When a couple is considering a playful illustrated portrait for a wedding invitation, what information would help a studio discuss the idea before any design is approved? For example, is it more useful to start with a neutral layout showing where a portrait might sit, or to describe the intended tone and the final print size first? I am asking about a possible planning process, not an existing booking or a real couple's experience.

A portrait can look very different from a photograph, so I would want the people represented to agree on the reference image, the level of exaggeration, and where the final illustration may appear. Would a studio normally prefer to review the proposed illustration separately from names, dates, and other invitation wording? That separation seems useful because permission to use a likeness does not by itself approve the surrounding text or a public post.

Disclosure: I am associated with ai caricature, a browser-based portrait tool, and AI assisted in drafting this question. Its site describes one free 1K generation and paid options for additional use; current terms and privacy information should be checked before uploading a photo. This is not a claim that the studio uses or endorses the tool, or that an image has been accepted for a wedding.

For a first conversation, which details would you recommend keeping tentative, and what should be settled only after the couple has reviewed a complete proof? I am particularly interested in how to distinguish a creative example from the final invitation, and how to record approval without accidentally treating a draft as permission to share it publicly. What general guidance would you suggest?