Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Starved Rock Lodge, Utica

A cozy late fall set up at Starved Rock Lodge

The bridal couple lives in Ohio, and much of their family is in Minnesota, so they set out to choose a location halfway in between where they could meet, hang out, and celebrate their wedding.  I have been inside at the lodge for a reception before, but never a ceremony.  I thought it looked really beautiful.  Since the wedding guests were staying at the lodge, however, they were already on site when I arrived, and I wasn't able to get very many pictures.  Above, you can see the general set up, and if you check out the picture below, you can see how the fireplace looks when all of the candles are lit.  It was really warm and appealing.  The curtains above actually have white lights hung from them, so there is yet another light feature that I couldn't even get in the photo!

Since the couple had a large extended family, they put together a processional that really showcased everyone!  I played "Moon River" for the couple's parents, "God Bless the Broken Road" for the bridesmaids, and then a traditional Irish slip jig, "Flying to the Fleadh" for two adorable little girls who danced down the aisle!  Next came the ring bearer to the tune, "Simple Gifts", and then it was the bride's turn, and she entered to "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.

For the candle lighting ceremony, the couple chose "The Prayer" and had two of their nieces sing while I accompanied them.  We had a little rehearsal beforehand and, thanks to great preparation by the girls, everything went really well!

I played "Hornpipe" from Handel's "Water Music" for the recessional, and then a few minutes more postlude while the bride and groom dismissed the guests row by row.  It was a lovely Midwestern destination wedding!!

You can begin putting together your dream processional at my website www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com!

The fireplace is even more gorgeous
with all of the candles lit!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Chicago Firehouse, Chicago

The front entrance. Also, 
parking for you firetruck 
(not even kidding!)

This is going to be a picture-heavy entry, but it can't be helped. Chicago Firehouse is a super charming, really distinctive venue, and it would be impossible to do it justice without a lot of pictures.  Just as you suspected, this is a converted firehouse, and it is located on the far Northside of Chicago, in the Edgewater neighborhood.  The venue has an agreement with a nearby school, so parking can be arranged, but of course the vintage fire truck that brought the bride to the wedding parked out front.  Did they have a Dalmation dog on the fire truck? Yes, they did.

The side garden with balcony.

To the left of the main doors is a lovely side yard, with a balcony overlooking the space.  Unfortunately, it was raining on this particular day, so we were inside a tent.  A really, really nice tent.

Set up inside the tent.

This bride was perhaps the most creative I have ever seen.  She had amazing decorating ideas, and the tent really just glowed!  She requested that I play a variety of Enya music, and then other atmospheric pieces that would not be recognized by anyone.  She wanted the music to wash over the guests without them stopping to think, "Oh, I know that piece."  It was a lovely, relaxed setting as soon as friends and family stepped into the tent!

Harpist's view.
The sparkly water lanterns were fabulous!

The bride wanted the theme from "Up" for both her processional and her recessional.  I loved the idea, and set about making a second, quieter arrangement for the processional.  It worked really well, and was a perfect reflection of the beautiful bride!

I didn't play inside, but I grabbed a few pictures while the staff was setting up so that you could peek. 

Inside, the view to the front doors,
and of course the fire pole to the right!

Looking at the center of the venue,
the long farm tables worked really well.

It is a long, somewhat narrow space, but really lovely, with high ceilings and lots of vintage charm.  Warm and cozy on a cold, damp night!

Such a beautiful table, and of course
a parasol hanging from the ceiling!

The caterer was a company named "Fig." From the looks of it, they are pretty special, and you should definitely know about them, too! They specialize in weddings and gatherings of 150 and less.  They certainly did a fabulous job setting this intricate table.

If you are looking for an unforgettable location, with a meal to match, I think this combo of venue and vendor could work for you. And don't forget the harp music!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Century Memorial Chapel, Naper Settlement, Naperville

Set up at dusk in Century Memorial Chapel

I was delighted to be back at Century Memorial Chapel on the Naper Settlement campus.  The church was built in 1864, and has been lovingly cared for and even moved to its present location!  Happily, it is completely handicap accessible, and sits in a beautiful park setting. The congregational area fits my idea of big enough without being too big.  A small party of 50 people would not feel overwhelmed here, but it can accommodate almost 200 hundred.

