Piper Hall Mansion on the Lake in Chicago

Piper Hall as seen from Sheridan Road

This one is definitely worth considering.  You may have already seen it if you ever make the drive from Chicago to Evanston along Sheridan Road.  The mansion sits at a bend in the road, and right on the lake.  It has been renovated to host events, and it has some wonderful features. No need to go into all of them here (as the Loyola website is really quite good, prices included!), but it seems a shame to leave all of it to another website, so.........  You are right on the lake here.  Surprisingly, right on the lake is not that easy to accomplish in a Chicago wedding venue. There is a large veranda off the side of the house that would be beautiful in fine weather. 

There is a staircase on the left, if the bride wants a dramatic entrance!

The day I was there, it was a bit cold, so we were inside the mansion. Inside is pretty gorgeous, too.  Tiffany windows, gilded ceilings, paneled walls;  really, really lovely.  The couple was married inside, then went outdoors to take pictures among the beautiful gardens.  The guests lingered in the mansion listening to harp music, and then walked a block to retrieve their cars from the Loyola University Welcome Center parking.  For a city venue, it was really very convenient.

We were warm and comfortable inside!

The bride was British, so I got to play the Beatles classic "Here, There and Everywhere" for the unity candle, and "Here Comes the Sun" for the recessional.  The bridal party stood in the sunroom, which you can see just a bit of in the above photo, and the guests looked on from the paneled rooms.  It was a beautiful, late fall wedding.

Considering harp music?  Please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Chicago's Waldorf Astoria: Like Traveling to Europe For Your Wedding

The entrance drive to the Chicago Waldorf Astoria

From the moment you turn into the cobbled courtyard drive of the Chicago Waldorf Astoria, you feel like you've taken an unexpected turn and ended up someplace wildly different.  In a good way.  This hotel was built as the Elysian Hotel, but now is part of the Hilton line.  Here is a link to their website, but I warn you, it doesn't really capture the place. The inside of the hotel is furnished in a modern style, but with a European flair.  The bridal couple requested that I play contemporary music for the prelude, classical music for the ceremony, and Chinese folk songs for the tea ceremony that followed.  In addition to the harp, they had Emily from Toast and Jam there to provide sound equipment and DJ services.  Emily was super helpful and professional, but you'll see that the whole company has that reputation if you go to Yelp and check out their ratings.  Toast and Jam definitely struck me as a company to remember.

A very elegant room.

For more wedding ideas, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Gwen, The Hero of Two Locations!

Our target location (Palos Country Club gazebo) under threatening skies.

The situations don't really get more difficult than this one:  a light rain starting just as the musicians begin to arrive for an outdoor wedding. Lucky for us, wedding consultant Gwen English is the kind of person you want on hand when the difficult decisions need to be made. Knowing that the couple really wanted to be outdoors, she completed her set up there early, and then turned her attentions toward transforming the large room overlooking the golf course at Palos Country Club into a beautiful wonderland of flowers and candlelight, just in case we were kept indoors.  Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo of the set up, since just as soon as it was completed the doors swung open and we began to play.  We, in this case, were a trio:  harp, flute, and violin.  It was a magnificent wedding, salvaged from soggy prospects.  Gwen works through the South Loop Floral and Events Gallery, and I can tell you that besides being delightful, she has enough imagination, foresight, and work ethic to keep anyone's wedding on track for memorable and amazing.

Gwen English, with a relieved groom!

For additional information on wedding music, please visit:

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Arlington Park Racetrack Wedding Ceremony

It is always so much fun to find out about a new venue that you would never imagine holds weddings, and that was Arlington Park racetrack for sure!  I spoke with Arlington Park staffer Lauren, and she confirmed that they hosted 8 weddings this Summer!  The outdoor site sits in a courtyard of sorts, and features a large brick veranda with a double staircase for the wedding party's entrance.  I was unable to catch it on film, but in the background of this photo there is a path that the jockeys and trainers use to lead the horses to and from the track.  It is surprisingly calming to watch the early morning routine, but it probably gets pretty exciting later!  After the ceremony, the guests walked right across to the clubhouse where they enjoyed lunch and, one assumes, the racing!

