Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Galleria Marchetti, Chicago

See that chair on the left? That was supposed to be mine!

Yep, it rained. The garden area at Galleria Marchetti still looked really lovely, and it was dry under the canopy, but it was pretty cold. The bride decided to keep everyone comfortable and dry, but they were still able to get some lovely pictures outside after the ceremony. I mean, really, here I am telling you that it was kind of miserable out, but my amateur photos still make everything look pretty magical, right? Well, Galleria Marchetti really delivers when the weather is nasty.

This wedding was unusual because the bride decided to add violin just a couple of weeks before the wedding. She saw a video of violinist Jacob Murphy and I playing, and we were delighted to add that special touch to her wedding. We played "Marry Me" by Train, and "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, and warmed everything right up!

The lovely view outside the tent

Set up in the corner of the tent. Better tent pictures are available on their website!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, St. Charles Country Club, St. Charles

Truly, a midwestern view can't get much better than this!

I have been to this club before, but the weather had always prevented me from playing outdoors. What a delight to finally see how they arrange things here! The manager of the club actually zoomed me around on a golf cart to show me how to load in without having to deal with any stairs, and where to stash my gear. Everyone was super friendly and helpful, and the ceremony went off without any concerns at all. There was quite a bit of shade for the guests, and everyone seemed delighted to walk down the hill on the gorgeous path, be greeted first by harp music, and then by the amazing view.

A shady path down to the pond!

The bridal party also used this walkway, so the music was
super easy to coordinate.

www.ChicagoWedding Harpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Royal Fox Country Club, St. Charles

It is hard to tell, but the view just went on forever!

This location is a little remote, even on the venue property, but it was truly lovely once you had everyone assembled. The ceremony site was quite a ways beyond the main building, but there was plenty of parking if you knew where to go. The club was running people down in golf carts, which was certainly helpful. Probably the only downside was that there wasn't an easy place for the bride to stay hidden until processional time. The view was amazing, and it was nice and quiet at the site, which isn't always that easy to manage. All in all, this place is a solid choice if you're looking for a lovely outdoor setting!

The ceremony area was really lovely!

I thought the flowers were adorable.

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Salvatore's, Chicago

Salvatore's really gives such a lovely first impression!

I have played at Salvatore's quite a few times over the years, but I had never done a ceremony indoors. I thought it worked exceptionally well, and it offers such flexibility for the couple and their guests!

The bride and groom selected a lovely, whimsical group of pieces for their ceremony. The processionals were: Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka), Moon River, and the Dorothy version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. The recessed to Married Life from "Up"! It set the tone beautifully for the celebration to come!

Being at the bottom of the stairs makes
timing the music so easy!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Home Wedding, Northlake

Next to the arch in the tent.

Sometimes, plans change. We were set to be in a church, and then we weren't. No matter. All of the musical plans we had made stayed exactly the same, and we were fine. I learned another Beyonce tune (Halo), and it was about time, too. It works really beautifully as a processional or as prelude music. The bride used it as her processional, and it was a truly lovely moment!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com