Harpist in Glen Arbor, Michigan ~ Wedding at the Homestead Resort

Originally, this was supposed to be one of Jeff's weddings, but I had a last-minute cancellation, so I decided to accompany him.  When I spoke to Carrie, the bride, earlier in the year, she let me know that the harp had to be taken to the ceremony site either by golf cart or chair lift.  I had to see this happen!

Carrie and Steve are from the Chicago area, but chose to get married in Glen Arbor, Michigan, at the Homestead Resort.  Northern Michigan is beautiful in the fall, and makes a perfect location for a close-to-home destination wedding.  The venue was beautifully decorated, with lanterns as part of the centerpieces, and a rustic styled wedding cake on a bark-covered cake stand.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate for the ceremony to take place on top of Bay Mountain, and it was moved inside Camp Firefly, where the reception was also taking place.  Even though I didn't get to take a harp up a chair lift, it was good that both of us were here for this wedding.  With the logistics of getting the ceremony and reception in the same room, there wasn't much space for the harp!

We had to set up across the room on the dance floor, where I could only see the middle of the aisle.  To time the music appropriately, I need to be able to see when the bridesmaids and bride enter, and also when they arrive at the front.  With the set-up, this just wasn't possible. 

Fortunately, we worked it out so I would do the actual playing for the wedding, and Jeff would be set up where I could see him, and he could see the processionals.  From where he sat, he was able to signal me for music changes. 

The guests arriving were able to enjoy harp music as they found their seats.  The bridal party was brought to the lodge in a shuttle, and the five bridesmaids came down the aisle to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  Carrie went for the traditional "Here Comes the Bride" for her processional.  The recessional was the Beatles' hit "All You Need is Love."

After the ceremony, guests began the cocktail hour on the patio as the reception hall was re-set for dinner.  It was cold and rainy, so the staff from the Homestead Resort made sure it was done quickly so everyone could get back indoors!  When it was set, the guests came back in the banquet room, and I played through the remainder of the cocktail hour, entertaining with popular songs ranging from the 1970's through the present. 

For weddings in Northern Michigan, please contact me about providing harp music for your ceremony and reception.  You'll find more information on my website:  Northern Michigan Wedding Harpist.  I'd love to work with you and personalize the music for your big day!

Traverse City Harpist ~ Final Fantasy Wedding Music on the Harp

After I played my first wedding featuring music from Final Fantasy, I had several other couples book me for their ceremonies based on the availability of their favorite music already in my repertoire!  The harp is such an versatile instrument, I have had a lot of fun working with all of these couples to personalize their ceremony with music that has special meaning for them.

Originally, Mark and Molly planned their ceremony for outdoors, overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay.  The October weather in Northern Michigan didn't cooperate, so they had to move inside the Haggerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College.  Fortunately, the lobby has glass walls overlooking the bay, so their backdrop was the same, and everyone stayed warm and dry!  This may also be the first wedding I've played where there was a sailboat inside the venue.

They decorated the ceremony site with dark purple and other fall colors, along with pumpkins and gourds, and invited their guests to choose a seat, not a side for the service.  The reception followed later that evening, also at the Haggerty Center, and the "we did" sign pointed the way!

As guests arrived, I played a variety of less familiar classics and popular pieces.  When the families and the bridal party entered, the music chosen was "Aerith's Theme" from Final Fantasy VII.  Molly's processional, from Final Fantasy VIII, was "Eyes on Me." 

They poured and drank the wine for their unity ceremony to the "Main Theme" ~ also from Final Fantasy VII ~ and exited the ceremony to "Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride.

The harp is perfect for non-traditional wedding music!  Visit my website ~ Traverse City Harpist ~ for more information.  I am not just limited to weddings in Michigan, or even the Midwest.  No matter where you are getting married, I am available to travel throughout the US and internationally for destination weddings, so contact me for rates and availability!