The bridal couple wanted to keep things sleek and simple, so I played "Canon in D" for everyone in the processional.  Parents and attendants all walked down to the slower part of the piece, and when I could see the bride was ready to start down the aisle I switched to the more exciting part, put in a special little intro, and the congregation all stood up - this is how I know I have done my job correctly!!

This particular couple knew that they wanted live music, but were not set on any particular pieces.  Once they answered my short list of questions (Classical or popular?  Any religious or ethnic  traditions that we should honor?) I was delighted to pick for them.  This is actually much more common than I think most people would guess.  I am always happy to choose for you if that would be helpful.  Music should be the least of your wedding day stress, and I am happy to help with that in any way possible!

Harpist's view into the congregational area.

Cocktail Reception Harpist, The Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows

Ready for cocktails at The Meadows Club

It was a Bollywood kind of week for me!  I am slowly building up my Bollywood repertoire (30 minutes so far), and I was glad to have such a nice venue to play them in!  

I knew that the wedding was to include over 500 guests, so I packed my amp, but I was still more than a little concerned that a single harp would not be up to the challenge.  It actually turned out much better than I could ever have hoped!  This venue features two prefunction areas, and I was stationed in the longer and more narrow of the two. As the guests approached the table to find their seat assignment, I was off to the right.  There were quite a few small children attending, and their parents enjoyed showing them the harp.  After listening for a little, the guests would stroll over to see the other entertainment (a magician and a photo booth).

The couple had selected songs from my standard list of American love songs, so I was able to intersperse the Bollywood songs with tunes like "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz and "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith.  It was fun for the guests and me, too!

The main room at The Meadows Club, still being set for the evening.

Wedding Reception Harpist, Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago

Set up for dinner in the Lakeshore Ballroom West

This hotel was new to me, and I thought it was in a terrific location. There is a real glut of hotels just West of Michigan Avenue, such that it is hard to drive down some of the streets, and frequently really difficult to get close enough to load in a harp.  This wonderful hotel is East of Michigan Avenue in a slightly quieter business and residential area, but still close to all of the things your guests would need and want.  

While the hotel is not huge, it had a lovely mid sized meeting room with lots of windows, a lovely city view, and a stylish prefunction area that the party used for their cocktail hour.  Once they came into the main room, I started to play my more modern love songs (think "Marry Me" and "One Thousand Years") interspersed with some quirkier titles ("Eternal Flame" by the Bangles is one of my current favorites).  The group began having everyone toast the newlywed couple, and I continued to provide very quiet background music, which I think helped some of the more nervous speakers!  After the first course, the couple decided to do a first dance, and they choose "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele.  I have a really terrific arrangement of that, and their dance was a super sweet moment, even for someone who had just met the happy couple mere minutes before!

A stylish cake with a wonderful, masculine topper!

Wedding Cocktail Reception Harpist, Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, Chicago

Set up in the wide hallway one floor up from the ballroom.
The space extended an equal amount in the opposite direction.

I was delighted to be back at the Blackstone Hotel!  I hadn't been here for quite some time, and it was wonderful to see the terrific job that the Renaissance Hotel group is doing with the property.  The hotel was built in 1910 and is just a gem.  Luxurious, quirky, big enough, but not too big.  The hotel went through a number of owners over it's history and hit some hard times.  It was bought, renovated, and really just shines now.  Although it is an older hotel, many of the decorative touches are distinctly modern, so you never feel like you are in a dusty old relic!

I played in a space on the 4th floor that was essentially a wide hallway that ran the length of the hotel.  With two bars set up at either end, and wonderful lighting, it really held together nicely as a party space. Additionally, they opened up two of the small meeting rooms off the hallway, and guest could move between the areas as they mingled.

This was one of the smaller meeting rooms that they were able to open
up to accommodate the large group.  There were even more available!

I played cocktail music as the guests ate and drank, and then the captain came through with the dinner chimes (kind of like a tiny little hand held xylophone) signaling the guests that it was time to go down one floor to the reception.