Yes, I can play Camptown Races (or whatever else you like)! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Flossmorr Country Club Wedding Ceremony with Desiree'

Looking back towards the clubhouse.

As you can see, it was a beautiful day.  I think this venue is special, though, because even on a rainy wedding day it would be lovely.  If you look closely at the photo above, you'll see a large green awning.  What it is hard to tell is that the awning is really large, and it covers an equally large veranda that opens into a sort of suite of banquet rooms.  You could put a wedding party on the veranda and have a completely dry outdoor wedding in a bit of a rainstorm.  Meanwhile, you would be looking across a gorgeous green space that gives way to rolling hills and mature trees..... really amazing.  As it was on this day, the bride and her party were able to use the stairs down from the veranda for their dramatic processional.

Apparently Flossmorr Country Club has only recently began offering their club to non-members for private events.  I know this because the event planner for the day, Desiree', knows everything!  No, seriously. Dersiree' Moore Dent is so smart and capable and reassuring that you will be dazzled.  Plus, the photos at her website are really beautiful, so have fun!

Hard to capture the rolling hills and groves of trees, but they're there!

For beautiful harp music at any venue, please see www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Willis (Sears) Tower Wedding Reception Harpist

Windows all around!

When you are at the Sears Willis Tower, you know everything is going to be about the view.  What I was surprised to find, was that the Metropolitan Club has quite a number of private rooms, a super attentive staff, and no membership requirements for the brides that hold their wedding there!  We were in the East room, so the view was most of the loop and the lake beyond..... beautiful.  I was playing for cocktails and dinner, with a D.J. to take over for dancing.

Their website is quite helpful, and includes floor plans for all of the different room options, and sample menus.  Since some of the spaces are flexible and can be combined, it is hard to say what the "general options" are, but they certainly seem able to handle weddings from very intimate gatherings up to 240 guests.  This is definitely a venue worth serious attention!

An elegant table

For help planning your wedding music, please visit:  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

A Quirky Little Tune

St. Anthony in Cicero

I was scheduled to play a Catholic mass in just 3 days, and the groom called with a request: could I possibly still learn his favorite song in time for the wedding?  It turns out that he and his bride are fans of a French movie called "Amelie" and there is a piano tune in the movie that he had just discovered could be played on the harp.  Youtube was definitely involved in the discovery process!  

Now, first of all let me say that almost any piano piece can be played on the harp, and I don't need special music as the piano version is a fine place for me to start on my adaptation.  I don't charge extra for learning special songs, although I do ask for my clients to cover the cost of the music if I don't already own it.  I also ask for 2 weeks notice, as I frequently have a pretty heavy schedule, and I want to be sure to have enough time to learn the music thoroughly.  Sometimes, though, that isn't possible.  Thank goodness www.MusicNotes.com had the arrangement, I made the time, and "Comptine d'un Autre Ete" was a focal point at their wedding.

Happy bridal couples are always the best!

Foreman Pavilion (Lincoln Park Zoo) Wedding Ceremony

I have played a number of events at Cafe Brauer over the years, but this time I got to see an entirely different side of the zoo:  the Foreman Pavillion.  It is just steps from the circle in front of Cafe Brauer, but it really has a secluded feel to it.  

The pavilion overlooks the flamingo area, but what you are really aware of is all of the gorgeous greenery.  Some of the pictures I am posting are a little redundant, but I really didn't know how else to show how beautiful the area is.  The pavilion itself is plain but attractive, and it would be easy to decorate.  There are two large sections to the pavilion, with private washrooms in between.  

The pavilion really goes back a long way, and
all of it is shady and lush.

The bridal couple were fans of all sorts of music, and they chose a really eclectic mix of songs including:  Storybook Love, Song to the Moon, Only Time, and Kiss From a Rose.  It was so much fun putting their music together! 

