Reception Harpist, DL Studio, Chicago

Looking towards the back of the store at
3050 N. Lincoln

This will forever be one of my favorite weddings because of something I overheard the bride say. She was standing in the middle of this quirky little jewel box of a venue, and her family and friends were happily scurrying around setting up the various reception elements. She was nearby me as I was playing, and she said to no one in particular, "This is like a dream wedding!" And it was. Lovely couple, beautiful setting, delicious food and drink, and all the good company you could ever want. I played, and they danced... it was the most dancing I've ever seen to my harp music! It was total joy, and goodness knows we all deserve that. 

The windows looking out on Lincoln Avenue

Check out my repertoire list, and see if you find anything danceable! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook

A perfect setting. You are both right by the water, and 
only steps from the hotel!

I have been to the Lodge many times, but this was my first time down by the lake. It is an absolutely stunning location, and was perfect for this particular wedding. The mother of the bride had requested that I play from my Bollywood repertoire, but the drummer and I had something unexpected happened! The groom's family approached using the bridge that spans the lake, and I had continued to play as they were gathering across the lake from the ceremony site. When the drummer began to lead them across the lake, he locked in with me, and we played a duet!! It was unexpected, and so cool! After the ceremony, the guests gathered for light refreshments overlooking the lake. It was a serene setting for the couples big day!

This patio is directly adjoining the hotel.

You'll find a listing of my Bollywood repertoire at my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, At Home in Crown Point, Indiana

Home weddings are always intimate and relaxed, so definitely a terrific idea during a pandemic! This one was particularly memorable for me, because the groom turned out to be a musician, and he knew exactly what he wanted for his wedding. He chose "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica for the processional, and it was incredible. I did an arrangement for them, so I could get as close as possible to the original, including the opening guitar solo. Since the "aisle" was short, the groom decided to use the one song for everyone, and it was a great decision. It was smoother than changing songs, and it also let the song choice really sink in with the congregation. Making things special for the bride is always at the forefront of my thinking, so I brought the music down before her entrance, and started fresh when I saw her coming down the aisle. They recessed to the Smashing Pumpkin's "Tonight, Tonight", and it all just fit beautifully.

The decorations were so lovely!!

I have a large repertoire, but I am always happy to learn new music! Please see my website for the special request procedure at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Vow Renewal Harpist, Lincolnshire Marriott, Lincolnshire

Just a beautiful setting!

The lovely woman who was planning this had done without the music she wanted at her original ceremony, and she was not going to go without this time! Originally scheduled for Spring 2020, she was absolutely a delight through all of the uncertainty and rescheduling, and I felt so lucky to be able to play for her! The Lincolnshire Marriott helped by providing a beautiful room that was larger than what would've been needed in pre pandemic times. Everyone was distanced and safe, and ready to celebrate the couple's happy union! Besides picking out "Air" from Water Music to process to, the bride also requested a special song for her young grandson (You've Got a Friend in Me), to make him feel included in all of the plans. Once the reception started, I played a variety of classical music and love songs, including "Color My World," which was the couple's special song back in the day. 

You can check my repertoire list for your special song, but I also learn special request music! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Rehearsal Dinner Harpist, Incontro A Tavola, South Barrington

A lovely little private room at the back

The groom's parents live in California, so the intimate dinner they were planning had to be done remotely, which was no problem. My YouTube channel can take a lot of the guesswork out of hiring a musician no matter where you're working from. Additionally, since they would be coming to dinner after the rehearsal, there was a little bit of guesswork as to when they would be arriving. I always want my clients to feel that they are getting their moneys worth, so I was happy to arrange to be onsite and ready to go at the agreed time, but to wait to start the two hours of music until they arrived. Harp is always a great option for smaller parties where even a solo piano might overwhelm. It was a beautiful, relaxed evening at Incontro A Tavola, and I was so happy to be a part of it.

Harpist's view

Relaxing music is only as far away as my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Gibson's Italia, Chicago

As you can see, the roof deck at Gibson's Italia is pretty spectacular. It is one of those spaces that is hard to capture in a photo; the roof is glass and retractable. You are literally surrounded by the river view, and it is stunning. The couple had planned a beautiful afternoon with their nearest and dearest that would also include their wedding vows! Live music can be such a wonderful way to set a mood in these circumstances. I move easily from soothing music while folks are setting up, to upbeat music to greet the arriving guests. As everyone relaxed and took in the view, I was able to incorporate the Bollywood selections the bride had requested, which kept everyone surprised and amused. When the couple was ready, just a few bars of Canon in D signaled that the ceremony was starting. It is such a joy to be able to be responsive to what is going on around me, and know that I am helping the flow of the event.