Of course I stopped by the ballroom to grab a picture.
There was quite a bit of natural light, views of the park, ant it looks
like the room would just be a little jewel box at night!

Okay, it was a little hard to get a good picture of the ballroom, because the ceiling is magnificent, there is a view, and there is a balcony. Essentially you do not know where to point the camera! What a great problem to have!  If you need an impressive place for a large group, this should definitely be on your list to see!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Pleasant Home, Oak Park

The living room at Pleasant Home, Oak Park

I hadn't been here in years, and it was fabulous to see this wonderful site again!  The 1897 Prairie style mansion is situated just South of downtown Oak Park, and sits next to, or I guess actually inside a lovely park.  They host wedding ceremonies in several locations, including the wide and completely covered porch (which seats 100!), the living area (which seats 70), and the lawn.  The price strikes me as quite fair, too. For $200 you can have the first floor for your ceremony, and use of their chairs.  They will even set up the chairs for you!  They have a wonderful page detailing all of this which you can find here.

When I arrived, the family and wedding party were already visiting and taking photos around the house and grounds.  We had arranged ahead of time that I would be accompanying the bride's two nieces while they played flute, so the girls and I got ourselves organized and had a little rehearsal on "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."  It is such a pleasure to accompany family members, and it never fails to make the ceremony feel really special and super personalized. Naturally, the girls played really well (at 13 and 14 years old, they had some experience and skills!), and it was one of the highlights of the ceremony for sure! 

The bride decided to go super traditional with "Canon in D" for her wedding party and "Here Comes the Bride" for her walk down the aisle. The recessional was left to me, so I did Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" and then went directly into some upbeat popular tunes so the guests could start transitioning to party mode!  The guests enjoyed the porch and the park, and the bride and groom finished their pictures. Altogether, it was a beautiful and relaxed start to their life together, and I could not recommend Pleasant Home more highly!

The harpist's view.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, St. Rita, Chicago

Down front at St. Rita's

I have lived just two miles from here for over 20 years now, but this was my first time inside!  The church is actually part of the St. Rita College Prep School for Young Men, and it is a large, lovely space.  The bridal couple made lots of really smart decisions.  First of all, they had both piano and harp, which is unusual, but perfect for this space.  The wonderful Mike Carso of St. John Fisher Parish was on hand to play piano and keep everything running smoothly.  I took care of the prelude, Mike and I played for the bridesmaids (Canon in D), and then the bride came down the aisle to solo harp (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring).  When you have multiple instrumentalists, it really gives you the option to mix things up a bit, and I think that is wonderful for the congregation.  Mike took care of the mass parts, while I rolled some chords as ornamentation.   We both played on the recessional, and everything was wrapped up nice and neat!

If you would like to have lots of options, think about adding harp to the piano or organ that is already included in your ceremony plans! I have lots of music that works for two!

The large congregational area at St. Rita

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Lincolnshire Marriott, Lincolnshire

"On the Greens" at Marriott Lincolnshire

So I've actually been here before, but it was too wet to go with the original outdoor plan that day.  This time around, the weather really cooperated, and I think I got to see the site at its finest.  I was working through an agent, Lise Gilly, so while I did not speak to the bride directly, I had great information on what she wanted.  The bride specified 5 songs for her prelude, but that was enough for me to know the types of things she liked and fill in a bit when we needed more.  She mixed classical and pop, so "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" came just before the "Iz" version of "Over the Rainbow"!  The guests mingled under the tall trees, and enjoyed the cold beverages that the hotel had set up for them.  When it was time for the ceremony to begin, I could actually see the bride emerge from the hotel across from where we were set up.  There is rather a long walk, across a parking area and then lawn, so I played a little of "Trumpet Voluntary" and then shifted to "Here Comes the Bride" when it was time for the congregation to stand. It was a beautiful ceremony, and so much fun to finally see the Lincolnshire outdoor space in action!

