HOW LIVE WEDDING ILLUSTRATIONS COME TO LIFE
Deciding how to capture your wedding day is normally a tossup between photography, videography, or a combination of both. But there’s another option, and it’s one which carries more than the single purpose of recording the day. This lesser known option comes in the form of live illustrations. Join Melbourne Wedding & Bride’s Alice O’Brien as she discusses with Dwi Nugroho, co-owner of Dillon & Reyn, the impact and behind the scenes process of live illustrations.
Written by Alice O’Brien
When the words live illustrations are thrown about, the imagination of what this entails wonders from someone painting massively sized portraits of random people to someone silently observing and drawing a music festival. Whatever comes to mind, the base line is a unique way to capture moments in real-time. This extends beautifully into the wedding scene, and what Dwi Nugroho and his partner so delightfully do. Live illustrations serve as a personalised visual summary of the day in an eccentrically dynamic way.
Dillon & Reyn is a live illustration studio specialising in hand-drawn portraits for weddings and special events, doubling as creative bonbonnieres and entertainment. Guests keep their illustration, and couples can take home a curated book of guests’ handwritten messages with their corresponding illustrations. The pair created this business on a foundation of love, both between them and for expressing moments in a considered way. The love is evident in how Nugroho first thought of creating Dillon & Reyn.
“The turning point came in 2017 when searching for a meaningful wedding gift for close friends … we wanted a keepsake with emotional value,” Nugroho says.
“What began as a heartfelt gesture for friends evolved into live guest illustration.”
But Nugroho’s love for drawing has always been present.
“I’ve been drawing portraits since a young age, beginning with family,” Nugroho says.
This passion was so strong that it actually led him to architectural design. It’s no wonder to see this enthusiasm interweave between illustrations and architecture.
WHY NOT JUST TAKE A PHOTO?
There’s more to capturing a wedding by simply taking photos throughout the day. What makes a wedding is the atmosphere it holds. This is what people want to capture. And this is where live illustrations and a unique perspective come into play.
“Each illustration is hand-drawn; it carries a sense of artistry and individuality that feels distinct from a photograph,” Nugroho says.
More than just a little keepsake reminder for guests and couples, being involved in live illustrations is a whole experience, and one which holds meaning.
“Live illustrating also creates memorable exchanges,” Nugroho points out.
“The first reaction is often a brief pause of surprise, followed by excitement … and often a smile or laugh as people recognise themselves in the illustration.”
Wedding photography is a testimony to how a wedding day looked, but live illustrations offer an insight into how the wedding day felt. It becomes a visual record interpreted through an artistic lens of the celebration shared and love had.
BEHIND THE STROKE PROCESS
Live illustrations can almost feel magical to those watching it unfold from afar. But what is Nugroho’s process when drawing the subtle flow of a guests’ yellow dress or a laughing flower girl mid petal throw?
On the approach of a wedding day, Nugroho first prepares: “Prior to the wedding, we coordinate with the couple, planner and venue to confirm logistics, spatial requirements, guest numbers and timing considerations,” Nugroho says. He’s fully aware of the best drawing times and how to structure his process to fit in, so as not to disturb the natural flow but rather integrate smoothly into the celebration.
On the wedding day, Nugroho has procedures in place: “The process is guest-led … we photograph guests [individually, as a couple or a group] as they approach the station, working through the images in order to maintain flow,” Nugroho explains. Taking photos of the guests who approach the Dillon & Reyn booth allows guests to continue to enjoy the night while their portrait is thoughtfully created.
On the topic of escaping time, Nugroho has a backup plan: “Any portraits not finalised during the event are completed in our studio afterward,” Nugroho says. From there, the husband-and-wife duo post portraits to the couple.
On the post-wedding days, Nugroho allows for constant access: “An online gallery of the full collection is also curated,” Nugroho points out. A couple can look back on these rarely captured moments in an instant.
On technical artistic skills, Nugroho knows what he’s doing: “Balancing accuracy with artistic interpretation is at the heart of what we do,” Nugroho proudly exclaims. “Accuracy ensures recognition; interpretation gives the illustration its character.”
It’s a work of perfect intentional blend of clean linework, deliberate colour cohesion and an elegant composition behind each portrait that only Nugroho and his partner can master.
A PLACE CLOSE TO HEART
Playing a role in a couple’s special day will always hold the weight of honoured responsibility, and this awareness doesn’t fall short on Nugroho.
“It’s the quieter interactions that resonate most: families dressed beautifully in cultural attire, childhood friends reuniting for the rare occasion, couples laughing mid-pose,” Nugroho reminisces.
Many naturally see live drawing as added pressure, but for Nugroho, the “energy that comes with creating artwork in a live setting,” is a feeling which brings him “genuine enjoyment.” It’s this observation that Nugroho falls in love each time he illustrates a wedding. But, more than that, it’s playing a meaningful role in creating bespoke wedding gifts for couples and guests to have in their back pocket for a lifetime to come.
Wedding days are distinct to each couple centered at its altar, from coastal themes to church services and destination locations, and it’s this distinction which makes weddings so special. The day speaks to who the couple is as a pair. Therefore, how this day is captured should match. Live illustrations carry bespoke power, the power to capture the personality of a wedding, and elevate the atmosphere through a memorable, interactive guest experience. A photo comes with ease; an illustration comes with hand thought lines, strokes and dedication
Images courtesy of Dillon & Reyn