Carriage Greens, Darien 25th Wedding Anniversary Harpist

It is always such a pleasure to play for long married couples!  This couple had blended their respective Irish and Italian heritages to form an especially rich history.  I was lucky; I got to bring out my extensive Irish music collection and play through my smaller Italian music folio! In between, I played lots and lots of love songs, and a wonderful time was had by all.  

Manteno Sportsmen's Club, Manteno Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Manteno Sportsmen's Club, the patio on the lake.

So we were supposed to be outside, and it should've worked out; it was only early October after all.  Then things took a turn, and it was just a little too wet, a little too cold, and the bride made the hard call to move everything indoors. This is right about the time that you end up being super glad you booked live music, because nothing can warm up a space faster than live music.  This particular bride was a musician herself, so she had me for the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, and then a live band for the party.  Clever girl!  So outside, it drizzled and blustered, and inside we had a lovely ceremony featuring Irish music to honor the bride's heritage, and everyone celebrated. 

If you would like me to be part of your, "take what comes, but let's have a great time" plans, please write me!  Renee@Harp123.com

Set up for the inside ceremony.

19th Century Club, Oak Park Wedding Ceremony Harpist

The beautiful exterior of the 19th Century Club in Oak Park

Beautiful day!  I have been wanting to play a wedding at The Nineteenth Century Club since first I saw it last Spring, and this week I finally was able to!  The woman who manages the facility was planning to host her wedding there, and she had heard me at one of the other events I was in to play.  The surprising part was that the ceremony took place in a room I had never even seen, and it was a little gem!

Here was my view of the ceremony space just as the doors were opened.

This area is called the "South Dining Room", and it seats 100 theater style, according to their website.  I loved how many shades of white there were in the room.  It just seemed so "bridal" and elegant! Additionally, there is an extremely comfortable reception room just outside the doors, so your guests have lots of good options.  

This was the view towards to stage where the ceremony took place taken, alas,
before they were entirely set up.

The bride had a special request: a Priscilla Ahn song called "Dream".  It worked really well on harp, I thought, and created an amazingly beautiful moment when the bride walked into the room. It is so much fun to be a part of that!  If you have an idea for your perfect musical moment I would love to hear it! 

(Renee 773.881.0706!)

South Loop High Rise Ceremony and Reception Harpist

A fabulous lake view!

This wedding location was a surprise for everyone.  The bride and groom had planned to travel to a foreign destination and marry while they were there, but a last minute family illness changed their plans. Luckily, they stayed flexible, had access to this lovely party room in their condo building, and everyone worked together to make sure it was a delightful day.  

I played as the guests arrived, and then just a little bit of a processional as the bridal couple worked their way to the front of the room.  As they didn't have a traditional wedding party, that was all they needed!  When they had finished exchanging vows, I started back in with upbeat popular tunes to set the mood for the reception.  It was an all-in-one type of event, and the couple got to relax and spend time with family and friends, so a complete win!

If your plans look as though they might change, give me a call.  We can arrange lots of beautiful music even when it seems like it is the last minute!  Visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com for ideas! 

Doubletree Hotel, Oak Brook Wedding Ceremony Harpist; Also, Bollywood!!

The ceremony set up was vast.  My harp is off to the right in the front.

This was so much fun.  I had never played a Hindu wedding before, only receptions.  The traditions are quite different, and it was wonderful to see how the bride and groom mixed the old and the new. I have had requests for "Bollywood" tunes before, but have never been able to find a source for sheet music (I do not play by ear, unfortunately).  This enterprising young couple was able to find something!  The site (sheetmelodies.com) did not have all the music that they had hoped for, but they chose four pieces and I went to work. I am happy to report that all of them worked on harp, and the bride and groom were pleased!  Plus, my 13 year old daughter and I got to spend a week watching Bollywood videos (so I could be sure I was adapting them accurately), and that made us both happy.  (Dancing! Romance! General sparkliness!)

My harp set up next to the mandap
where the ceremony was held.

W City Center, Chicago Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist

The distinctive wedding ceremony room at the W City Center

You cannot get more centrally located than the W City Center at 172 W. Adams.  The Sears Willis Tower is just around the corner, and you are close to transportation and the lakefront as well.  The hotel itself has a long Chicago history beginning in 1930 as the private Midland Club. Several renovations later, it is an extremely hip boutique hotel, with distinctive public spaces.  

