My name is Renee Wilson, and I am a Chicago harpist specializing in weddings. I provide beautiful harp music that can be completely customized for your wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. I have helped couples choose their wedding music for over 30 years, and I think the process should be fun and reflective of the couple themselves. My YouTube channel and repertoire lists will get you started thinking about what your perfect wedding music choices would be, and I am available by phone or email to answer any questions. Feel free to reach out at any point during your planning process; my response time is fast, so you won't find yourself waiting long for answers!
(312) 860-4997
reneewilsonharp@gmail.com
I think how your musician sounds is likely one of the first things you'll want to consider, so I've recorded over 30 selections to help you decide if I am the right harpist for your wedding. I've got a few videos below to get you started, but here's a button link for when you're ready to head over to my channel.
Introductory Videos
Here are just a few videos of the most frequently requested wedding ceremony and cocktail reception selections I have.
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Hiring a Harpist for Your Wedding
Please click on the question you'd like answered. If you have additional question about your wedding specifics, I would be delighted to hear from you!
reneewilsonharp@gmail.com
(312) 860-4997
reneewilsonharp@gmail.com
(312) 860-4997
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How much do you charge for playing a wedding ceremony or reception?
Open or CloseMy basic wedding fee is $450 (I will be $500 for events after 1/1/25). For a ceremony, this covers prelude music (before the wedding), the ceremony, and 2 pieces after the wedding (recessional and postlude). Cocktail music or reception music can be added for $100 per hour. If you only need reception music, the first 2 hours are $450, and additional hours may be added for $100 an hour. I do have some surcharges: parking (if it is not available from the venue), change of location within the venue ($25), certificate of insurance for your venue ($25), difficult location ($50), and special request music (see below for specifics). -
Do you have a standard travel area?
Open or CloseMy normal travel area includes towns as far north as Lake Forest, as far south as Kankakee, as far west as Aurora, and as far east as Merrillville, Indiana. -
Can you play special requests?
Open or CloseI am always happy to play special requests! Special requests need to be made 30 days in advance of the event. If I don't already own the music, it needs to be available for purchase (in a piano version) at one of the online music stores I use. I will take care of getting the music and arranging it for harp, and a charge of $15 will be added to your contract for each request. There is a limit of 2 special requests per event. (Choosing music from my repertoire lists is never considered a "special request") -
How do we arrange for you to play at our wedding?
Open or CloseWhen you are ready to book, I will need to know who the "purchaser" will be, and I will need a street address and telephone number for that person. I will send a contract via email, and it will need to be signed and returned with a $100 deposit. I accept personal checks, cash, and Zelle. -
Do you have special requirements for outdoor performances?
Open or CloseYes. The most important thing to remember is that the harp cannot get wet. If it begins to rain during your ceremony, I will need to get the harp covered and to a dry location. This has actually never happened during a ceremony, but I feel it is important to let my clients know that even a little rain is damaging. I certainly appreciate being out of direct sunlight and on solid ground, but I do try to be flexible. Outdoor wedding are always a bit of an adventure!! -
What is your training and experience?
Open or CloseI began studying harp at the age of 10 here in Chicago with the second harpist of the Lyric Opera (Mary Jo Green). I received my Master of Music Performance from the University of Northern Iowa, where I studied with Mary Beckman. In addition to playing jobs in and around the Chicago area, I have been the principal harpist of the South Bend Symphony since 1990. -
How do I start planning the music for my wedding?
Open or CloseUsually the first thing you want to do is decide if you will have classical music, popular music, or a mix for your ceremony. Then begin the specific song selection with what you want to walk down the aisle to, and match the other songs as you go along. Having an overall mood in mind and doing lots of listening usually helps! Your officiant will generally tell you where you will need music in the ceremony, but I can also help sort that out if your officiant isn't sure. Some couples like to choose music for the prelude (music for your guests as they arrive), but others like to leave that to me to choose. There is no wrong way to go about it!
Repertoire Lists:
Start Planning Your Wedding Right Here!
All of my standard wedding repertoire is listed below. If you don't see something listed, it can likely be added as one of your two special requests. Please click on the category you are interested in to reveal the list.
