Galena Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony Harp Music at the Goldmoor Inn

Katie and Mike had perfect luck for their wedding ceremony!  They came from Washington, DC, to celebrate their wedding in romantic Galena, Illinois.  Even though the skies became darker as the ceremony time approached, the rain held off during the entire service, and the weather even began to clear up later in the afternoon.

The ceremony and the reception were held at the Goldmoor Inn in Galena, Illinois.  As you can see, the Goldmoor Inn provides a picturesque setting to hold a wedding ceremony, with a great staff that made sure everything was set up well in advance of any guests arriving.  The harp is the perfect addition to a wedding in Galena!




The wedding ceremony began a bit differently, as the couple went without a traditional bridal party of bridesmaids and groomsmen.  Instead, the ceremony started with the groom walking with his parents down the aisle, followed by a flower girl and a ring bearer processing just before the bride made her entrance. 

For the flower girl and ring bearer, I played Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."  After the flower girl had spread her rose petals ~ with great enthusiasm! ~ the bride entered to Pachelbel's "Canon in D."

Once the ceremony was complete and the couple was announced for the first time, it was time for the recessional.  In selecting the recessional, the couple went with "Ave Maria" by Schubert.

If you are planning a wedding in Galena, Illinois and need wedding music, please visit our website Galena Illinois Wedding Harpist for more information.  We are available throughout Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and any event that would be enhanced with live harp music!

Chicago Harpist ~ Corporate Reception at the Driehaus Museum

The Driehaus Museum is one of Chicago's lesser-known gems.  Located not far from Michigan Avenue in the River North District, this is a beautiful setting for intimate events.  From the moment you enter, you are stunned by the opulent lobby! 

This is where I was set up to play for a reception for doctors from the North Central Section of the American Urological Association.

As the guests arrived, they were met with harp music floating throughout the museum.  For this event, I played a variety of classical favorites and popular songs that everyone recognizes.

Some of these pieces included Bach's "Arioso," Leonard Cohen's "Halleluja" from Shrek, the Beatles song "All You Need is Love," and the Irish folk tune "O Danny Boy."

Everyone enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres on the main level of the museum, wandered through the adjacent rooms, and then ascended the grand marble staircase for dinner in the ballroom. 

From corporate events to wedding ceremonies, I am available throughout the Chicago area to provide elegant music for all occasions.  Please visit my website ~ Chicago Harpist ~  for details!

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!

Peoria Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony Music at Luthy Botanical Gardens

Autumn is definitely in the air!  This past weekend brought in cooler temperatures, along with the beautiful fall foliage.  Robin and Jason were married in the rose garden at Luthy Botanical Gardens in Peoria, Illinois.  The sun was out while I was setting up, but disappeared behind clouds just before the ceremony began.  We all shivered through it, but at least it didn't rain!

It's always a special pleasure to play for weddings at Luthy ~ it was where I played for my first wedding for someone I didn't already know!  After a few early ceremonies for friends and family members, that was my first wedding as a professional harpist.  I was a music student at Bradley University at the time, and I love that being a wedding harpist now my full-time job!

The aisle was lined with pumpkins and potted mums, and they had a table set up for the unity candle.  With the wind, it was a good thing that they had the candle enclosed!

The wedding party entered to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  The bridesmaids had ivory shawls to wear over their purple dresses, but Robin didn't have that option!  She looked lovely in her lace dress as she entered to the traditional "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner.

As the couple lit the unity candle, I played Sting's "Fields of Gold."  The recessional was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J.S. Bach.  I continued to play as the guests were dismissed from the ceremony and the wedding party made their way to the trolley that would take them to the reception.

Planning a wedding in Peoria?  Visit my website ~ Peoria Wedding Harpist ~ for details on including harp music in your ceremony and reception plans!

Pittsfield Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony & Reception in Central Illinois

Katie and Josh celebrated their wedding in style!  Their ceremony took place at St. Agnes Church in Belleview, Illinois, just over the Calhoun County line.  This old brick country church is no longer used for regular services, but is the perfect quaint location for a wedding!

Their black and white flower arrangements were dripping with crystals, and they had candles throughout the sanctuary.  As their candle lighters made their way through the church, I played "At Last" by Etta James.  The grandparents were seated to "What a Wonderful World," followed by the parents' seating to "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Katie chose the traditional "Canon in D" for her bridesmaids' entrance, and the Wagner "Bridal Chorus" for her processional.  At the beginning of the ceremony, the bride and groom lit a memory candle to "You Raise Me Up," a beautiful piece sung by Josh Groban.

Music for the unity candle lighting was the country ballad "I Cross My Heart," and the recessional was "Can't Help Falling in Love."  Their ceremony was a wonderful mix of the traditional and the contemporary!  As the couple exited the church, their guests showered them with streamers.

Following the ceremony, I took the harp over to Heartland Lodge in Nebo, Illinois.  The reception was in a tent on the lodge's lawn.  The black & white theme continued in their linens, centerpieces, chandelier, and even the dance floor! 

Inside the lodge, they had a candy buffet and family wedding pictures going back several generations.  Everyone loves those 1970's wedding hats!  I played as guests arrived and enjoyed the cocktail hour.  For this gathering time, I played a variety of popular songs from the 1960's through today. 

If you are planning a wedding in Central Illinois or Eastern Missouri, contact me about having harp music for your ceremony and reception!  More information can be found on my website:  Pittsfield Illinois Wedding Music.

Champaign-Urbana Harpist ~ Wedding at the Homer Lake Forest Preserve

Homer Lake Forest Preserve is beautiful ~ especially in autumn just as the leaves are starting to turn!  I worked with the bride's mother, Tereasa, to plan her daughter's wedding music.  The ceremony took place on the lawn of the Salt Fork Center, overlooking Homer Lake. 

Things got off to a late start, but the guests were kept entertained with harp music while the waited for the ceremony to begin.  One guest even made a request ~ "Stairway to Heaven" ~ and I played it for him!  Not your typical wedding repertoire, but the guests really got a kick out of it. 

The wedding party entered to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  The bride made her big entrance in a horse-drawn carriage, then came down the aisle to the traditional processional, "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner.  The couple performed their unity sand ceremony at the same time as their pastor did the readings.  All of this was accompanied by "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic on the harp.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the wedding party exited to "Trumpet Tune" and the bride and groom enjoyed a short ride around the lake in the carriage.  The reception followed in the Salt Fork Center

For weddings in Champaign-Urbana and throughout Central Illinois, contact me about having harp music for your ceremony and reception!  You'll find more information on my website: Central Illinois Harpist.

Quincy Harpist ~ Reception at the Town and Country Inn and Suites

In late September, the delegates of the Western Catholic Union gathered in Quincy, Illinois, for their convention.  I was selected to provide the music for their dinner at the Town and Country Inn and Suites last Thursday evening.

They requested that I play all sacred music and hymns, and some of these selections included:

• Amazing Grace
• As the Deer
• Steal Away
• Deep River
• There is a Balm in Gilead
• When Peace, Like a River
• Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven

With all of the classical and popular music I typically play for events, this wasn't my standard repertoire.  When I play for churches, it's usually only a couple of pieces ~ this was two hours worth of everyone's favorite hymns!  It was a nice change of pace from the music I more regularly play.

In addition to corporate events and church services, I also play the harp for wedding ceremonies and receptions in Quincy, Hannibal, and throughout Illinois and Missouri.  If you are interested in enhancing your event plans with live harp music, visit my website ~ Quincy Harpist.