We started out in this room at the front of the hotel on the second floor. Unfortunately, the candles were not yet lit when I had the chance to take this photo, so you will have to imagine.  The room is very sophisticated, and the many candles gave it a lovely, soft glow.  

While the guests went to the upper lobby (just outside the doors) to have their cocktail hour, I set up in the banquet space at the other end of the floor.  This is a large hall with plenty of space for food stations, me, the DJ, and a dance floor for later!  Like all of the spaces in the W, they kept the old structure, but added modern lighting and materials to keep things fresh.  I played a mixture of Gershwin, Cole Porter, and more modern love songs, so as to keep up the theme of mixing the old and the new!

My harp with one of the beautiful 1930 chandeliers.

Herrington Inn, Geneva Wedding Ceremony Harpist

The riverfront space at the Herrington Inn, Geneva

So, I wasn't actually set up in the outdoor space on this wedding, but I think when you choose the Herrington Inn and Spa in Geneva, it ends up being all about the river, so I am showing this first.  I was struck by how many areas they had, and curious about how they might be used in lots of different ways for all kinds of wedding parties.  

The indoor ceremony space.

This bride wanted to be sure that the groom and groomsman (who were all in their military uniforms) would be comfortable, so she chose to be indoors.  The indoor space is lovely, with exposed brick and a split level interior.  Directly behind the wedding setup were doors out to the river patio that I pictured above:

Not a great picture, but you get the idea!

It looks like the doors could be thrown open and the two spaces could flow together, but that is a question for the staff at the Inn.  After cocktails on the patio, the guests were off to yet another area of the Inn for dinner; so many options!!

If you would like to discuss your musical options, please call me at 773.881.0706.  I am always happy to talk about wedding music!

Michigan City, Indiana Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Set up at New Creation Vineyard Christian Fellowship

The lovely bride felt a little stressed when she called, because she was planning a wedding at a remote location.  With family and friends spread over the midwest, she and her groom decided to pick a central location, find a church willing to host them, and make travel more equitable for all of those attending.  I travel to Northwest Indiana for a small additional fee, so it was no problem for me.  

As we began planning her music she confided that she had "no idea" what she wanted and felt like she might be unable to make appropriate choices.  A surprising number of brides actually feel that way!  My advice is always the same:  set aside a half an hour and listen to some of the selections on my website.  Keep track of the things you like and the things you don't.  Then, if it is still confusing, we can talk and usually work things out rather easily.  I will make some suggestions based on what you tell me, and things go fairly smoothly.  Or, you will be like this bride who, after listening to the short selections on my site, actually knew exactly what she wanted!  Music shouldn't be scary.  All it needs to do is support the mood that you are hoping for on your wedding day.  I promise not to make it harder than that!!

Visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com to find sound samples that will make your music selection process easier!

Unity Temple, Oak Park Ceremony Harpist

My harp at the beautiful Unity Temple in Oak Park!

It was such a thrill to play in this historic building!  The layout is unusual to say the least, and the brides wanted quite a bit of specific music, so it took some coordinating!  They wanted to have piano and harp, which is unusual, so I had to check around for piano duets that I could adapt, or plan to accompany the piano as a solo instrument.  Piano can work quite well with harp, but you have to make allowances for the fact that (especially if it is a grand piano) it will be louder than the harp.  Not to worry, I made sure that the piano had the main melody, and I embellished!  We played "Air" from Handel's Water Music, and Canon in D, but the most fun was the tiny little bit of "Bridal Chorus" or "Here Comes the Bride" that we slipped in.  Since we actually had two brides coming down the aisle, it seemed to delight everyone!

For the recessional, one of the brides wanted "Entrance of the Queen of Sheba", also by Handel.  It is a newer piece for me, but it has been coming up more and more often.  I now have that particular selection in versions for harp and piano, harp and violin, and harp solo.  It was a joyous occasion that perfectly suited the bridal couple.  If you would like to see if we can find a program to suit you, just email me at Renee@Harp123.com!

