Southwest Michigan Wedding Music ~ Harpist at Willow Harbor Vineyards

The hottest weekend of the summer (so far...) couldn't stop the party for Kimberly & Michael!  They were married on July 7th at Willow Harbor Vineyard in Three Oaks, Michigan.  Like many of the couples I've worked with at the vineyard, they live in Chicago but chose to get out of the city and to the other side of the Lake Michigan for a close-to-home destination wedding.

Samantha from Simply Unforgettable Occasions was their day-of planner, and was able to get some umbrellas set up to provide shade for the harp.  With the extreme temperatures, it just isn't possible to leave the wood harp sitting in the sun for a couple of hours!  With the help of Samantha and her crew, everything was able to go ahead as planned, all while keeping the harp safe.

The matron of honor came down the aisle to "Hymne" by Vangelis, followed by the bride's entrance to "Canon in D."  Although the unity candle didn't stay lit for long - always a hazard with outdoor ceremonies! - "Only Time" by Enya accompanied the ceremony.  Once they were pronounced husband & wife, the newlyweds headed off the the nearby tent for their reception to the Third Movement of "Spring" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

No matter where you live, Southwest Michigan's wine country and beaches make the perfect location for a destination wedding!  Adding harp music to your ceremony and reception makes the whole event even more romantic and memorable.  To find out more about hiring me as the musician for your wedding, visit my website:  Southwest Michigan Wedding Music.

Wedding Music in Southwest Michigan ~ Willow Harbor Vineyards

Liz and Matt had a perfect Fall day for their outdoor ceremony at Willow Harbor Vineyards in Three Oaks, Michigan.  It had rained earlier in the day, but by late afternoon, the sun was shining and the sky was blue!

When I arrived at the vineyard (early, of course!), I was the first one there.  The chairs were all set up, and flowers delivered, but there was no one to be found.  Just to be on the safe side, I called their back-up ceremony location to make sure that the earlier rain hadn't relocated the ceremony.  With their assurances that it was still going ahead at Willow Harbor, I set up the harp, and was ready to go long before the first guests arrived!

As the families were seated, I played "Canon in D" by Pachelbel,  They didn't have a traditional wedding party ~ just two ring bearers and a flower girl.  The kids entered to "Sheep May Safely Graze" by J.S. Bach.  The bride arrived at the ceremony in Willow Harbor's vintage Rolls Royce, and her entrance music was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (another Bach piece).

 
The ceremony included a wine sharing ~ perfect for a vineyard wedding! ~ with Schubert's "Ave Maria" playing in the background.  The recessional was "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles.

Photo:  Earthbound Officiants

Every summer, Jeff and I play for several weddings at Willow Harbor.  It's a beautiful venue for your ceremony or reception, and we'd love to add harp music to your wedding!  Visit our website, Three Oaks Wedding Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for additional information and a quote for your wedding music.

Photo:  Earthbound Officiants

Michigan Harpist ~ Willow Harbor Vineyard Wedding Ceremony Music

Willow Harbor Vineyards in Southwest Michigan is one of our favorite wedding venues.  We play for ceremonies there several times each summer, and I was back for Jenni & Kyle's beautiful outdoor wedding in the Chardonnay Vineyard.

The three bridesmaids entered to Pachelbel's Canon in D, and the bride's processional was Wagner's Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride).  For the recessional, they went with a more contemporary selection, Fields of Gold.

After the ceremony, I often have guests stop by and tell me how much they enjoyed the harp music.  At this one, one of those guests is also a professional musician - with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra!

The BlevinSong harp used for this ceremony is the perfect choice for outdoor ceremonies, as it is very portable.  Unlike my other harps, this instrument is strung with nylon strings, so the tuning is more stable when the weather and humidity are not!

From vineyards to the beach, harp music is the perfect addition to your Southwest Michigan wedding!  Visit our website, Southwest Michigan Wedding Music, for more information.

Willow Harbor Vineyard Wedding Music - Three Oaks, MI

One of the hardest things about being self-employed is that you don't get sick days.  The day before this wedding, I came down with a terrible cold.  But no matter what, I was going to be there (even if I had to tuck tissues into the back of the harp)! 

We've played for weddings at Willow Harbor Vineyard before, but somehow never got pictures taken.  This time, I finally did.  The weather was questionable all day, but fortunately the rain held off during the set-up and ceremony!

The other weddings we've done there have been at their original site, but this one was in the Chardonnay vineyard further back on the property. The reception took place in the tent across the lawn.

During the prelude, the bride wanted to surprise her guests with music that isn't what you typically envision when you think of the harp.  She chose "Let it Be" by The Beatles, "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera, "Collide" by Howie Day, and "Come Sail Away" by Styx.  Once the ceremony began, she went a more traditional route:

• Seating of Families:  Arioso by J.S. Bach
• Bridal Party Processional:  Canon in D by J. Pachelbel
• Bride's Processional:  Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach

For the recessional, it was back to contemporary pop songs, with "Love Me Do" and "Eight Days a Week" by The Beatles.

July 2009 in Review

July 3rd, 2009
Deep River County Park, Hobart Indiana
Music Selections:

• Hymne by Vangelis for seating of families
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach for the bridal party processional
• Canon in D by Pachelbel for the bride's processional
• Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke for the recessional

July 5th, 2009Center Meeting House at Morris Farms, Niles, Michigan
Music Selections:

• Arioso by Bach for seating of families
• Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach for bridal party processional
• Andiam mio tesoro (Anonymous) for bride's processional
• Reverie by Grandjany for the unity candle lighting
• Spring (First Movement) from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi for the recessional

July 11th, 2009
Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Mishawaka, Indiana
Music Selections included:

• Hymne by Vangelis as the processional
• Love Divine All Love's Excelling (congregational hymn)
• Prelude in C by Bach
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
• Arioso by Bach
• Canon in D by Pachelbel
• Trumpet Tune by Purcell
• Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke as the recessional

July 11th, 2009

Narnia Estate, Lemont, Illinois

Music Selections:

• Aria from "Rinaldo" by Handel for the bride's processional
• Hymne by Vangelis for the sand ceremony
• Wedding March by Mendellssohn for the recessional

July 17th, 2009
Holy Family Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois
Music Selections:

• Canon in D by Pachelbel (Harp & Violin duet) for the processional
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach for the unity candle
• Panis Angelicus by Franck for the offertory
• Lady of Knock (Violin & Piano duet) for the rose ceremony
• Bagpipes for the recessional

July 18th, 2009
Oliver Mansion Gardens, South Bend, Indiana
Music Selections:

• All I Ask of You from "Phantom of the Opera" by Webber for the seating of families
• Romance without Words by Godefroid for the bridal party processional
• Hymne by Vangelis for the bride's processional
• Fanny Power by O'Carolan for the recessional

July 24th, 2009
Willow Harbor Vineyards, Three Oaks, Michigan
Music Selections:

• Hymne by Vangelis for the processional
• Spring (Third Movement) from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi as the recessional

July 26th, 2009
Coffee Creek Amphitheatre, Chesterton, Indiana
Music Selections:

• Canon in D by Pachelbel as the bridal party processional
• I'll Be by Edwin McCain as the bride's processional
• All You Need is Love by McCartney as the recessional

July 26th, 2009
Oliver Mansion Gardens, South Bend, Indiana
Music Selections:

• Claire de Lune by Debussy for the processional
• Hymne by Vangelis for the recessional