Michigan City Harpist ~ Wedding at the International Friendship Gardens

Amy and William were married on a June evening at the International Friendship Gardens in Michigan City, Indiana.  It looks as if there have been some improvements at the gardens this year, from better parking to nicer chairs for the wedding guests.  You can even have your reception here now!

The pastor officiating the ceremony arrived shortly after I did, so we were able to go over all of the music cues with plenty of time to spare before guests began to arrive. It's nice not to have to try to do that when I'm already playing prelude music!  Amy chose "Fanny Power" ~ a piece by the Irish harpist O'Carolan ~ for her bridesmaids' processional, and the traditional "Bridal Chorus" for her entrance music.  With the Irish music Amy chose, the Celtic style of my BlevinSong harp was a perfect match!

After a scripture reading, I played a verse of the hymn "O Perfect Love."  As the couple and their pastor moved toward the table for the unity sand ceremony, I began the song "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."  We had worked it out so that the music would fade to a quieter volume while the pastor was speaking, and then crescendo as the couple finished the service and moved back to the front of the aisle.  Once they were pronounced husband & wife, everyone exited the Symphony Garden to "Trumpet Tune."

If you are planning a wedding in the Michigan City or LaPorte areas, contact me about having harp music at your ceremony!  You'll find more information on my website ~ Michigan City Harpist.

Harpist in Holland, Michigan ~ Wedding on the Beach

Debi & Jerry had the perfect day for their wedding on the beach!  Friends and family joined them from Wisconsin & Kentucky to celebrate at Holland State Park in Holland, Michigan.  Their morning ceremony was followed by a luncheon in the shelter house.

With many young grandchildren in attendance, Debi wanted to be sure they would hear music they recognized.  As everyone gathered for the ceremony, I played a variety of popular pieces, including "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie.  It's one of my favorites, and always a hit!  "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music was the signal that the wedding was about to begin.

As the attendants entered, I played "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio.  The bride's processional music was "What a Wonderful World," and "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban served as a musical interlude. 

The bride and groom had a specific song that they wanted included for their unity sand ceremony - "You've Made Me So Very Happy."  Since it wasn't a song I already had in my repertoire, I arranged it for harp specifically for them.  We were all thrilled with the results!  At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone exited to "Thank You" by Dido. 

A slight re-adjustment of the harp to face the tables, and I continued to play through lunch.  The bride and groom requested that I play mostly popular songs and folk music, some of which included:

• Evergreen
• In My Life
• Greensleeves
• Unchained Melody
• Grow Old Along with Me
• Scarborough Fair
• Someone to Watch Over Me

Up next, the newlyweds are heading off with a couple of their friends to India!  I may be just a little bit jealous...

If you are planning a beach wedding, the harp can be the perfect musical complement to your day!  In addition to the large concert harps I offer, I also have more portable Celtic-style harps that can be placed directly on the sand (here, we had a solid concrete surface to set up the Venus Classic harp).  Visit my website ~ Holland Michigan Harpist ~ for details!

Meyer's Castle Wedding ~ Harp Music for a Reception

To kick off what has been our busiest weekend of the year (so far!), I played for Judy & Jon's wedding reception at Meyer's Castle in Dyer, Indiana.  Their ceremony was held on the porch of the castle (a string quartet provided the music for this), followed by their reception under the tent. 

Judy was actually my very first 2012 wedding to book - all the way back in October of 2010!  It's always a good idea to book as many of your vendors as you can far in advance, as that gives you the best selection of available professionals.  Once you have your date and venue set, you can get locked in on my calendar! 

The tent was decorated in red and black, and the resident peacocks made their presence known!  Judy chose the Laurel Leaf harp, as its gold and ebony finish matched the reception decor.  The music I played for the cocktail and dinner hours included:

• Caribbean Blue ~ Enya
• Stairway to Heaven ~ Led Zeppelin
• Bella's Lullaby ~ Twilight
• Ave Maria ~ Schubert
• Lothorion ~ Enya (a special favorite of the groom, played as the first song after the introductions)
• My Favorite Things ~ The Sound of Music
• Greensleeves ~ Traditional English
• Fields of Gold ~ Sting
• Sheep May Safely Graze ~ Bach

along with a wide variety of other classical, popular, Broadway, and Celtic pieces.  A little something for everyone!  

With a song list that ranges from the traditional to the contemporary, a versatile harpist can provide music for your entire wedding ~ from the ceremony all the way through dinner!  To find more information about having me play for your event, visit my website ~ Northwest Indiana Harpist.