Starved Rock Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist

This was the beautiful setting for my first ever wedding at Starved Rock State Park.  This site is really wonderful.  The river is just beyond, and the entire site is shaded!  Additionally, the parking lot is close enough for an easy load in, but the patio area is far enough back that we did not have random people passing through.  The wedding itself was so lovely, and the bride chose "Let it Go" from "Frozen" for her tiny flower girls to process in to.  The girls were so thrilled, and accomplished all of their flower girl duties admirably!

I thought this was a fabulous idea for securing wedding paraphernalia in a potentially windy situation. Plus, so cute!!

Then we were off to the Lodge for dinner.  The DJ played for the cocktail hour while I moved the harp.  I played for dinner and, after the couple had visited all of the tables, I heard from the lovely bride.  She told me that many of the guests over the age of 40 had expressed their satisfaction with the music, as the harp music allowed them to eat and visit without having to shout to be heard  It was a successful day all around!

Riverside Receptions, Geneva Wedding Ceremony Harpist

The ceremony room at Riverside Receptions has a nice long aisle!

This was the second time I have been to Riverside Receptions, and this go around I got to see the inside space!  I thought it was set up really thoughtfully, with a nice area for me at the back of the hall, and good sight lines so that I could see the wedding party getting ready to process in.  

This particular bride had a son who played the violin, and she wanted him to be involved in the music.  No problem!  He and I emailed back and forth and agreed on "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and I sent him the violin part.  Both he and his mom felt a rehearsal before the day of the wedding would be a good idea, so he came over to my house about 10 days before the wedding.  Everything went smoothly except that, in the many details of the actual wedding day, he forgot to pack a music stand.  Again, no problem.  I had an extra stand in my car, and we were right back on track.  He played so beautifully, and everyone was happy.  

I am always willing to accompany your friends and family if they would like to sing or play an instrument.  This young man was quite accomplished, but I can successfully accompany beginners, as well.  We can rehearse ahead of time, and then run through the selection again just before the wedding.  There is no extra charge for this service, and it is a lot of fun for everyone involved!

No harp music for the reception, but the room is so beautiful that
I couldn't resist a photo!

Armour House, Lake Forest Wedding Ceremony Harpist

The harpist's view back to the house.

The Armour House is a fabulous venue, and it is always a pleasure to be there.  This particular couple planned to include a Japanese tea ceremony during their wedding, so it was extra fun.  They needed music for that, and chose the song "Sakura, Sakura".  The ceremony is fairly lengthy, though, so I brought a folio of Japanese folk songs with me so that I could cycle through a couple of different tunes to keep things feeling smooth.  It is always such a pleasure to help couples honor their family traditions.  Give me a call (773.881.0706), and we'll see what we can do to make your wedding reflect your heritage!

Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Set up #1 on the bluestone patio!

Well, thanks to the weather, this wedding turned out to be kind of an odyssey!  On the bright side, I did see all of the Garfield Park Conservatory wedding sites on a single visit!!

Lovely, but no shelter whatsoever.

I began the afternoon on the patio, as you see here.  Then the storm clouds rolled in, the staff came and got me, and we traversed the entire conservatory to get to their indoor site, which is also lovely. Approximately twenty seconds after we got the harp under shelter, the heavens opened up and poured buckets and buckets of water for about 45 minutes!  We, however, were comfortable, and dry, and all set for a lovely wedding.

Here is the fountain they use as a focal point for the indoor weddings.

The bride's wedding song picks were really fun, and added to the playful spirit of the wedding.  The couple actually processed to the theme from the Pixar movie "Up", which is titled "Married Life".  I have a wonderful, upbeat version of the song, and it was perfect.  She mixed it with some traditional classical wedding selections, and had an eclectic mix of prelude music from Gershwin, Stevie Wonder, and the Beatles!

The wedding party processed in from the adjoining room.

My favorite sites continue to be the ones that work in any weather conditions, and Garfield Park Conservatory definitely fits that bill. Stay flexible, have a beautiful wedding no matter what, right?

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist at Home in Glencoe; Also, Two Brides!!!

The beautiful Glencoe backyard setting

Okay, just fair warning, I was so excited about this wedding.  Granted, I am a huge wedding geek and get excited about all of them, but this one really was amazing.  For those of you who keep track of such things, marriage equality just arrived in Illinois this Spring, so that alone had me pretty excited.  I have been playing commitment ceremonies and domestic partnership ceremonies before now, but I do enjoy having an easy-to-use, one size fits all sort of arrangement.  Additionally, it has been super fun working with long time couples who didn't necessarily think a proper wedding was in their immediate future, but here we all are!  So now to the details of this particular wedding....

