August 15 three more weddings, so I went from being in Hamilton the previous night to Grimbsy the next afternoon, than Orangeville, and lastly Vaughan. Here is the evidence...
First stop Liuna Gardens! www.liunagardens.com I love this place and they love me too. They refer me a lot of work, they are always punctual, the staff are the greatest people to work with, and like Liuna Station the food is awesome! They have the most beautiful back drop of Lake Ontario and the longest outdoor isle I have ever seen! It gives brides plenty of time to enjoy the moment they have been waiting for their entire life! This venue can host small, medium or big size weddings and has several fountains and gorgeous gardens great for pictures!
My dearest friend is getting married there next year and I am her Matron of Honor. It's hard to believe but I have been in 7 weddings. This will be my eighth and my second time being a Matron of Honor. I am really happy I can say I am married or I would have to have another blog about that like the movie '27 Dresses'!

Next was the Millcroft Inn. (www.millcroft.com) They also refer me a lot of work and I enjoy the drive to Orangeville because it is a quite community out of the smog. You can literally see it disappearing in your rear view mirror as you drive out of it. I finally had the lovely opportunity to play in their garden. I have always played in their tent due to uncertain weather. The garden was so private, probably the most private garden I have ever played in. They have it set up so nice and it's very romantic with the sound of the water falls in the background. The Millcroft is a great place to get married if you are having a smaller wedding.
Due to the humidity that day I was sure a string might break and unfortunately I was right. The good thing was that I saw it happening before the string actually snapped. I heard a cracking sound at the first wedding but didn't see anything, than just before I started playing at the second wedding (while guests were arriving for the ceremony)I noticed my 'F' string fraying near the soundboard. I prayed it would last until the ceremony started so I could replace it while the minister was speaking. This worked out well for me in this situation because I was set-up at the back near the entrance of the garden behind the guests so I was no distraction. I was able to replace the string quickly enough to be ready in time for the signing of the register. It was annoying though because for the rest of the day I had to constantly tune it by ear but I was glad it didn't interfere with the ceremony :) Once I had a string break while I was playing for the signing of the register and I had to play without it for the remaining time of the signing and the recessional. That was really awkward!!!
After the ceremony I played for the cocktails which were near the main building (there are many little buildings at the Millcroft and a great spa too!) They served some interesting 'snacks' that I had the pleasure of trying, my favorite was goat cheese on a slice of roasted plum. Not the kind of thing you would think to put together but it was so refreshing on a hot summer day and so delightful they way it melted in your mouth. My husband and I ate their once before for our anniversary so I knew I could trust the strange combination to taste good! I am going to try it at home one day, we love goat cheese!
The last location was very classy. I have played there once before so I was ready for the type of wedding this would be...high class. I had brought a different dress for this wedding because I was to be playing in the middle of the dance floor on a microphone so everyone could hear me play throughout dinner and even in the bathrooms...I think...I wouldn't know for sure though ;) Anyway it required a different dress than the one I had worn all day for the 'garden weddings' and I let my hair down. This venue is the Bellvue Manor in Vaughen. (www.bellvuemanor.com) All I can say about this venue is that I have never tried the food but it looks amazing and the service is 'tops'. It is gorgeous, grand and flawless. Certain things about it remind me of Liuna Station however Liuna has a different type of character because it is an old train station. I don't have pictures of me playing, the lighting was low for dinner so the pictures I do have are a bit dark. However just in case you are wondering the brides bouquet was blue, I loved it! It was full of light blue roses...just my style, (I had a light blue wedding dress). She looked like royalty and maybe she was, I'll never know!
It was a crazy day and I was exhausted, my fingers were numb most of the time I was playing at the last wedding, in fact it felt better to just keep playing so I didn't feel the pain. All I can say after my busiest weekend of the year is...Thanks be to God for safe travels and four happy brides. For the record, I was not late to any of the weddings but the Brides were :)