 

WeddingWire Rated ~ 2012

WeddingWire is excited to announce that The Classic Harpist (Devon & Jeff Haupt, harpists) is WeddingWire Rated in 2012 for Wedding Ceremony Music. WeddingWire Rated is the annual ratings program that recognizes wedding professionals across the country for their commitment to service and is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples as they start their search for local wedding vendors. The ratings program is based on hundreds of thousands of recent newlywed reviews of over 200,000 wedding professionals in the US and Canada, across 20 different service categories.

The Classic Harpist has 29 reviews on WeddingWire. Reviews by our brides and grooms include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions about their experiences working with us. Our reviews provide transparency for potential clients, assisting them in making informed decisions for their big day.

"We are very pleased to announce WeddingWire Rated 2012, recognizing The Classic Harpist for their commitment to exemplary service as Wedding Ceremony Musicians," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. “Devon & Jeff Haupt have shown dedication to their craft and service, helping engaged couples understand what to expect from their business through reviews on the nation’s leading wedding review site.”

As the largest site for wedding reviews, WeddingWire empowers engaged couples with the most comprehensive and trusted review system available in the wedding industry. WeddingWire Rated provides The Classic Harpist with the distinction of being WeddingWire Rated and a simple platform to capture client feedback from their wedding planning experience. Engaged couples can easily access all of the reviews for The Classic Harpist on WeddingWire.com. We thank all of our newlywed clients for our WeddingWire Rated 2012 recognition!

Fort Wayne Wedding Music ~ Ceremony at Goeglein's Homestead

Tim & Kurt had hoped for an outdoor wedding at the Goeglein Homestead gazebo, but the high temperatures and threat of rain moved the ceremony indoors.  Even though it was the back-up location, the decorator made it look beautiful!

As guests arrived, I played many Baroque-era pieces ~ Tim is a big fan of Bach!  Some of these pieces included "Impertinence" by Handel, "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach, "Fur Elise" by Beethoven, and "Finale" from Royal Fireworks Music by Handel.  The ceremony was delayed a bit in starting, but I kept playing until everyone was ready to begin.

The wedding party, followed by Kurt seating family members, entered to Bach's "Prelude in C."  Tim's processional music was "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme."  I have to say that of everything Bach composed, this piece is my personal favorite!

At the conclusion of the ceremony, I played "Aria" from Handel's Rinaldo as a recessional.  Guests headed to the adjacent room for the reception, and the wedding party went outside for a few pictures at the gazebo.  Even though the weather kept the ceremony inside, they were still able to take advantage of taking the formal pictures in the garden.  A perfect solution for a questionable weather situation!

As a Fort Wayne wedding harpist, I have had the pleasure to play for wedding ceremonies and receptions throughout Northeast Indiana.  If you would like more information on having a harpist for your wedding, please visit my website ~ Fort Wayne Wedding Music!

Wedding Harpist in Chicago ~ Ceremony Music in Long Grove

The exclusive Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove, Illinois, was the setting for Mary Grace & Steve's June 16th wedding.  It was a little warm (this is getting to be the theme of the summer!), but the ceremony was able to take place as scheduled outside the club overlooking the golf course.

With her florals, the bride opted to go for an elegant rustic look.  The harp she chose, the BlevinSong lever harp, was the perfect complement!  The music ran from rather traditional...to pieces you'd probably not expect to hear on a harp!  As the bridal party made their way down the aisle, I played "Sweet Child O' Mine."  This transitioned to Pachelbel's "Canon in D" for the bride's big entrance.  This is a great choice for a bride who wants something recognizable and classical for her processional, but not the traditional "Here Comes the Bride." 

During the unity sand ceremony, Mary Grace left the music choice up to me.  As this doesn't take very long, and no one wants to stand around waiting for a song to end, I played just a chorus of "Grow Old Along with Me" and was able to time it to match the ceremony exactly.  This was followed up by another Lennon & McCartney song for the recessional:  "Eight Days a Week."  I continued to play as guests exited the ceremony and made their way inside for the reception.

If you are planning a wedding in the Chicago area, and are looking for a harpist, please contact me!  You can also find more information on my website ~ Chicago Wedding Harpist.

Northwest Indiana Harpist ~ Employee Appreciation Dinner in Schererville

The employees of ArcelorMittal who had been with the company for at least fifty years were honored with a dinner at Teibel's Restaurant in Schererville.  While they gathered and ate their meal, I played harp music in the background. 

The music I chose focused on popular songs from the 1940's through the 1960's.  Along with a few classical and folk music selections, everyone in attendance was sure to hear something they recognized!

Having live music really adds extra class and distinction to any event!  From weddings to corporate parties to private dinners, I have performed as a harpist throughout Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area.  For details on including harp music in the plans for your next event, visit my website ~ Northwest Indiana Harpist.

