
Creating a watercolour wedding map is a fun way to showcase your favourite spots in a city or town. Whether it's your favourite restaurants, shops, parks, museums, or other places to explore, a watercolour map is a unique way to commemorate your wedding and makes for an excellent addition to any invitation. Watercolour wedding maps can be created by hand or digitally, and there are many online tutorials and guides to help you get started. You can also purchase custom watercolour wedding maps from artists and illustrators online.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To show off your favourite city, commemorate an anniversary, or as a gift |
| Features | Favourite shops, restaurants, parks, museums, wedding venue, and other places to explore |
| Function | Can be added to invitation suites or welcome bags for guests |
| Format | Physical prints or digital files |
| Size | 8x10, 11x14, or 16x20 prints |
| Customisation | Choose the number of locations and icons included |
| Price | $21.43 - $715 |
| Process | Choose special places, make a rough layout, create a pencil draft, draw over with waterproof ink, add watercolour, and digitise (optional) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

Choosing places to include
When choosing places to include on your watercolour wedding map, it's important to consider the space you have available. A small map (4" x 6", for example) will only fit around four or five places, while a medium-sized map (5" x 7") can accommodate five to seven places. A large map (8" x 10") has more space, so you can include seven or more locations.
Think about the places that are special to you and your partner. This could be your favourite shops, restaurants, parks, museums, and other places you like to explore. If you're making the map for a client, make sure you understand why each place is significant. For example, a particular restaurant might be where a couple first met.
You can also include your wedding venue, your neighbourhood or home, and any iconic areas of your city, such as famous statues or incredible museums. If you're creating the map for your wedding invitations, you might want to include suggestions for places to visit in the area.
Once you've chosen the number of places, make a list of them, including their addresses. This will help you when it comes to creating a rough layout based on geographical areas.
Creating a White Rose Wedding Bouquet: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Planning the layout
Next, make a list of the places that are meaningful to you and your partner. This could include your favourite restaurants, shops, parks, museums, and other places you like to explore together. If you're creating the map for a client, make sure you understand the significance of each place.
Once you have your list of places, go to Google Maps and type in the first location. Then, ask for driving directions to the next place on your list, and so on. This will help you understand the spatial relationships between the different locations.
With this information, you can start planning the layout of your map. Use a pen or pencil to sketch out a rough layout based on the geographical areas. This plan doesn't need to be perfect, but it will give you a good indication of where each location will go on your map.
After finalising your rough layout, you can start working on a more detailed pencil draft. Pull up pictures of each place online and draw your own version on the draft. If freehand drawing is not your forte, you can use a light box to trace over printed-out miniature versions of each place. Don't forget to add banners, flourishes, symbols, and calligraphy labels to enhance the map. This step will take a few days, so be patient and enjoy the process!
Create a Dreamy Beach Wedding Canopy: DIY Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Drafting
Choose Special Places to Include on the Map:
First, select the places you want to include on your map, such as your wedding venue, favourite shops, restaurants, parks, museums, and other places that are meaningful to you. Consider the size of your map and the amount of space you have. For a small map, you may want to include 4-5 places, while a large map can accommodate 7 or more.
Make a Rough Layout Based on Geographical Areas:
Use Google Maps to understand the spatial relationships between the places you've chosen. Enter one of your locations and get driving directions to the next place on your list, and so on. This will help you visualise how everything fits together.
Create a Pencil Draft:
Start your draft on high-quality paper, such as watercolour paper or drawing paper. Pull up pictures of each place online and draw your own version on the draft. If freehand drawing is challenging, you can use a light box to trace over printed mini-versions of each place. Add banners, flourishes, symbols, and calligraphy labels to enhance your map. This step may take a few days, so be patient and enjoy the process!
Review and Revise:
Before moving on, review your pencil draft. If you're creating the map for a client, this is the time to get their feedback and make any necessary modifications. Make sure to identify any spelling mistakes and double-check that all the important details are included.
Draw Over the Draft with Waterproof Ink:
Once you're happy with your pencil draft, it's time to trace over your pencil lines with a dip pen and waterproof ink. A straight pen fitted with a Nikko G nib and Ziller Soot Black ink are recommended for this step. Let the ink dry completely, and then carefully erase your pencil lines.
