Live Wedding Painting at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove: Daniella & Julian Grima
A Fairytale Live Wedding Painting at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove
I was asked to paint at Daniella and Julian’s wedding close to a year before the event. With Covid still looming, it was a bit touch and go before Daniella had the confidence to book, knowing the wedding would definitely go ahead. I was very excited when she confirmed their venue and I would be doing a Live Wedding Painting at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove.
I was to capture their first dance, some of the guests, the florals, and fireworks. Normally these moments would be fairly simple, with a few florals dotted around the place, a first dance under the fairy lights and maybe a firework or two… not this wedding!
I had been prewarned that John Emmanuel was the florist, but I didn’t really imagine the extent of the florals until I turned up at 5pm and saw the terrace area of The Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove completely transformed by a blanket of pale pink, cream and white roses. It was spectacular!
I took up residence by the stairs, so that I had a full view of the reception under the stars. (How lucky were they with the rain that day too! Rained before and after the event, but perfect skies at their wedding!)
I then began the task of deciding how best to capture this amazing scene. There was dry ice from the fountain, Sally Coop the violinist serenading the guest with her music, chandeliers along the length of the terrace, a 9-tier cake, 1000’s of florals, waterfalls, pools, a dance floor, and hundreds of guests… this was certainly a challenge.
I decided to paint backwards, from the dance floor looking up to all the terraces of flowers, fountains, and tables. Although this meant I could not get the fireworks in, I felt this would make the best composition by far, so they were sacrificed! Sorry fireworks!
I used a pale pink as a base layer and started creating the overall scene. Lots of perspective, measuring and redrawing were done in the first hour. This is always the hard part as guests come round to view the progress and see nothing but messy paint splodges, mistakes, and a sort of abstract nothingness… I just have to ignore that voice in my head slowly dying inside and keep on painting.
Once I had the main layout painted, I started on the roses, painting oh so many roses! Painting those alongside the fountain, and hundreds of candles was a lengthy process, but I love it, so it’s enjoyable.
I couldn’t complete the painting at the wedding as there were only 4 hours in the reception terrace before they headed off to the ballroom for the after-party. Of which I was not invited! Ha ha… So, I went home and finished it there. This is something I’m used to with elopement paintings, and although it’s hard, as I get into the groove of painting only to have to pack up before the end, I do enjoy the slower pace of painting at the studio.
I finished the painting with their first dance; Sally Coop making an appearance in the corner, guests throughout the piece and so many of John Emmanuel’s stunning floral arrangements. What a talent he is!
Here is the final piece, what do you think?
It’s certainly one of my favourite paintings, and I can’t wait to create another wedding like this, maybe next time on Bora Bora or Tahiti… hint hint…
Vendors involved in this wedding were:
Bride @daniella_grima
Groom @julian_grima
Wedding Designer/ Florist @johnemmanuelfloralevents
Flowers @wafex_australia @royalflowersgroup@florsani_floricola @harryswolesaler
Wedding Planner @alysiabridgerevents
Wedding Venue @intercontinentalsanctuarycove@davidtheweddingplanner
All Builds, Linen, flatware @whitelabelhire
Production, Lighting, AV @jayproductionsevents
Chandeliers, @starlightchandeliers
Pyrotechnics @sydney_fireworks_pyrotechnics
Photography @arianaphotographystudio
Videography @iconic_films
Media @weddedwonderland
MC @johnalten
Daniella dressed by @steven_khalil
Daniella Welcome party and after party dresses @karensabagofficial
Bride and bridesmaids wedding jewellery @crystelle_jewellery
Rings @naderjewellers
Bridesmaids and Mothers @integrityboutique
Julian Dressed by @alexgoodmancustom
Groomsmen and father of the groom @alexgoodmancustom
Hair @hairstylist_lizzieliros
Make up @melissasassinemakeup
Wedding Cars @uniqueweddingcars
Cake @thesweetsocietyco
Candles @lovedbylucyxo Skin @beautybymarisa
Barber @thegoldenbarber.au
Wedding Invitations @dianekhouryweddingsandevents
Wedding menus @paperiebyfrankii
Blossom Trees, Balloons, Foam letters @theblossomtreecompany
Chairs @thechairmanqld
Cocktail musician @therushgroup
Cocktail Furniture @avideas_eventhire
Violinist @sallycoop
Dj @mista_kay_official
Bomboniere @candledbyher
Fire Twirlers and Acrobats @seriesofeventsaus
Bongos @theamshow.insta
Live Painting @iampoppydesigns
More about the artist.
Hi, I am Poppy, a multi-disciplinary artist, illustrator and graphic designer with a passion for watercolours.
I have been creating for as long as I can remember, and in 2012, opened up iampoppy Designs. I am passionate about helping inspired people bring their creative dreams to life through my art!
From live paintings, watercolour illustrations and portraits, murals right through to surface pattern design, I love getting stuck into so many different projects, keeping me interested, growing and my business ever-changing. The world of a creative!
So please take a look around, and reach out for a chat! Whether it’s print patterns, workshops, live wedding painting or more… I’d love to meet you and hear all about your story!
E-mail me: designs@iampoppy.com
Call me: +61 413 373 215