If you are looking for wedding music ideas, please see www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Centennial Park Wedding Ceremony in Munster, Indiana

The perfect vantage point for any harpist!

I love Centennial Park in Munster!  What a beautiful location.  The park opened in 2007, so it is still fairly new on the scene, but (as you can see from the photos) most of the plantings are looking mature and wonderful.  The lakeside patio is completely handicapped accessible (staff were bringing some of the guests with mobility issues down on golf carts), and there is a dramatic staircase that the wedding party can use for their entrance.

The wedding party came down these two sets of stairs.

This bridal couple wanted to honor their hispanic heritage, so we went with "La Paloma Azul" (The Blue Dove) for the processional, "De Colores" for the recessional, and "Blue Bossa" for postlude.  

After the ceremony, everyone went up the hill for a cocktail reception at the gorgeous banquet facility overlooking the park.  This site is a real winner.

Just to show the really beautiful plantings!

Midlane Resort Wedding Ceremony, Wadsworth

On the green at Midlane Resort in Wadsworth

Well, certainly the day was beautiful and things went smoothly, but for me the revelation at this wedding was the song "La Vie en Rose". Frequently, the brides I work with point me in directions I would not go in on my own, and such was the case here.  I knew the melody, certainly, but I had never taken the time to read a translation of the lyric.  Just in case you haven't either, here they are:

Hold me close and hold me fast
The magic spell you cast
This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me heaven sighs
And tho I close my eyes
I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart
I'm in a world apart
A world where roses bloom

And when you speak...angels sing from above
Everyday words seem...to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be
La vie en rose

Of course, there is no wonderful translation for the phrase "La vie en rose" itself, but it translates directly to "The life in pink", and means something more along the lines of the perfect life. Here is a link in case you would to hear the original Edith Piaf recording.  Soon it will be on my website as well. It is a fabulous love song.

To listen to other processional music, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

St. James Chapel Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Well, certainly you know you are in a very special place when the church has its own fan site!  The windows of the St. James Chapel are modeled on the windows of Sainte Chappelle in Paris, and they are one of the hidden gems of Chicago architecture.  I had never been to the chapel, but I certainly got to see all of it on this day!  I started by setting up near the front of the chapel, and then found out there was an elevator to the choir loft, so I was able to join the rest of the musicians.  

The choir loft:  my eventual destination!

Besides being beautiful beyond belief, the chapel offers an interesting option for Catholic couples:  you do not need to be a member of a specific parish to qualify to marry here.  The chapel has a really helpful site for couples who want to explore the option of marrying here, plus their pictures are much better than mine!

To me, the designation of "chapel" conjures up a small space.  In actuality, this particular chapel can accommodate 299 people!  On top of that, you have all of the resources of the music department of the nearby Holy Name Cathedral at your disposal!  At this mass, the bridal couple enjoyed a full choir, a string quartet, two trumpet players, harp, and the magnificent pipe organ.  Thank goodness the choir loft is as roomy as the chapel itself!

Once up in the loft, I had a bird's eye view of the amazing windows,
and of course the pipe organ!

If you would like further information about my wedding services, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com 

An Irish Bride!

Back in June (yep, still catching up on old posts here!) I was privileged to play at St. John Berchmans Parish in Logan Square.  A really spectacular church, as you can see, and the musicians and priest were so welcoming.  I played prelude music, all of the mass parts, and two verses of Schumann's Ave Maria with a vocal soloist.  The bride was really and truly from Ireland, and she chose "The Gentle Maiden" from my website recordings for her walk down the long, long, aisle of this beautiful church.

If you would like to hear other Irish options, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Bird Haven Greenhouse (Pilcher Park) Wedding Ceremony Harpist

The Bird Haven Greenhouse in Pilcher Park is always hopping with weddings, and I seldom go a Summer without at least one trip to their beautiful gardens.  