Your draft is now ready for watercolour! Remember to set aside enough time to work on this, and don't be afraid to add layers of colour to create contrast and make your map visually appealing.
Fabric-Covered Wedding Albums: A DIY Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Tracing
Once you have a rough layout of the geographical areas and the special places you want to include on your map, it's time to start creating a pencil draft. Use high-quality paper, such as watercolour paper or 80# drawing paper, as you will be drawing directly over the draft with ink later. Pull up a picture of each place you want to include and draw your own version on the draft. If freehand drawing is not your forte, don't worry! You can use a lightbox to trace over a tiny printed version of each place.
If you're creating the map for a client, be sure to show them the pencil draft before moving on. They may spot spelling mistakes or request modifications. It's important to draw with a light touch at this stage, as you will likely need to make adjustments to your draft. Feel free to add banners, flourishes, symbols, and calligraphy labels to enhance the map. This step will probably take a couple of days, so be patient and enjoy the process!
Once you're happy with your pencil draft, carefully trace over your pencil lines with a dip pen and waterproof ink. A straight pen fitted with a Nikko G nib and Ziller Soot Black ink is a good combination to use. Ziller Soot Black ink is completely waterproof once dry, making it a reliable choice. Avoid using India ink, as it may not be as waterproof.
After you've finished inking, let the piece sit for several hours or overnight before gently erasing your pencil lines. Be gentle to avoid accidentally wrinkling or creasing the paper. With your pencil lines erased, your map is now ready for watercolour!
Obama's Wedding Move: A Presidential Dance-Off
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$24
$34.99

Painting
Creating a watercolour wedding map is a fun project that can be used to showcase your favourite places and add a personal touch to your wedding. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started on painting your own watercolour wedding map:
Choose Special Places to Include on the Map:
Consider the size of your map and select four to seven places that are meaningful to you and your partner. These could include your favourite shops, restaurants, parks, museums, or other places you enjoy exploring together. If you're creating a map for a specific area, such as your wedding venue, include places nearby that guests might enjoy visiting.
Create a Rough Layout:
Use Google Maps to understand the geographical relationships between the places you've chosen. Type in one location and get driving directions to the next place on your list, and so on. This will help you visualise how everything fits together. Then, create a rough layout by drawing the locations and their connections on a piece of paper.
Make a Pencil Draft:
Use high-quality paper, such as watercolour paper or 80# drawing paper, for this step. Draw your own version of each place that you plan to include on your map. You can use a lightbox to trace over printed versions of each place if freehand drawing feels intimidating. If you're creating this map for a client, be sure to show them the pencil draft before moving on.
Draw Over the Draft with Waterproof Ink:
Once you're happy with your pencil draft, it's time to trace over your pencil lines with a dip pen and waterproof ink. A straight pen fitted with a Nikko G nib and Ziller Soot Black ink are recommended for this step. India ink is another option, but it may be less reliable in terms of waterproof properties. Let the ink dry completely before carefully erasing your pencil lines.
Add Watercolour:
Using a small brush, start by painting the buildings on your map. Once the paint dries, switch to a larger brush and add colour to the landscape. Treat this step like filling in a detailed colouring page, and set aside enough time to complete it patiently.
Finalise and Digitize (Optional):
Take a step back and review your painting from a distance. You may find that your map needs more contrast or additional layers of watercolour to make certain elements pop. Once you're happy with the final result, you can digitise your map in Photoshop if you plan to print and distribute it. Scan your artwork, adjust colour levels, and add any final touches before sending the digital file to a professional printing company.
Remember, creating a watercolour wedding map is a creative challenge and a fun project. Enjoy the process, and don't be afraid to add personal touches and experiment with different techniques!
Creating Cream Cheese Mints for Your Wedding Day
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The price depends on the number of locations and the quantity of printed maps. On average, you can expect to pay around $500 for a custom map.
The size of your map will depend on the number of places you want to include. A small map (4" x 6") can fit around 4-5 places, a medium-sized map (5" x 7") can fit 5-7 places, and a large map (8" x 10") can accommodate 7 or more places.
You can include places that are special to you and your partner, such as your favorite shops, restaurants, parks, museums, and other places you like to explore together. You can also include your wedding venue, neighborhood, and any iconic areas of the city.











































