Ceremony Harpist, Double Tree Hotel, Alsip

Set up at the one of Double Tree ballrooms, ready for the ceremony!

This was one of those times where the music wasn't initially what I expected, but I wanted to follow the couple's wishes because, well, yeah. The couple wanted Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars" for the bride to walk in to, and "A Thousand Years" for their recessional. I have, most often, used those two choices for exactly the opposite ceremony jobs! Upon reflection, though, a slower "Sky Full of Stars" was really appealing and effective, and I just started "A Thousand Years" at the chorus, and I thought it worked great! In the end, they had really personalized music, and I got to look at those pieces in a different way. It was pretty fun.

The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Alsip is a really appealing venue. The Banquet area has a separate entrance with easier parking nearby, and the hallways are a wide and comfortable location for your guests to gather if you need additional space. They were able to do a really quick turn around of the room, so the ceremony, cocktails, and dinner reception were all in the same room. Nice!

Harpist's view of the room.

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, NoMi, Chicago

Set up in the Art Gallery for the ceremony.

The private dining rooms at NoMi Kitchen are a really wonderful venue for smaller weddings. This, however, did not end up being a smaller wedding! As the Art Gallery became standing room only, I was concerned, but there is really no way to go and find anyone to voice your concerns to at that point, so I just kept playing. Once the ceremony started, I couldn't actually hear anything that was being said at the front, so it was really tense trying to get my cues. 

Sometimes my clients are almost apologetic if they send me schedules and programs ahead of time.... I actually love it! The more information that I have, the better! I think if the officiant is aware that I am waiting for a music cue, things are apt to go more smoothly, especially if we are not able to speak beforehand. If I were able to add "check in with the harpist" to the do-to list of every officiant, many possible catastrophes would be averted! Unfortunately, by the time the officiant arrives, I am often already playing, and I think they are reticent to interrupt. In the end, the bride looked beautiful, and I think I got my cues right. Sometimes, that is the best outcome we can all hope for!

This is mostly where I was. There is actually a small
alcove to a hallway, and I was pushed back a little
further into that.

Vow Renewal Harpist, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Chicago

The sanctuary at Emmanuel Baptist. My harp is there in the center!

Vow renewals are such a riot! First of all, pressure off, I mean right? You're already married, and it's working enough that you are celebrating, so you're good. You can wear any wonderful thing you want, and who's going to complain? Also, you are probably old enough that you don't need to worry about inviting people your parents say you have to! The list of good things just goes on and on! The wonderful woman who hired me wanted some relaxing music for her guests, and a smooth transition into her processional, a recorded version of "When God Made You." Done and done. I also played the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and actually got to do a little impromptu accompaniment for the wonderful organist who also sang! See? Fun!!

Afterwards, I played some dinner music in the church hall, which was really done up, and just made me happy to look at it!

The harp was in that far back corner. Unfortunately, without pink adornment,
 but you can't have everything!

Do you have plans for a mid-marriage escapade? Call me! Let's talk! Renee 773.881.0706

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Deep River, Hobart, Indiana

A limited view at Deep River County Park

Okay, first of all, it was a beautiful wedding, so don't worry, but this location can really be a challenge. For this beautiful October day, they had weddings stacked up every two hours, and that is kind of a bigger deal than you would think. Essentially, you need everyone there right at the start of your 2 hours, but you can't start then, because....

1. Most everyone has set up to do. You will have to realistically evaluate how your friends and/or family will be with the set up, because you (being a member of the marrying couple) will likely be otherwise occupied. If you have a slightly bossy but super capable relative or friend, count your lucky stars and put them in charge. That's the sort of person you can base a schedule on!

2. How much prelude do you want your guests to hear? 15 minutes? 30 minutes? This can also be interpreted as how late do you suppose people will be? Lots of couples now plan that their wedding will start 15 minutes later than the time they tell their guests it will start. Seems fair enough to me!

3. How long will your wedding ceremony actually be? Everyone seems to think it will be about 30 minutes. Most of them turn out to be 15-20 minutes, but occasionally somebody's officiant really gets going and does 40 minutes. If your officiant is good, they know how long it will take and will not mind being asked!

4. How long do you need for pictures? This location is unforgiving if you run over, so you have to leave enough time if you want a lot of pictures at the Gazebo.

Luckily, this bride took all of this into account, and we were fine. No really good pictures, though, because there wasn't but a moment to spare as I moved my harp into place and began playing. You will have to take my word on the fact that it is a thrilling location. As the bride comes down the hill, it is always completely worth all the worry!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Client's Home, Chicago

The couple stood by the fireplace to take their vows!

