We’re really proud to say that TheWeddingPainters has been shortlisted in the regional finals of the 2026 UK StartUp Awards.

And honestly, this means a lot.

When you’re building something day in, day out, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head. You’re constantly looking at what’s not working yet, what needs fixing, what needs improving, and where the gaps still are. So when something like this comes from the outside, from people who have no emotional attachment to what you’re building, it hits differently.

It’s not just exciting. It’s reassuring.

You back yourself for a long time before anyone else does. You keep building, keep testing, keep solving problems, and keep pushing forward even when things feel slower than you want them to. So to have that recognised externally is a big moment for us.

The truth is, building an early-stage marketplace hasn’t been straightforward.

It’s messy at times. There are loads of moving parts. You’ve got supply, demand, trust, conversion, systems, follow-up, and customer experience all needing attention at once. Some days you feel like everything is clicking. Other days you’re questioning whether you’re focusing on the right thing at all.

Regardless, we’ve kept trying to improve the platform, tighten the experience, solve the problems in front of us, and build something that is genuinely useful for both couples and artists. I think that’s what this shortlisting really reflects.

That said, this is not just about us.

A huge part of this belongs to the artists on the platform too.

TheWeddingPainters only exists because talented live wedding painters, illustrators, and commission artists have trusted us, joined us, and helped shape what we’re building. Their feedback has been a massive part of the journey. When something hasn’t worked, they’ve told us. When they’ve needed something, we’ve listened. A lot of the progress we’ve made has come from paying attention to the people actually using the platform and trying to build around real problems, not assumptions.

That’s also why it’s been so encouraging to see the quality of artists on the platform keep improving.

We’ve had genuinely talented artists choose to join us, and that matters. Better artists make the platform stronger for couples, and a stronger platform helps attract more great artists. That flywheel is still building, but it’s starting to move, and that’s been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey so far.

This shortlisting is a proud moment for us, no doubt.

But we’re not looking at it like we’ve made it. We’re looking at it as a sign that what we’re building matters, and that we need to keep going. There’s still loads to do. We still want to improve the platform, help more artists get booked, improve conversion, and make it easier for couples to find and book wedding artwork they’ll treasure forever.

We’re really grateful to the judges for recognising what we’re building, and even more grateful to every artist who has backed us so far.

We’re only just getting started.

It’s been a big few months behind the scenes at The Wedding Painters, and we’re finally ready to share what we’ve been working on.

Our new platform is officially live. 🎉

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know The Wedding Painters started as a simple idea: make it easy for couples to find a brilliant live wedding painter, and help artists turn their talent into regular, well-paid bookings.

The core idea hasn’t changed. But pretty much everything else has.

In the last week alone, 22 artists have joined the new platform, and we’re only just getting started.

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Why we rebuilt the platform

The honest answer? We outgrew the old one.

We had more couples browsing, more artists joining, and more enquiries coming in than the old setup was really built to handle. Things worked… but not as smoothly as we wanted.

So we asked ourselves two questions:

1. If we were planning our own wedding from scratch, what kind of platform would we want to use to book a live painter?
2. If we were full-time artists, what tools would genuinely make our lives easier and our income more predictable?

The new platform is our answer to those questions.

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What’s new for couples

If you’re a bride, groom, or planner, the main thing we wanted was to make your life easier.

On the new site you can:

• Browse artists more intuitively – Clear profiles, examples of real wedding paintings, and an easy way to see their style at a glance.
• Filter by location, style and budget – So you’re not scrolling endlessly through people who don’t fit what you’re actually looking for.
• Send a single enquiry to one or more artists – Tell us about your wedding once, and reach the painters you love without filling in 10 different forms.
• Book with more confidence – Our goal is to make the whole thing feel as straightforward as hiring a photographer: clear quotes, agreed terms, and support if you need help.

We want booking a live wedding painter to feel exciting and fun – not like another admin job on your never-ending wedding to-do list.

