.
It's not just something to watch for a few minutes — they leave with something that was created specifically for them.
For couples, it can also be a lovely alternative to traditional wedding favours or an additional way of remembering the people who celebrated with you.
How much should you budget?
There isn't a single figure that applies to every wedding illustrator, so I'd recommend looking at individual packages rather than relying on a generic average.
At Illustrated by Rach, my packages are designed around the amount of time I'm at your wedding and the number of guests I can accommodate, with options for everything from shorter bookings to full-day wedding illustration.
If you're not sure which option would work best for your wedding, I'm always happy to talk through your plans and recommend the most suitable option based on your timings and guest numbers.
Planning your wedding in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire or beyond?
