Engagement Party Harpist, Prestwick Country Club, Frankfort

Aren't the decorations lovely?

I live quite far South, but I didn't even know that this club existed. The website for Prestwick Country Club says that they host members and non members for special events, but there wasn't a lot of other information available.  What I can tell you from experience, though, is that the club looked incredibly beautiful with its Christmas decorations, and that the table settings and indeed the plates coming out of the kitchen all looked absolutely beautiful, too. This club may be a little out of the way even by my South Side standards, but it is definitely worth consideration.  I always think that anyone who plans a December or early January event gets extra wonderful decorations just by default, and how amazingly smart is that?

Engagement parties are so much fun to play!  I swept through many of my favorite wedding and love themed music, with lots of Christmas music thrown in.  I have been lucky enough to play for this lovely family before, and they are of Italian heritage, so they also get some opera arias, and a particular Christmas tune that I love, but that only musicians and Italians ever seem to know. What can I tell you? Everyone had a good time, myself included!

If you would like to include Christmas music at your event, you can see all of my holiday songs listed here!

The "room" is actually two rooms joined by an archway. Cocktails were
in this section with the cool high ceiling.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago

A picture of my harp at Holy Name Cathedral from a different day.
Honestly, no time for pictures on this day!!

As you might imagine, the music staff at Holy Name is really wonderful. The Cathedral is so busy that playing there frequently feels like trying to jump into a game of double-dutch jump rope! I always arrive early, because in cold months it is important to find someplace for the harp to come up to temperature. Once the previous wedding is finished, there will be just under 20 minutes to move the harp, set up, tune, and rehearse. It is a challenge!! On the plus side, the wonderful Music Director, Ricardo Ramirez, almost always chooses a responsorial psalm that I get to accompany, which I definitely look forward to. It is so much fun to play chords for the wonderful Cathedral cantors to sing over! Another often used focus is Schubert's "Ave Maria" accompanied by harp, or on this day, harp and violin. Beautiful! 

I managed to get set up really efficiently on this day, and rehearsal was short and easy, so I also played 15 minutes of prelude music. Like many churches with amazing pipe organs, Holy Name knows exactly how to employ the organs (yes, they have 2!) to greatest effect.  After I finished the prelude music, the violin and the upstairs pipe organ began the processional for the parents and wedding party from the loft, with me joining in from down front. Then, when it was time for the bride, the organ took over and opened up completely; it is an amazing sound for a dramatic moment!! 

Wedding Reception Harpist, The Lincoln Inn, Batavia

That's the corner area where the wedding party sat. 

This was such a charming reception! The bridal couple, and indeed all of the guests were members of a Seventh Day Adventist Congregation nearby. Since Seventh Day Adventists adhere to a Sabbath day of rest of Saturday, the wedding and reception were both scheduled for Sunday morning. I actually think that brunches, or "wedding breakfasts," as I believe they are called in Britain, are overlooked as a practical yet romantic alternative to evening affairs.  The Lincoln Inn in Batavia is perfect for this.  The owner was telling me that they host a popular Sunday brunch every weekend, so you could easily stop by and see what you think of the facility and its food without having to schedule an appointment! On this morning, we were in the Springfield Room, and it is quite remarkable. It is sort of an "L" shaped room, which is generally kind of a drag, but not in this case. The owners, very cleverly, installed a corner area that is perfect for the wedding party. Everyone sits elevated just a bit, and the reality is that the bridal couple is able to be seen from every bit of the room!  In addition, there are a number of large windows for natural light, and some large wall mirrors to disperse the light throughout. All in all, a super pleasant room.

The couple had requested hymns and classical music, so the music was very soothing. Brunch was served buffet style, and everything looked wonderful and well tended.  Definitely a place worth remembering!

See? This is why you need to plan December events...
the floral possibilities are so romantic!!

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Chevy Chase, Wheeling

Rich brown tones and lots of bright woodwork makes for a warm feel!

