Vendor Spotlight: Upstate Design Studio

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Upstate Design Studio! Specializing in exquisite watercolor stationery and live wedding painting, this one-of-a-kind vendor brings a creative touch that will leave your guests in awe. Keep reading to discover how Upstate Design Studio can make your wedding day truly extraordinary!

Photo: Allure Photos WPG

Who are you, what you do and who you serve?

I’m Ally from Upstate Design Studio. Originally from the maritimes but have lived in Winnipeg for over 10 years now (that’s where the coastal influence comes from). I serve couples looking for a wedding favour their friends and family won’t leave behind (live sketching) and/or couples that are looking for their stationery to include watercolour elements, venue art & are a modern twist on classic, elegant elements (crests, monograms, etc).

What services do you offer? 

Live Sketching of your wedding guests (usually used as the wedding favours), semi-custom and custom invitations and stationery (mostly paper goods)

Photos: COJO Photo

How did you get started in the wedding industry, and what inspired you to start a design studio?

During Covid I started baking on Instagram and my post popular items were my hand painted sugar cookies but I didn’t love baking everyday. After a few years I knew I wanted to start something else but it as my art that seemed to draw people in. In 2022 I started Upstate Design Studio which started with Holiday cards and pet portraits but quickly took off at markets around the city. 

I have always always loved weddings and a friend asked me to design her engagement party invites and I loved it so much. I found live sketching on Tik Tok and it was like the missing piece I needed to start Weddings by Upstate. It was the perfect combination of everything I love to do and I am finally using my art school education I never used in my full time career (haha).

What do you enjoy most about working in the wedding industry and serving couples on their special day?

I love how the couples and their guests LOVE the live sketching. It’s such a personal wedding favour that guests really want (as well as an experience to be there and watch me paint on site). The amount of love the live sketching gets at every wedding still blows me away. 

What do you believe is the most important consideration when couples are choosing a stationery/live sketcher? 

For stationery, I would say pick someone based on their style matching what you want. My best work has been when the couples picked me because of the fonts, watercolour art I design and the colour schemes I use. It also makes the process easier on both ends to help create a “brand” for your wedding and your stationery.

For a live sketch artist, I get a lot of couples who are considering a photo booth or live sketching and I would say that photo booths with get your guests a lot more photos per person whereas live sketching is one per guest (due to time limitations). I also get a lot of couples saying they want to offer an experience of sorts to their guests and that’s why they reach out to Upstate. Lastly, I would consider the art style of the artist. If they are working in watercolour vs markers and if your guests would like the whimsical style or something more like a fashion sketch/caricature style.

What is the ideal timeline for couples to book your services in advance of their wedding day?

6 months to a year in advance or in advance to when you want stationery in hand. Exception to that would be semi-custom stationery can be done on a tighter timeline. 

What is the best piece of advice you would offer to couples planning their wedding?

Make it what you want. Everyone is going to have ideas and opinions but at the end of the day your creating a day about the two of you and build your wedding brand around

Can you share your favorite wedding trend or design idea that you're currently excited about?

Anything coastal grandmother/old money related. I loved the newspaper programs, floral on wedding gowns and the modern twists on classic details. 

Photo: Allure Photos WPG

How do you stand out?

Live sketching is starting to take off on social media and I am currently the only one in wpg doing watercolour. I’m sure it won’t be for long but for now it’s really special to be able to offer something so unique!

Curious to learn more about Upstate Design Studio? Visit their website and follow them on Instagram for a closer look at their stunning work!