This is the third intimate home wedding that I have done, and it was lovely! The bride descended the stairs to the "Hawaiian Wedding Song," with friends and family gathered on all sides. As soon as the ceremony concluded, I launched into cocktail music and champaign was served! Everyone visited and watched the new couple take photos until it was time to leave for the dinner reception. It was a relaxed and elegant way to start their new life together!

Live music can be a wonderful element if you are looking to reimagine your everyday environment for a special occasion! Plus, tunes originated by Elvis Presley, you know, obviously. 

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Farmington Lakes, Mokena

The charming path to the ceremony. Normally you would continue to the left,
but on this rainy day we were in the tent.

Farmington Lakes is a brand new venue and it is beautiful. Unfortunately, when I was there they were having their first rainy wedding day, and I did not see what they would consider their "typical" day.

The entrance to the rain tent. The harp is down front on the right.

This is the path you would normally walk to get to the wedding site.

Whenever you are watching someone decide to move their outdoor wedding indoors it is hard, and this was no exception. One of the challenges at this site is that the outdoor and the tent locations are really pretty far apart, so it is not a decision that you can hold for the last minute (chairs have to be moved, in addition to harps).

The tent was one of the nicest I have seen, and still had a lake view, so that was good. The bride wanted a song that was new to me, "H.O.L.Y." by Florida Georgia Line. It worked really well on harp, so I will have that up on the YouTube channel in the spring for sure!

Truly, the tent was quite inviting (and even had lighting)!

The bride had chosen a variety of other popular tunes for prelude, to which I added "Singing in the Rain" and "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." What can I tell you? I figure my job is to get everyone feeling better about being in the rain, so I do what I can, and do not shy away from a silly cliche reference that might amuse people!

This is where the couple stood to be married.

If you think live music might smooth away the edges of whatever is coming your way, I couldn't agree more. Visit my website for more ideas! www.ChicagoWedding Harpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Thompson Hotel, Chicago

I thought my harp looked particularly good in this setting!

 I was not familiar with the Thompson Hotel on Chicago's north side, but I really thought they did a nice job on this medium sized wedding. The room was especially lovely, with floor to ceiling windows, and lots of nice design touches (like fabulous chandeliers!). 

A close up of where the couple stood, and you can see
the candles on the window sill a little better, too.

The facilities really matched the bridal couple's music choices, too. They went with very romantic, era spanning popular choices. The wedding party came down to "Flightless Bird," and the bride entered to "Moon River." Afterwards, they walked out to "Here Comes the Sun" and I continued postlude with the "Game of Thrones Theme" (as the groom wrote, "a few times, maybe?"). The Game of Thrones theme has been the breakout wedding hit of 2017, I would say, and no one is more surprised than me!

The windows continue the length of the room.

If you are planning your own vision of a throughly modern ceremony, I know I can help! 

Call with any questions! (312) 869-4997.

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Venuti's, Addison

Lots of natural light and special ceiling decorations!

This was a fairly complicated wedding, but it ended up coming out beautifully! The groom is a violinist, and a music lover in general, so he wanted to play for his bride. I will tell you what I told him.... You will be under a ton of stress that day, so I don't recommend it, but I will help you if you want to do it. He is a brave and determined sort of a fellow, so of course he wanted to do it! We worked to find the proper version of the proper piece (Ribbon in the Sky), and rehearsed at my house before the big day. 

Once I was set up at Venuti's, I began the prelude with all classical music, ending with Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring for the mothers. The groom entered to All of Me, and then the bridal party followed to Canon in D. Finally, it was time for the groom to play. He and I played through Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder and then, as he went to meet his bride, I picked up and played once more through on my own. It was stressful just like I warned, but he played really well, and it made everything feel very special.

Set up early and ready for rehearsal!

If you or someone else wants to play or sing at your wedding, I can absolutely accompany. There is no extra charge, and the results can be really spectacular!!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Southern Charm Venues, Frankfort

The charming entrance off of the parking lot.

This was a brand new venue for me, and I think it is utterly wonderful! It is certainly on the south end of the metro area, but really not far off of the expressway, and super easy to find. Once you are there, it is the perfect combination of country charm and modern conveniences. The barn style building is sparkling clean, and there are lots of amenities to make your guests comfortable:  ample parking, handicap accessibility, and fancy hotel type bathrooms! I spoke with the owner, and they are working on figuring out air conditioning, so you should check on their progress if that is important to you.

The ceremony room is furnished with a few pews and plenty of chairs.

