Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Community House, Winnetka

This is a stunning location, but a very busy one! The tables and decor were still being set until very close to starting time, so I don't have a photo of the entire venue. Suffice to say that it is a lovely garden setting, almost entirely in the shade by a bit later in the afternoon, and the building is nearby with every amenity you might need. I was delighted to play some music for the Nikah ceremony, and then Bollywood and western music for the rest of the evening. I now have about 90 minutes of Bollywood music, some of which you can hear at my YouTube channel:

Bollywood Playlist

The full list of all the Bollywood songs I know can be found at my website:

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, The Grove (Redfield Estate), Glenview

 

I love the storybook charm of the Redfield Estate at The Grove! It is always a luxury to have the facilities you need near a beautiful natural area, and this location really delivers. The couple chose "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie for their fairly long processional, and it worked really well. So nice to have 3 verses and choruses for what is a bit of a longer walk at The Grove. The bride entered to "Claire de Lune", and it was romantic and perfect!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Reception Harpist, The Armour House, Lake Forest

The Armour House is one of the iconic wedding locations in the greater Chicago area, and I am always delighted to be there. It is not always possible to play from the veranda, because the harp can really end up baking if the sun is out in full, but the weather really cooperated on this day. Or at least it did for the first 50 minutes of the cocktail hour! Then the storm rolled through, and I was grateful that the indoor areas are so lovely and accommodating!

I played briefly in the room just off the veranda, and then moved to the grand staircase for dinner. There is no shortage of gorgeous areas in this venue!

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 and Cocktail Harpist, Deer Path Inn, Lake Forest

The ceremony used Windsor II, with Windsor I as an
entry area.

It has been a fair number of years since I've been to the Deer Path Inn, and it was so wonderful to see what an elegant venue it remains! The Windsor Rooms are incredibly versatile, and I love how the entire area has its own impressive entry. The bride's family were classical music fans, so they wanted me to save the popular choices for their cocktail hour, and play all classical music for the ceremony prelude. They used "Air from Water Music" for the bridal party, and the bride chose to walk to the traditional "Bridal Chorus". It was truly lovely, and I did a quick move into the bar area in Windsor I to start some livelier cocktail music. 

Live music programming can be anything you want it to be, and I would be delighted to help you set your perfect mood. Please feel free to reach out to me and discuss your plans directly. I can be reached at (312) 860.4997.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Chevy Chase Country Club, Wheeling

And it was beautiful!!

 

I've been to Chevy Chase Country Club fairly often over the years, but this was my first time doing an outdoor ceremony. I believe this area is considered the "First Tee". It had been absolutely pouring rain about an hour before, so it felt almost miraculous when the clouds parted and the sun came out! 

The wedding coordinators at Chevy Chase really are wonderful, and the ceremony went off super smoothly. The couple specifically wanted "Wildest Dreams", and that sounds really fun on harp!

The wedding party emerges from the
landscaping near the back of the area

If you would like to shop for your favorite music on harp, please visit: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com for ideas.

Catholic Mass Harpist, Winnetka

The absolutely stunning Faith, Hope,
and Charity Church in Winnetka

 

It is always a pleasure to play for a Catholic wedding, whether it is the full mass (as was the case here), or the simpler wedding ceremony. Additionally, I am happy to come and play with the regular musicians from the parish, or work as the only instrumentalist with your cantor. I have several Catholic hymnals, and generally only need a short conversation with someone from your parish to make sure that I am able to supply the specific music they are accustomed to. On this day, the harp was used throughout the mass, and the highlight was certainly when the bride took flowers to Mary, while the tenor and I performed Ave Maria. 

If you're considering adding harp to your wedding, please visit my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Cocktail Harpist, The Armour House at Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest

The veranda is the perfect place to tuck a harp!

 

This wedding was such a pleasure, because I had actually been present when they got engaged! The groom had planned a fantastic proposal in summer 2020, and the couple invited me back for their cocktail reception at The Armour House. Repeat customers are always a pleasure, but this was just a delight! The little veranda is perfect for a harp, as I caught people going in and out, as well as those who stayed on the patio. The Luniks Entertainment DJ set up my built in mic so that the sound was relayed inside, too. The groom thought to plan some special requests, so I now know "Wildest Dreams", and it sounds great on harp!

Harpist's view!

Special requests are always available, and you can learn about the process on my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, Schram Memorial Chapel, Glenview

The chapel in all its beautiful simplicity.

 I was delighted to get a chance to see the gorgeously renovated Schram Memorial Chapel located on the old Glenview Naval Air Station property. It really is a beautiful, comfortable space, with room for 150 guests. I think it would be especially lovely for smaller weddings, because it has such an intimate feel!