August 14 and 15 were two great days for weddings. Finally it's mid August and summer has arrived. This has been the worst summer to date for horrible weather since I started playing at weddings. I am blessed that none of my weddings got 'rained out' it just so happened that on the rainy days I had indoor receptions to play for.
This was the weekend of four weddings, four cities, four lovely brides, four great venues, four numb fingers on each hand, and four Advils to get me through the weekend! Three dresses, three hour nap on Sunday, and three days until I would be able to type on the computer again without my fingers hurting. What a crazy weekend!!! The first wedding was an indoor ceremony at Carmen's Banquet Hall (www.carmens.com) The reception area was draped off for the ceremony than guests mingled in the foyer for cocktails while they 'transformed' the reception hall for dinner. The tables were ready, just off to one side of the room. It was done very well and I enjoyed my time there. The harp sounded great in the foyer. This lovely bride had her daughter 'give her away' very appropriate I thought.

August 8 at the Americana in Niagara Falls! (www.americananiagara.com)
A rainy day and a long boring drive from Mississauga to Niagara, drive time 1 hour and 10 min, wipers going non stop both ways, I almost fell asleep to the sound of their rhythm. However the wedding was not boring at all! I met some interesting Americans because the bride and groom were Americans and had their wedding ceremony in a Church on Grand Island but their reception here in CANADA. I also met the principal of Notre Dame in Welland where my brother attended high school and where my oldest nephew is currently attending. Never under estimate what your principal and teachers do on the weekend :) He knew how to have a good time and was the lead of the band that the couple hired, he played keyboard and accordion. Let me know if you want his contact info for a live band in the Niagara area.
Well it was no secret that this bride LOVED PINK! Everything was pink, even the cake! I kinda liked it but would never have gotten away with that on my wedding day :) Love love loved her dress too. Wish I had better pics of it because I am sure it was a designer gown!

August 2, 2009 I played at Liuna Station. This is one of my favorite places to play because not only do they refer me a lot of work but they are hospitable, kind, and polite. The unique characters of this venue being an old train station in Hamilton are like no other venue you will see any where else! One of their rooms can hold up to 500 people, it can be fun when you're asked to play in the middle of the dance floor for the entire dinner hour of that room :) The food is fantastic, I know because I have had the pleasure of eating there a couple of times. Their lobster and steak are mouth watering and the wine is great too! I love working with the staff there, they are a lot of fun and will value the important details of your day. In the new year you may even see some updated pictures on my website from a photo shoot I had taken there. I can't wait to go back, I often play there for Christmas parties. Check them out at www.liunastation.com

July 11, 2009 I rained most of the morning but for this couple the weather cleared up just in time for them to take their pictures. I had the pleasure of playing for their cocktail reception during their receiving line. I also had the pleasure of working with a photographer whom I had seen before. It's always nice to see a familiar face when your at a wedding with complete strangers. Joe Marangi is a great photographer and I am hoping we can make time for him to take our family photos for our first Christmas cards this year! The wedding was in a lovely hall located in Etobicoke, it was the Kings Garden Banquet Hall. www.kings-garden.com It was my first time at this hall but the staff were very hospitable even to me the musician. Thanks so much for the photos Joe because once again I forgot to bring my camera :)

August 1 turned out to be a gorgeous day for a wedding! It didn't start out that way with rain and thunder storms. I was beginning to wonder if this wedding would be my first to get rained out this year but it did not! I played for a beautiful couple in a tranquil and beautiful setting at the Crosswinds Golf and Country Club in Burlington (www.crosswindsgolf.com) They have a new cedar gazebo and it completes the unique 'forest like' setting perfectly, in fact you can still smell the cedar hmmmm! It creates the perfect privacy you would want for an intimate ceremony. Golfing there is great too (so I've heard from my husband) Maybe one evening we will get a 'sitter' and I will have a chance to attest to that statement. The price is right after 3pm. Thanks to Heather the wedding coordinator for the pictures!
Before I sign off I must also tell you I also enjoyed my drive up the escarpment into Campbellville/Burlington. There were a few cute little shops and a great bakery I stopped at after the ceremony. The bakery (I forget the name sorry) had a lot of gluetin free baked goods and breads! What a great place for a Sunday afternoon drive. Just exit onto Guelph Line off the 401 and go towards the Lake and discover it for yourself!