Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, theWit, Chicago

The ceremony space is small, but lovely!

This was my first time to theWit in downtown Chicago, and I thought it provided a fantastic boutique hotel wedding experience. This lovely room has a distinctive State Street view, and a lighted arch as the focal point of the room. This was a smaller wedding, and the space was so warm and inviting for the wedding party. Afterwards, I moved into the adjoining balcony overlooking the lobby, where guests enjoyed cocktails and more music!

Cocktail hours are an easy add-on for any ceremony! See my website for more info and prices www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Westin Chicago Lombard, Lombard

You have to search for the harp a bit, but I needed to get
all of the flowers in the picture!!

The Westin Chicago Lombard is a really lovely venue, and much of that is due to the staff. They were readily available, and so very helpful. Because I have a Bollywood repertoire, I frequently get called for weddings that are combining some Southeast Asian traditions into an otherwise Western ceremony. In these cases, it is always good to have input from the folks who know the space the best, so that I get myself positioned correctly in the room. Everything was incredibly smooth, and the results were just what the bride had in mind!

For more information on my Bollywood selections, please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Rehearsal Dinner Harpist, Avec, Chicago

I couldn't even get all of the table in the photo!!

Live music can enhance so many aspects of a wedding, so I was delighted to be called for this rehearsal dinner. The private dining space at Avec is spectacular, and I especially love how the entire party sat down to this one communal table 💕

Cocktail and Dinner Music Harpist, Victoria in the Park, Mt Prospect

And..... introducing my new harp!

Victoria in the Park was another new venue to me! I have driven by this area so many times, but I had no idea there was a lovely wedding venue behind the little lake! I started upstairs, in the winding area they use for cocktails. It was so nice to greet the guests with harp music as they ascended the stairs. Later, I moved downstairs and played a mixture of classical and popular tunes as dinner was served. Harp music is terrific at a dinner reception, and the soothing sounds allow the guests to easily visit while they eat. 

On a personal note, I have added a new harp to my offerings. It is available only for indoor jobs, but it has a lovely, full tone, and I am looking forward to playing it for many engagements to come! It is a Lyon and Healy Style 30, built right here in Chicago!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Prairie View, Cantigny Park, Wheaton

 The Prarie View area of Cantigny Park is really lovely. Normally weddings are set up facing the other direction (see photo below), but this couple wanted a long processional, so this was perfect. It was important to the couple to have "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" in several sections of the wedding, and I was happy to do that. For their special requests, they wanted Taylor Swift songs, so I've added "Lover" and "Enchanted" to my repertoire now!

The advertised "prairie view"!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, La Pergola, Galleria Marchetti, Chicago

I have been to Galleria Marchetti many times over the years, and I think the La Pergola space is my favorite, with its roll-away roof! It was a chilly fall this year, but having the protection of the walls really helps with comfort, while still giving a very outdoor feel. The team from Anticipation Events kept everything running smoothly while I played prelude and processional music. The bride choose special music for her family (Can't Help Falling in Love) as well as her bridal party (A Thousand Years), which I always think is a sweet way to bring in family members!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Fragrance Garden, Morton Arboretum, Lisle

The Fragrance Garden at the Morton Arboretum is a charming location for a small ceremony! The bride made good use of her 2 special requests, and had the love theme from "Jane the Virgin" for her processional, and "Like a Star" for her recessional. The guests relaxed before and after the ceremony in the gorgeous garden, and it was a lovely start to the couple's new life together!

If you would like to see if I already know your special song, visit my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, The Glen Club, Glenview

 

The light made it hard to get a good shot of the harp,
but it certainly was a lovely setting!

The Glen Club is really a perfect outdoor venue. This was late afternoon, and everyone was in the shade, while the sun still played on the landscaping - gorgeous! Laury from Little Sparrow Events kept everything running smoothly, and it was a super chill afternoon for everyone there celebrating the new couple. The bride chose "Married Life" from "Up" for her recessional, with "You're My Best Friend" as postlude - a wonderful segue into the cocktail hour, and a very popular combination this season!

Having the building right there is 
so convenient!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, The Library, Chicago

How gorgeous is that???

