Proposal Harpist, The Joinery, Chicago

This is only some of the set-up!

 I always like to protect the privacy of my clients, so it can be hard to share much from a proposal, especially this time. The prospective groom planning the proposal is a magician, so the set up was very cool, but also seemed proprietary, so here we are. I can tell you that:

1. The Joinery is a fantastic place for a proposal. We were able to complete a fairly complicated set up very smoothly, and the venue manager there, Shay, is really just the best.

2. This was the first time I did a proposal where the groom was already at the site, and had concocted a story to bring the prospective bride to the site on her own. She was definitely and delightfully surprised!

3. She said YES!!

Planning a proposal? I am in!!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Shower Harpist, Oakville Grill & Cellar, Chicago

The Oakville Grill & Cellar is a fantastic place for a wedding shower! They have a second floor that you can have completely to yourself, including a terrace! I greeted the guests with music for their cocktail hour, and then moved out to the terrace to play for the luncheon. It was such an elegant, relaxing affair!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Assumption Catholic Church, Chicago

The gorgeous ceiling at Assumption Catholic Church

The musical needs at a Catholic wedding ceremony or mass are very specific! I have a long history of playing in the Catholic Church, and even own a set of the Gather Comprehensive Hymnals, so I am well prepared to jump in and help! The major need today was for prelude, as the ceremony started almost an hour late. I kept playing, and I think that helped everyone stay calm! When it was time, the large wedding party came in to Cannon in D, which is an excellent choice when you have a processional that you know will be quite long. I was also happy to play Ave Maria, when the bride brought flowers to the Mary Shrine. It was lovely!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Firehouse Chicago, Chicago

Glorious early summer wedding!

 There's something about Firehouse Chicago that is hard to put your finger on - just a warmth that lends a relaxed vibe to any event. This particular event seemed to include a lot of folks from the immediate neighborhood, so it was extra relaxed! The wedding party bounced down the aisle to "You're My Best Friend" by Queen, and the bride walked to "A Thousand Years". I stayed after the ceremony, while they celebrated with cocktails, and then they headed inside for dinner. If you're looking for a lovely venue for a small to midsized wedding, you definitely should have this place on your short list!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Cocktail and Introduction Harpist, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago

 This absolutely gorgeous wedding was at the Bridgeport Art Center. I started in the cocktail room, just opposite the elevator. At the Bridgeport Art Center, the elevator is kind of famous, because there is usually a bar set up inside! By the time guests got a beverage on their way up, and then were greeted by a harpist as soon as the elevator doors opened, they knew they were in for an epic evening! I played Bollywood favorites mixed with a few western choices for all of cocktail hour. When the curtain to the dining room opened, I quickly changed orientation, so I could play for the bride's entrance - it was a lovely touch!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktails Harpist, Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

The Fountain Room at Garfield Park

This was already my second time to Garfield Park Conservatory in 2026! I really like ceremonies with the fountain as a backdrop, and guests were able to enjoy the show room next door for cocktails, so they got a really nice feel for the venue in general.

The couple requested I learn "To Zanarkand" for the wedding party processional, and I think it came out really nicely. They used "Zelda's Lullaby" for the bride's processional, and "Married Life" from "Up" for the recessional. It reflected them, and that is always the best thing!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

 Garfield Park Conservatory is just a revelation every time you visit, and it is such a pleasure to play for weddings there! This beautiful wedding featured "To Zanarkand" from Final Fantasy for the wedding party. It was a special request (meaning I had never played it before), and they really loved it! Here is a video of me right after I learned it, if you are curious:

 https://www.youtube.com/c/chicagoweddingharpistreneewilson

What special request would you have me learn??

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Mass Harpist, St Clare of Montefalco Church, Chicago

Weddings after Christmas are so nice with all of the
holiday decorations still up!

 The first wedding of 2026 was so lovely!! The church still had all of the Christmas flowers out, and everything was warm and cozy. I always enjoy playing a Catholic wedding mass, because the needs are so very different from any other type of ceremony. I own a set of Gather Comprehensive, so the process is generally very smooth. We used the Mass of Creation, and it was really lovely!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Union League Club, Chicago

 Every area I've been to in the Union League Club has been grand, but the President's Hall was particularly lovely. Unfortunately, things were being set up, and I wasn't able to get a good picture of the fireplace area, so here's a link to the Party Slate listing. The grooms had a special song in mind, Party 4 U, and very smartly also employed a violinist to help round things out. After the ceremony, I stayed in place and played for the cocktail hour. It was lovely, and very refined and relaxed!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Cocktail Harpist, Chicago Hilton and Towers, Chicago

 The Chicago Hilton and Towers is magic, especially at Christmas time! I welcomed guests with Bollywood favorites as they climbed the stairs for the cocktail reception. Because the Normandy Lounge (barely seen through the columns on the right) is open to this area, I was able to point my amp in that direction and provide music to the guests who were already enjoying cocktail hour, too! Of course, I came properly dressed!

