Most of the questions couples ask me happen before the wedding: pricing, timing, logistics (covered in full in what to expect from the live wedding painting timeline). Almost nobody asks what happens after the painting arrives, but it’s just as important. A live wedding painting is meant to last for decades, and a little care in how you frame, ship, and display it goes a long way toward keeping it that way.
Getting your painting home
Once studio finishing is complete, usually six to fourteen weeks after your wedding, you have two options: pick the painting up locally in Dublin, CA at no extra charge, or have it shipped directly to you.
If you choose shipping, I’ll send a separate invoice once the painting is finished, based on the carrier’s actual rate for your canvas size and destination. For a benchmark: shipping the smallest 16”×20” canvas to a destination like Seattle runs about $35, while the largest 30”×40” canvas to somewhere like San Diego is closer to $110. Sizes and distances in between will typically fall somewhere in that range. Canvases are carefully packaged and cushioned, then shipped in rigid, double-corrugated boxes for maximum protection in transit.
Choosing a canvas depth for framing
This decision actually gets made before your wedding, during your design consultation, but it’s worth revisiting once the painting is in your hands. I offer two canvas depths:
- 0.875” depth fits the widest range of standard picture frames, which makes it the easier choice if you already know you want a traditional frame.
- 1.5” depth has a substantial, gallery-quality look that stands beautifully on its own without a frame, though it narrows your framing options slightly if you change your mind later.
If you chose 1.5” and later decide you’d like to frame it anyway, a framer experienced with deep gallery-wrap canvases can usually accommodate it with a floater frame, which is designed specifically for this depth.
Framing recommendations
An original oil painting doesn’t need glass the way a print does, but a few choices make a real difference over time:
- UV-filtering glass or acrylic is worth the upgrade if the painting will hang anywhere near a window. Standard glass does very little to block the UV light that causes pigments to fade over years.
- A floater frame is the standard choice for gallery-wrap canvases (the 1.5” depth), since it shows the edges of the canvas rather than covering them.
- Avoid pressing glass directly against the paint surface. If you do frame behind glass, make sure there’s a spacer so the glass never touches the painted surface, especially since a fresh varnish layer needs airflow.
Displaying and caring for the painting long-term
- Keep it out of direct sunlight. Even a UV-protective varnish reduces fading rather than eliminating it entirely. A wall that gets indirect light will keep the colors true for far longer than one in direct afternoon sun.
- Control humidity where you can. Oil paintings on canvas are sensitive to extreme humidity swings, which can cause the canvas to expand and contract. A normal, climate-controlled home is fine; attics, garages, and uninsulated rooms are not.
- Dust gently, don’t clean. A soft, dry brush or a microfiber cloth used gently is all a varnished painting needs. Avoid glass cleaners, water, or any household cleaning product on the painted surface.
- Rehang carefully. If you move, transport the painting upright when possible and avoid leaning heavy objects against the canvas, even briefly.
If the painting is a gift, or wasn’t from a live event
Not every painting starts on a wedding day. If you didn’t have a live painter at your wedding, or you’re commissioning a painting as a gift for an anniversary, parents, or yourselves, a studio commission created from your favorite photos goes through the same finishing, varnishing, and care considerations as a live-painted piece. The framing and display advice above applies exactly the same way.
If you have a specific framing or display question about your own painting, feel free to reach out directly; I’m always glad to help a piece I painted land well in its new home.