Peoria Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music

Katie and Heath tied the knot at Peoria Heights Congregational Church.  The bride and groom presented guests with a copy of the Wedding Day Star, which told of their beginnings as a couple; how the proposal happened; and introduced us to Molly Moo Thornton, their 5 month old sheep dog!

Katie's music selections were a mix of popular and traditional wedding music.  The families entered to "In My Life" by the Beatles and the bridesmaids entered to "Can't Help Falling in Love."  The bride's processional music was "Canon in D," one of my favorite traditional wedding pieces.  During the ceremony, the bride and groom performed a box sealing ceremony.  In the box, they sealed letters that they wrote to each other, which they will read on their 10 year anniversary.  The music selected for this time was "Marry Me" by Train.  For the recessional piece, the couple chose "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

The couple also had harp music during the cocktail hour and the dinner hour of their wedding reception, which was inside at Wildlife Prairie State Park just west of Peoria in Hanna City.  The venue provided a great setting as guests got to enjoy time observing bison, wolves, deer, and a variety of animals during the cocktail hour.  The background music played during this time was a variety of popular and classical selections. 

If you would like more information about having harp music for your wedding ceremony or event in the Peoria area, please visit our website, Peoria Wedding Harpist.

Harpist in Northeast Indiana ~ Wedding at Pokagon State Park

Emily and Adam celebrated their wedding at the Potawatomi Inn in Angola's Pokagon State Park.  The ceremony was on the outdoor deck overlooking the Lake James, with the reception indoors in the ballroom.  Since it was such a hot day, I kept the harp indoors as long as possible before moving it outside.  The guests stayed in the air conditioning until the last minute, too!

For the seating of parents and grandparents, I played "Try to Remember" from The Fantasticks, and the bridesmaids came down the aisle to "Arioso" by Bach.  Instead of flowers, the bridesmaids and bride carried parasols.  Perfect for keeping cool!  Emily's music choice for her entrance was Handel's "Largo" from the opera Xerxes.  The ceremony concluded with "King William's March."

Throughout Northeast Indiana, I am available to provide harp music for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and other events.  Visit my website ~ Northeast Indiana Harpist ~ for details!

Mackinac Island Harpist ~ Wedding Music at Mission Point Resort

I love playing for weddings on Mackinac Island!  Everyone is so friendly and relaxed that it has made every wedding I've been the harpist for come together so smoothly.  Last Saturday, I played for the ceremony of Jessica and Michael at the gazebo on the grounds of Mission Point Resort.

Jessi chose me as her harpist because my extensive repertoire list allowed her the creative freedom with her music to bring together her Australian/Jewish - and classically trained musician - family with Michael's American/Lutheran one.  There is nothing like music for bringing families together and for celebrating different heritages!  She wanted to be sure that all of her guests would hear something they would recognize and appreciate.

Although Jessi is originally from Australia and Michael is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they met while they were both living in Hawaii.  Their friends and family traveled from all over the world to attend their Mackinac Island wedding.  It's a perfect place for a getaway, family reunion, and wedding all wrapped up together! 

As guests gathered at the gazebo on the shores of Lake Huron, I played several folk songs and classical pieces, including "The Lark in the Clear Air," "Dedication," "Prelude in C," "Finlandia," and the "Jupiter" theme from The Planets.

For the processionals of the bridal party and bride, I was joined by Derek, a friend of the bride who has a degree in vocal performance, as he sang Ben Folds' "The Luckiest" to harp accompaniment.  When you have a sung processional, rather than a purely instrumental version, it can be tricky to time everything so that you don't have to stop in the middle of a verse or other awkward spot.  At the rehearsal the night before, they had worked out the timing and lyric cues for the wedding coordinator to send the bridesmaids down the aisle.  Apparently, everyone actually walked at the same speed, because it worked out perfectly! 

Once the officiant presented the newly married couple, Derek and I again collaborated on the recessional.  This time, it was the Peter Gabriel version of "The Book of Love" from the movie Shall We Dance.  I kept playing postlude music as the guests walked across the lawn, through the receiving line, and on to the tented reception.

Having played for several Mackinac Island weddings, I've become very good at getting the harp around the island!  If you are planning a wedding here, please contact me at 1-877-HARP-578 or visit my website ~ Mackinac Island Wedding Harpist ~ for more information.  I'd love to add harp music to your romantic and magical Mackinac Island wedding!

Cleveland Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Christina & Jason were married on the first Saturday of June at the Happy Days Lodge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  Located between Cleveland and Akron, it's not only a beautiful venue, but convenient for guests traveling from anywhere in northeast Ohio!