My website is the first step in getting to know what I offer, and I am always available by phone or email to answer any questions you have. www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Proposal Harpist, Private Home, Burr Ridge

So the groom put some effort in. It was lovely!

Okay, so "private home" is probably not quite right. You should definitely look up 6501S. County Line Road, Burr Ridge, because it has a pretty interesting history; part grand mansion, part real estate over-reach. At this writing, it is available to rent for events, and that's where I came in. The very sweet prospective groom was planning a wonderful evening around his proposal, and he knew the bride had seen and enjoyed my YouTube channel. Some quick thinking on his part resulting in my arrangement of a new favorite of her's (Somewhere Only We Know), and we had ourselves a plan!

Pretty hard to get the scope of this place in a camera phone shot!

The repertoire page on my website is a great place to start any plan! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, St Mary Assyrian Church of the East, Roselle

Set up down front with a good view of the aisle!

The sweet bride had always dreamed of walking to Canon in D, but of course the pandemic made planing anything a nightmare. When we first spoke, it was the Tuesday before her Saturday wedding. Luckily, she had been listening to my YouTube channel, and all of things she wanted were pieces I keep in my regular repertoire, so they are always ready to go! A few emails later, we were all set. A bride who gets what she wants just feels like a big win these days, doesn't it?

Harpist's view

It is really never too late to call. If I am not available, I will give you a list of other harpists you can try. My contact information can be found on my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Michael Jordan's, Oak Brook

The sparkly ceremony room!

This was my first wedding back after the pandemic lock down, so it was pretty memorable for me just for that fact. To get to work with this lovely bride who wanted to go forward with a celebration based on whatever was possible was, well, kind of amazing. She gathered her nearest and dearest, called Michael Jordan's in Oak Brook, and kept things romantic and manageable. The ceremony was in a small room off the dining room, and the venue made it beautiful and sparkly for the couple! Once they were well and truly married, they had the dining room and patio to roam around during cocktail hour, and then they sat down at a wonderful square banquet table for the dinner. I played a real quirky mix for cocktail hour (they wanted to keep it light), and then added in some classical choices and love songs for dinner. It was a fantastic evening for the couple, and thank goodness. 

I thought this was a lovely way to seat a small group for a party!

Playing for the dinner meant just turning the harp around!

If you find yourself having to rethink your plans, I am always happy to help. My website contains various ways of contacting me, and I would love to hear from you! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Proposal Dinner Harpist, The Signature Room, Chicago

The view is mesmerizing!

The Signature Room is in the John Hancock Center 875 North Michigan Avenue building. It is a well known building in Chicago, and the view from the top floors is stunning. The restaurant has a lot of experience making people's romantic moments shine, so I was thrilled when they called me to provide the musical background for a proposal dinner. As you'll see in the photos, the view is the thing, so it can be hard to capture the mood with a camera. The space where they host these dinners is ideal, because there is enough room to allow some privacy for the couple. The prospective groom chose exactly the music he wanted for the actual proposal from my repertoire list, and the staff kept me informed about when the exact moment was approaching. Everything went as expected, and she said yes!

So romantic for the couple!

Not the greatest picture, but you can get an idea of the space.

If you would like to plan your special moment, my website can help! Please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, City View Loft, Chicago

An overview of the space often used for ceremonies

City View Loft is such a fun venue, and this couple was really ready to enjoy their wedding! They are both in the event business, and the bride had heard me play at a wedding that started very late. She appreciated my perseverance, and hired me to play for her own ceremony! The bride chose Canon in D for her wedding party, and then she walked to "Can't Help Falling in Love". It was fabulous, and I was delighted to be a small part of making that happen!

If you need help planning your perfect ceremony, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com for ideas and my contact information.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, The Grand Ballroom (Events by Mistwood Golf Club), Joliet

 

The old ticketing area

Whew. Long title, but super cool venue. The ceremony was downstairs in what used to be the ticketing area, and it comes with some real advantages: a dramatic entrance for the bride, and an insular space that just glows when lit with candles. Also, the acoustics for music are absolutely terrific - I had my amp with me, but it wasn't even necessary. The couple chose to mix popular and classical, as many of my clients do. The bridal party walked to "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, and the bride entered to Canon in D. The event was managed by Mistwood Golf Club, which explains why everything went so smoothly! I didn't play for the reception, but I stopped by before I started so you could get a look at this amazing space. There is also a terrific website with some great video (www.JolietUnionStation.com).

The bride enters using this staircase

A really grand space!!

Please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com for repertoire lists so you can find your own perfect music choices!