This post has been a long time coming, but I knew I had to squeeze it in before adding all my 2012 wedding season photos! I was so pleased to join Rachel and Cody for their wedding last November in Boston at the historic Ruggles Baptist Church. The church is a landmark in the Fenway neighborhood.

I played light classical prelude and Pachelbel’s Canon in D for the bridal party and bride. We concluded with Trumpet Voluntary and had a great time talking afterwards!

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I took as I much I do

Setting up and dusting off the harp – it’s so big, it’s like a piece of furniture sometimes!

The dramatic church organ balcony

About to start playing!

The flowers at the corner of every pew

A majestic shot of the exterior

Fenway foliage

A great view after the ceremony

The charming bride Rachel and I

Even though I moved from Chicago to Boston over five years ago, I’m still constantly discovering new parts of Massachusetts. So when I was asked to play for Maura and Shelby’s wedding in Mashpee, just at the mouth of Cape Cod, I was excited to be introduced to the beautiful seaside homes and spotless beaches.

On a Saturday in September we were lucky enough to have perfect weather conditions on the ocean. The intimate lawn ceremony was right next the beach and the scenery made me feel like a tourist again. As you can see from the pictures, the view was impeccable and the event as a whole was filled with warmth.

I worked with the brides to make the music for the ceremony as personal and contemporary as possible. For prelude, I played Come Away With Me by Norah Jones, The Scientist by Coldplay, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, and Answer by Sarah Mclachlan. The bridal party walked down to Pachelbel’s Canon in D and the brides made all the guests tear up processing to Rufus Wainwright’s arrangement of Hallelujah. My music stand endured the strong breeze as I played Trumpet Voluntary as their recessional.

I also owe a huge thank you to Heidi of Desiree Spinner Events for all her hard work on this extravagant day. Here are a few magical moments that I was glad to capture.

The view coming up to the private residence

One of the prettiest places my harp has ever been!

The cute rock street sign at the start of the private drive

I’m always a sucker for flowers, especially purple ones

The empty chairs waiting for the guests to arrive

It was hot and humid this September, but love was still in the air. I was honored to join Nancy and Jeff for their elegant wedding ceremony and cocktail hour at the Andover Country Club.

I stationed myself next to the altar and enjoyed a stunning view overlooking the entire golf course. I started with selections from Chopin and Vivaldi while mingling with a few guests during the prelude. Nancy’s bridesmaids made their way down the long outdoor aisle to Ave Maria. Nancy herself was a vision walking to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. The couple’s ceremony was heartfelt and touching, and their vows unforgettable. For a moment even I felt weepy! We celebrated their joy and heralded the new couple with Trumpet Voluntary as they walked away together.

I was so happy to be a part of this wedding and cocktail hour, and I’m grateful to know I set the tone for a happy family to come. I wanted to share Nancy’s kind words and some delightful pictures I took on her special day

“Lauren Baker is a great harpist! She plays beautifully. She set the perfect tone for our wedding. She was very helpful in our selection of music. It was like icing on the cake for our perfect day!! Many people said the sound of the harp was a beautiful accent to a beautiful ceremony. We received many comments from our guests praising the music during our ceremony and cocktail hour.  I almost wish I was a guest rather than the bride so that I could have heard even more. Lauren is truly amazing and she added the perfect finishing touch to our lovely ceremony. Our guests succumbed to the romance of our day the moment they stepped on the grounds and heard her beautiful music. Her talent excels on all levels and is simply a gift to anyone who uses her services.”

The adorable swan on the entrance sign

Laughing and going over the ceremony schedule

View of the expansive golf course from the ceremony site

The peaceful fountain that greeted me at the front door

All set up and ready to play!

This past Labor Day weekend was filled to the brim with weddings and celebration. I was fortunate enough to join Alexis and Greg at the Milton Hoosic Club in Milton, Massachusetts for their romantic outdoor wedding.

The graceful bridesmaids walked down the aisle to Bach’s Prelude No. 1 and Alexis made her way to the altar to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. The sun shone brightly and the breeze caught her beautiful veil just right. The couple closed out their ceremony to “All My Loving” by The Beatles, and I was elated to be a part of the joyous occasion.

Here are six of my favorite shots of the momentous day.

The bride and her bridesmaids wrangling her veil to capture the wind for the photographers, Freestyle Weddings

Getting prepared to start the prelude on my perch overlooking the lawn ceremony

The luminous ballroom, ready for a night of dancing and good food!

A glimpse of the wonderful greenery on the premises

The stunning baby grand piano waiting to be played for cocktail hour

The gorgeous bride Alexis and I cooling off inside

On August 6th, I had the privilege of playing for the gorgeous wedding of Kari and Eugene Morgan at the Essex Conference Center & Retreat in Essex, Massachusetts. We were lucky to have a sunny day with a flawless ceremony filled with touching passages read by the parents of the bride and groom.

Guests were seated around a picturesque pond while the bridal party and I stood on a peninsula surrounded by flowers. The bridesmaids walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D and the bride made a grand entrance with Wagner’s Wedding March. We had a sing-a-long of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” and I played my arrangement of “I Will Always Love You”. We closed the ceremony with Mendelssohn’s Wedding March and I continued the fun performing Beatles’ songs and jazz standards during the cocktail hour.

I was able to snap a few pictures to preserve the breathtaking natural beauty of the venue, and here are my favorites!

A waterfall flowing softly next to me

Oh you know, no big deal, just a harpist in the middle of the woods!

You never know where you’ll have the best view: this was taken from a clearing in the parking lot

My cocktail hour performance – songs included “I Will” by The Beatles and “All I Ask of You” by Andrew Lloyd Webber

The stunning bride Kari and I! In the midst of her busy day, I was so happy to finally meet her in person

Stay tuned for more picture-filled posts ahead! I’m making it a habit to document my adventures and the beautiful venues I get to visit.