As a side note, you really might like to check out Lise's other musical offerings.  She fronts a really phenomenal Latin group, Grouppa Cha Cha, and represents other jazz and classical groups as well.  Sometimes, especially if you are unsure what you want or need, it can be really helpful to work through an agent, and Lise is a wonderful one!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Holiday Inn, Elk Grove Village

Set up for the ceremony.

This bride really did things well.  When she contacted me initially, she informed me that while the event was to be an American style wedding, many of those attending would be of Nigerian descent, and that a 3 pm Nigerian wedding would likely not start right at 3 pm.  We had a little chat, and decided to specify a time frame that I would set aside for the wedding, acknowledging that the start time within that time frame was unknowable!  It really helped me, as I came with extra music organized, and was not staring into the back of the hall the entire time wondering if I was going to get a signal in the next 30 seconds to start.  Truly, the time just before the processional is the most difficult for any wedding musician (as you want everything to be as smooth as possible) and having a realistic idea of what is going to happen is just wonderful!

This bride loved soft music, so she decided to go with "Storybook Love" from the movie "The Princess Bride" for her bridal party.  This is frequently an overlooked option, especially when you consider that the song is so familiar to so many people!  The bride walked down to "A Thousand Years" and, bless her heart, although it was a relatively short aisle, she walked slowly enough that I was able to play both sections of the song!  I think perhaps I will ask her to coach all of you... walk slowly, brides!  You are so beautiful, and we all want to enjoy the moment!!!

For the recessional, she chose the more up tempo "I'm Your's" by Jason Mraz.  The best part for me was that one of the groomsmen was actually singing along a little!  Yet another good argument for using pop music at a wedding... people enjoying hearing songs they know!  

Non-Wedding Harpist at "South Pacific"

My harp at Cahn Auditorium, Evanston

Kind of a change of pace for me; I am spending most of August playing in a pit orchestra for the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, "South Pacific."  The production is lovely and romantic, even if there isn't a wedding!  If you happen to be there, please stop by the pit and say hello!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Salvatore's, Chicago

The patio at Salvatore's

Salvatore's is really a Lincoln Park institution, but it is still a little off the beaten path.  It is nestled just North of Fullerton, back in a neighborhood of one way streets that makes getting there just a bit of a challenge.  Once you arrive, though, the street is quiet and there is valet parking!  The building used to be a hotel, and was converted (many years ago) to apartments and a restaurant.  The patio where they hold weddings is completely shaded and looks out on the landscaped courtyard of the apartment building.

The bride and groom wanted a mixture of pop and classical music, so the mothers of the bride and groom processed to "Air on the G String" by Bach, and then the bridesmaids entered to "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder.  I had forgotten how wonderful "Ribbon in the Sky" sounds on harp!  Look for this to appear on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, for sure!  The bride walked in to "A Thousand Years" and everybody recessed to "Marry You" by Bruno Mars.  I updated my arrangement of this piece, and I am finally completely happy with it, so you can expect a video of that soon, too!

After the ceremony, I moved indoors to play for the cocktail hour while the bridal party took pictures.  Things were moving along really efficiently, so my stated "cocktail hour" time actually ended up extended into the dinner, so of course I kept playing!

If you are looking for a convenient everything-in-one place venue in the city, you really should see Salvatore's.  And of course, consider harp music!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

The dining room at Salvatore's.
The patio is just through the doors on the left.

60th Wedding Anniversary Harpist, Papa Joe's, Orland Park

Papa Joe's private banquet room.

I was kind of a last minute addition, and that was fine by me! Preparations had been chugging along bit by bit over time, as the party was meant to be a surprise for the anniversary couple, but they hadn't yet thought about music.  Papa Joe's already features live music (a pianist) on Saturday nights, but the couple's daughter thought it would be fun to have music right in the room where they would be celebrating.  In these situations, I generally arrive well before the guests of honor, and play for the party goers as they get ready to surprise the arriving couple.  It turns out that the 60th anniversary couple did not have any special songs, so I started out with "All You Need is Love" by the Beatles and went from there.  It was a casual party, and everyone was in high spirits.  Of course we had "Here Comes the Bride" for the entrance of the guests of honor, and indeed they were surprised!  

