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.