Let me know if I can help you plan your wedding music! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Reception Harpist, The Grove, Glenview

It's been far too long since I've been to The Grove, but it was such a pleasure to see some of the wonderful changes they've made! As you can see from the pictures, The Redfield Estate and the surrounding grounds really make for a fairytale impression!

After the ceremony, guests were able to stop by the patio for a drink, and then stroll over to the new reception structure for brunch. It was a warm day, but things were shady and cool inside the pavilion!

Cocktail music is listed at my website, so you can easily decide if your music needs extend beyond the ceremony! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

 

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, St. Lambert, Skokie

The beautiful St. Lambert's

So there's this sweet thing that some of my brides do, which is request that I play a song that was special to one or both of their parents. In this case, it was "Three Coins in a Fountain", and it was for the bride's mom. It was a really lovely touch, and I definitely want to encourage more of you to think about doing it!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Chevy Chase, Wheeling

Rich brown tones and lots of bright woodwork makes for a warm feel!

I hadn't been to the Chevy Chase Country Club in years, and it was nice to see the facility looking so good. They had two large events going on that evening, but because of the way the venue is laid out, everyone had their own space. The mother of the bride requested the hymn "This is My Father's World," and I found a lovely arrangement. Like at many weddings, when the bridesmaids were ready to come down the aisle, they just came right ahead, without a thought to the music that was playing. I think this is frequently the detail that eludes clients. Your friends and relatives are going to be nervous, and they have not been living with the details of your ceremony for as many weeks as you have! In my experience, it is always nice to have #1 a little wiggle room in the music and #2 a ready-to-go Plan B. We, luckily, had both. The wedding party was large, and the officiant and I had agreed that if the bridesmaids started down during the special hymn, why I could just go ahead and finish it out with no harm done. So I did. Then I transitioned to Canon in D, and the whole thing turned out fine. Plenty of music, and everything nice and smooth. Additionally, the mother of the bride had chosen the Coldplay song "A Sky Full of Stars" for the recessional just because she thought it would be nice. Boy, was it ever. It translated to harp so nicely that I am going to put it up on the YouTube channel just as soon as possible!  

If your mother would like to suggest a new song for my repertoire, give me a call!  (773) 881-0706.

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Lincolnshire Marriott, Lincolnshire

"On the Greens" at Marriott Lincolnshire

So I've actually been here before, but it was too wet to go with the original outdoor plan that day.  This time around, the weather really cooperated, and I think I got to see the site at its finest.  I was working through an agent, Lise Gilly, so while I did not speak to the bride directly, I had great information on what she wanted.  The bride specified 5 songs for her prelude, but that was enough for me to know the types of things she liked and fill in a bit when we needed more.  She mixed classical and pop, so "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" came just before the "Iz" version of "Over the Rainbow"!  The guests mingled under the tall trees, and enjoyed the cold beverages that the hotel had set up for them.  When it was time for the ceremony to begin, I could actually see the bride emerge from the hotel across from where we were set up.  There is rather a long walk, across a parking area and then lawn, so I played a little of "Trumpet Voluntary" and then shifted to "Here Comes the Bride" when it was time for the congregation to stand. It was a beautiful ceremony, and so much fun to finally see the Lincolnshire outdoor space in action!

As a side note, you really might like to check out Lise's other musical offerings.  She fronts a really phenomenal Latin group, Grouppa Cha Cha, and represents other jazz and classical groups as well.  Sometimes, especially if you are unsure what you want or need, it can be really helpful to work through an agent, and Lise is a wonderful one!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist at Home in Glencoe

The beautiful Glencoe backyard setting

Okay, just fair warning, I was so excited about this wedding.  Granted, I am a huge wedding geek and get excited about all of them, but this one really was amazing.  For those of you who keep track of such things, marriage equality just arrived in Illinois this Spring, so that alone had me pretty excited.  I have been playing commitment ceremonies and domestic partnership ceremonies before now, but I do enjoy having an easy-to-use, one size fits all sort of arrangement.  Additionally, it has been super fun working with long time couples who didn't necessarily think a proper wedding was in their immediate future, but here we all are!  So now to the details of this particular wedding....

The brides chose mostly classical music for their service, with one very cool exception.  One of the brides recorded herself singing "Can't Help Falling in Love With You" a cappella (or without accompaniment). When it was time for the bridal couple to come down the aisle, they paused on the back porch of the home, and the recording was played as a surprise for the other bride.  I joined in and provided harp accompaniment for the last verse, and then transitioned into just a snippet of "Here Comes the Bride", before playing Canon in D.  After the ceremony, I stayed and played love songs while everyone had a glass of champagne before heading out for dinner.  It was truly a lovely celebration! 

