Orchard in Bloom Styled Shoot: Live Watercolor Guest Portraits on the Oregon Coast
This one was something special, my friends. On April 29, 2025, I packed up my brushes and joined an insanely fun styled shoot at The Venue at Pelican Brewing in Pacific City, Oregon. The theme? Orchard in Bloom. Think rainbow fruit, breezy florals, and a splash of coastal charm—all inspired by those colorful Lenox plates you might've seen on your grandma’s fancy shelf (but make it modern wedding). As a live watercolor portrait artist, I’m all about blending color and connection, and this shoot brought both in full force! It was my first shoot on the coast, and I will always remember it fondly!
About the Artist
Painting on the Oregon Coast!
Hey, I’m Danison—the artist behind Bowtie & Brush. I create live watercolor guest portraits, and do on-site calligraphy and engraving for weddings and events across the West Coast and beyond. I’m a proud gay Filipino American, husband, and dad who believes in bringing beauty, warmth, and intentional storytelling into everything I paint. Whether I’m working on-site or from my studio, my goal is always the same: to help couples celebrate their love through meaningful art.
I even wrote an entire blog about how watercolor portraits are a such a unique keepsake for your big day!
Seriously, this trend (although I think it’ll be here forever) is blowing up in 2025, and for good reason. So, what are live watercolor guest portraits? Picture this: I show up at your wedding and paint your guests in real-time—creating mini works of art they can take home. Yep, each guest gets a custom portrait that’s painted live during your event, turning your guests into walking, talking works of art. Let’s dive into why this is the ultimate wedding keepsake!
Coastal Color + Orchard-Inspired Details
The gorgeous centerpiece for the tablescape!
The vibe was soft pastels meets fruit bowl meets wanderlust—and I loved every bit of it. The tables were decorated with vintage floral plates (each one different!), pops of fresh fruit, and layered textures that made my little artist heart swoon. Blue and floral patterned napkins, candles, vintage glassware, bistro chairs, and a backdrop of a massive rock formation? Chef’s kiss.
Hannah from Little Fig Floral turned up the drama with rainbow-hued florals—bright oranges, hot pinks, soft ivories, and dreamy purples. Just looking at the centerpieces brought a smile to my face. If a rainbow had a tangible form, it would be these floral center pieces. She even gave me a few extra stems and blooms for my flatlays of the watercolor sketches. I love using real petals to add dimension to outfits for my portraits when possible. They provide the perfect ‘extra thing’ to enhance a dress’s natural flow!
NOTE: In order to incorporate florals into your guests portraits, we’d work together to source pressed/dried floral for me to use. I’d then adhere them using double-sided adhesive tape. This would allow for guests (and you) to frame your portrait!
Artistic Touches + My Creative Process
The cool thing about doing live portraits, even for a styled shoot, is that there is always an interactive moment, and I truly do the same thing as if I were at a real wedding. The models, also a real married couple, didn’t realize that they were going to get a portrait themselves. They also didn’t realize I was also going to include there dog, Otis! So when the reveal happened, it was a genuine reaction!
I found out that Otis wasn’t able to be there on their actual wedding day, so the portrait truly meant the world to them. Did I tear up when they said that? Of freakin’ course.
It’s all just a part of my creative process. The love stories. The thought behind the outfit choice. The feelings of not having a grandparent there at your wedding. The desire to have your fur baby there, but couldn’t. I love being able to create portraits using reference photos that make it feel like that photo actually happened.
The Venue, Vendors & Unexpected Moments
Moving on the the venue. Total dream. Right on the coast, with views of Haystack Rock, sandy ceremony space, and an indoor reception area that holds about 80 people. It started off misty and chilly, but by midday, the sun showed up and gave us the most gorgeous glow.
March & Mallow Co. doing their thing!
Vendors truly brought their A-game:
Planning: Coord by Anna
Photography: Christina Whittlesey Photo
Florals: Little Fig Floral
Rentals: Magnolia Rentals
Attire: Vera Wang & Men’s Wearhouse
Beauty: Beauty by Shawna
Desserts: Marsh & Mallow Co. (yes, a gourmet s’mores cart!)
Cake: Valley Flour
Lodging: Two Capes Lookout
OKAY. I just want to take a moment to talk food: the flatbreads were everything. Mushroom & awiss, bacon & brie, summer sausage, and classic cheese. I tried them all—strictly for research purposes, of course. Add in Pelican Brewing’s Cerveza Mexican lager and a double IPA? A+ vendor perks. Big shout out to the venue team for being so hospitable, for feeding us, and being the absolute BEST.
And Marsh & Mallow Co.? Obsessed. This was my first time seeing something like this! They brought a mobile s’mores cart with torched-to-order marshmallows, custom toppings, and gluten-free/dairy-free options that still tasted incredible. If you’re thinking about adding a dessert-something interactive to your reception, this is it.
FAQ: Watercolor Portraits & Wedding Day Details
1. Do you travel for styled shoots and weddings? Yes! I’m based in Portland but travel often for weddings in Oregon, California, Washington, and Florida. I’m always down for a creative adventure.
2. Can watercolor portraits include pets or floral elements? You bet. I love adding custom touches like flower petals, accessories, or even your pup like I did with Otis!
3. How long does it take to paint each live portrait? For couples, I average 5–7 minutes. I work from reference photos so guests can keep mingling without waiting around.
4. Do you participate in styled shoots regularly? Yes, I do! They help me explore new color palettes, meet amazing vendors, and test fun concepts I later bring to weddings.
5. What other wedding services do you offer? Alongside live portraits, I also offer calligraphy place cards, engraved guest favors, and other personalization using ink, foil, or pyrography.
Let’s Give Your Wedding That Final Bowtie Touch!
Hi, it’s me, Danison!
This styled shoot checked every box—joyful real couple, the goodest doggo, a creative community, and a dreamy coastal setting that felt like a fairytale.
From painting with a salty breeze in my hair to sharing stories over flatbreads, it reminded me why I love this work so much—and all the hard work that goes into creating a one-of-a-kind day for each of our couples that we get to work with!
Huge thanks to Anna for looping me in and to every vendor who made the day shine.
Planning your own wedding or creative shoot? I’d love to be a part of it. Let’s turn your vision into something colorful, personal, and unforgettable. Learn more about watercolor guest portraits or contact me for a free consultation call!
