August 20, 2010

I got to go back to my home town and into my old neighborhood to play at this wedding. My mom's cousin's daughter was getting married and since my mom was away on vacation and couldn't play the piano for them I represented and played the harp :) It was so great to see some distant relatives and old Church friends again. It was especially nice that my grandparents were guests of the wedding and got to enjoy my performance. Not often do they get to see me play my 'big harp'. Also I found it interesting how the groom (that married my distant cousin) is first cousins to my best friend Rachel whose wedding I was just in. It was really funny that I knew guests on both sides but in two totally different ways. It is a small world after all.

July 31, 2010 Part 2

On July 31 I played at a backyard wedding in Oakville. I didn't really get to take great pics I only showed one in my previous blog about this day. I commented in the previous blog about the Mother of the Bride who wore a 'Hot Red Dress' that I just thought was so brave and stunning! I am happy to report I have some great pics now thanks to her! Thanks Pam for sending me these fun photos you looked amazing as did your lovely daughter :)

July 30, 31 & August 1, 2010

This was my busiest weekend of the year to date. Rachel my associate harpist also was busy playing and I myself did four weddings. I played Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, than Sunday evening. The first wedding was at the gorgeous Eagles Nest on Dundas. This couple was Persian and in their culture the bridal party does not sit with them at the head table. The head table is set just for them. There were orchids EVERYWHERE at this wedding it was breath taking! They had their first dance as soon as they made their grand entrance for the reception than I played in the center of the dance floor for dinner. It was lovely and everyone enjoyed seeing something different happen during dinner rather than listening to the DJ.
The second wedding I played at was a small back yard wedding. I wished I had gotten a picture of the mother of the bride she looked stunning in a gorgeous red hot dress. Not your typical look for the mother of the bride but she pulled it off and looked amazing! The couple getting married were very happy and emotional so the harp was perfect and not too overwhelming for their intimate ceremony.
The third wedding was at the Caledon Golf and Country Club. They have a great set-up for outdoor ceremonies backing onto the Credit River. Don't bother playing golf there though unless you want a real challenge. My husband tells me it's a difficult hilly and unforgiving course.
The last wedding I did was at the Mississauga Grand. The couple were Serbian and so they displayed a few traditions from their culture I have never seen before. You will see in the pictures that guests get a little silk flower put on them like a corsage and that is to symbolize that they are a part of their celebration. In return they give them money and in addition they still give a cash gift. The Serbian men that are in the bridal party have props like flags and other artifacts. They dress like you see in the pictures I took. I love watching people practice their traditions on their wedding day staying true to who they are and where they came from. I think it is very honorable to their ancestors.
Wow what a weekend! I am thankful God kept me safe on the roads to and from these wedding locations. I am also thankful He has blessed me with the opportunity to provide romance and music at weddings almost every weekend. I love weddings :)

July 25, 2010

This was the most beautiful bridal shower I have ever played at to date. It was at the wonderful Hockley Valley Resort under their outdoor tent. The weather was perfect and the decor was amazing as well as the food! I enjoyed the setting and the lovely breeze that echoed through the harp strings as I played. It was pleasure playing for such a lovely occasion that meant so much to this mother of the bride and her daughter. What a great way to have to work on a Sunday afternoon :)

July 24, 2010

Kelly used to be my old boss at Memorial Park Public Pool in Welland when we were lifeguards. Now I got to play for her wedding yeeeeaaarrrrss later :) Funny thing is just two years ago I attended my 'triplet cousins' baby shower/open house and she showed up. I wasn't even planning to go but I happened to be in town so I was thrilled to meet my three new little cousins. Kelly was also not really planning to go but was in town just getting back from a big trip to Europe. Turned out she was my Aunts niece on other side of the family. All the years we worked together we never realized this connection. She knew than she wanted me to play harp at her wedding but no date was set. She almost forgot about me until just a few weeks before her big day and I was so happy I was available to play for her. To my family's surprise there I was at her wedding playing for the reception. The picture is of my Aunt Franny, Uncle Arnold and two of their children with their spouses. It was great to see familiar faces and for them to hear me play since it had been years since they had heard me. They also felt free to make requests which was fun. I enjoyed this evening very much.

July 8, 2010

July 8, yes a Thursday I played in front of Niagara Falls in the Oaks Garden Theater. It was one of the hottest days of the year so far. Thankfully the harp needs to be in the shade due to the fact that it is made out of wood and direct sunlight would ruin the finish. So with the harp in the shade so was I. Unfortunately the guests were in the sun where the ceremony was set up to take place and only 1/2 of them showed up. The rest watched from the balconies of their air conditioned hotel rooms that overlooked the garden...or at least I think they were...if not I don't know who was?!? They were a lovely couple that were already married in the US and 're enacting' the ceremony for her family that was visiting Niagara Falls from China! I don't know if they had a harpist at their original wedding in the US but I was glad to be there!

