When as brides we pick our reception venue most of us go for conventional places, maybe our parents beautiful and exuberant gardens or the regular reception venue. This past Saturday at Salma & Mohamad’s wedding it was not the case. I was hired to be the artist that would create an oil painting during their beautiful event and they picked nothing less but the Detroit Opera House as the perfect place to gather all their friends and families to be united as a couple and let me tell you it was fabulous!!
Although I was not their photographer I had to take reference pictures, for the painting I am doing for them, and sure enough I got carried away. The wedding and reception took place on the stage, yes, on the stage of the Detroit Opera House. Behind curtains we waited until the couple was married to celebrate in full the beginning of their new life together.
When they contacted me about 2-3 months and Salma told me they were going to get married right on the stage at the Detroit Opera House I just couldn’t believe it, because it is the last place that would have crossed my mind, but I have to admit it is THE perfect place for an unforgettable wedding.
The wedding was like a fairy tale. Belly and sword dancers were part of the amenities at the reception, and well as for me, no one could believe I was painting in the theater, live in front of everyone. My time was short, and the painting was not near half done when I left, but nonetheless, I enjoyed every minute of it.
One of the things I wanted to capture, and the reason I took my chances and didn’t bring my flash units with me, was the ambient light of the scenario. I sure know very well from my ballerina days the play of lights in a stage, and I knew very well the lights would have been not only theatrical but spectacular in many ways. Candles were lit on every table and center piece along with the lights on the stage making the entire room, well stage, peaceful, tranquil and so exquisite.
Thank you Salma and Mohamad for making me a part of your beautiful and elegant day.