Oddly enough, the wedding site is a gazebo set across from the greenhouse, but the site is always referred to as the "Bird Haven Greenhouse".  Most of the time I have played for guests seated around the gazebo, but they also hold weddinga in the grove of trees just to the West of the gazebo, and I can attest that the grove is a lovely, shaded option!

On this day, the bride's family set up adorable little pinwheels in the bride's colors!

To hear other music that will sound great at your outdoor wedding, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Chandler's Chop House, Schaumburg

I love outdoor weddings, but there does seem to be a long list of things that can go wrong, so I am glad when I can report on an outdoor space that seems less risky, but still beautiful.  Chandler's in Shaumburg definitely fits in that category.  The large patio is in a fairly protected area just off the main building, but there are plenty of trees and plantings to give it a lush feel.  

Additionally, the banquet hall has huge windows, so even if you were rained out you would still have a natural backdrop for your photos.  I hate to ding anybody's website, but the photo of Chandler's I've linked to above just do not capture the room well.  The room has a nice feel to it, including stone and wood elements, and the colored lighting (matched to the bride's wedding colors) is a fun touch.  

There is a separate cocktail area that has a great fireplace, but I moved into the area after the guests were already there, so no pictures (sorry). Luckily, the site also includes a restaurant that is open to the public, so you could probably duck in and see for yourself!

If you would like more information, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Playing With Legos at the Marriott

It is always so much fun when couples showcase their shared interests and passions with those gathered to celebrate their union, and this wedding has so many fun components!  First, they hired the musicians separately, but (as often happens) we already knew each other anyway! They had a wonderful violinist named Jeff Yang all set to play both the ceremony and reception.  For their processional music they chose the adorable "Concerning Hobbits" from the Lord of the Ring movies, and the addition of the violin really made their selection perfect!  For their unity ceremony, they chose neither candle nor sand, but went with....... wait for it......... LEGOS!!  

Apparently the couple are big lego fans, and the officiant (Anita at Anitaweds.com) had the lovely idea of incorporating that into the ceremony.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, so we were inside rather than at the hotel's outdoor space, but the reception was in a cute tent set in a green space that allowed for enjoying the garden without everyone being soggy.  At the reception, Jeff and I played lots of fun "Great American Song Book" selections;  wonderful songs by Gershwin and Cole Porter.  Plus, there was wedding cake made to look like giant lego blocks!

If you would like to hear more violin selections for your wedding, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass

Sigh.  My pictures rarely seem to do justice to these beautiful events, but the story's the same again today.  This past Sunday, I was thrilled to be part of a mass celebrating 50 years of marriage for couples from all over the Chicago Archdiocese.  The mass was held at Holy Name Cathedral, and the celebrating couples filled the entire church!  Even immediate family couldn't be accommodated in the Cathedral, so the musicians had the best (and really only) seats available in the house.  It was a beautiful mass, featuring a full choir (in white shirts in the foreground of the picture), organ, harp, and violin.   Ricardo Ramirez (Director of Music at the Cathedral) kept us all together as we offered Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Panis Angelicus, and (of course) Schubert's Ave Maria.  

Chicago Cultural Center Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Well, the pictures just can't do it justice.  When you're in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, there is truly beauty all around, and that is before you start setting up for your wedding.  Built in 1893, the hall features a Tiffany glass dome (backlit so you can always enjoy it), mosaics, ornate chandeliers and sconces, and a view of Millennium Park.  It is dazzling.  The bride descended the grand staircase to "The Prayer", and Katie from Bliss Weddings and Events kept everything moving along smoothly.  The bridal couple were theater folk, so they had lots of talented people in their wedding party, and two attendants actually sang the recessional to a taped accompaniment! They used a really fun tune from the Broadway show "The Wedding Singer" and it was super cute, but it wasn't quite long enough for the entire wedding party and left a fair number of attendants still at the front of the church.  No problem, because they had booked live music as well!  I finished their recessional to Gershwin's "Love is Here to Stay" and things stayed smooth.  Another hallmark of a well planned wedding, really, having all contingencies covered.  I couldn't possibly say enough good things about Katie and the way Bliss coordinated the wedding, and their website is really fun. Happily, thanks to Chaplain Tom Brandsness, the ceremony itself was lighthearted and sweet, like the couple themselves!

