Anniversary Harpist, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

As much of the view as the camera could fit!

The Museum of Contemporary Art does events in several different locations throughout the building, but this room is really the only one that is a truly private space that can host an event during regular museum hours. I think it made for a really fun and relaxed celebration of the couple, and the views of the sculpture garden are lovely. I played background music as the party goers came and went, spending some time together in the exhibits. Then, as the museum closed, they settled down to food, speeches, and celebration!

I thought my harp fit in nicely with the 
surrounding architecture!

My regular wedding and cocktail hour repertoire makes for great party music, too! www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Swissotel, Chicago

The room has a contemporary feel, and of course
great views!

We were in the 42nd floor banquet space they call Eleve at the Swissotel. It's a good space for a small or medium sized wedding, especially if you want to have different areas for different parts of your wedding, as it very naturally splits into 3 areas. The views are terrific, especially of Navy Pier. I think this is a hotel that even many native Chicagoans are less familiar with, as it is situated at the very end of Wacker Drive. The bride chose the two most traditional wedding songs (Here Comes the Bride and The Wedding March by Mendelssohn), and then joined them with Lionel Ritchie's "Endless Love" and Bruno Mars' "Marry You". I thought it was great fun!

A closer look at the additional space that was
just behind the flower screen in the first photo

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 Harpist, Barker Mansion, Michigan City, Indiana

The area for the wedding party is very distinctive!

It's always so much fun to see a new venue! The Barker Mansion is only about an hour from downtown Chicago, but it is not a site that I hear people talking about very often around here. The set up was really appealing - a courtyard with a brick and trellis area for the wedding party, and a lovely path from the main house. The courtyard was quiet, and there was convenient access to the mansion, also. If you have guests who need handicap access, there is an entrance directly to the garden, and a ramp. Everything needed for a magical ceremony!

The path has a little jog for the fountain, but that was 
kind of lovely in practice.

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Reception Harpist, Abbington Banquets, Glen Ellyn

Eventually you'll be able to view the wedding 
couple and the garden!

This was a lovely reception at the well kept Abbington Banquets in Glen Ellyn. The biggest surprise for me was the lovely garden view from this particular room! If you peer through the window, it looks like there are even tables out there! That's all. I thought you would want to know about a banquet hall with a patio garden!

The view really made the whole room!

The cake shown in the picture before this
 was just to the left here.

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Katherine Legge Lodge, Hinsdale

It's hard to see, but there is an arch back there, and a wonderful view
of the golf course once you are at the arch!

I've always been inside at this location, so it was a real revelation to be out back under the tall trees! Such a gorgeous location, and very comfortable for the guests, too. The bride was drawn to some of my R and B repertoire, so I got to spend the afternoon playing Beyonce (Dangerously in Love and Halo), Stevie Wonder (Ribbon in the Sky and You are the Sunshine of My Life) and Luther Vandross (Always and Forever and Here and Now). A wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon!

Are you interested in how R and B sounds on the harp? Check out my repertoire page at www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com for ideas!

See? Tall trees and great shade!

Wedding Ceremony Harpist, Biagio Events and Catering, Chicago

A perfectly lovely entry hallway with a lot of natural light.

This was my first time to Biagio Events and Catering in Portage Park. It turns out that Biagio has some really different looking rooms within the same complex. After walking part way down the above hallway, I came to two rooms that looked like this:

Not a super surprising banquet hall. 

A few more steps down the same corridor, and I open this door:

Whoa. Not expecting that. Also, cool tables.

And this was the ceremony room for my clients:

This was next to the room with the tables set up and waiting,
but you couldn't see them at all.

Apparently the bride's family built the archway, so don't get
your heart set on that!

So, officially really different, right? I can report that all of the facilities looked super nice and well kept, so there you have it. One facility, some pretty different choices. Also, they seem to operate a restaurant named "Legno" in the corner of the banquet building. I noticed they were connected from the inside, so maybe the food is similar? It sure would be fun to try things before you committed! Enjoy!

www.ChicagoWeddingHarpist.com