Mary Ann & Joshua | 2nd March 2026
Photos from: Splendid Photography
Mary Ann & Joshua | A Joyful Filipino Wedding at Oatlands Estate
Some weddings feel beautiful not just because of the venue, the styling, or the details — but because of the people. Mary Ann and Joshua’s wedding at Oatlands Estate was exactly that kind of celebration.
Their wedding was filled with warmth, laughter, family, music, and so much personality. It was held at Oatlands Estate, NSW, with a soft and playful colour palette of pastel blue, pink, and yellow, the sweetest colours for such a joyful day.
Live Guestbook & Post-Event Illustration Experience
Mary Ann booked me for a custom watercolour illustration experience, which included live guest illustrations and a wedding guestbook artwork for their celebration. From the very beginning, she was so kind and thoughtful. She even booked us accommodation for the night so we could rest properly after the event, which I honestly appreciated so much.
A Little Rain, But Still So Much Joy
On the day, it rained a little, but somehow, it only made everything feel even more intimate and lovely.
There was still so much happiness in the air, and the rain did not take away from the beauty of the celebration at all. It felt cosy, romantic, and very Mary Ann and Joshua.
They originally wanted me to paint 60 guests, and on the day, I was able to complete 54 guest illustrations. Every portrait was finished with care, and I was so happy that their guests still got to take home something personal from the wedding.
The Sweetest Personal Details
One of the most touching parts of this project was including Mary Ann and Joshua’s dogs in the artwork.
I added their rainbow fur babies into the piece, and when Mary Ann saw them, she shared the sweetest message saying she got teary-eyed because she did not expect it. Moments like that are exactly why I love creating custom wedding artwork, it becomes more than just a painting. It becomes a home memory.
The couple’s artwork was brought back to my studio for finishing touches. The original turnaround was meant to be around one week, but it ended up taking closer to a month because Mary Ann and Joshua went on their honeymoon in Japan, which honestly made it even cuter. It felt like the artwork was waiting for them to come home.
The Funniest Guestbook Moment
Photos from: Splendid Photography
One of my favourite highlights from the day was Joshua’s parents being adorably competitive in the guestbook.
His mum wrote, “Mum loves you,” and then his dad wrote, “Dad loves you more.”
It was such a silly, sweet, and very family moment. Those are the kinds of little details that make a guestbook so special. It is not just signatures on paper, it becomes a collection of everyone’s love, humour, and personality.
A Filipino Celebration Full of Music and Heart
Mary Ann and Joshua are Filipinos living here in Australia, and most of their guests were Filipino as well. And honestly, iba talaga mag-celebrate ang Filipino.
The energy was so fun and so alive. The music was super vibey, everyone was laughing, dancing, and just enjoying the night. They even played Otso Otso, which made the whole celebration feel even more nostalgic and fun.
Photos from: Splendid Photography
After we had packed up, Mary Ann even pulled me onto the dance floor to dance with her, which was such a cute and unforgettable moment. Not every bride does that, and it made me feel so included in their celebration.
Training My Junior Artist
For this wedding, I also brought my junior artist with me (Dan) to assist and observe the full live illustration workflow.
I wanted her to experience how everything works on an actual wedding day, from guest interaction, photo-taking, pacing, organisation, and the overall flow of live guest illustrations. As Navia Mae Studio continues to grow, I want my artists to be able to confidently handle future bookings as well, especially when we have multiple weddings or events on the same day.
It was such a beautiful opportunity for her to learn, assist, and see how meaningful this service can be for couples and guests.
The Food Was Definitely a Highlight
Also,The food was honestly one of the highlights of the night so good that maybe it’s one of the reasons I managed to finish the paintings within 4 hours haha, kidding! 🤍 (We got to skip the desert because I wanted to finish the painting haha)A Wedding Full of Love
Mary Ann is honestly such a sweet bride. She was kind, thoughtful, and so full of joy throughout the whole experience. She even left a gift for me in my room, which completely surprised me in the sweetest way. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and honestly, I just adore her.
Photos from: Splendid Photography
Her wedding with Joshua reminded me again why I love doing this, because live illustration is not only about creating beautiful portraits. It is about capturing the feeling of the day, the people who showed up, the funny little moments, the family love, the pets who are deeply missed, and the joy that stays long after the wedding is over.
Thank you so much, Mary Ann and Joshua, for trusting me to be part of such a heartfelt celebration. Your wedding was fun, emotional, and so full of love, the kind of day that makes me so grateful to do what I do.
With love,
Navia Mae Studio 🤍
