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, Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire

Near the mandap, but with a great view
of the procession!

I have driven by the impressive tent at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort many times, so it was a thrill to finally get a chance to set up and play! Of course I brought my Bollywood repertoire, and played both prelude for the guests, and some wonderful music for the couple and their wedding party during the processional. 

If you have plans to integrate contemporary American music and Bollywood classics, I would love to help! You can see a list of the Bollywood pieces I know at my website, www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

A wider view of the beautiful tent!

Ceremony Harpist, At Home in Morton Grove

 

At home weddings are just so lovely and personal, and this one was no exception. The groom met me out front in shorts to help with the load-in! The couple chose classical music for their processional, and asked me to play "Terrapin Station" by the Grateful Dead for the recessional. After the ceremony, they relaxed on the deck with their guests, and I provided some cocktail music to get the evening truly underway. 

If you are a lover of the Grateful Dead, I now have a selection for you!! You can peruse my repertoire list for other off-the-beaten-path selections at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Reception Harpist, Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet

The cocktail space is in the balcony lobby, 
overlooking the main floor.

I have played on the stage of the Rialto Theatre before but, like most musicians, it never occurred to me to go out to the public spaces. You can imagine how delighted I was to discover that they are a treasure! The bride was a fan of all things Disney, so I worked plenty of those selections in amongst other classic American love songs. It was a magical night in a magical space. Truly nothing else like this venue in our area!

Always feel free to let me know what music is special to you and your family. Part of hiring a harpist is getting a personalized playlist that is exactly right for your wedding. My website makes a great starting point: www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Eventually, I turned the harp around to play down to
the reception. The harp makes quite an impression
even from a distance!

 

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

 

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