I hadn't been to the Chevy Chase Country Club in years, and it was nice to see the facility looking so good. They had two large events going on that evening, but because of the way the venue is laid out, everyone had their own space. The mother of the bride requested the hymn "This is My Father's World," and I found a lovely arrangement. Like at many weddings, when the bridesmaids were ready to come down the aisle, they just came right ahead, without a thought to the music that was playing. I think this is frequently the detail that eludes clients. Your friends and relatives are going to be nervous, and they have not been living with the details of your ceremony for as many weeks as you have! In my experience, it is always nice to have #1 a little wiggle room in the music and #2 a ready-to-go Plan B. We, luckily, had both. The wedding party was large, and the officiant and I had agreed that if the bridesmaids started down during the special hymn, why I could just go ahead and finish it out with no harm done. So I did. Then I transitioned to Canon in D, and the whole thing turned out fine. Plenty of music, and everything nice and smooth. Additionally, the mother of the bride had chosen the Coldplay song "A Sky Full of Stars" for the recessional just because she thought it would be nice. Boy, was it ever. It translated to harp so nicely that I am going to put it up on the YouTube channel just as soon as possible!  

If your mother would like to suggest a new song for my repertoire, give me a call!  (773) 881-0706.

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Danada House, Wheaton

Absolutely perfect weather!

This was the latest outdoor wedding I have agreed to play in quite a while, and I was glad that I did.... the weather was beautiful! Of course, it is very reassuring to know that you have all of the resources of the Danada House available if necessary! The bride chose an eclectic mix of classical and popular music for her ceremony, but was thrilled to find that I have a small selection of Bollywood tunes available as well. So the ceremony reflected the shared American heritage of the couple, but the reception was able to fold in the additional Indian heritage of the groom and his family. Brilliant, and inclusive, and who doesn't love that! 

If you think you might be interested in Bollywood music, you can find a sampling on my YouTube channel!

The bridal party processed to the ceremony from the house,
and we all returned there for cocktails.

The guests, and then the bride and her father used this pathway!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

On this day, I took no badly composed photos. This never happens
to me, as I am actually kind of terrible at photography.
Bad pictures are, apparently, not even possible here.

I have been to the conservatory quite a few times, but never in this room.  It is kind of amazing.  I am a huge fan of being in locations that have an outdoor feel without the random scary factors of actually being outdoors, so this was heaven for me.  Plus the bridal couple had some really cool ideas.  The biggest one was to use a special piece of music, "Final Fantasy Prelude" as a processional of sorts for the parents, the groom, and his groomsmen.  It was fabulous!  I did a special arrangement for them, and it turned out great, but the best part was talking to the groom beforehand:  he was actually really excited about the music! In my experience, that doesn't happen all that often. Apparently, he and his friends are big gamers (I hope I am getting the lingo right here), and somebody had the great idea of incorporating the video game music into the ceremony.  Luckily, the music is really lovely, too, so that helped!

After the ceremony, I headed out to the back patio and played for the cocktail hour, too.  The crowd had super eclectic taste in music, so I really mixed it up for them:  Under the Boardwalk, Game of Thrones, Moon River.  It was a total blast!

If you would like to see if I can play something special for your ceremony, please write me!  reneewilsonharp@sbcglobal.net

Harpist's view.

Wedding Reception Harpist, The Signature Room at the 95th, Chicago

I played from the West windows, and this gives you an idea
of the clarity of the view.

Okay, it is going to feel a little funny labeling this one as "a room with a view."  Perhaps "room with THE view" would be more appropriate. The Sears Willis Tower building is certainly lovely, but there is nothing like being next to the lake and up high.  The Signature Room at the 95th (located on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building) has a number of private rooms to chose from, and they all have gorgeous views, because of course they do.

I started out working with the bride, but as the big day drew close the groom had some ideas for music, too.  He wanted to plan a special song that the couple could dance to.  I don't often provide the music for the first dance, but it is absolutely something that I can do.  In this case, the groom found a piece on my YouTube channel that he liked, "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder, but I also found a piece on his prospective list that I liked:  "Tupelo Honey" by Van Morrison!  I asked him which he preferred, and he suggested a little medley.  Done!  The song choices were kept a secret from the bride and the guests, and made for a lovely moment as the new couple spun around the dance floor.  It really was such fun, as it so often is when people share their ideas for their wedding day!

If you need to jump start your wedding day ideas, please visit my YouTube Channel!

It is so hard to get a good picture in front of windows! Still, it gives you
an idea of the scope of the view. The windows continue to the left!!

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Boulder Ridge Country Club, Lake in the Hills

Some of the view. I was trying to avoid getting golf carts in the frame,
as this was early on and they hadn't yet been moved!

Boulder Ridge Country Club has an absolutely stunning view, able to be enjoyed from the patio, or the huge balcony off of the reception area. The balcony is so large that smaller ceremonies can actually be held there, but as we were larger on this day, we were down on ground level, which is also amazing. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, with the weather cooperating in every way!  Afterwards, although the official party was starting inside, I continued to play outdoors, and guests returned to the gorgeous balcony to enjoy the amazing view, sip their drinks, and listen to live harp music. It was truly the loveliest of settings!