The wedding had a bit of a delay starting, as they were waiting on one of the trolleys that was shuttling guests to the ceremony from the hotel.  No problem - I just kept the prelude going until all everyone arrived!  It also rained for a couple of minutes, but there is a screened-in room right next to the ceremony site where I was able to keep the harp dry as the clouds passed over.  Since it is screened, I was able to keep playing, and you could still hear the harp from where the guests were seated.  Once it was clear, it was a quick move back outdoors before the ceremony began.

"Prelude in C" by Bach was chosen for the entrance of the families, bridal party, and the couple's dog, Max.  The bride's processional was "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  Following the ceremony, I played "King William's March" and "Pavane Style Renaissance" as everyone went inside for the reception.

If you are planning a wedding in Cleveland, Akron, or Canton, I'd love to be your harpist!  Visit my website ~ Ohio Wedding Harpist ~ for more information and to request a quote for your day.

Bloomington Harpist ~ Open House at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center

When Advocate BroMenn Medical Center invited their donors to an open house of their new facility, they made the night even more memorable and special by including harp music!

The harp was set up on the second floor balcony, overlooking the ground floor where the presentations took place to kick off the evening.  I played as guests arrived, and continued as they toured the rest of the facility.  The music included a wide variety of styles, from classical to contemporary to Celtic.  Many of the volunteers and donors told me how much they loved hearing the harp and how beautiful the music was in that setting.

There were also many comments on how I store my sheet music on my iPad!  I've been using it since December, and it makes organizing the pieces I'll be playing for each event so much easier.  No more lugging around a huge (and not very attractive) binder of music!  It also allows for me to take more special requests from guests, as I have nearly my entire library of music at my fingertips.  The scanning process is still an ongoing project ~ there are hundreds of songs in my repertoire, and it's always expanding ~ but I'm getting there!

From open houses to weddings, the harp brings extra class to any event.  Visit my website ~ Bloomington Harpist ~ for more information on including harp music in your plans!

Northwest Indiana Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony in Hobart

Sarah and Brian's wedding at the Revelli Bandshell in Hobart, Indiana was beautiful.  Even though I am sure the bride and groom probably wished for a slightly cooler day, their guests got to enjoy blue skies with a nice breeze!

The wedding party entered from a covered walkway next to Lake George.  The bridesmaids and groomsmen entered together to "King William's March."  This was a great choice by Sarah, and one of my favorite songs to play at a wedding!  While most brides and grooms typically choose this as a recessional piece, it really works for a processional as well.

Sarah made her way to the bandshell with both her mom and dad escorting her.  For her entrance, she had selected "Canon in D."  This is another one of my wedding favorites and a song that I readily suggest to anyone looking for something classical and traditional, but not wanting the Wagner "Bridal Chorus" (aka "Here Comes the Bride").

When it came time for the married couple to be introduced and to walk together for the first time as Mr. and Mrs., I provided a very majestic musical background with "Trumpet Tune."

If you are looking for harp music for your Northwest Indiana wedding, please visit our website, Hobart Wedding Harpist.  Devon and I would love to work with you!

Springfield Illinois Wedding Music ~ Ceremony at Indian Pointe Church

After a hot afternoon wedding at Allerton Park, I was thrilled to get into the air conditioning at Indian Point Presbyterian Church!  Located just outside of Athens, this brick church was built during the Civil War and is on the National Registry of Historic Places.  It's a beautiful and secluded location for a wedding ceremony, and they have a platform for outdoor services as well. 

Entering the sanctuary, I was especially excited to see the pair of cut-work wedding banners hanging on the wall - my aunt designs and makes them (check her website at www.fashionsbysarah.com)!

The prelude began half an hour prior to the ceremony.  The bride had heard me play at her grandparents' 60th anniversary party last year, and loved the popular and Disney pieces that were a part of that celebration.  She wanted to fill the pre- and post-ceremony music with songs that people would recognize, but not expect to hear on the harp.  That's my specialty!

As the families and wedding party entered, I played "A Summer Place" ~ a favorite of the bride's mother.  The bride opted for "Meditation" from Thais for her processional music.  As the bride and groom lit the unity candle and signed their marriage license, Bach's "Sheep My Safely Graze" played in the background.  Following the pronouncement, the couple and wedding party exited the church to the Beatles' hit "All You Need is Love," with "Come Sail Away" by Styx right afterwards.

More upbeat postlude music followed as guests were ushered out of the ceremony and on to the reception in Springfield.  Whether you are looking for something traditional, something romantic, or something simple & sweet, the music of the harp can be customized for your ceremony.  Visit my website ~ Central Illinois Wedding Music ~ for details on making your wedding music unique!