Wedding Ceremony Harpist in Alsip Chateau Bu-Sche

A view through the retractable doors to the courtyard.

Chateau Bu-Sche has gone through a lot of changes and renovations over the years, and it is looking really wonderful these days!  Their two main rooms on the first floor open up onto little courtyard areas, and I do mean open up!  Your guest will be in heated or cooled environments (not to mention shade), and yet you will be able to enjoy a garden setting while you take your vows.  Truly, it is a wonderful have-it-both-ways sort of an option!  On this particular day, Linda Veleckis (the violinist) and I played prelude with the doors closed.  Just as the ceremony was about to start, staff came out and smoothly did away with the door.  Temperatures were low this particular evening (just below 50 degrees), so I think the guests were probably glad to be out of the breeze, but the bride and groom will have lovely outdoor pictures!

Harp and violin carry beautifully here!

The inside of this venue just really sparkles, and the white palate is terrific for setting off your wedding colors.  The bride chose traditional favorites including Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Bridal Chorus, and The Wedding March and had harp and violin for all of those selections.  For her sand ceremony, she chose the Shania Twain song "From This Moment" for harp solo.  It was a beautiful indoor/outdoor wedding!

Violinist Linda Veleckis, ready to begin!

If you need music for indoors or outdoors, please visit my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Reception Harpist at the Red Lacquer Room, Palmer House

My own little alcove!

Well, once again this wasn't a wedding, but I always feel that if a room is new to me after so many years in this business, then it could be easily overlooked by a bride.  This room is so stunning that it should be known to each and every Chicagoan!  I was playing for a reception hosted by Notre Dame University, and the room easily handled 200 people.  It is such a gracious space, with its own small lobby area, and lounges specifically for the guests being hosted in the ballroom.  It is hard to capture on film, but the room simple glows.  The chandeliers are crystal (natch), but the red pieces you see are not colored crystal, they are enormous garnets!  Apparently about 65 carats each!

Bejeweled Chandeliers!

The entire room just begs that you give yourself up to the color red, so you would need to be rather a bold bride, but I think it could be fabulous!  If you need music for your fabulousness, please visit my website at:  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Well, you wouldn't expect purple flowers, would you?

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Riverside Receptions, Geneva

The courtyard at Riverside Receptions in Geneva

I really love Autumn weddings in general, but this one was particularly lovely.  The bride had a great sense of what she wanted, and the event planner, Carlene Smith at Naturally Yours Events, was really terrific. The flowers were spectacular, as the florist (Heidi at FieldAndFlorist.com) has her own flower farm in Barrington and an artist's eye.

Autumn arrangement by Heidi at Field and Florist in Chicago

The courtyard at Riverside Receptions is lovely, but it is a public space. People were kind of randomly coming and going until I began to play. Like magic, all of the wedding guests came and sat down, and the people who didn't belong headed for the exit.  

The bride chose really eclectic music, which I always love.  She had the bridal party enter to The Nightingale, and then she entered to Debussy's Clair de Lune.  I have only used "Clair de Lune" as a bridal procession twice in the last 20 years, but both times the congregations have literally gasped just a little bit. Something about the beautiful bride and Debussy's song about moonlight just really grabs people.  Then, for the recessional, the bride wanted "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins.  I was a little worried at first since you don't right away think "harp" when you think about the Pumpkins, but it turned out really well. I'm definitely going to be playing "Tonight, Tonight" whenever I get the chance.

A lovely aisle highlighted by flower petals.

This was my first time working with the event planner, Carlene, so after everything had turned out so beautifully, I was eager to talk to her and find out more about her company.  She described her service as, "Non-traditional, eco-friendly, and a little quirky."  Additionally, she says that couples come to her at all stages in the planning process, with all types of ideas and all budgets.  She says nothing is too out of the box for her staff, and they concentrate on creating a fun and memorable party.  I saw it in action, and I can highly recommend her!

If you just can't imagine "Tonight, Tonight" on the harp, call me directly and I'll give it a go over the phone!  (773) 881-0706.