Mackinac Island Wedding ~ Ceremony with Harp Music at Mission Point

Professional pictures from Paul Retherford Photography from a wedding ceremony I played at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island on June 9th, 2012.

See the original post about this wedding.  If you are looking for a Mackinac Island harpist to provide the perfect and elegant musical backdrop for your ceremony or reception anywhere on the island, visit my website:  Mackinac Island Wedding Music.

Northern Michigan Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony and Reception at Bay Harbor

Craig and Laura planned their Bay Harbor wedding from the Detroit area.  Northern Michigan is a perfect location for a close-to-home destination wedding, and everyone was able to escape the high temperatures that we've been dealing with this summer.  It rained a bit in the morning and early afternoon, but cleared out nicely for the 4:00 pm ceremony.  A breeze off of Lake Michigan kept the beach wedding comfortable!

With the reception scheduled to immediately follow the ceremony, I set up my Laurel Leaf harp for the cocktail hour at the Bay Harbor Conference Center prior to heading down to Sunset Beach with my BlevinSong harp.  It made the transition between the two locations much easier, and I was able to get music going for the cocktail hour sooner.

Down on the beach, guests arrived to a variety of classical and popular harp music.  The bridesmaids entered to Sting's "Fields of Gold," with "Canon in D" serving as the bride's processional.  During the unity sand ceremony, I played "The Prayer" from Quest for Camelot.  "Trumpet Tune" ended the ceremony, with the guests leaving the beach and heading to the reception down the street at the Bay Harbor Conference Center.

For the cocktail hour, the bride and groom requested that I play all popular music from the 1990's through today.  It might not be what most people expect to hear on the harp, but I love doing the unexpected!  Some of the pieces I played included:

• Collide by Howie Day
• Glitter in the Air by Pink
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
• Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
• Marry Me and Hey Soul Sister by Train
• Falling Slowly from Once

As a professional harpist, I provide elegant and sophisticated music for weddings at Bay Harbor, on Mackinac Island, and throughout Northern Michigan.  Yes, even on the beach!  Visit my website ~ Northern Michigan Wedding Harpist ~ to find out how to include harp music in your wedding plans!

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!

Upper Peninsula Wedding Music - Harpist in Houghton, Michigan

What a beautiful setting for a wedding!  The day was perfect and the rain held off so that the ceremony could go off without a hitch.  What makes this story more special is that the bride's great grandmother got married on this same family farm many years ago.

The farm is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, right outside the town of Lake Linden.  The wedding coordinator had created a rustic farm theme with the decorations and by providing strawberries in baskets for the guests as they arrived.

The bride and the bridesmaids all arrived to the wedding ceremony in a stretch limousine.  As they got out of the limo, I performed Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring for the bridesmaids' processional.  For the bride, the song she chose for her entrance was Canon in D.  The couple had a unity sand ceremony, which was accompanied by the popular song Unchained Melody.  As the couple exited the ceremony, I played King William's March.

Planning a wedding at your home?  The harp is a perfect addition to the intimate setting of an at-home wedding.  If you would like to find out more about having a harp at your ceremony or reception, visit our website, Upper Peninsula Wedding Harpist. 

Mackinac Island Wedding Music ~ Mission Point Resort

I first met Gina & Joe when they attended a harp concert I gave in March at the Chicago School of Hot Yoga.  It was the perfect opportunity for them to hear the harp in person, and imagine how well it would fit in with their wedding plans!  Although they both live in Chicago, they were planning a destination wedding on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan.

The island has no cars, so the only transportation is by bike or horse-drawn taxi.  Since it was a beautiful day, and Mission Point isn't too far from the ferry dock, Jeff and I decided to walk there.  We got lots of stares from people as we pushed the harp down the street! 