And yes, the green centerpiece is a palm tree.
They were adorable!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Gibson's, Chicago

A private room for two (and harpist) at Gibson's

This was so much fun.  The bridal couple, proudly managing two careers and six children between them, recognized that a traditional wedding was perhaps not the best fit for them.  Instead, they slipped away to the near North side, where they were met by a judge (to marry them), a harpist (to set the mood), and a wonderful steak house (to provide the celebratory dinner).  The bride wrote to me just 9 days ahead, but it was plenty of time!  I was actually able to get a few special requests worked up, too.  

The couple wanted all popular tunes, and had very eclectic tastes! Among my favorites of their special requests were "Make Me Feel Your Love," "Breathe," and "I Got You Babe."  The number one winner for the evening was, however, "Hotel California," by the Eagles.  It sounds just fabulous on harp, and was a big favorite of the newly married couple.

I played as the couple met with the judge who performed their ceremony, and then started again with "Love Me Tender" just as they were pronounced husband and wife.  They took photos and then Gibson's began their dinner service.  They ate, and visited, and even danced to harp music.  I played things from their request list, and then sometimes played them again; it was a pleasure to make everything fit just right for them!  Meanwhile, the seamless Gibson's service had them feeling relaxed and cared for.  Such a lovely start to their new lives together!

If you've got your own ideas of what would be just right on the harp, give me a call!  We'll work up a list!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, At Home in Ingleside

A view of my perch and a little bit of the aisle!

Weddings at home are really fabulous.  You get a wonderful idea of who the bride and groom are, and everyone is so relaxed!  Yes, it did take me a minute to visualize where Ingleside was (head for Fox Lake, and turn right just before you get there), but it was all easy after that!

The bride and groom wanted to involve their grand children in the ceremony, and the bride wondered what song would work for the little 3 year old flower girl.  So easy!  "Let it Go" from "Frozen"!  I learned this from a bride a couple of summers ago, and it worked like a charm again!  No timid little march down the aisle; the petals got happily distributed, and the flower girl actually enjoyed her special moment. Then it was time for the bride's procession, and she was escorted by her adorable little grandson who looked to be about 5 or 6 years old!  It was truly one of the sweetest things I've ever seen, and I see plenty of good stuff!

The ceremony went off beautifully, and I stayed to play some cocktail music afterwards.  The best part was that when I was loading out, the groom came over to make sure I didn't need any help (I didn't), and we had a little chat.  You know what he wanted to talk about?  How much he loves his new wife!

If you want to hold your own cozy wedding in your natural surroundings, call me.  Harp music can add just the right touch!

The harpist's view of the proceedings!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Galleria Marchetti

My favorite set up at Galleria Marchetti

Most Summers I end up going someplace twice, and this Summer it was Galleria Marchetti, just 8 days apart!  I really love this venue for two reasons:  #1 it is lovely and versatile and #2 it is extremely well run.  I like to position myself in the back at this location because it gives me a good view of the wedding party's entrance.  As I was setting up, the captain came over to make sure that I left enough room behind me so that the staff could move the chairs from outside to inside.  They actually have a little velvet rope barrier they set up when the time comes to get the move done, and I know it sounds like a small thing, but it is indicative of the level of service you get here.  There are enough people on staff, and they are paying close enough attention that things get done quickly and efficiently.  

The lovely bride was a traditionalist.  I played classical music for the prelude, her bridesmaids processed to "Trumpet Voluntary," and she and her father entered to "Canon in D."  When the wedding was finished, everyone marched out to the classic Mendelssohn "Wedding March."  I continued to play as the guests made their way from the chairs to the patio, and provided a nice segue to get everyone started on the cocktail hour.

If you need some nice transitionary music, please visit my website!  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

The harpist's view of the patio area.  

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Starved Rock State Park, Utica

The most romantic of settings!

This was my second trip to Starved Rock, and I will happily go many more times!  It was a warm, fairly muggy day, but the entire wedding party was comfortable in amongst the trees.  I have never seen an outdoor space hung with fabric the way the florist did here, but I thought it gave the most romantic of effects!