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What’s new for artists

This part we’re especially proud of.

Live wedding painters are usually juggling a lot: commissions, events, travel, social media, emails… plus the actual painting. The platform is built to take some of that weight off.

On the new version, artists get:

• A dedicated profile that actually does you justice – Space for your portfolio, prices, bio, FAQs and real wedding examples.
• A steady flow of relevant enquiries – Couples who are actively looking for a live painter, not just “window-shopping”.
• Fair, transparent fees – We only make money when you get booked. No complicated subscriptions for the sake of it.
• Support from a team that actually understands what you do – We’re building this with you, not just for you.

Seeing 22 artists join in the last week alone has been a lovely confirmation that we’re on the right track. There are traditional oil painters, loose watercolour illustrators, and everything in between – which means couples have much more choice, and artists are surrounded by peers instead of feeling like they’re doing this alone.

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Why this matters for live wedding painting

Live wedding painting has exploded in the last few years, but it’s still new to a lot of couples.

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve heard:

“We didn’t even know this was a thing until we found you!”

That’s a big part of why we’re excited about the relaunch.

• It gives couples a central place to discover the idea and actually see what’s possible.
• It gives artists a home online where they’re not buried on page 9 of Google or endlessly fighting algorithms on social media.
• And it helps the whole industry feel more established, professional and trusted.

Our aim is simple: if someone types “live wedding painter” into Google or hears the phrase from a friend, we want The Wedding Painters to be the place they land.

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What’s next

This release is foundation, not “finished”.

Over the next few months we’ll be:

• Adding more artists across the UK, US and beyond.
• Improving how enquiries, deposits and bookings work so everything is smoother for both sides.
• Building in more tools for artists to manage their wedding workload in one place.
• Creating more content for couples to show different styles, timelines, and budgets.

And we’ll keep listening. A lot of what you see on the site already comes from feedback from both couples and artists.

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How to get involved

If you’re a couple or planner:
Have a browse through our artists, save your favourites, and send an enquiry when you’re ready. Even if you’re early in planning, it’s never too soon to start chatting to painters – the popular dates go quickly.

If you’re a live wedding painter or wedding portrait artist:
We’d absolutely love to hear from you. The platform is growing fast, and we’re always on the lookout for talented new artists to join us.

👉 If you’re ready to join, head over to theweddingpainters.com/join-us and fill in the short form. That’s how we collect everything we need to review your work and get your profile set up on the new platform.

Here’s to the next chapter – more weddings, more paintings, and more couples getting to relive their favourite moments on canvas.

The Venue

Tyn Dwr Hall is a beautiful grade II listed country hall nestled in the magical Welsh countryside, which we recently had the pleasure of visiting. The venue, which has been carefully renovated with modern elements, boasts an illuminated bell tower and stained-glass windows.

The grounds itself is a sight to behold, with ancient woodland surrounding the venue and a magical stream running over the crest of a small waterfall in the centre. It enough to enchant any couple!

The lasting touch the venue possesses is its friendly and supporting staff who are on hand to ensure your day goes off without a hitch.

The Event

We found ourselves at this spectacular venue to meet with local suppliers to gather insight into our local wedding community. Oh, and to spread the word about live wedding painting, of course! 

It’s our mission to spread the word about live wedding painting to anyone who will listen, and by attending these local wedding fairs we get the chance to do so in person with our local community.

Doing so makes each connection much more personal and gives everyone the chance to put names to faces. So, if you’re a couple looking for some inspiration or a supplier looking to connect, these fairs are the perfect place for you.

The Suppliers

We got the chance to chat with so many amazing and wonderful suppliers ranging from vintage ice cream, photography and wedding dresses. All of which have their own unique flair and style to give you that personal touch. 

One highlight of our day was being able to chat with a local dress supplier, Amy from thelittledressco who gave us some insider knowledge on all the best local wedding fairs and events to attend. Meaning we can meet even more amazing people! If you haven’t already you should certainly consider checking out thelittledressco as they bring the luxury of a complete wedding dress shopping experience, without the high-end price tag.

