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.