Photo manipulation - irreverent?

[Melancholic]

My parents are soon to be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. My gift is an artist’s rendering in oil paint of their favorite wedding photo. We are still hashing out the details, but my mom wants the two of them moved from the bottom of the stairs of the sanctuary, to standing directly in front of the altar, to remove some height from the picture.

I want to think this is ok, because it’s just an artistic representation and they are not touching a church sanctuary in real life. The whole thing is more symbolic of their wedding instead of being historically accurate. But I figured I would ask opinions here to be safe…

 

[G_S]

It might look a bit silly. Since their wedding probably took place shortly before the altars were “turned around,” it might look like they were floating in space. It wouldn’t be irreverent if done carefully but it might look better if they just moved a bit closer to the altar rather than being right in front of it. It might otherwise look unauthentic or artificial. If updating is their concern, then photoshopping the bodice to look as though your mom had bare shoulders could also be done. Personally, I would want authenticity.

 

[Melancholic]

It might look a bit silly. Since their wedding probably took place shortly before the altars were “turned around,” it might look like they were floating in space. It wouldn’t be irreverent if done carefully but it might look better if they just moved a bit closer to the altar rather than being right in front of it. It might otherwise look unauthentic or artificial. If updating is their concern, then photoshopping the bodice to look as though your mom had bare shoulders could also be done. Personally, I would want authenticity.

There is enough room in front of the altar. In any case, the artist could sketch in more space for them… (No there would not be a priest in the artwork. Bride & groom, empty sanctuary, no Mass going on). It’s not about updating, it’s about composing a picture of my parents that includes the crucifix and other elements along the back wall off the church, which add a lot of height. Bringing them up the first set of stairs removes some height from the bottom.

 

[zab]

My parents are soon to be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. My gift is an artist’s rendering in oil paint of their favorite wedding photo. We are still hashing out the details, but my mom wants the two of them moved from the bottom of the stairs of the sanctuary, to standing directly in front of the altar, to remove some height from the picture.

I want to think this is ok, because it’s just an artistic representation and they are not touching a church sanctuary in real life. The whole thing is more symbolic of their wedding instead of being historically accurate. But I figured I would ask opinions here to be safe…

Putting them in the sanctuary on their wedding day is not in any way defiling it. I made my First Communion in the sanctuary in 1957. Your photo here is a little unusual from my memories of weddings because for as long as I can remember, the bride and groom have been in the sanctuary in every church that I have been a parishioner. Perhaps your mom and dad’s is different because space was limited in the church where they got married after the new altar was installed.
So I say “Go for it!” It is just an oil painting with an artistic rendering of the event.

 

[G_S]

The picture makes things much clearer. I am amazed that they were in front of a free-standing altar. I did not see one of those until 1967. Your parents must have been married the week after the altar was turned around. I thought you were going to have them standing in front of the old style altar facing the people and thought that would seem implausible.