Live Wedding Painting is Taking Over

We are truly thrilled to share with you that Lissie and Rose were featured on BBC’s The One Show. This is a remarkable achievement for both Lissie and Rose, and it’s well-deserved considering their immense talent. If you haven’t had a chance to watch this amazing snippet yet, you can catch it on BBC IPlayer – The One Show 

We believe that their appearance on such a popular show will bring much-deserved attention to the beauty and uniqueness of live wedding painting. We are sincerely grateful for Lissie and Rose’s hard work and the publicity they have generated for live wedding painting, and live wedding painters across the UK. Be sure to check out their artwork on their websites as well. 

Why are we telling you this and why is this good news

We are excited to share this news with you because we want to express our gratitude to Lisse and Rose and celebrate their achievement. Additionally, we aim to raise awareness about live wedding painting throughout the UK. Currently, there is limited knowledge about this art form, and we are determined to change that. That’s why we are thrilled to see it featured on The One Show.

We are delighted to announce that live wedding painting is gaining popularity in the UK and is receiving recognition in the mainstream media. This is fantastic news as it means more people will have the opportunity to appreciate live wedding painting, which we believe is the most wonderful way to capture those cherished moments. At the same time, it offers your guests a unique form of entertainment that they have probably never experienced before.

Lastly, as this art form gains more recognition, it opens up new career opportunities for artists that they may not have been aware of before.

What is live wedding painting

Live wedding painting is an absolutely amazing art form where an incredibly talented artist captures a specific moment of your wedding ceremony. Whether it’s the enchanting first dance or the deeply moving walk down the aisle, these artists have the exceptional ability to immortalise every emotion felt between the happy couple. The remarkable attention to detail will leave you and your guests in awe as you witness the creation of a masterpiece right before your eyes. And the best part? At the end of the ceremony, you will be presented with the finished artwork to cherish forever.

Moreover, these artists have a wide range of capabilities to offer. Not only can they capture the special moments of your wedding ceremony, but some artists are also skilled in producing guest portraits. These portraits can serve as unique and personalised gifts for your guests during the wedding. If you are interested in exploring more about live wedding painting, we invite you to check out our comprehensive guide: What is Live Wedding Painting

Can anyone become a live wedding painter

Certainly! Anyone has the potential to become a live wedding painter, as long as they possess the necessary skill and painting experience required to capture the essence of someone’s special day. While there are specific criteria to meet, such as maintaining a high standard of painting and actively engaging with guests, it is indeed possible for anyone to pursue live wedding painting. If you’re interested in learning more, we encourage you to take a look at our comprehensive guide on How To Become A Live Wedding Painter.

What is The National Wedding Show

What an amazing and wonderful time at the NEC held by the national wedding show. So many inspirational people and companies here are doing brilliant things for the wedding industry. 

Why we went

We went to speak with all the inspirational people attending and share our thoughts on their future plans and if we can help in any way. We managed to speak to several wedding planners and venues and enlighten them on the wonderful world that is live wedding painting. Can you believe it, many of them had never even heard of live wedding painting before. Which is the exact reason we went to let everyone know what it is, and what a beautiful and unique addition it can be to any wedding.  

What we found amazing

We found it incredible how many people here had never heard of live wedding painting. As you know it is our mission to increase the awareness of live wedding painting across the UK and this has given us a new boost in achieving this goal. Attending this show also gave us the chance to talk with incredible wedding planners and wedding venues to get their insight into their favourite parts of a wedding along with all the wonderful things they have seen. The variety of people at the show was also incredible, from bridal stands to gospel choirs you had plenty to look at and see. There were also many speakers at the event sharing their stories and tips about the wedding industry.

Would we recommend it

Yes! This show has everything you could ever need whether you are looking for your perfect wedding venue, or for someone to plan your special day. You can be sure to find it at the NWS.