If you would like to hear some of the selections available for weddings please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Wow. Really? September Already???

Okay.  So I actually do know it is September.  What I am really trying to say is that the Summer just flew by, and early September was kind of lost around here due to the CPS teacher's strike and my kids still being home.  Still, I participated in some really wonderful weddings this summer, saw some awesome venues, and met some vendors I am excited to tell you about, so I am going to try and catch up in the next few weeks.   Here we go.....

Sunday Mass With a Bonus Wedding!

For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of playing midnight mass on Christmas Eve at All Saints Episcopal Church in Western Springs. This past Christmas, the congregation was thrilled to learn (during the service announcements) that one of its members was newly engaged to be married!  Nearly six months later, I was honored to be asked back to play for the happy couple.  They choose an arrangement that I have never seen before, but it was really wonderful:  they married during a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass!  The officiant, choir, altar servers and wedding party entered to the organ playing a standard entrance hymn, then I played for the bride and her escort.  The bride choose "Gentle Maiden", which has been sort of the breakout hit of the new options I recorded for the website this Spring (you can listen to it here).  I was also able to accompany one of the bride's friends on the Schubert "Ave Maria".

The groom surprised his bride with a bagpiper to lead them from the ceremony to the reception, and I was glad to be able to help them find someone wonderful.  If you need additional musicians, I am always happy to help you locate good, reliable options, and there is no charge for my help.

The reception was in the church hall (complete with harp music) and on the church lawn, and a good time was had by all.  I generally don't include photos of the wedding party, so as not to invade their privacy, but I am going to make an exception.  Below is a picture of Fernie.  She is normally a service dog to one of the wedding party, but added "flower dog" to her list of accomplishments on this day.  Here, she is relaxing in the shade at the reception, like the rock star that she is.

If you need more information on hiring a harpist, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

At Home in Harvard

Well, the picture doesn't quite do the scene justice, but you'll understand once I explain a little.  The wedding took place on a beautiful piece of land out in McHenry County (Northwest of Chicago about 90 minutes).  It was lovely, and the predicted rain held off, thankfully.  You can see a bit of the archway/trellis that the couple used as a focal point on the left, through my harp strings.  I was seated on the grass (under a tree), but once you get the harp into place on grass, you dare not take your hand off of it to get a photo!  The couple took advantage of one of my options for choosing music........ they left some of it to me to decide!  They chose "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" for the bridesmaids, "Canon in D" for the flower girls and the bride, and left the recessional choice to me!  When given this responsibility, I always try to choose something that fits in with the other music that is being used.  In this case, I went with "Come Ye Sons of Art", a lovely piece by English composer Henry Purcell.  It can serve as either processional or recessional, and you can listen to it here.  It is not a familiar piece to most people, but I find that it is an immediate favorite once people hear it.  The piece was written for  Queen Mary's birthday in 1694, so it is a real piece of history, all ready to be incorporated into your own history!

If you would like to hear any of the selections mentioned here, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

St. Barnabas (Chicago) Wedding Ceremony Harpist

It is always a pleasure to work in my own neighborhood, and St. Barnabas is a beautiful church just a few blocks from my house.  This wedding was extra special, because the bride and her mother are both accomplished musicians!  Because of their wonderful connections with other musicians, we had not only harp on the menu, but flute, violins, piano, organ, trumpet, and a huge choir!  I feel I can brag a little on the beautiful bride.  She had all of those options at her disposal, but she knew she wanted solo harp for her entrance, and she choose Pachelbel's Canon in D.  It is so easy to become overwhelmed when choosing your processional music especially, I think, if you have lots and lots of different options.  Start by defining how you want to feel as you are walking down the aisle, and then look for music to match.  Once you have a few ideas, go ahead and try walking to them!  It might sound silly, but you want music that is easy to move to, and the only way to know for sure is to try it out!  If you are lucky enough to have multiple musicians at your wedding, don't hesitate to have them play separately if you want to vary the sound.  The perfect setting for your wedding vows won't be far away!  Please visit my "Processionals" page for ideas!