The ceremony room is a smaller area off of the main banquet space, and it overlooks a lovely field. The day I was there was super hot, but we were out of the sun and there was a nice cross breeze, so it was fairly comfortable. The bride went ultra traditional with her processionals and recessional (Canon in D, Here Comes the Bride, and the Mendelssohn Wedding March) and then really showed her personality for the special music during the ceremony.  She and her groom had "Moon River" for the unity candle and "Solamente Una Vez" for the lasso ceremony. Then she gave one of the most touching and heartfelt stepmom vows I have ever heard.  It was beautiful, and poof!! Brand new family! 

The reception area features lots of lights, and is open to the outdoors
on two sides (hence the bright light from behind me)!

If you need music for your grand design, please give me a call at (312) 860-4997!

Ceremony Harpist, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park

The east gazebo at the Odyssey Country Club.

The Odyssey Country Club is a classic south side wedding venue, and we had a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and cool temperatures. The bride's mother is a musician, too, so the music was really important to her, and she wanted to specify as many of the pieces as possible. This is always an option for my clients. I am happy to come with a playlist, and even to fit the most important songs in at the most important times if I can. Of course, weddings do not always run exactly on time, so I always having a backup plan, but I am happy to do my best!

The bride's mother had lots of good choices for me, and wanted to end the ceremony with an Owl City selection called "Hot Air Balloon." Unfortunately, there is not music available for that, so we substituted "Fireflies" and that turned out beautifully!

If your wedding will be at the east gazebo, the harp placement is, by necessity, behind the chairs. Even so, the fountain will likely have to be turned off. For some reason, it always seems like the fountain being on will be okay, and then a gust of wind comes along, and everyone (and my harp) is soaked. Being behind the chairs also lets me get music to the stairs for the approaching wedding party, and then I turn the harp around during the ceremony. It is a beautiful setting, but a little complicated from the musician's point of view! It was all worth it, though, as the bride looked radiant, and the ceremony went beautifully!

If you need someone to work with you on your ceremony's complexities, just email me at reneewilsonharp@gmail.com!!

Ceremony Harpist, Salvage One, Chicago

The bridal couple starts their walk down the aisle between these elephants.

So, go back and read the caption to the photo above. If that sentence doesn't amuse you, you are not going to like this place. I personally found it delightful, but I think it is probably not for everyone.

The couple stood between the columns to be married,
 and I am off to the side.

From a vendor standpoint, the venue seemed pretty organized, and that is always a great sign. They knew what they needed from you, and it was easy to get in and get set up. Although it had tons of old stuff around, everything was clean and inviting. Indeed, the main room downstairs was organized into hang out areas that seemed like they would be really useful and inviting after the dinner.

Lots of great places to hang out and talk!

The best thing about this wedding (okay, from my standpoint) was that the groom had written a song for the bride when he was 13 or 14 years old, and I got to play it for their recessional!!!  It was just as sweet as you would imagine!

I loved the chandeliers marking the aisle!

If your middle school sweetheart wrote you a song, I definitely want to play it at your wedding!  Call me!?! (773) 881.0706

Cocktail Reception Harpist, The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago

The harp positioned at the midpoint of the Art Hall

The lighting is dramatic and effective!

The Blackstone is a magnificent hotel, and it is exciting to see it living its second life as an upscale boutique hotel! This is the second time I have played for cocktails in this space, and I have a few thoughts. It looks like the perfect sized space for a harp, but for some reason it is an extremely loud space.  The harp works well for the first third and the last third of the event, but it is completely a visual for the middle third (harpist slang for being seen and not heard!). Next time I will bring an amplifier, but that still doesn't usually fix the entire problem. If a space is loud, as the music gets louder people generally just start yelling over it to be heard and it is a overall upward spiral of noise. I do not know what the solution is. Certainly, it is lovely for the people getting off the elevator to be greeted by live music, and you catch them again as they wait to go to the ballroom level, so hopefully that is enough. This time, all of the other rooms off the Art Hall were open, so I got a few more pictures. The extra rooms REALLY vary in decor, take a look....

In some ways, these two pictures really say it all. The Blackstone Hotel is embracing its history in varied and ever changing ways. You'll want to stop in to see all of the areas you might find useful, and prepare to be delighted!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Columbus Park Refectory, Chicago

Set up and ready to play at the Columbus Park Refectory.

I loved, loved, loved this venue. It is sort of a covered portico area off the back of a classic Chicago Park District building (rental info here).  It is brick with huge archways and a lovely view to a pond off in one direction. Additionally, there are bathrooms and some other rooms for the bridal party to use attached, and they all seemed to be in good shape. I was able to nestle myself in towards the back of the area where I had a good view of the processional, and even had a wind block to keep my music from blowing around. 

The view from the front!