The brides chose mostly classical music for their service, with one very cool exception.  One of the brides recorded herself singing "Can't Help Falling in Love With You" a cappella (or without accompaniment). When it was time for the bridal couple to come down the aisle, they paused on the back porch of the home, and the recording was played as a surprise for the other bride.  I joined in and provided harp accompaniment for the last verse, and then transitioned into just a snippet of "Here Comes the Bride", before playing Canon in D.  After the ceremony, I stayed and played love songs while everyone had a glass of champagne before heading out for dinner.  It was truly a lovely celebration! 

Visit my website (www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com) for music ideas, or call me to see if we can work out something really special for your ceremony!

Cafe La Cave, Des Plaines Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Note the elegant stairway you can use to make your entrance!

I hadn't been to Cafe La Cave in quite a few years, so it was nice to have a chance to play there again and come out with such a positive impression.  This place is super close to the airport, so I had some fears about noise, which turned out to be completely unnecessary!  I don't know what kind of sound proofing they have done, but I was unaware of any noise what so ever!!  The room itself seems to have been recently renovated, and is bright and pleasant.  It looks like it serves as a private lobby to the banquet facility, but it also worked beautifully as a ceremony location!

Easily the best thing about the facility, though, is Randy.  This guy really knows how to run a wedding.  He kept me informed, gave great cues so that I could change music when necessary, and did it all looking super dapper in his tux!  I should probably admit that one of my pet peeves is support staff that look distractingly casual.  It was nice to see someone who fit in with the elegant wedding party, no problem.

The light just streams into this pleasant space!

There was even a little alcove so I could be out of the way but still easily heard!  

If you are looking for a surprisingly elegant venue near the airport, this is absolutely worth a trip.  

Crystal Light Banquets, Burbank Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Set up for the ceremony at Crystal Light Banquets

This was my first time at Crystal Light Banquets in Burbank, and I came away impressed.  The facility looks to have undergone a renovation in the very recent past, and it is quite lovely inside.  I really liked the fact that they are set up to host one wedding at a time, so you will not have to deal with a loud D.J. next door ruining your quiet ceremony time.

The bride wanted a fairly formal ceremony, and so decided to go with all classical music.  It can be daunting for many people when the time comes to sit down and make a list of the music for the ceremony, but she made use of my repertoire lists, and found that they were helpful. Many of the songs on my list are familiar to people, even if the names may not be.  The bride chose "Clair de Lune" for the combined unity candle and roses to the mothers, and that was an especially lovely moment!

I am always available to all of my clients to help sort out music possibilities.  If you have an idea for music that is not already on my list, I would love to hear it!  Your wedding music should reflect you and your fiancé, and I am delighted to help you find that special mix!

You may enjoy visiting my repertoire pages for ideas:

Classical repertoire
Popular repertoire

Reception Harpist at The 19th Century Club in Oak Park

Okay, so this is not where I was, but it was so cool!

Another new venue to me!  Sometimes I feel like I keep going to the same 20 wedding venues over and over, so it is nice to find out that I really do not know every place there is yet!  I was actually here for a birthday celebration, and I was downstairs in a different reception room (see below).  But.  You know I had to go wandering around to see what else there might be!  Even without being properly set up, this ballroom was dramatic.  High ceilings, wood floor, and lots of windows.... beautiful!  Their website has some prettier shots.  There are multiple spaces within this building, so I think it would be easy to accommodate different sized parties, and separate cocktails and/or ceremony needs.  

Downstairs for the birthday celebration.
Cozy, but not as dramatic!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Patrick Haley Mansion, Joliet

This is such a lovely venue that I feature a photo of it on the home page of my wedding website!  I was intrigued, because I had never done a mid-April outdoor wedding before.  Everything turned out beautifully, and I can definitely recommend this venue for early Spring weddings. The site faces full on West, so it gets really lovely afternoon sun, and with the building close by, you are fairly well protected from the wind. Later on in the Summer, they will have quite a few mature plantings, but this early in the Spring, things still looked neat and clean, and the flowers were left to the florist (Blythe Flowers in Ottawa)!