Reception Harpist, Palmer House

Harpist's view of this amazing room!

 I haven't been to the Palmer House in a number of years, so I was really looking forward to being in the Empire Room. As with most historic hotels, it is quite an adventure to get a harp to where you are going to be playing, but it is all worth it! I played Bollywood and western favorites for the guests, and even got to sit up on the stage with the couple themselves! 

The sweetheart table is just there on the right of the stage!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago

All set up for the ceremony!

 The Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk contains so many options! The music needed for most Hindu ceremonies is fairly limited. I played some prelude for the guests, and then the entrance music for the couple and their families. While they finished their ceremony, I moved down to the Riverwalk, so I could greet the guests with music for the cocktail hour! It was so much fun to watch the guests (many of whom seemed to be from out of town) enjoying the panorama that is the Chicago Riverwalk!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Sarabande, Chicago

 

Sarabande is a really lovely venue on the Northside of Chicago. I had been here for a networking event a few years ago, but this was my first time seeing how it functioned for a wedding, and I was very impressed! First of all, it manages to just glow with soft lighting, which I love. Secondly, the space is really flexible, which is so useful! As if that isn't enough, they also have a large parking lot right across the street! Such an unusual amenity in a city venue!

The couple chose the Lana Del Ray/Disney classic "Once Upon a Dream" and it was absolutely beautiful!

All set up for the ceremony!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Firehouse Chicago

 I've been to Firehouse Chicago several times over the years, and it is one of my favorite venues. First of all, it's gorgeous. But don't forget distinctive, and whimsical. Finally, the staff here are really good, so everything just works. This was the first time I've been here that the bride was able to use the long stairway (sorry, no picture of that), and it was very dramatic! She chose the Mitski song "My Love All Mine", for she and her mother to walk in to, and I think there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktails Harpist, Studio Sunset, Chicago

Studio Sunset is a multiple use location - you can rent it for events or for photography sessions. On this day, there was lots of activity, because the relatives of the couple getting married were setting everything up for them, and this was the only picture that I managed to steal. Luckily, there are tons of good photos of the space available on their website.  Like most micro weddings, the ceremony just glided right into the celebration, and I was delighted to play for both! We also had the lovely Adolfo on hand to officiate!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com
 

Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Garfield Park Conservatory and Charcoal Factory Loft

 Garfield Park Conservatory is an iconic Chicago location, and you can see why in any photo of it, anytime. The Conservatory closed, the staff through up a few chairs, and the couple had a gorgeous ceremony guaranteed - you've got to love that! After pictures, everyone headed over to the Charcoal Factory Loft in Bucktown for the reception. It is a very distinctive venue, and I don't know of anything else like it in the city. They have a charming courtyard, and you definitely feel like you enter another time and place when you are there!

The courtyard, all set up for lounging!

At the Conservatory

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago

 

I kept putting myself in the picture - not sure why!!

I have ALWAYS wanted to play a wedding in this ballroom, but it never happened until today! The Blackstone Hotel is an absolute icon in Chicago, and I have been in love with this space since the moment I saw it. The shape of it even allows for my favorite set up of all - me a the base of the aisle, off to one side. I can see everything (even when people stand up), and I get to see everyone just as they start down the aisle. That last fact gives me no advantage whatsoever, I just really enjoy it!!💖 

Look at all the details! It looks like a 
wedding cake!!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Chicago Winery, Chicago

All set up in the ceremony space

 This wedding was fantastic! The room was perfect for a beautiful, serene ceremony, and then it became a lively, communal dining space. I love the long tables, and the natural lighting. In addition, the staff was fantastic! There was an issue with transportation (it sounded like the company maybe didn't show?) so the schedule had to be adjusted at the last minute. The venue handled everything wonderfully, and it didn't look like any of the family or guests were upset or troubled. The bride chose "Invisible String" by Taylor Swift, and it worked really well for her entrance with her parents!

Most of the way towards becoming the dining space.

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Cocktail Reception Harpist, Viceroy, Chicago

 The Viceroy on Chicago's Northside just really knocked me out. The veranda somehow serves up equal parts skyline and sky, and is attached to a little jewel box of a room (see below). For a small to medium sized wedding, you just couldn't ask for a more distinctive space. I played upbeat cocktail choices, and thoroughly enjoyed being in this beautiful space!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktails Harpist, Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago

I loved this micro wedding at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. This is actually a corner of the lobby, so you are in a public space, but the little alcove gives a nice sense of separation, and the music really helps, too! The bride kept things simple with a few requests from my regular repertoire list for prelude, and Canon in D for her entrance. After the ceremony, we headed across the lobby to the library area, and I played for cocktails. It was festive and perfect!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com