The bride loved the song "What a Wonderful World" and couldn't decide whether to put it for the first place she wanted music in the ceremony or the second place.  Easy!  She decided to use it in both places, and left it up to me to make it sound right!  I found two different arrangements, and I thought it ended up giving the ceremony a nice continuity.  If you've got an idea, do speak up!  We can likely work something out so that you can have exactly what you want!

The harpist's view gives you a nice idea of the dappled shade here!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Galleria Marchetti, Chicago

See the white building hidden among the trees on the far right?  That was us!!

I have a long history with this place, but in a super odd way.  As a newlywed, I lived at 525 N. Halsted, virtually across the street, so I can certainly attest to how the neighborhood and this facility have changed over the years.  We used to run into the owner on what was then a desolate part of Halsted, and our loft had a view of what is now the outdoor ceremony garden!  Over the years, many many improvements have been made here, and the plantings in the garden have grown up to give a wonderful sense of seclusion in the middle of the city!

On this particular evening, it was cold; below 50 degrees by the time I was finished. I doubt very many venues were able to go on with their outside weddings, but we were fairly comfortable at Galleria Marchetti! The garden is on the East side of the property and is sheltered both by the buildings and the trees.  Plus, with the building so close, guests who would rather not be outside can take shelter, and the large staff is always ready to whisk the entire event inside if things get uncomfortable.

The bride and groom for this wedding chose a really lovely little ceremony where they put love letters they had written to each other in a small bottle, to be opened on their first anniversary.  The bride's mother suggested Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" for musical accompaniment and it was perfect!  The bride told me that she and the groom were huge Beatles fans, so she went with "Here Comes the Sun" for her recessional, and I did a medley of Beatles' tunes for postlude.  I covered "All You Need is Love", "I Will", and "When I'm 64"!  It was fun, and fit them perfectly!

Visit my website to see what might fit you perfectly!  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

A better view of the lush lawn and, of course, our old apartment!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Medinah Country Club, Medinah

The room actually glowed, and the candles were not even lit yet!!

Saturday was wet.  And cold.  My heart went out to any and all that had planned an outdoor wedding, but I was thrilled for my client who had planned to be indoors all along.  We were at the historic, amazing Medinah Country Club, and even the staff was marveling at how beautiful the room looked!  

The bride wanted a small ensemble, so Jennifer Silk played violin with me, and it was wonderful.  The bride chose all popular music for her ceremony, which is becoming more and more common.  The parents and grandparents entered to "Here Comes the Sun", the bridesmaids walked to "What a Wonderful World", and the bride and her father processed to "A Thousand Years".  During the ceremony, we played "All I Ask of You" for the gift of roses to the moms, and the theme from Beauty and the Beast for the unity candle.  The recessional was "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, and I am happy to report that it is absolutely wonderful with violin and harp!

It might be hard to tell, but the framed object front and center is actually a flower arrangement inside of a silver frame.  It was amazing!

If you need music to go with your amazing ideas, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

The harpist's view.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, St. Hyacinth Bascillica, Chicago

My harp is there, but admittedly a little hard to see in the wide shot.

Well, I actually gasped a little when I first walked into St. Hyacinth, because it is just that kind of place.  I mean, you already know from the outside that it is going to be impressive, but that doesn't really prepare you for what the inside ends up achieving.  It is bright inside.  Sun filled, even.  And the colors from the stained glass are dazzling.  The church is beautifully cared for, and well worth a trip just as a tourist.  It is in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, and was built between 1917 and 1921 by, and primarily for, the Polish immigrents that lived in that area.  The neighborhood is now an ecclectic mix of people, and the ceremony I played for included elements of Iraqi Christians! Additionally, the church seems to have a clearly defined path for people from other parishes to arrange to be married here.

This wedding came to me through a wonderful singer named Maureen Christine.  She sings a wide variety of events, but specializes in Catholic liturgies.  If you are planning to have a Catholic Mass, you probably already know that the music needed is substantial and incredibly specific.  It really helps to have musicians that are well versed in the traditions, and that absolutely includes Maureen!  In addition to the places in the Mass that had music (Alleluia, Psalm, Gifts, and Offretory), she sang "The Prayer" as the mothers came down the aisle, and it was so lovely with voice and harp.  We also performed Schubert's "Ave Maria" while the bride placed an offering of flowers to Mary, and that is always a special, exceptionally sweet moment for the bride that I think is really enhanced by music.  Maureen's website has some great examples of her singing, and she is a really helpful person in general!

