Schwarz Barn is a beautiful wedding venue in rural Highland, Illinois, offering couples the opportunity to celebrate in a restored historic barn surrounded by the rolling countryside of Southern Illinois. Convenient to the St. Louis metropolitan area, it has become a popular choice for couples looking for the character of a rustic barn wedding while still enjoying an elegant, thoughtfully planned celebration. Its flexible event spaces make it equally well suited to intimate gatherings and larger weddings, with options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies depending on the weather.
I am a professional St. Louis wedding harpist providing live harp music for weddings at Schwarz Barn and throughout the Metro East, Southern Illinois, and the greater St. Louis region. The photographs on this page were taken during a wedding where I provided music for both the ceremony and cocktail hour using two different concert harps.
My traditional pedal harp was set up indoors for cocktail hour, while my Heartland Infinity carbon fibre harp was prepared for the ceremony. Although the ceremony was originally planned for the barn loft, the rain cleared just before the wedding, allowing everything to move outdoors at the last minute. The carbon fibre harp made that transition simple, allowing me to relocate quickly and provide beautiful live music exactly where it was needed.
Live Harp Music for Barn Weddings
Barn weddings often include multiple event spaces and changing timelines, making flexibility an important part of the wedding day. Whether your ceremony takes place in a loft, beneath a grove of trees, beside a pond, or in an open meadow, I work closely with each couple to develop a musical plan that fits the venue and the flow of the celebration.
Live harp music can be incorporated into guest arrival, family seating, the grand entrance, ceremony music, unity ceremonies, the recessional, cocktail hour, dinner, and other wedding festivities. Every musical program is customized in collaboration with you, and special song requests are always welcome.
A Two-Harp Setup for Maximum Flexibility
For this wedding, using two harps allowed music to continue seamlessly in separate locations without interrupting the celebration. My concert pedal harp remained indoors for cocktail hour, while the Heartland Infinity carbon fibre harp was dedicated to the ceremony space.
Because the carbon fibre harp is exceptionally well suited to outdoor performances and changing weather conditions, it allows me to adapt quickly when plans change. Whether a ceremony is relocated because of rain, moved to a different area of the property, or planned outdoors from the beginning, this unique instrument provides outstanding flexibility while maintaining the rich, elegant sound expected from a professional concert harp.
Music Selected for Your Wedding
Every wedding features a customized musical program designed around your celebration. My repertoire includes:
· Traditional wedding music and classical masterworks
· Contemporary love songs and Top 40 favorites
· Film, television, and video game music
· Sacred music and hymns
· Jazz standards and Great American Songbook selections
· Celtic melodies and traditional folk music
· Broadway favorites
· International and multicultural repertoire
· Holiday and seasonal music
· Personalized song requests
Whether you envision timeless ceremony music, contemporary favorites, or a combination of musical styles, your selections are thoughtfully chosen to complement every part of your wedding day.
Planning Your Wedding at Schwarz Barn
If you are planning a wedding at Schwarz Barn, I would be delighted to help create a musical experience that complements both the beauty of the venue and the unique flow of your celebration! From indoor cocktail hours to outdoor ceremonies and everything in between, I offer flexible performance options that adapt to your venue and timeline.
Please contact me to discuss your wedding plans, learn more about my concert and carbon fibre harps, check availability for your date, and request a personalized quote. I regularly perform throughout St. Louis, Southern Illinois, and for destination weddings beyond the region. I would love to provide beautiful harp music for your wedding at Schwarz Barn, or wherever your celebration takes place!