Ceremony Harpist, Thompson Hotel, Chicago

The room is quite narrow, and probably best for one
person down the aisle at a time!

The Thompson Chicago has a number of really lovely smaller spaces, and they can be configured in a variety of ways. What you see here is the combined Chelsea and Factory private dining spaces. It is a slightly smaller footprint than the 3rd floor space, and a completely different decor, so... options!

This was a rescheduled pandemic wedding, and we all know some of the pressures that can come with that! The bride chose "Moon River" for her wedding party, and Canon in D for her entrance. It seemed like the perfect combination of tradition and wistful optimism for a new beginning in these strange times.

Let me help you capture your mood in music? www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Windows the entire length of the room.

 

Ceremony Harpist, At Home in Burr Ridge

 I set up on the back patio and started with an hour of cocktail music as the guests visited before the ceremony. When it was time for the ceremony, I moved to the back of the property, and soon the music was beckoning the guests to head around the tent and take a seat for the wedding. The bride wanted the traditional Canon in D for the processional, but also loved the Bob Seger tune "Living Inside My Heart" from the 1986 movie "About Last Night". A guitarist played and sang the special song during the ceremony, and I played an instrumental version for the recessional! Perfect!

The selection of 80's sheetmusic available online is excellent, so if you have a song from your past that is special, there's no reason not to include it in your plans! Who knows, maybe I already know it! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Reception Harpist, DL Studio, Chicago

Looking towards the back of the store at
3050 N. Lincoln

This will forever be one of my favorite weddings because of something I overheard the bride say. She was standing in the middle of this quirky little jewel box of a venue, and her family and friends were happily scurrying around setting up the various reception elements. She was nearby me as I was playing, and she said to no one in particular, "This is like a dream wedding!" And it was. Lovely couple, beautiful setting, delicious food and drink, and all the good company you could ever want. I played, and they danced... it was the most dancing I've ever seen to my harp music! It was total joy, and goodness knows we all deserve that. 

The windows looking out on Lincoln Avenue

Check out my repertoire list, and see if you find anything danceable! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Ceremony and Reception Harpist, Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook

A perfect setting. You are both right by the water, and 
only steps from the hotel!

I have been to the Lodge many times, but this was my first time down by the lake. It is an absolutely stunning location, and was perfect for this particular wedding. The mother of the bride had requested that I play from my Bollywood repertoire, but the drummer and I had something unexpected happened! The groom's family approached using the bridge that spans the lake, and I had continued to play as they were gathering across the lake from the ceremony site. When the drummer began to lead them across the lake, he locked in with me, and we played a duet!! It was unexpected, and so cool! After the ceremony, the guests gathered for light refreshments overlooking the lake. It was a serene setting for the couples big day!

This patio is directly adjoining the hotel.

You'll find a listing of my Bollywood repertoire at my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, At Home in Crown Point, Indiana

Home weddings are always intimate and relaxed, so definitely a terrific idea during a pandemic! This one was particularly memorable for me, because the groom turned out to be a musician, and he knew exactly what he wanted for his wedding. He chose "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica for the processional, and it was incredible. I did an arrangement for them, so I could get as close as possible to the original, including the opening guitar solo. Since the "aisle" was short, the groom decided to use the one song for everyone, and it was a great decision. It was smoother than changing songs, and it also let the song choice really sink in with the congregation. Making things special for the bride is always at the forefront of my thinking, so I brought the music down before her entrance, and started fresh when I saw her coming down the aisle. They recessed to the Smashing Pumpkin's "Tonight, Tonight", and it all just fit beautifully.

The decorations were so lovely!!

I have a large repertoire, but I am always happy to learn new music! Please see my website for the special request procedure at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Vow Renewal Harpist, Lincolnshire Marriott, Lincolnshire

Just a beautiful setting!

The lovely woman who was planning this had done without the music she wanted at her original ceremony, and she was not going to go without this time! Originally scheduled for Spring 2020, she was absolutely a delight through all of the uncertainty and rescheduling, and I felt so lucky to be able to play for her! The Lincolnshire Marriott helped by providing a beautiful room that was larger than what would've been needed in pre pandemic times. Everyone was distanced and safe, and ready to celebrate the couple's happy union! Besides picking out "Air" from Water Music to process to, the bride also requested a special song for her young grandson (You've Got a Friend in Me), to make him feel included in all of the plans. Once the reception started, I played a variety of classical music and love songs, including "Color My World," which was the couple's special song back in the day. 

You can check my repertoire list for your special song, but I also learn special request music! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Rehearsal Dinner Harpist, Incontro A Tavola, South Barrington

A lovely little private room at the back

The groom's parents live in California, so the intimate dinner they were planning had to be done remotely, which was no problem. My YouTube channel can take a lot of the guesswork out of hiring a musician no matter where you're working from. Additionally, since they would be coming to dinner after the rehearsal, there was a little bit of guesswork as to when they would be arriving. I always want my clients to feel that they are getting their moneys worth, so I was happy to arrange to be onsite and ready to go at the agreed time, but to wait to start the two hours of music until they arrived. Harp is always a great option for smaller parties where even a solo piano might overwhelm. It was a beautiful, relaxed evening at Incontro A Tavola, and I was so happy to be a part of it.

Harpist's view

Relaxing music is only as far away as my website: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com