Whether you're planning a wedding in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo, Athens, or anywhere else in Ohio, here are five artists I confidently recommend whenever I can't take on a project myself.

A custom wedding painting allows couples to transform a meaningful photograph into a one-of-a-kind piece of fine art. But does that make it better than photography? Absolutely not! The truth is that wedding photos and wedding portrait paintings serve very different purposes. Let's talk about why.

Eventually many couples find themselves asking: "What can I give them that actually feels meaningful?" As someone who spends her days transforming memories into artwork, I'd like to gently suggest an answer: A custom portrait painting. Because unlike many gifts, a portrait painting doesn't simply celebrate a person. It celebrates a story.

When you decide to give the gift of a live painting, you are not only providing your friends with an incredible day-of experience, you are also investing in an heirloom piece that will stay in their new family for decades, if not longer. You will have a hand in bringing to life one of the foundational memorabilia from their new family. This blog offers guidance on how to make this unique wedding gift happen.