Painting a Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD

Painting a Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club, ©Patricia Bennett 2013

Portrait of the Bride and Groom, by Patricia Bennett

Patricia Bennett and the Bride at midnight in front of the Wedding painting at the Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD

Wedding painting at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD

I was the Live Event Painter at a lovely wedding at the Columbia Country Club September 1, 2013.  I painted the ceremony live, and painted the Reception until after midnight.  

The events of the day are combined into one 24 by 36" painting.  The Studio portion that I will do this week is a close-up portrait of the Bride and Groom slightly left of center, for which I took reference photographs after their ceremony.  

Beginning:

Sunday September 1, 2013, I arrived at the Columbia Country Club at 1:30pm.  On the Event Planner's schedule (Sara Muchnick of Engaging Affairs), I was due to arrive at 2:30pm, but I wanted to get the lay of the land.

The Events Manager at the Columbia Country Club, Laura Gaige, and Erik, and other staff of the Columbia Country Club were very helpful.  One staff member opened the doors for me as I brought in my duffle bag, table, easel and canvas.    

The Chuppah was specially made by an artist, and depicted several historic scenes of Jerusalem.  It was set up already with the backdrop of drawn muslin curtains.  I started the painting at 2 pm, and the Country Club was in full wedding swing: laying out the chairs, prepping food.  Twenty or thirty lovely purple flower arrangements were already lined up on a long table.  

I requested that I be allowed to open the curtains to paint the greenery outside, and Sara Muchnick okayed it.  

Two stunning enormous purple flower arrangements were placed on either side of the Chuppah, then a large cloth for the center aisle was unfurled.  The lighting crew arrived, and the string quartet, and the band members.  The table was laid out for the Rabbi.  Periodically, Erik and Laura Gaige and Sara Muchnick inspected the room.  I was asked to move to the other side of the aisle to avoid guests running into my easel, which I complied with.  

The Ceremony:

The Ceremony was long enough for me to get several bridesmaids and groomsmen in the painting as well as the Rabbi and Bride and Groom and a small child.
As soon as the Ceremony ended, I moved to my second location, facing the stage.  And the entire room was rearranged very efficiently by the staff.

The Reception:
Very lovely!  I painted all night, guests ate their meals, danced.