LaPorte Wedding Reception ~ Harp & Strings at the Red Barn Experience

A massive thunderstorm couldn't stop the celebration of Emily and Seth's wedding reception!  It was hot in the afternoon as we set up, but we could see the storm clouds moving in.  Shortly before the reception was scheduled to begin, the rain hit.  Then the wind.  Since we were set up in an open breezeway, with rain coming through horizontally, we had to get the instruments out of there!

With a couple of guests standing between the harp and the outdoors (one man commented that the harp was likely worth more than his shirt ~ and he's right!), I moved the harp to the inside of the pavilion.  Fortunately, the Red Barn Experience has flaps on the windows that were fastened against the weather, and sides to the adjacent tent.  And it wasn't just the harp ~ the bride had booked a trio of harp, violin, and cello!  With wooden, handcrafted instruments, we have to be very careful to protect them from getting wet.  We found a dry spot in the middle of the dining area, and waited for the storm to pass.

A picture from before the chaos...

As guests began to arrive, we started to play in our improvised location.  It was a little tight between the tables, but we were determined to make everything as beautiful as possible for the families, even if the evening was not going exactly as planned!  One plus from the storm was the much cooler temperatures that followed.  The trio played a variety of upbeat classical and popular pieces, including:

• Rondeau from Sinfonies de Fanfares by Mouret (well-known as the Masterpiece Theater theme)
• Air from The Water Music by Handel
• St. Anthony Chorale by Brahms
• Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes
• Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
• Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata #208 by Bach

The trio played for the first two hours of the reception, through the cocktail hour and most of the dinner service.  Then we switched up to a harp and piano duet.  With the change in instrumentation, we went with more popular songs, Broadway favorites, and Irish tunes.  Some of these were:

• A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
• Edelweiss from The Sound of Music
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz
• You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
• Morgan Magen by O'Carolan

Towards the end of the evening, everyone went outside to light sky lanterns and send them off with best wishes for the bride and groom.

From solo harp to a small orchestra, I can put together the perfect ensemble for your wedding!  The harp and violin is the most popular duet, and adding the cello gives the sound greater depth.  I can also create groups with flute, viola, trumpet, clarinet, piano, organ, string quartet, marimba, steel pan, and vocalists.  Contact me via my website ~ Northwest Indiana Wedding Music ~ for a customized quote!

Northwest Indiana Wedding Music ~ Harpist in LaPorte, IN

"Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata" - Translated from Italian is supposed to mean, "rain on the day you get married brings good luck."  If that is the case, then Janice and Brett are two of the luckiest people!  Fortunately, luck would have it that they were inside on one of the rainiest Saturdays I've experienced this summer.  

The wedding music selected by the bride went more down the traditional and Irish path.  For the wedding party, Janice had selected Fanny Power by the Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan.  Janice entered to Canon in D, which is always a favorite of mine.  During the ceremony, the couple had a unity sand ceremony.  The song selected for the unity sand time was Aria from Rinaldo.  Finally, the Bride and Groom exited to O Perfect Love.  

If you would like to learn more about the harp music we can provide for your wedding, visit our website, LaPorte Wedding Music.

Blue Dress Barn & Heston Hills Wedding Music

The Blue Dress Barn in Millburg, Michigan is a beautiful venue!  You can have your ceremony outdoors, and then move inside the barn for the reception.  I played for a wedding ceremony in the garden on June 12th, and the rain held off - but barely!  The harp cover stayed within reach, just in case we needed to run for shelter.

The bride chose traditional music for the processionals and recessional, with a popular song for the unity sand ceremony.

• Seating of Families:  Canon in D by Pachelbel
• Bridal Party Processional:  Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
• Bride's Processional:  Bridal Chorus by Wagner
• Unity Sand Ceremony:  Fields of Gold by Sting
• Recessional:  Wedding March by Mendelssohn 

After packing up, I drove to Heston Hills Banquet Center outside of LaPorte, Indiana.  The mother of the groom had hired me to provide background music for the cocktail hour.  This is a great task to delegate to family and friends!  Let them do research for your vendors, and then you can make your selections.