Ceremony Harpist and Violinist, Armour House, Lake Forest

 This is a picture from a 2021 wedding I played at the Armour House, and I am using it because there really wasn't a chance to take a photo this time. It was raining when we arrived, but the couple insisted that they would have their wedding outdoors. They suggested that we could keep our instruments dry if we positioned ourselves in the pavilion that you can see (a little bit) at the very back of this photo. That was true, although it would mean moving the harp a fairly large distance in the rain, up and down 3 sets of stairs. We went ahead and moved out, only to have them decide they preferred to be inside, and that we needed to move back inside as soon as possible. Of course, we also did that. In the end, their wedding was beautiful, and we were happy for them. The harp was not in as a good of tune as it would've been if I hadn't spent the majority of my setup time moving back and forth, and they didn't get as much prelude music as they would've normally gotten. So, the two pieces of information that I would want clients to consider from our experiences this day would be:

1. A venue manager is not really acting as your wedding planner. They will likely make decisions based on keeping you happy with your venue choice, and those might not be the best decisions for the big picture of your wedding.

2. Moving your musicians multiple times, especially if it is a fast move, may come with loss of quality and/or quantity of music. Someone holding an instrument looks very mobile, but with cases, stands, chairs, and sound equipment, it can be much more complicated.

Jacob Murphy and me, a little damp from the move,
but ready to go!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktail Harpist, The Farmhouse, Plainfield

This was on October 12 - so gorgeous!

 The Farmhouse in Plainfield was a new venue for me, and I thought it was brilliant. They have everything you need, all in close proximity, and the landscaping was absolutely stunning! I was on the job with the wonderful Sara Vettraino of Belle Music, which was a treat, as well. I love the sound of harp and violin, and Sara is a fantastic musician. We played prelude, and then they had recorded music they wanted for the ceremony. We quickly and quietly moved from the back of the ceremony over to the patio for cocktails. Here's our photo from the end of the evening!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Cocktails Harpist (and Violinist!), Armour House, Lake Forest

I have been to the Armour House quite a few times over the years, and it is a really lovely venue. This wedding was no exception, but what was different is that I forgot to take pictures! Luckily, another vendor took this short video of Jacob Murphy and I warming up for the processional. The selection is "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey, and it was used for the entrance of the bride.

Violin is a wonderful addition to any wedding or cocktail hour, and Jacob is a fantastic player! Enjoy!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony Harpist, St Cecelia, Mt Prospect

The beautiful sanctuary at St Cecelia

The couple decided not to have a full mass, but wanted to add to the occasion with live music. They chose harp and violin, and violinist Jacob Murphy added so much! The mother of the bride wanted to be sure there was no "sad music" as they are all criers, but that was no problem. They used Canon in D for the processional, and the wonderful "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz for recessional - no crying needed!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Galleria Marchetti, Chicago

See that chair on the left? That was supposed to be mine!

Yep, it rained. The garden area at Galleria Marchetti still looked really lovely, and it was dry under the canopy, but it was pretty cold. The bride decided to keep everyone comfortable and dry, but they were still able to get some lovely pictures outside after the ceremony. I mean, really, here I am telling you that it was kind of miserable out, but my amateur photos still make everything look pretty magical, right? Well, Galleria Marchetti really delivers when the weather is nasty.

This wedding was unusual because the bride decided to add violin just a couple of weeks before the wedding. She saw a video of violinist Jacob Murphy and I playing, and we were delighted to add that special touch to her wedding. We played "Marry Me" by Train, and "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, and warmed everything right up!

The lovely view outside the tent

Set up in the corner of the tent. Better tent pictures are available on their website!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Medinah Country Club, Medinah

The room actually glowed, and the candles were not even lit yet!!

Saturday was wet.  And cold.  My heart went out to any and all that had planned an outdoor wedding, but I was thrilled for my client who had planned to be indoors all along.  We were at the historic, amazing Medinah Country Club, and even the staff was marveling at how beautiful the room looked!  

The bride wanted a small ensemble, so Jennifer Silk played violin with me, and it was wonderful.  The bride chose all popular music for her ceremony, which is becoming more and more common.  The parents and grandparents entered to "Here Comes the Sun", the bridesmaids walked to "What a Wonderful World", and the bride and her father processed to "A Thousand Years".  During the ceremony, we played "All I Ask of You" for the gift of roses to the moms, and the theme from Beauty and the Beast for the unity candle.  The recessional was "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, and I am happy to report that it is absolutely wonderful with violin and harp!

It might be hard to tell, but the framed object front and center is actually a flower arrangement inside of a silver frame.  It was amazing!

If you need music to go with your amazing ideas, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

The harpist's view.

Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites Wedding Ceremony Harpist

This photo was taken at the Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites in the Streeterville neighborhood.  Ralph and I were there providing beautiful harp and violin music for the ceremony, but I was really taken by these lovely flower and candle arrangements lining both sides of the main aisle.  What a beautiful way to enhance the bride's entrance!

After the ceremony, Ralph and I headed down the hall to play for the cocktail hour. Additional live music is a lovely way to transition into your reception if it is in the same location as your ceremony.  One minute we were playing "Here Comes the Bride", and the next we were doing "I Get a Kick Out of You".  Harp and violin are terrific for covering the Great American Song Book and giving your cocktail hour a sophisticated sound.

Here is a link to some of the background reception music I frequently play (Ralph is playing on several selections, too):

Reception selections at www.Harp123.com

Playing With Legos at the Marriott

It is always so much fun when couples showcase their shared interests and passions with those gathered to celebrate their union, and this wedding has so many fun components!  First, they hired the musicians separately, but (as often happens) we already knew each other anyway! They had a wonderful violinist named Jeff Yang all set to play both the ceremony and reception.  For their processional music they chose the adorable "Concerning Hobbits" from the Lord of the Ring movies, and the addition of the violin really made their selection perfect!  For their unity ceremony, they chose neither candle nor sand, but went with....... wait for it......... LEGOS!!  

Apparently the couple are big lego fans, and the officiant (Anita at Anitaweds.com) had the lovely idea of incorporating that into the ceremony.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, so we were inside rather than at the hotel's outdoor space, but the reception was in a cute tent set in a green space that allowed for enjoying the garden without everyone being soggy.  At the reception, Jeff and I played lots of fun "Great American Song Book" selections;  wonderful songs by Gershwin and Cole Porter.  Plus, there was wedding cake made to look like giant lego blocks!

If you would like to hear more violin selections for your wedding, please visit my website at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com.