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Popular (Contemporary) Choices Frequently Used in Weddings
Open or CloseAin't No Mountain High Enough
All I Ask of You (from "Phantom of the Opera")
All of Me (John Legend)
All You Need is Love (Beatles)
A Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)
A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
At Last (Etta James)
Beauty and the Beast
Bless the Broken Road (Rascal Flats)
Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)
Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Elton John)
Chapel of Love
Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)
Canon in D x Here Comes the Sun (Nicole Reynolds)
Dangerously in Love (Beyonce)
Embraceable You (Gershwin)
Endless Love (Lionel Ritchie)
Eternal Flame (The Bangles)
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You (Bryan Adams)
Falling Slowly (Once)
The First Day of My Life (Bright eyes)
Flightless Bird/American Mouth (Iron and Wine)
Forever in Love (Kenny G)
From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
Golden Hour (JVKE)
Halo (Beyonce)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Heaven is a Place on Earth (Belinda Carlisle/Grace George)
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)
Here There and Everywhere (Beatles)
How Long Will I Love You (Ellie Goulding)
Ice Cream (Sarah McLachlan)
I Choose You (Sara Bareilles)
I Have Dreamed (from "The King and I" and "The American President")
I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
I Will (Beatles)
I Won't give Up (Jason Mraz)
La Vie en Rose (Piaf/Armstrong)
Lover (Taylor Swift)
Love Story (Taylor Swift)
Make You Feel My Love (Adele)
Marry Me (Train)
Mary You (Bruno Mars)
Married Life (from "Up")
Moon River (from "Breakfast at Tiffany's)
My Cherie Amour (Stevie Wonder)
Only Time (Enya)
Over the Rainbow (Dorothy version)
Over the Rainbow (Iz version)
Perfect (Ed Sheehan)
The Prayer
Ribbon in the Sky (Stevie Wonder)
River Flows in You (Twilight)
Someone to Watch Over Me (Gershwin)
Somewhere Only We Know
Songbird (Fleetwood Mac)
Stand By Me (Kingdom Choir/Royal Wedding Version)
Storybook Love (from "The Princess Bride")
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) Natalie Cole
Till There Was You (from "The Music Man")
True Colors
The Way You Look Tonight (Kern)
What a Wonderful World (Armstrong)
(What a) Wonderful World (Sam Cooke)
What the World Needs Now is Love
When I'm 64 (Beatles)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
You're My Best Friend (Queen) -
Classical Music Frequently Used in Weddings
Open or CloseAir (from "Water Music; Handel)
Air on the G String (Bach)
Allegro Grazioso (from "Spring"; Vivaldi)
Allegro Maestoso (Handel)
All in a Garden Green (Playford)
Ave Maria (Schubert)
Bianco Fiore ("White Flowers"; Negri)
Bridal Chorus (from "Lohengrin"; "Here Comes the Bride"; Wagner)
Clair de Lune (Debussy)
Come Ye Sons of Art (Purcell)
Concerto in B flat (Handel)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
Evening of Roses (Traditional Jewish)
Flower Duet (Delibes)
The Gentle Maiden (Irish Air)
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Largo (from "The Four Seasons"; Vivaldi)
The Lark in the Clear Air (Traditional Irish)
Meditation (from "Thais"; Massenet)
Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
Prince of Denmark's March (Clarke)
The Rejoicing (Handel)
Rondeau (Mouret)
Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach)
Trumpet Tune (Clarke)
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) -
Additional Popular Choices for Weddings (Prelude or Cocktail Hour)
Open or CloseAgain (Janet Jackson)
Always and Forever
Angel (Sarah Mclachlan)
Angel of Music (from "Phantom of the Opera")
A Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)
Beauty and the Beast (Ashman/Menken)
Be My Baby (The Ronettes)
Blue Bossa
Can't Get Started With You (Vernon Duke)
Caught Up in the Rapture (Anita Baker)
Dangerously in Love
December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
Despacito
Dream (Priscilla Ahn)
Ebb Tide (Robert MaxwellO
Edelweiss (from "The Sound of Music")
Fields of Gold (Sting)
Final Fantasy Prelude
Game of Thrones Theme
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Here and Now
Hotel California (Eagles)
I Believe in You and Me
If I Ain't Got You (Alicia Keys)
If I Fell (Beatles)
I Got you Babe (Sonny and Cher)
I Get a Kick Out of You (Cole Porter)
I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston)
Inner Light (Star Trek Next Generation)
In My Life (Beatles)
Into the West (from "The Lord of the Rings")
Iris (Goo Goo Dolls)
It Might As Well Be Spring (Rogers/Hammerstein)
Kiss From a Rose (Seal)
La Paloma Azul (Brubeck)
Love is Here To Stay (Gershwin)
Misty (Errol Gardner)
My Funny Valentine (Gershwin)
My Girl
My Heart Will Go On (from "Titanic")
Nothing Compares 2U
Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
On the Wings of Love
Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder)
Photograph (Ed Sheeran)
Pure Imagination (from "Willie Wonka")
Rainbow Connection (Kermit the frog)
Ripple (Grateful Dead)
Razón De Vivir (Mercedes Sosa)
Scarborough Fair (Simon and Garfunkel)
Save the Best for Last (Vanessa Williams)
September (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Singing in the Rain
Somewhere in Time (Barry)
Stay With Me (Sam Smith)
Suddenly
Sweet Child 'O Mine (Guns N' Roses)
Sweet Love
Terrapin Station (Grateful Dead)
That's All (Nat King Cole)
Time in a Bottle (Jim Croce)
Time to Say Goodbye (Andrea Bocelli)
Tonight Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins)
Tupelo Honey (Van Morrison)
Under the Boardwalk
Unforgettable
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
We're In This Love Together
Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift)
The Wind (Cat Stevens)
You've Got a Friend in Me (from "Toy Story") -
Additional Classical Choices
Open or CloseAdagio from "Clarinet Concerto" (Mozart)
Arioso (Bach)
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Gluck)
First Gymnopedie (Satie)
First Arabesque (Debussy)
Fur Elise (Beethoven)
The Girl With the Flaxen Hair (Debussy)
I Love You So (Lehar)
Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)
Musetta's Waltz (Puccini)
Nocturne (Mendelssohn)
O Mio Babbino Caro (Puccini)
Prelude #1 (Bach)
Raindrop Prelude (Chopin)
Sicilienne from Pelleas and Melisande
Simple Gifts (from "Appalachian Spring "; Copland)
Sleepers Wake (Bach)
Sonata en Re (Albeniz)
The Swan (Saint-Saens)
Theme from "Jupiter" (Holst)
To a Wild Rose (Macdowell)
Villa Song (Lehar) -
Bollywood
Open or CloseChori Chori Chupke Chupke
Dil Diyan Gallan
Janam Janam
Jashn-E-Bahara
Kal Ho Naa Ho
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Pee Loon
Pehla Nasha
Mitwa
O Re Piya
Tere Bina
Teri Meri
Tum Hi Ho
Visit My Blog
Okay, I know blogs are sort of out of fashion, and it is a little strange to squish this whole other site in here at the bottom of the page. Still, I don't know a better way to get across to you the number of places I have played. If you wonder if I've ever been to your venue, you can check out the topics at the side of the page. I have lots of pictures of my harp set up at the venues, too, so it can be fun to see what it might look like if you had harp at your wedding!