Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Riverside Receptions, Geneva

The courtyard at Riverside Receptions in Geneva

I really love Autumn weddings in general, but this one was particularly lovely.  The bride had a great sense of what she wanted, and the event planner, Carlene Smith at Naturally Yours Events, was really terrific. The flowers were spectacular, as the florist (Heidi at FieldAndFlorist.com) has her own flower farm in Barrington and an artist's eye.

Autumn arrangement by Heidi at Field and Florist in Chicago

The courtyard at Riverside Receptions is lovely, but it is a public space. People were kind of randomly coming and going until I began to play. Like magic, all of the wedding guests came and sat down, and the people who didn't belong headed for the exit.  

The bride chose really eclectic music, which I always love.  She had the bridal party enter to The Nightingale, and then she entered to Debussy's Clair de Lune.  I have only used "Clair de Lune" as a bridal procession twice in the last 20 years, but both times the congregations have literally gasped just a little bit. Something about the beautiful bride and Debussy's song about moonlight just really grabs people.  Then, for the recessional, the bride wanted "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins.  I was a little worried at first since you don't right away think "harp" when you think about the Pumpkins, but it turned out really well. I'm definitely going to be playing "Tonight, Tonight" whenever I get the chance.

A lovely aisle highlighted by flower petals.

This was my first time working with the event planner, Carlene, so after everything had turned out so beautifully, I was eager to talk to her and find out more about her company.  She described her service as, "Non-traditional, eco-friendly, and a little quirky."  Additionally, she says that couples come to her at all stages in the planning process, with all types of ideas and all budgets.  She says nothing is too out of the box for her staff, and they concentrate on creating a fun and memorable party.  I saw it in action, and I can highly recommend her!

If you just can't imagine "Tonight, Tonight" on the harp, call me directly and I'll give it a go over the phone!  (773) 881-0706.  

Wedding Reception Harpist, Chandler's Chop House, Schaumburg

Set up for cocktails in the lounge outside the banquet hall.

This was my second time at Chandler's and my impression remains the same:  this is a well run venue.  The wedding I was to play for was running a bit late, and the staff handled it beautifully.  Once the guests and wedding party were all assembled, the event planner, Farrah Singh of Simply Azure Events kept things moving along smoothly.  

On this visit I was playing for cocktails and then moving in to play for as much of the dinner as possible.  I like their little fireplace area outside of the banquet hall, but it is just a little better in cold months when the fireplace can be in use.  They had sunflowers scattered around inside the fireplace for the Summer, and that was cute.  Once I was in place for the start of the lunch service I played the bride's special request, "Fur Elise". This is a piece generally played on piano, but harpists steal from piano repertoire all the time, so no problem!  It was a lovely late Summer wedding.

If you're planning your Summer wedding, maybe I can help!  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Gwen, The Hero of Two Locations!

Our target location (Palos Country Club gazebo) under threatening skies.

The situations don't really get more difficult than this one:  a light rain starting just as the musicians begin to arrive for an outdoor wedding. Lucky for us, wedding consultant Gwen English is the kind of person you want on hand when the difficult decisions need to be made. Knowing that the couple really wanted to be outdoors, she completed her set up there early, and then turned her attentions toward transforming the large room overlooking the golf course at Palos Country Club into a beautiful wonderland of flowers and candlelight, just in case we were kept indoors.  Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo of the set up, since just as soon as it was completed the doors swung open and we began to play.  We, in this case, were a trio:  harp, flute, and violin.  It was a magnificent wedding, salvaged from soggy prospects.  Gwen works through the South Loop Floral and Events Gallery, and I can tell you that besides being delightful, she has enough imagination, foresight, and work ethic to keep anyone's wedding on track for memorable and amazing.

Gwen English, with a relieved groom!

For additional information on wedding music, please visit:

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Flossmorr Country Club Wedding Ceremony with Desiree'

Looking back towards the clubhouse.

As you can see, it was a beautiful day.  I think this venue is special, though, because even on a rainy wedding day it would be lovely.  If you look closely at the photo above, you'll see a large green awning.  What it is hard to tell is that the awning is really large, and it covers an equally large veranda that opens into a sort of suite of banquet rooms.  You could put a wedding party on the veranda and have a completely dry outdoor wedding in a bit of a rainstorm.  Meanwhile, you would be looking across a gorgeous green space that gives way to rolling hills and mature trees..... really amazing.  As it was on this day, the bride and her party were able to use the stairs down from the veranda for their dramatic processional.

Apparently Flossmorr Country Club has only recently began offering their club to non-members for private events.  I know this because the event planner for the day, Desiree', knows everything!  No, seriously. Dersiree' Moore Dent is so smart and capable and reassuring that you will be dazzled.  Plus, the photos at her website are really beautiful, so have fun!

Hard to capture the rolling hills and groves of trees, but they're there!

For beautiful harp music at any venue, please see www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Chicago Cultural Center Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Well, the pictures just can't do it justice.  When you're in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, there is truly beauty all around, and that is before you start setting up for your wedding.  Built in 1893, the hall features a Tiffany glass dome (backlit so you can always enjoy it), mosaics, ornate chandeliers and sconces, and a view of Millennium Park.  It is dazzling.  The bride descended the grand staircase to "The Prayer", and Katie from Bliss Weddings and Events kept everything moving along smoothly.  The bridal couple were theater folk, so they had lots of talented people in their wedding party, and two attendants actually sang the recessional to a taped accompaniment! They used a really fun tune from the Broadway show "The Wedding Singer" and it was super cute, but it wasn't quite long enough for the entire wedding party and left a fair number of attendants still at the front of the church.  No problem, because they had booked live music as well!  I finished their recessional to Gershwin's "Love is Here to Stay" and things stayed smooth.  Another hallmark of a well planned wedding, really, having all contingencies covered.  I couldn't possibly say enough good things about Katie and the way Bliss coordinated the wedding, and their website is really fun. Happily, thanks to Chaplain Tom Brandsness, the ceremony itself was lighthearted and sweet, like the couple themselves!

If you would like to hear some of the selections available for weddings please visit www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.