A New and Different Bridal Boutique

On Thursday, May 17th, I had the pleasure of playing for the grand opening of Bella Bleu Bridal in downtown Park Ridge.  What a gorgeous place!  The store itself is a beautiful vintage building that has been designed and reimagined for elegant bridal shopping.  Their slogan is, "After the Dress", so this is where you can find all of the jewelry, hair ornaments, shoes, and bags needed to complete that perfect dress. Additionally, there are fabulous items here for bridal party gifts.  I spoke with the owner, Andrea, and some of the sales staff as well. Apparently, the owners have been in the bridal accessories business for quite a while, but sales were online only.  The new store in Park Ridge has the feel of a merchant's dream come true, really.  No big-box store cookie cutter appearances here!  Lots of great displays, and helpful staff to let you know how things can be customized for your wedding.  The store is elegant and beautiful, but warm and inviting at the same time. Plus, with its wonderful downtown location (Blu Fish Sushi Bistro just across the street), this store calls out to be part of an afternoon outing!

If you need any help planning your music for your wedding, please feel free to visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Patrician Banquet Center (Shererville) Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Early May can certainly feature unpredictable weather, so I was thrilled when Friday turned out to be sunny and warm, and I was able to play in an outdoor venue I had never seen before!  I played at The Patrician Banquet Center in Shererville, Indiana.  Shererville is in Northwest Indiana, but is easily accessible (via a 45 minute drive) from downtown Chicago.  The Patrician is purely a banquet facility and features all of the conveniences that usually come with that business model, but they have one other delightful addition..... a gazebo area off of the back of the building!   The entire patio is truly lovely.  It is a bricked surface that was set up for 120 seated guests the day I played, but looked like it could accommodate more.  The gazebo is large, and actually featured a bench where the bridal couple could sit during the readings!

The bride added some additional outdoor decorations, and I thought this one was particularly charming:

These adorable tin cup flowers were hanging all along the fence.  

My camera didn't really capture the colors, which were white, yellow, and chartreuse.

This lovely bride also made a wonderfully smart decision on her wedding processional.  The patio did not feature a long walk, and the bride felt that her friends and family might very well become nervous and walk quite quickly!  To prepare for this, she chose just one processional for everyone:  Canon in D by Pachelbel.  It is indeed possible to vary things enough in this one piece to suit all of the people coming down the aisle, and still provide a sense of grandeur for the bride's entrance.  

All in all, it was a lovely start to the outdoor wedding season!  If you need music for your wedding, please visit my website, ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com, or call me directly at 773.881.0706.

Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Wedding Facility

Banquet halls are wonderful for their ability to handle large crowds really effectively, but they are not always chock full of charm.  Well, just recently I played for an event at a banquet facility that I found really surprising:  The Lombard Westin!  Officially, the "Westin Lombard Yorktown Center".  As its name implies, it is tucked behind the Yorktown shopping mall in Lombard, and it is a gigantic place.  It is also the last place I expected to find a "room with a view"!  Turns out, there is a lovely reservoir behind the mall, and two of their smaller banquet halls overlook the site.  I saw the Junior Ballroom, and the banquet manager said the room could accommodate 450 people for dinner and still have room for a small dance floor!  I was actually there for a corporate event, so my harp was set up in the hallway outside the Junior Ballroom to greet guests as they arrived (no pictures, sorry!).  Additionally, because the company was going to be having a video presentation, the shades were across the windows, and I couldn't get a great shot of the view. Still, hopefully you can get a sense of the trees and shrubs visible from inside the hall.  Nature!  Right outside a banquet hall window!  I thought you'd want to know.

If you need the perfect music for this or any other venue, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.