I took care of the processionals and the recessional with solo harp, but it sure was useful to have Maureen there watching the people file in. St. Hyacinth's is a big place, and it was great to have her telling me who was on the way down the aisle and how far they had gotten!

If you are planning a ceremony with a cantor (another name for a vocalist at a Catholic Mass) I would love to help!  Call me to talk about how harp can do all of the duties of the piano or organ, no problem!

A view to the side.
Visit the website of St. Hyacinth to see the amazing stained glass dome!!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist Contemporary Museum of Art, Chicago

This was the proverbial "Plan A".

Well, we were supposed to be out on the lower patio in the sculpture garden, but the rain just wouldn't cooperate.  The staff at the museum was really hoping it could work out, too, and they held off on making the decision until 5:15 for the 6 pm wedding.  Once the decision was made, the turn around was fast and efficient, and soon we were set up and ready to go in the front lobby area.

Final preparations for the now indoor ceremony.

The bride had selected an eclectic mix of music for the prelude that included Amazing Grace, Only Time (Enya), I'm Yours (Jason Mraz), and Everything I Do (Bryan Adams).  For the ceremony, she wanted to juxtapose those with the most traditional choices, so I played Bridal Chorus (also known as "Here Comes the Bride") and Mendelssohn's "Wedding March".  One more traditional wedding song ("Rondeau" by Mouret) and I launched into the theme from "Game of Thrones", which was a special request for the bride! The guests were able to walk around the corner to the reception, and most wonderfully, the rain stopped long enough for the wedding party to get pictures on the front steps of the museum!

If you want music that can easily move from one site to another, you may want to consider harp.  My bragging rights?  My acoustic set up was packed, moved, and unpacked again in half the time it took the sound guys to move the mic and amp for the officient. What can I tell you?  Harp music is efficient!

Visit my popular music repertoire list to see what kind of a program you might like!

The harpist's view.  So dramatic, and a nice long aisle!

Bridal Shower Harpist, Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

An unusual and beautiful vantage point.

I have played at the Ritz-Carlton many times over the years, but this was a new room to me.  It turns out that the Pearson Room used to be a private dining club, but has been repurposed to serve as a small banquet room.  Really, the room is of an unusual size;  big enough for a mid-sized wedding, but small enough to feel intimate.  On top of that, the view is really astonishing!  You get to see Navy Pier (including the Ferris wheel), and some of the beautiful Northwestern buildings that really aren't visible from very many places. 

For this particular event, they were mingling and then sat down to enjoy tea service.  I played lots of wonderful love songs from Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight", through "Moon River", and up to "I Chose You" by Sara Bareilles.  My goal is that everyone there should hear songs that they know and love, no matter if they are the grandmother of the bride or the niece of the groom!

Visit my repertoire pages to see if I know any of your favorite songs!

A contemporary space with lots of light
and even space for a dance floor!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Sergeant Means Park, Olympia Fields

Set up in the barn for the ceremony.

This was a new venue for me, and really a lovely space!  The meeting area is a barn from 1917, yes, but it is completely finished, primarily in white, and made a spectacular backdrop for the bride's vivid color scheme. 

I played prelude selections for the guests, and then accompanied the bride's friend when she sang "The Lord's Prayer".  I am always available if you would like to have me play while your friends or family solo!  We planned everything out ahead of time, then met for a quick rehearsal before the start of the prelude.  Some soloists prefer to come to my home ahead of the event for a rehearsal, and that is also fine.

All of the flower arrangement were different,
but they all kept to the same wonderful colors!

Afterwards, the guests stayed in the same room for the reception, and a D.J. took over with music played from the loft area of the barn!

The desert table in the same sweet color!

Please feel free to call me to see if I know any of the pieces your family knows!

Renee Wilson (773) 881-0706