Visit my website (www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com) for music ideas, or call me to see if we can work out something really special for your ceremony!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Kenilworth Club, Kenilworth

So, first of all, you should go to the website of The Kenilworth Club, because it is good, and my pictures are not!!  This is a private club in the small North shore community of Kenilworth, and it is a little gem.  I was on hand to play for the short ceremony, and then I continued through the cocktail hour and most of dinner. At that point, many of the guests were up and moving around, and the party switched to recorded music. The couple requested the Sara Bareilles tune, "I Choose You" for their recessional, and it turned out super cute!  I get some of my best repertoire from special requests, that is for sure!

The dividers behind the table lead to additional space.

Armour House Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Lake Forest

The harpist's view of the proceedings at the Armour House!

On my third and final trip to Armour House I was still gathering great ideas for making the long walk for the bridal party seem cohesive and lovely.  Luckily, the bride sent me a list of music that she liked, so we had some great options!  I ended up using two different songs for the bridal party: Trumpet Voluntary and Rondeau.  I started with the Trumpet Voluntary, then moved to the Rondeau, and ended back with the Trumpet Voluntary.  It is a very long aisle, and I am sure the congregation appreciated the variety as the large wedding party made their way down the aisle!  The bride walked to Pachelbel's Canon in D, which is a delightfully long piece that can easily be brought to a close the very moment the bride arrives at her groom's side.

The couple also had a really gorgeous flower arrangement done with petals on the grass.  It marked the spot where the bridal couple stood as they took their vows.  It was so huge that I couldn't quite get it with my camera!

The bridal couple processed to the inside of this flower petal heart!

If you are interested in music for your outdoor wedding, please visit my website at:
www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Armour House Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, Lake Forest

Set up to the left of the pagoda

My second trip to the spectacular Armour House in Lake Forest found me on the left side of the pagoda.  It was workable, certainly, but I felt farther from the congregation, and I had to turn at an awkward angle to see the wedding party.  Everyone was viewing the harp from the front, which is probably not the most attractive angle on a harp, but I think I am perhaps a little too worried about such things!  Back in reality, it was another gorgeous day, and the beautiful bride choose Pachelbel's Canon in D for her wedding party's walk.  It worked wonderfully.  It is a very long song, and that is a fantastic attribute at the Armour House!  I had plenty of music without making any repeats, and everyone was happy!

This bride also wanted me to play for her cocktail hour on the veranda, and I was delighted to do so.  Guests sipped their champagne and watched the sunset while I played selections from the Great American Songbook by giants like Gershwin and Cole Porter.  Just another beautiful evening at the Armour House!

The bridal couple's view of the harp!

If you need music for your North Shore wedding, please visit:
www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Armour House Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Lake Forest

Set up to the right of the pagoda in the Armour House gardens.

This Summer I was lucky enough to play at the wonderful Armour House in Lake Forest three separate times!  The house is part of Lake Forest Academy, and they are experts at beautiful wedding ceremonies. Here, on my first trip, I am set up to the right of the congregation, and that was my favorite position.  My camera always has trouble with light and dark, so I look like I am sitting in descending gloom, but that is not how it seemed on site at all!  In this position, I had my best view of the house, and consequently the approaching wedding party.  

The most complicated part of any wedding at the Armour House is the processional.  It is an extremely long walk from the house to the front of the congregation.  If you have even a medium sized wedding party, your processional music could easily clock in at 8 minutes, no problem. Additionally, there is no easy way for the wedding coordinator to communicate with me once we are set up and ready to go.  With good professionals at the helm, though, the long walk can definitely be turned into an advantage!  On this day, the bride chose an Irish air entitled, "The Gentle Maiden".  It is not the longest tune ever written, so I found two different versions and combined them.  Presto!  Enough variation to keep things fresh.  The wedding coordinator (whose name I sadly forgot to collect) had the best solution for keeping me informed about the processional... she sent her assistant down to say, "we're ready to start."  It was low tech, but perfect.  The wedding was as smooth as can be!

A view back towards the house.  Kind of a long walk, right?

If you would like help choosing the perfect music for your walk down the aisle, please visit my website:
www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Royal Melbourne Country Club; Long Grove Wedding Ceremony Harpist

Threatening skies.

I think one of the hardest decisions for any wedding couple is when to switch their outdoor wedding to an indoor location.  Many times, I have seen people agonizing about dicey weather and wondering how long it will take to move their ceremony set up, should that become necessary. At Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove, they really have the resources to smooth over these problems.

We were originally scheduled to be out on the lawn, but then we were moved to this lovely terrace.  Still outdoors, and perhaps with an even lovelier view, but less soggy (it had rained overnight).  From there, the extremely capable staff could have moved us completely indoors in just a few moments.  As it turned out, that wasn't necessary, and the bridal couple was able to have their outdoor wedding after all!

All set up and waiting to see!

If you're looking for harp music for your indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony, please visit my website:

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com