I have been to The Library several times over the years for non-wedding events, so it was fun to see it employed for a ceremony. Oddly, their website doesn't seem to feature this space, which is in the lobby. When the building is closed (on weekends), this is a really serene space for a ceremony. La Toya from Elle Kay Events had things running like clockwork, and the ceremony was fantastic! The bride wanted primarily classical music for the prelude, except for "Married Life" from the movie "Up", and it all set the tone perfectly.

Visit my website for more ceremony music ideas:

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Lord of Life Church, Schaumburg

I was honored to be included in the beautiful ceremony at Lord of Life Church! The bride wanted "Here Comes the Sun" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" for the processionals, and they were great choices! I was lucky to have the church organist on hand to help me time everything perfectly, and we joined in together to accompany the congregation on 2 hymns. The wedding party walked out to "A Sky Full of Stars", and it was a lovely, joyous moment!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Hotel Baker, St Charles

This is the gorgeous garden everyone traverses to get to
the ceremony!

This was my first time to Hotel Baker, and I was glad to finally see why people were always raving! The bride hired me for the ceremony and cocktails, so this one location for the harp actually was perfect for both. I was positioned at the base of the stairs to the upper patio overlooking the river.

The bride wanted to walk in to "Annie's Song" by John Denver, and I was happy to oblige. Everything was lovely, and even the rain held off!

Harp really is the perfect addition to any garden wedding!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Engagement Party Harpist, St Regis, Chicago

The view is definitely the thing here!

I was super excited to visit the St Regis, as it only recently opened! When I arrived, some of the guests were already there, so no pictures of the 11th floor terrace were possible, but the remaining vista is spectacular, so hopefully that makes up for it!

I have a very eclectic repertoire, so it's perfect for an engagement party. I covered many of the current favorites for weddings (A Thousand Years, Golden Hour etc), and added in other selection for the variety of ages in attendance (All You Need is Love, You're My Best Friend etc). A lovely time was had by all!

My repertoire lists can help you put together lots of good options!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Firehouse Chicago, Chicago

Firehouse Chicago is a lovely little gem of a venue! This was my second time here, and the weather really cooperated, so I got to see all of the lovely features. It is one of the smaller venues, but it accommodates harp really, really well, and the sight lines are great, so your processional will be smooth, too. The bride chose "So This is Love"  and "How Long Will I Love You" for her processionals, and they were sweet and poignant. I brought my amp, because the bride wanted to be sure the sound would be strong, but you really don't even need it here - the courtyard setting is intimate, and the hard surfaces make the sound reverberate beautifully.

If you're thinking about hosting a Firehouse Chicago wedding, I think harp would be a great addition for sure!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Morgan Manufacturing, Chicago

This was my first time to Morgan Manufacturing in the Fulton Market District, and I thought it was lovely! Plenty of room to accommodate a large wedding, and the features on the building make it a really striking venue. This wedding was a little unusual for me, as they only wanted prelude music. Even so, I always stay through the ceremony; partially because moving the harp can be really distracting, and partially because things can go wrong with recorded music and it is nice to have a backup!

Things ran super smoothly for them, and I provided a little postlude music while they headed out for the cocktail hour. All good!

If you would like to plan special prelude music, my repertoire lists can help!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

A second angle, just because
it's hard to give the scope of the place!

Ceremony Harpist, Trinity Episcopal, Wheaton

Trinity Episcopal in Wheaton is available for rent. They have two spaces available, this larger space, and a smaller, historic chapel. When you rent, you get lots of support from the church, including a coordinator named Chuck, who is wonderful. Before posting this, I wanted to make sure that there weren't specific requirements for folks wanting to hold their wedding here, and Chuck assured me that all are welcome 💗💗💗 This wonderful policy meant that all assembled on this day were able to enjoy a blended ceremony that had Christian and Indian traditions. Bollywood for prelude, anyone?

Not quite set up yet, but you can see the basics for sure!

I would love to play for your blended wedding! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, RPM Events, Chicago

The back of the room is the perfect place for the harp!