Anniversary Dinner for TWO

A couple of weeks ago I got a last minute request to play for a couples 31st Wedding Anniversary! It was so much fun it was the first time I had ever had a request to do something like this. I thought I was going to be nervous and maybe even feel awkward because it was a private dinner in a private dining room set-up just for two of them. It was not awkward at all though. They were the sweetest couple (who will remain nameless). I hadn't really known them before, I had met the husband briefly once but not enough to say I knew him. I had a wonderful time playing selections of music he specifically choose for them and his wife was SO surprised. I felt like I was playing for my parents when they used to listen to me practice over glass of wine (along time ago). A week later I saw the husband again and he told me that the harp music made the evening more special than they could have ever imagined! I was so happy to hear that and thought about how this idea would be great for anyone looking for a romantic way to propose or celebrate in a romantic intimate way. I played at the newly renovated Terrace on the Green www.terraceonthegreen.com which is only 10 min for where I live. I loved the location it is a great venue for an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception.

June 5, 2010

Can you believe after being in a wedding on June 4 I played at a wedding in Niagara Falls the very next day? Yes I did and the day after that I hosted a baby shower for twin boys :) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
This wedding was for a couple who came to the beautiful Niagara Falls from the USA just to get married. They chose the Floral Showhouse (http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden-trail/floral-showhouse.html)as their venue. The weather was perfect, the roses were in full bloom and their pictures are sure to be amazing! The bride arrived in 'class' in a horse and carriage and the couple left together in 'class' in horse and carriage :)

June 4, 2010

This is my dearest friend Rachel Duhacek's wedding. After a year of planning every detail, four bridal showers and several consultations the big day finally arrived! Everything was flawless even the weather, to God be the glory! With Rachel A. Clingen's flowers and decor www.rachelaclingen.com my associate harpist Rachel Dignard playing the harp for the ceremony it was the most romantic garden wedding I have been too in a long time! Many guests made a point to tell me how amazing they thought my associate harpist Rachel! The ceremony location was none other than my most favorite place to play...Liuna Gardens www.liunagardens.com It is located right on the lake in Stoney Creek. It is the perfect place to have your ceremony, pictures, and reception. If you want the perfect garden wedding this is the place to have it! The flowers/decor were of course better than my friend expected (as I predicted) and the guests thought they were part of a fairy tale...so did I. May Joel and Rachel Greening live happily ever after with God's grace and blessings surrounding them!

Rachel Clingen

I play at a lot of weddings but this time I am participating in this wedding in a different way. I am the Matron of Honor for my dearest friend Rachel Duhacek. This is my second time being a Matron on Honor and the 8th wedding I have been in! This could be a second career of mine...or not. This post is about a great friend of mine who is a wedding decorator/florist. She has helped me with a lot of great advertising advise in starting my own wedding harpist business and she is more than successful with her business too. Her name is also Rachel. Rachel Clingen even decorated for me at my wedding and many other friends of mine. These photos are from our last consultation at her new shop in Caledon. We love her unique taste and sense of decor. This was one area of the wedding that we were not worried about at all. We knew everything regarding flowers and decor was going to be better than we could have imagined and ever expected. I knew it because when I got married that was the experience I had and I had no doubt it would happen for my friend Rachel too! Check our her blog at www.rachelaclingen.blogspot.com and her website at www.rachelaclingen.com

May 29, 2010

FOUR WEDDINGS! Don't worry I was only able to play at two of them. My associate harpists Brianne and Rachel played at the other two. I was in Toronto for my first wedding at the Agrilcola Finish Lutheran Church. Than I had a break before traveling to Concord to play at a wedding reception. Rachel played at the Canoe in Toronto http://www.oliverbonacini.com/Canoe.aspx and Brianne was at the Mississauga Grand www.mississaugagrand.com A very busy weekend making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be at the right time. Everything went very well for us all and we all had a great time performing!

May 22, 2010

May 22, 2010 Congrats Nicole! It was a pity it rained and we were inside. This wedding was at a gorgeous golf course! It was at the Burlington Golf Club www.burlingtongolfclub.com however if you are not a member of this club don't bother even stepping foot onto the property for a drink of water! They were a bit over board on this policy. I arrived early to be sure I knew where I was going and couldn't even relax in the club house for a drink after setting up. They view from the reception hall was amazing and a great location for your ceremony, pictures and reception. I just don't know if you can even have your wedding there if you are not a member.

Mississauga Grand

Mississauga Grand www.mississaugagrand.com I play here often and if I'm not Rachel Dignard my associate harpist is. They provide our harp music in their lobby for most weddings complimentary to the Bride and Groom. It is a much better option than having a piano like most other reception halls. The harp is a culmination of beauty, romance, and harmonic perfection that adds classical elegance to any occasion. It provides a soothing ambiance unmatched by any other instrument.

November 7, 2009

This was a lovely wedding and they included some Jewish traditions. Their photographer Norm Rumfeldt from Visual Dynamics Photography (www.visualdynamics photography@sympatico.com) took these lovely pictures for me :) I especially love the close up of the harp. Thanks Norm!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN???

I had to play at this wedding on Halloween! These were the flower girls that were very excited to be posing for me with the harp! Thank goodness the wedding didn't go too late there was still time for 'tricker treating' :)