The ceremony included some ideas I had not seen before, too. The biggest one, for me, was the use of the mothers of the bride and groom as flower girls!!!!  Yep.  Genius, right?  I always try and get an idea of who is in the processional, but I also allow for the fact that it is changeable, because, well, experience. I saw some little flower petal baskets and I had no knowledge of there being flower girls, so I asked. The baskets were for the moms! It was one of those ideas that was appealing in practice, too. Many times the mothers look a little ill at ease at a wedding, and who can blame them? Their duties are usually broad, difficult, and frequently hard to define. These moms looked relaxed and seemed really into it as they threw down some petals.  Go moms!

My accompaniment for the recessional (well, one of them)!!

For the recessional, I was to play the Iz version of Over The Rainbow. Sometimes this can be a hard choice to make work for recessional, due mostly to the fact that the harp is imitating the ukulele, not known as a powerhouse of sound.  Turned out not to be a problem here. The bridal couple had the most adorable little angel ceramic bells that they had given as favors to their guests, and everyone chimed in with their bells as I played the recessional. I wish I had a recording; it was a really charming, festive sound.

Need some support for your special ideas? Email me at reneewilsonharp@gmail.com!

Cocktail and Reception Harpist, Morton Arboretum, Lisle

My position for cocktails. You can get a glimpse of the Ginkgo terrace beyond.

I have actually been to the Arboretum before, but always on the other side of the highway at the Thornhill Education Center. This was my first time in the Ginkgo room, and I was really impressed! First of all, I should mention that is was just beastly hot on this particular day, so I think the guests really enjoyed having the option of being out on the terrace, or enjoying the amazing view from the air conditioned Ginkgo Room! The staff expertly turned the public area just outside the Ginkgo Room into a cocktail venue, and everything was set to begin as the Arboretum closed to the public for the day.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a photo of the dinner reception area (as it was filled with guests by the time I moved in) but the view is show stopping, and worth a trip to see for yourself.  

For my part, I try to change things up as much as possible. My cocktail selections include elegant standard by Gershwin, more recent popular tunes like "Marry You", and things you would never expect like "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes!  For dinner, I often play well known classical melodies, but that choice is really for the client, as additional popular selections can be really lovely, too.

You can hear some of my cocktail repertoire on my YouTube channel:  youtube.com/c/ChicagoWeddingHarpistReneeWilson. 

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago

The Florentine Room at the Congress Plaza Hotel

Really, there can't be another room like the Florentine Room at the Congress Plaza Hotel. It is absolutely stunning, and seems to be in good repair. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the hotel. This was an agent job for me, which means I never met the bridal couple, and indeed do not even know their names. The wedding ceremony seemed to go according to plan for the most part, but the hotel was so difficult for me to deal with, that I can only imagine that the couple themselves have some stories to tell. This hotel has dealt with labor problems over the years, and perhaps that is part of the issue.  While looking online, I found that many of the reviews of this venue are extremely old. Be careful is all I am saying. I want good things for all of you!

Ceremony Harpist, Century Memorial Chapel, Naperville

Set up to the left of the altar area.

Century Memorial Chapel is a well known wedding venue in Naperville, and I have been there quite a few times over the years. It is truly one of the best run facilities, as it comes with its own wedding coordinator who will keep you (and more importantly, everyone else) on schedule and organized! My only caveat is that it is a fairly dark space, and this is not at all represented on their publicity materials. On the website, it looks sun drenched and light colored. I feel the photos I took this day are fairly representative of the real look of the place. It is absolutely fine, but you will want to visit to make sure it is what you are expecting!

I ended up moving back just a bit to accommodate the wedding party!!

The lovely bride brought together love songs from many generations, including "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie, and "Marry Me" by Train. When it was time for the processional, she kept to tradition with Canon in D and Wagner's Bridal Chorus. One of the best aspects of Century Memorial Chapel is that you walk out of your wedding ceremony (to Mendelssohn's Wedding March, in this case) and into one of the most beautiful park like settings imaginable!  

The aisle at Century Memorial Chapel

Please visit my "Song Lists" page if you would like to see all of the repertoire possibilities for your wedding!

Prelude and Cocktail Harpist, Stan Mansion, Chicago

I was set up to welcome guests as they entered the street level lobby.

The Stan Mansion was a new venue for me, and it is quite an unusual layout! I think calling this a mansion might miss the point just a little bit.....It was actually built in 1923 as a building to house a fraternal organization (Knights Templar first, and then the Masons). Because of its original purpose, it has an enormous and glorious meeting room!

The meeting room, with side galleries, is really amazing!