We arrived at Mission Point about three hours before the wedding was scheduled to begin.  Since we were dealing with ferry schedules, no car, and the Fourth of July weekend, we allowed a lot of extra time.  It was a perfect day to spend some time sitting under a shade tree, enjoying a good book.  This time, we were so early that we arrived before the first wedding of the day at the resort.  It's not often that we just get to observe a wedding (from a distance, of course), without concentrating on the music!

The weather was beautiful for the outdoor ceremony at the gazebo.  For the entrance of the families, I played "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music.  This was a special song for them, since the groom first met the bride's mother when they attended this musical.  The bridal party processional was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and the bride's entrance music was "Canon in D".  During the unity sand ceremony, they requested the Josh Groban song "You Raise Me Up".  The recessional was the traditional Mendelssohn "Wedding March".

Gina & Joe departed the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage, and their guests went up to the resort for the cocktail hour.  It was nice enough out that they were able to enjoy drinks and appetizers on the porch - as long as the seagulls stayed away!  The wedding coordinators and banquet staff loved the harp, too, and had their pictures taken with it before the guests arrived.  Mackinac Island resorts and hotels hire from all around the world, and there were several young men from Jamaica who especially enjoyed the music! 

As I was playing for the cocktail hour, the flower girl and ring bearer came over to see the harp up close.  I also gave them the opportunity to sit behind the harp and give it a try - a great photo op for the parents (and maybe inspiring another future harpist)!

Music for the cocktail hour was a variety of popular pieces, including a reprise of "You Raise Me Up" and "Somewhere in Time" ~ no Mackinac Island wedding would be complete without it!

Like my wedding on Saturday, their colors were gray and yellow.  I especially loved their cake set up in front of their sweetheart table.

As soon as you walked in the reception room, you could smell the Asiatic lilies in the centerpieces.  The ones we have in our backyard should be blooming soon!

Of course, while I was busy playing, Jeff walked back downtown to pick up some of the famous Mackinac fudge (chocolate for him, pumpkin pie for me - but I'll swipe a bit of his chocolate, too!).  I was so pleased to be able to provide harp music for this wedding ceremony and reception.  If you are planning a wedding for Mackinac Island, I'd love to be your harpist as well!  Just visit my website:

Mackinac Island Wedding Music

for information on how I can make your Mackinac Island destination wedding even more romantic with elegant harp music!

Ludington Michigan Harpist ~ Cornerstone Baptist Wedding

On the weekend of our seventh wedding anniversary, Jeff and I spent some time in Ludington, Michigan.  Of course, part of that mini getaway was playing for a wedding ceremony!  My sister and I had taken a road trip around Lake Michigan a few years ago, and one of our must-stop places was Grocer's Daughter Chocolates in Empire.  Jeff thought he didn't like truffles, until he tried their pomegranate one!  If you are anywhere near Traverse City, be sure to visit.  It was a couple of hours north of where we were staying, but well worth the drive!

The wedding ceremony was held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Ludington, MI.  During the summer, this is a busy lakeside town, but it was much more relaxed and peaceful when there was still some snow on the ground.  The bride chose classical music, but not the most traditional selections.  As the daughter of a retired band director, she has good taste! 

One special selection during the prelude was the hymn "As the Deer".  I played the Welsh lullaby "Suogan" for the seating of the mothers, followed by "Canon in D" for the bridal party entrance.  The bride's processional was "Arioso" by Bach, and the lighting of the unity candle was Godefroid's "Romance without Words".  She chose an upbeat version of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" for the recessional.

The flower girl was absolutely precious!  She took her job very seriously, carefully placing a handful of petals with each step as she walked down the aisle.  On the way back out of the church, she began to pick them all up again!  Kids in weddings are unpredictable, so I always keep a close eye on them during the processional.  Some run down the aisle, some go very slowly, and some just won't go at all.  No matter what happens with the youngest members of your bridal party, I keep the music going so it always fits perfectly!

We are happy to travel throughout northern Michigan to provide music for weddings.  Please visit our website for more information:

Michigan Wedding Harpist