Sarah and James planned for an outdoor wedding ceremony, but the rain that threatened throughout the day pushed the ceremony inside. Both the ceremony and reception took place at the Itasca Country Club in Itasca, Illinois. Fortunately, they have a beautiful room overlooking the golf course that they had set up for the ceremony. It’s not too far away from O’Hare airport, and we heard lots of planes fly overhead!
The colors of dark purple and light green appeared in the flowers, linens, and bridesmaid dresses. A friend of the couple performed the ceremony ~ his first! During the prelude, the bride requested all classical music. For the bridal party processional, she chose an Imogen Heap song, “Hide and Seek.” If there is a piece you would like played that isn’t on my repertoire list, let me know! Most special requests can be accommodated. For the bride’s processional, she went more traditional with Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”
There were three readings during the ceremony, all given by family members of the bride and groom. The first was Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese 14”:
If thou must love me, let it be for naught
Except for love’s sake only. Do not say
I love her for her smile her look her way
Of speaking gently, for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee, and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry,
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love’s sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.
This was followed by “The Presence of Love” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Song of Solomon 8:6-7. During the lighting of the unity candle, I played “Hymne” by the Greek composer Vangelis. After they were presented to their guests as husband and wife, they recessed to “Your Song.” This Elton John song was also playing over the piped-in music as we headed through the restaurant to the cocktail hour!
The rain held off long enough for the cocktail hour to go ahead on the outdoor patio. If it looks like rain, this is a great compromise! The ceremony requires much more set-up with chairs, candles, and flowers. Moving all of that inside quickly can’t happen easily, if at all. The cocktail hour only required the set-up of the bars, and they are on wheels. If it started to rain, everyone could have gotten back inside quickly!
No pictures of the harp set up for the cocktail hour, unfortunately. It was so windy, I had my hands full keeping the harp and music stand from blowing over!
The play-list for the cocktail hour was all contemporary and popular songs:
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Hey Soul Sister by Train
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Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera
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Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid
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You Belong with Me by Taylor Swift
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Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera
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Yesterday by The Beatles
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All You Need is Love by The Beatles
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With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles
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Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
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Let it Be by The Beatles
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In Dreams from Lord of the Rings
As a professional wedding harpist, I frequently perform for weddings and parties throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Please contact me at 1-574-344-9401 or visit my website, Chicago Wedding Harpist, for more information.