Ceremony Harpist, Odyssey Venue, Tinley Park

The nearest covered spot
(you can't even see the ceremony site)

Where I ventured out to (once the rain stopped)

This was actually a really hard wedding. I've been to The Odyssey Venue many times, but I just wasn't prepared for the possibility that the client would decide to go ahead with an outdoor ceremony when it was actively raining. Unfortunately, with a wooden instrument, rain is just not something I can withstand. I spent my onsite hour before the wedding desperately trying to figure something out. The venue doesn't have any sort of shelter, and I had only brought a tarp to protect the harp from wet grass below. I was under a staircase for a while, but that was still so far away. During a lull in the rain, I came out to the start of the walkway, put my bluetooth amp as far from me as I could, and used the DJ's mic to go into his system. The DJ was Mathew from Mattrix Music and Entertainment, and he was so much help. It wasn't optimal, and I felt awful that I couldn't supply the music in the way that we had planned, but it was all that was possible. I have a new contract rider in the works for outdoor events, just so that everything will be clear, and hopefully it will be easier to plan for the inevitable challenges that an outdoor wedding presents💙

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

September 21st Harpist, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park

 

The East Gazebo

What a wonderful surprise! This amazing couple chose to celebrate their wedding on September 21st, even though it fell on a Wednesday! Luckily, the weather was beautiful, and everything was as smooth as possible. I even got to learn my very first Earth, Wind & Fire song (September, of course!). 

The location is so stunning that I stayed behind just a minute to get one last picture with the water feature all lit up!

Ceremony Harpist, Odyssey Venue, Tinley Park

A lovely lake view!

The Odyssey has two pavilions, and this is the east one. The weather was stunning, and I was happy to play from my old school R and B repertoire, including a new special request for me: Caught Up in the Rapture by Anita Baker! It has been a few years since I've been to the Odyssey, and the landscaping on this side is looking really great now. One of the nicest features of this venue is the long walk for the bridal party... you know I like those dramatic entrances!

If you need the perfect song for your dramatic entrance, my website can help: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

And landscaping along your procession!

 

Ceremony Harpist, The Odyssey Venue, Tinley Park

The gorgeous west Gazebo

I always enjoy being at The Odyssey, and the west gazebo works much better for live musicians than the east gazebo. It is easy to stay away from the water spray, the tree provides the necessary shade, and I've never seen goose droppings over on this side (which sounds like a small issue, but really isn't when you're trying to position an instrument in the grass!).

This bride wanted music under her vows, and used one of her special requests on "Dangerously in Love" by Beyonce. It turned out so well that I am playing it fairly regularly for wedding prelude and parties in general. I always love it when my clients point me in some interesting musical direction!

This tree has shaded many a wedding, and probably
many a harpist over the years!!

Ceremony Harpist, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park

The east gazebo at the Odyssey Country Club.

The Odyssey Country Club is a classic south side wedding venue, and we had a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and cool temperatures. The bride's mother is a musician, too, so the music was really important to her, and she wanted to specify as many of the pieces as possible. This is always an option for my clients. I am happy to come with a playlist, and even to fit the most important songs in at the most important times if I can. Of course, weddings do not always run exactly on time, so I always having a backup plan, but I am happy to do my best!

The bride's mother had lots of good choices for me, and wanted to end the ceremony with an Owl City selection called "Hot Air Balloon." Unfortunately, there is not music available for that, so we substituted "Fireflies" and that turned out beautifully!

If your wedding will be at the east gazebo, the harp placement is, by necessity, behind the chairs. Even so, the fountain will likely have to be turned off. For some reason, it always seems like the fountain being on will be okay, and then a gust of wind comes along, and everyone (and my harp) is soaked. Being behind the chairs also lets me get music to the stairs for the approaching wedding party, and then I turn the harp around during the ceremony. It is a beautiful setting, but a little complicated from the musician's point of view! It was all worth it, though, as the bride looked radiant, and the ceremony went beautifully!

If you need someone to work with you on your ceremony's complexities, just email me at reneewilsonharp@gmail.com!!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park

My harp near the West Gazebo at Odyssey Country Club

As you can see from the photo, The Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park is a lovely venue.  My harp is actually on the brick pathway that the wedding party uses, because the ground was really wet that day and I couldn't leave it unattended on the grass.  I eventually set up just to the right of this photo, under a big tree that they have.  There is actually an East Gazebo, too, and they alternate weddings back and forth during the Summer.  That alternation was the problem on this particular day. The bride at the other gazebo started her ceremony a solid hour late.  I am sure my client was frantic, but there really wasn't anything to do.  I kept playing (I always have lots and lots of music with me!) and sent word through her friends that I would be ready to start when circumstances allowed.  I have an overtime clause in my contract, but I would never, never impose it in this situation.  I was delighted to be able to entertain her guests while they waited, and the weather was lovely, so everyone was fairly comfortable.  The music never ran out, both the wedding and the bride were beautiful, and it was another good day.

If you want a live musician on hand to help cope with the unexpected, please visit my website:  www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com