Want a Renaissance-style memento of your special occasion or a unique gift for guests? A popular trend is hiring a live artist, who props up their easel at the ceremony or reception to paint special scenes as they unfold. How it works: Couples commission a custom work, or works, and later receive a masterpiece that captures the beauty of their celebration.

“I can use a little or a lot of my artistic license to create a piece that’s really going to speak to them,” says Holly Lee, a painter based in Pennsylvania. “It doesn’t have to just be one moment; you can add things into your painting that you want to see there—bits and pieces of your day can all be fused into one painting.”

Lee has documented passionate kisses, romantic first dances, and detailed backdrops on the canvas. Like other artists, she sometimes interacts with the couple or their guests by allowing them to add a few strokes. Art teacher Matia Spicer, of Delaware, uses her talents to create a personalized experience, describing it as “a really fun way to include guests in something that lasts forever.”

“I get everyone involved, and it’s almost like sideshow entertainment to the wedding,” she says. “It’s something different [that’s] not done at every wedding, and I think everyone is always looking for that something different.”

Some artists even offer guest portraits, as a similar but separate service. These paintings can be picked up as wedding favors. Before booking an artist, be sure to ask for their portfolio, establish what materials you’d like them to use, and determine when and how to take the artwork home.