11-11-11 was a very popular wedding date! Not quite as busy at 7-7-07, but close. Originally, Dan & Tonya planned to have both their ceremony and reception on that Friday, but instead they went ahead with their ceremony on the other prime date this year ~ 9-10-11 ~ in Las Vegas! They kept their plans for the reception, and were able to enjoy a more relaxed and low-key event with their closest friends and family members.
The reception was held on the 26th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the DeVos Suite. I arrived just before sunset, and the view was breathtaking! Before the guests arrived, I rehearsed with a friend of the bride’s who sang “When You Say Nothing At All” to harp accompaniment later in the evening.
For the rest of the evening, I entertained the guests with harp renditions of a variety of popular songs, from “Can’t Help Falling in Love” to “Clocks” to “You Raise Me Up.” Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers, and the view over nighttime Grand Rapids. The couple and their children also participated in a sand ceremony, creating a keepsake vase with each person’s blue or black (the wedding colors) sand.
If you are planning a wedding ceremony or reception in Grand Rapids, I’d love to be your harpist! Visit my website, Grand Rapids Harpist, for details on including harp music in your plans.