Visit my main website (www.Harp123.com) if you would like to see the comprehensive list of available cocktail music.

Guests, and eventually the bride, enter here. 

A little bit better picture of the arbor.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, St. Christina, Chicago

The altar area at St. Christina is just stunning!

St. Christina's is a lovely parish close to my South Side home.  I was contacted directly by the bride's mother, as she wanted to add harp and flute to the standard piano accompaniment.  I frequently make recommendations for other instrumentalists, so it was no problem at all. Musical arrangements at Catholic churches can be just a little tricky, as there is generally a set music staff, and they need to be consulted.  I can help with this, and earlier is always better.  St. Christina's music staff is wonderful, and I have played there several times over the years, so it is especially easy.  A few emails back and forth, and we were organized for the big day.  The family chose "The Prayer" made famous by Celine Dion and "Perhaps Love" by John Denver to round out some of the more traditional wedding choices and mass parts.  It was a beautiful ceremony, and a true collaboration.

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Drake Hotel, Chicago

The Grand Ballroom.  My harp is on the right.

I have been to the Drake on many, many occasions, and it is always an adventure!  The building is so old that getting a harp in, and to the floor where you are needed, is generally a complicated, multi-step process. No matter.  I just show up plenty early, and that always works.  There really is no substitute for allowing enough time!  On this particular day, I also needed to be onsite early to rehearse with the singer.  The music had been in flux in the days leading up to the wedding, and when everything settled it was agreed that I would accompany one of the bride's friends on "A Thousand Years."  The room looked beautiful, and the singer was quite talented..... all going well, right?  Then we found out that due to microphone needs the singer and I would not be on the same side of the stage; she would actually be a good 20 feet away from me!! Officially?  Yikes. We made it work, which was the important thing, but it was nerve racking.  Generally, when musicians are far away from each other, they have monitors so that they can hear one another. This actually is not even the main issue at a wedding. For wedding processionals, it is rare indeed that once straight through the song is exactly the amount of music needed. You almost always have to cut the song short, or repeat some portion of it, and (even if you get to rehearse) you never know how it will really go ahead of time. Communication among the musicians is absolutely key to a smooth processional. So, I am delighted it worked out for this lovely bride, but plan to keep your musicians together, if possible.  We will be able to do our best work for you!

Harpist's view!

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Revolution Brewing, Chicago

It is a little hard to see with the shadows, but the harp is there on the left.

Located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, this was a new venue for me.  Their party room is above the brewery and has quite a few windows and lots and lots of light!  The Revolution website has some nice additional pictures of the party space, and helpful information about how many people it can accommodate.  The downstairs area was really hopping when I came through, but the upstairs area is completely private, and actually pretty serene.  The staff were all super helpful, and I was set up early enough that I even ended up playing for the little run through the wedding party had with the officiant.  The bride and groom were concerned that mixing classical music (Canon in D) and a popular tune (What a Wonderful World) in the processional would seem odd, so I made sure to mix things up in the prelude music.  Live music is perfect that way.  No one ever notices, but I am setting up whatever mood you have requested long before the processional even begins.  In this case, the crowd that was attending was a pretty eclectic mix, so it was really easy to chose music.  They loved the Puccini aria I played (O Mio Babbino Caro) and they loved the Pixar theme "Married Life" from "Up."  They were ready to celebrate the newly married couple, and it was all good.  My favorite kind of wedding!

Let me know if I can help you set the tone you want at your ceremony!  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

A better shot of where the couple stood for the ceremony.

I also snuck a picture of the cake for you, because
I have never seen anything like it.  Wow.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Ravisloe Country Club, Homewood

Yep. It really was this pretty. The courtyard at Ravisloe is amazing.

YouTube has really changed the way people shop for music. I have a YouTube channel with many of my most requested songs, but frequently clients will send me YouTube links of other harpists, and that can be really helpful, too. In this case, the bride had fallen in love with the Romanza movement from Mozart's Eine Kleine Nactmusik. Not only did she love the piece, she loved what one particular harpist did with it (it was slower and more romantic than it is normally done). No problem. If I can understand what you want, I can probably do it, and nothing is easier for a musician to understand than a recording! After a little back and forth we got the whole thing managed, and the bride got exactly what she wanted:  Romanza for the mothers to walk into, Arioso by Bach for the bridesmaids, and Canon in D for the bride. Perfect!