The historic Reid Murdoch Building houses RPM Seafood upstairs, and RPM Events at the river level. The space downstairs all faces out to the river, and the views are spectacular! I played for the ceremony, and then scooted out to the outdoor space to play for cocktails. It was golden hour out there, and the guests watched the setting sun play off of all the buildings... it was heaven!

Lots of room for guests to relax!

Now I'm just goofing around and taking cool
photos (the guests were gone)

You guys, it was so beautiful!

If you're going to have your wedding at some iconic location, I think you should definitely have harp music! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, St. Sophia, Des Plaines

It was such a pleasure to play at St Sophia; the Church is highly ornate, and just a joy to behold! With all of the hard surfaces, the harp sounded fantastic, too. The bride actually fell in love with one of the Bollywood tunes on my YouTube channel (Kal Ho Naa Ho), so her processional was truly a multicultural event!💖

If you are looking to combine all the things you love, I definitely want to help! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Bridal Shower Harpist, Gibson's Italia, Chicago

Looking east toward the Reid Murdoch Building

This is the second time I've been to Gibson's Italia, and I still found it wildly impressive! Honestly, It is difficult to get a picture that takes in the entirety of the venue.... the incredible vista, the balcony, the glass ceiling, just all of it! We were here on this day, to celebrate the bride to be, so I played love songs, and wedding favorites, and everyone had a great time dreaming about the big day to come!

I can help you with music to suite any occasion: www.Harp123.com

Ceremony Harpist, Osteria Via Stato, Chicago

Osteria Via Stato is located in the northeast corner of the Embassy Suites Hotel in River North, and they do a lovely job hosting weddings! Above you see the middle room of three on this side of the restaurant, and it makes a fine ceremony site. The couple chose lots of unusual things for their ceremony, including "May the Force Be With You" for their unity candle!💗 It was whimsical, and charming, and very, very much them!

Afterwards, the newly married couple and their guests were able to enjoy the front room, and the outdoor patio, which they had all to themselves!

Set up with enough room for dancing!

My repertoire lists insure that you won't miss adding any of your favorites to your ceremony! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, W Chicago - Lakeshore, Chicago

A little hard to get the sense of the roundness of the room,
but it's there!!

We were set to be on the balcony of the 6th floor at W Chicago - Lakeshore, but the weather had other ideas. It's kind of great when your fallback is this iconic round space with fantastic lake views, though! After a flurry of activity, it looked really beautiful!!

The bride chose "November Rain" by Guns 'N Roses for her processional, and it was really dramatic and lovely!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

This was plan A

Engagement Party Harpist, Mon Ami Gabi, Chicago

The amazing patio!

This was my first time to Mon Ami Gabi on the north side, and I was super impressed! The restaurant hosts private events prior to their 4 pm general opening, and the patrons have full run of the restaurant and patio. With the building, tree, and umbrellas, the majority of the patio remains in dappled shade throughout the afternoon, and it just could not be more pleasant! I played love songs, and family and friends gathered to celebrate the engaged couple - heaven!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktails Harpist, Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook

This area is referred to as the grassy knoll

I have played at the Hyatt Lodge quite a few times over the years, but it still never fails to impress with all its natural beauty. Here, I am set up and ready to play prelude music and the processional. The communication with the wedding party can be complicated here (the walkway is long and curved), but completely worth the effort!!

www.Harp123.com

Ceremony Harpist, The Croatian Center, Merrillville, Indiana

The Croatian Center was a new venue to me, and I thought it was lovely! I'm not positive that I understand how things are structured there, because the venue website seems to be less about the venue, and more about the caterer, which is Dimitri's? Regardless, the venue is worth checking out. It has a big wall of windows looking out on a garden area. It looks like there are opportunities for outdoor settings, although the day I was there was pretty rainy, so I couldn't say for sure. Still, look at the photo: super gray day, but still plenty of lovely light in the room!💖

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, Chicago

The Gold Room, which I kind of thinks looks silvery?

This was a lovely wedding with the amazing Desiree Dent of Dejanae Events at the helm! The Fairmont can be a complicated venue, but everything ran like clockwork with Desiree on the scene.

