August 28 my husband and I along with our daughter arrived home from a long week of volunteer work at Agape Valley Bible Camp (agapevalley.ca) I thought I would include a picture from the last day at camp...it was 'crazy hair day'! Don't worry I would NEVER wear this wig at a wedding unless requested :)
While we were away for camp we stayed at my parent's home in Welland. The camp is a 'day camp' so there are no over night facilities. The very next morning I had to drive back to Welland for a wedding. You're probably asking yourself why I didn't bring the harp with me in the first place? Well that's because you cannot fit a weeks worth of 'stuff', a baby and harp in one car. In fact you can never fit a baby and harp in one car. You can fit a lot in a Toyota Matrix but there is a limit :)
I was so exhausted that morning but ready to play for the lovely Christian couple. It was kind of a family affair because my brother Steve sold them their first home just months before, and my Dad Normand built the groom's parent's kitchen. They both think they got me the 'gig'. However if you want to buy a house or need a new kitchen in the Niagara area visit them at www.wellandhomes.com (Steve) and refaceorreplace.com (Normand) and be sure to let them know where you their name from ;)
So back to the wedding, this couple had a lovely praise and worship time during their ceremony performed by the worship team from their Church. It's always a pleasure to play at a Christian wedding and for guests who can truly appreciate the hymns I perform. Thanks for the referral Dad and Steve, even though I was exhausted I enjoyed the wedding. Further more I thought that the purple dresses with the bright green orchids looked amazing!!!

August 22 I had one HUGE wedding reception to play at. A great looking couple, and a great looking venue with amazing decor. The Terrace (www.infinityeventgroup.ca) is where this wedding took place but with the decor it could have taken place anywhere and it would have been gorgeous. This couple had the longest receiving line I have played for so far this year. With over 400 guests to greet I was exhausted just watching the whole thing unfold. However it looked as though it was going to be a great party and it certainly started off right with a martini bar :) Personally if it had been my wedding I would have avoided the receiving line (as I did at mine) but I have to give them credit for going through with it and surviving it. I just played and played and people just kept coming in through the doors for two hours non stop! Of course you could not plan such an amazing wedding with over 400 guests on your own, you need a wedding co-ordinator. So they hired Amanda Ferri, WPICC Owner & Principal Planner of Ferri-Tale Weddings (www.ferritaleweddings.com) and she did an amazing job making sure everything right down to the place cards were in perfect order. I was watched how hard she worked to keep up with all the guests and the large wedding party and she didn't sweat it at all. As a wedding musician I always feel so much more secure at a wedding when I know they have a planner because than I know for sure everything is going to go as planned, no surprises.
Right after the wedding it was back home to pack me, my hubby and my baby, (and ALL of her stuff) to go away for a week and volunteer at Agape Valley Bible Camp. My husband directs the week and I usually help him but with a baby this year I limited myself to the crafts. Of course it was a 'musical craft' since I was planning it and we made a drum. My dad (a kitchen cabinet maker) helped out by making the frames of the drums and the kids finished the rest of it. Thanks Dad :) refaceorreplace.com