Ravisloe Country Club is a stunningly beautiful location. It is open to the public, and comes with a really rich history and the kind of vintage charm you just can't get everywhere. If you need music to complete your wedding, please visit my YouTube channel to start your shopping!

I didn't play the reception, but I snuck a picture for you.
Great windows, right?

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Cantigny, Wheaton

It is really hard to get a complete perspective on Cantigny.
My harp is in the extreme right hand corner of the shot.

Cantigny is an amazing spot for a wedding. It is somehow vast and impressive while also being intimate. The park does an amazing job keeping visitors behind the wedding party, so as soon as the bride descends the stairs you really feel you have all of this splendor to yourself.

This ceremony was unusual in the fact that I accompanied two fabulous young high school students. They were students of a friend of the bride's, and they both sang and accompanied themselves with guitars. I always figure that my job in these circumstances is to let the soloists shine, and it was certainly very easy to do with these young men! Originally we had planned to have me fill out the accompaniment to "Hawaiian Wedding Song," but since they were already at my house rehearsing, we also tried "Can't Help Falling in Love" and it went super smoothly. A quick call to the bride, and I was added to that for the wedding day, also.

If you are going to have a soloist for your wedding day, I generally arrive a few minutes earlier than normal so that we can run things again. Safely is definitely my motto for weddings! The boys handled the special music with me nicely, and I filled in with prelude and recessional (Bruno Mars!). Total teamwork success!

If you would like to discuss having me accompany your special guests, just call! (773) 881-0706.

Chicago Wedding Reception Harpist, Lost Marsh, Hammond, Indiana

Alas, a stolen photo.  This was the room I was in, and it was beautiful.
It was also filled with very early people by the time I got there, so no harp photo!

It is never too late to call and check on my availability. When the soon-to-be-married couple heard that the musicians they were expecting to play their reception were not going to be able to appear, they gave me a call. I just happened to have the date open, and I was happy to fill in. When someone calls last minute and I am not available, I always email them a list of other harpists, so there is help available regardless. If you really want to add live music to your wedding, it is generally just a matter of making enough calls, and getting someone to supply you with reliable people to contact!

Lost Marsh is a really lovely facility in Northwest Indiana, with expansive views in all directions. I was able to plug into the D.J.'s system, and I played popular music, mariachi music, and even a couple of the bride's favorite bossa novas.  When the calls come in at the last minute, the clients have to choose from the repertoire I already know, but I know a lot of music :)

I am pretty fast at returning emails, but you can always feel free to call, too. Sometimes (especially when things take an unexpected turn) it can be nice to hear an actual human voice!

Email:  reneewilsonharp@sbcglobal.net
Phone:  (773) 881.0706 or (312) 860.4997

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Lake Katherine, Palos Park

The stunning Lake Katherine

Besides being beautiful, Lake Katherine is so very convenient. If you were able to turn around in this picture, you would see a really fantastic party facility with proper running water and a lovely view of the lake. I have been in this facility numerous times for parties, but it is always wonderful when the weather cooperates and you can be lakeside. On this gorgeous day, the only problem we had was a parade of geese that thought they would "play through." The photographer and I (both on site early) gently discouraged this, and all was well!

If you would like to add live music to your outdoor event, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.  Goose wrangling provided completely free of charge!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Ruffled Feathers, Lemont

It is actually pretty hard to judge from this picture. Things are mostly
set up but the lights and candles were not yet as they would eventually be.

I think January weddings are so romantic, and this wedding certainly took advantage of all that early January has to offer!  We were scheduled for just after the new year, so all of Ruffled Feathers' holiday decorations were still in place, and the early sunset made sure that everything was sparkly as the guests arrived.  The bride chose the "Glasgow Love Theme" from the movie Love Actually, and then she walked down to "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music. Probably the biggest surprise for me, was the piece that they couple requested for the seating of their relatives.... "The Inner Light" from the televisions series "Star Trek: The Next Generation."  I have been down this particular road with couples on a number of occasions (where one person loves something very specific and the other is a bit lukewarm) but everything worked out great this time.  "The Inner Light" is actually a lovely piece of music that sounds terrific on harp.  If someone knows "Star Trek." they may well recognize it and remember it as a particularly touching segment but, if not, it is just a pretty piece of music.  Basically your classic win-win.  After the ceremony, I moved into the cocktail hour and played some pop things and a bunch of upbeat Irish tunes, and a good time was had by all.

If you would like to consider warming up your winter wedding with live music, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com!