The bride had very specific musical ideas, and it took some months for her to decide on everything. She went all the way back to the 1990's for her processional, and landed on "Forever in Love" by Kenny G. It translates really well to harp, and I have since added it to my YouTube channel! Frequently "my" best ideas come from all the lovely brides I get to chat with!!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Loft Lucia, Chicago

There's a fabulous place where the harp can be heard, but 
also protected from the sun!

Loft Lucia was a venue I had heard about for some time, but had never visited. I thought it was fabulous! Not only is it an indoor/outdoor space, but with the reception area on the floor below, nothing has to be flipped directly after the ceremony! The sight lines for the processional are terrific, and the harp sounded great. What more could you need??

The view out to the ceremony space

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Vow Renewal Harpist, Wilder Park, Elmhurst

Where the couple will eventually stand

Wilder Park is an unusual situation. There really isn't much call for additional decorations when the garden is as lovely as this one, so no one needs to be on hand in the time preceding the wedding. Since this was a vow renewal, the couple was also quite a bit more relaxed than many of my wedding clients. The reality for me, was that I had a lot of time on my own before music was needed. I amused myself by taking pictures! The park is an absolutely stunning location!

A look back to the entry aisle and seating area

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Dessert Harpist, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Set up in the dessert room

One of the newest things I am doing is providing dinner or dessert music for Southeast Asian weddings. I have a growing Bollywood repertoire, and I intersperse the selections with western pop for an interesting blend. On this evening, I was at the enormous Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, and they literally rolled the wall back to reveal desserts and harp music - very dramatic!!

www.Harp123.com

Ceremony Harpist, St Peter's Latvian Lutheran Church, Wood Dale

 

The bridal couple were both musicians, so it was really fun hearing their choices for the ceremony! The bride had a very specific Grace George version of "Heaven is a Place on Earth" (originally by Belinda Carlisle). In a first for me, the bride's dad was able to supply an arrangement of the music, as it was not available for purchase elsewhere. He did a great job! I adapted it for harp a bit, and we were all set. We also agreed I would do an arrangement of "You're My Best Friend" by Queen for the recessional. You can all feel free to thank this lovely bride for that, as it is turning out to be one of my most requested options!

The Lithuanian at the Latvian wedding!!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook

This lovely patio is at the front of the club

 This was my first time to Bolingbrook Golf Club, and I thought it was truly lovely. Wedding guests mixed and moved between the indoor space and the patio, enjoying the food and music. I played quite a few Bollywood tunes, but the bride requested "Clocks" for her processional. By the time they were married, the patio had taken on a magical glow in the dusk!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Room 1520, Chicago

 

It is always an honor to play for a family more than once, so I was delighted to get this call! The elder daughter had gotten married in February of 2020, just as the pandemic was getting ready to start, and now the younger daughter would wed just as the pandemic seemed to be winding down. Both of the sisters used "Can't Help Falling in Love" for their processional, and they were both beautiful brides! Room 1520 is a wonderful sounding venue for harp, and just around the corner from the harp factory, so a well known neighborhood for all harpists!

www.Harp123.com

Pre-Cocktail Harpist, Empress Banquets, Addison

All set up in the beautiful lobby of Empress Banquets

The mother of the bride knew that the guests would arrive early at the reception, so she planned ahead! I was booked to greet the guests with music, even before the banquet room was open and cocktails were available. I have never done that for an event before, and I thought it was absolute genius! The guests were able to ease into their evening, and then I was able to play for the wedding party while they were lining up. I'm looking forward to doing it again soon!

I would love to help you surprise your guests with harp music! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Dinner Music Harpist, Venuti's, Addison

Set up in front of the DJ's booth

It is always a pleasure to be at Venuti's in Addison! On this evening, I was providing a little of the "fairy tale wedding magic" that the bride thanked her dad for during the speeches. She wanted harp dinner music for her guests, so we ran the harp (which has a built in mic) through the DJ's system, and it was loud enough for the large room, no problem. She chose many of the songs herself (from my list), so she had a custom playlist for her guests!

The playlists on my website can help you plan your custom playlist, too! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com