The groom wanted his guests to be greeted with music while they signed the guest book, and he requested all R and B music. I took advantage of the opportunity to add some wonderful new arrangements to my book, and you can expect to see some of them popping up on my YouTube channel soon!

The basement or "Lower Level Ballroom"

Although I loved the venue, there are two aspects that I think need careful consideration. First of all, it is not handicap accessible, or at least there was no one there to explain how I could manage more easily, so you'll want to check. Secondly, you'll want to see the "Lower Level Ballroom" early on in your planning process if you will need that space. It was clean, to be sure, but doesn't seem like it was originally a public space, and isn't the same level of amazing as the rest of the facility.

Ceremony Harpist, Saint Gertrude's, Chicago

The amazing St. Gertrude's on Chicago's north side!

This was my first time to this lovely church, and it was a really rewarding experience. Catholic churches frequently have wonderful musicians already in place, so my job is to come in, blend in, and try to be helpful. On this day, that meant coordinating with their pianist, and switching over from a few of my regular arrangement to arrangements that she had. It is important for everyone to be playing from the same music, and she had to coordinate with the violinist as well! The pianist did a beautiful job getting me everything that I needed, and we even had time to run a few things when I arrived.

The sound of the piano, harp, and violin in the huge church was absolutely stunning, and the pianist made good use of the extra musicians throughout the mass. Thanks to wonderful leadership on the part of Saint Gertrude's pianist, the bride had really exceptional, one of a kind music for her wedding!

Set up for the processional up front.

If you are thinking of having harp, you do not need to only have harp! I am always delighted to work with other musicians!
www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Brookdale, Vernon Hills

Set up along Little Bear Lake behind the facility

If the venue is one you are not familiar with, that is because it is a retirement community!! The mother of one of the grooms lives here, and they wanted to make it as easy as possible for her to attend the wedding. Of course, it was an extra bonus that the facility has such a lovely patio with a stunning view! My impression from working with them was that having their ceremony in a non traditional setting allowed it to fall together really quickly, and it certainly turned out exceptionally beautifully!

Since one of the grooms plays guitar, the music was super important. He wanted to make sure that the choices for the processional were not truncated to the point of being unrecognizable, so we worked hard to get all of the timing worked out. When the big day came, everything went according to plan, and the extended family seemed to enjoy the event all the more for the ease it provided their matriarch. I could not recommend a retirement home setting for a wedding more; this was a creative solution that really worked for all concerned!!!

Looking back into the shady patio area, you can just make out my harp!

Are you planning a wedding in an unusual venue?  Let me help!! Renee (312) 860-4997.

Cocktail Harpist, The Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows

Set up outside the banquet room.

I have been to The Meadows Club several times now, and it is always so much fun! When I first saw their cocktail space (see below), I was worried that it wouldn't work well for harp, but I was wrong! The weddings I have played here have all been East Asian weddings, so I have played Bollywood selections interspersed with American pop tunes. The long reception area creates sort of a gallery where guests get a drink and then stroll along stopping to visit and listen. My unusual mix of tunes seems to amuse everyone, and I have had some of the most positive comments from guests at this venue!

This gives you some idea of the size, but there is still more space
in the other direction!

I currently have 40 minutes of Bollywood music, and I try to add something new each season. You can hear how this translates to harp at my YouTube channel. Look for the "Bollywood Songs" playlist!

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Cog Hill, Lemont

The patio at Cog Hill

I have been to Cog Hill many times, but always in December, so this was a treat! Our weather was perfect, and the set up on the patio includes a wonderful long aisle for the wedding party to process down.

The wedding party looked fantastic here!

This bride was a delight to work with; she wanted to combine classical music and some popular selections (which is a really common approach these days) but she was a little afraid that she would get it "wrong." The nice thing is, there really isn't a wrong way to do it! I encourage my clients to listen to my YouTube channel recordings, and try listing the music they think they want. Nine times out of ten, it is just fine as is! If there is a selection they feel unsure about, we usually talk about it further and make sure that we address their concerns. If I see something that I think is not going to work, I mention it for sure. A good example is a song that is too fast for the processional (perhaps "Marry Me" by Bruno Mars) or too slow for the recessional. Sometimes the brides agree with my concerns, and sometimes we do it their way, because they have a vision and I am here to make that happen! This lovely bride found that the process was easier than she thought, and we took her list verbatim!

As soon as the ceremony was over, I moved to a more central location on the patio, and continued to play for the cocktail hour. Eventually, the wedding guests had this stunning room to look forward to!

This is the only banquet space at Cog Hill, so you will never
have to compete with another wedding!

Remember, in addition to my YouTube channel, I have a list of songs that I play. No recordings, true, but you still might find it helpful!