COVID-19 changing your Wedding Plans? The Harp is Perfect for Intimate Weddings in Tampa Bay!6/3/2020
The world has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. We find ourselves uprooted from our normal day-to-day routine. Those in the process of planning a wedding now have ANOTHER wrench thrown into their plans. I can not imagine what it must be like to plan a wedding during a global pandemic. Since we are being so mindful about large gatherings, there is a shift in the wedding industry. Instead of 6-8 hour weddings with hundreds of guests, most brides are opting to have small, intimate weddings. Many couples are even choosing to plan elopement weddings. The harp is great for all of these situations. The harp is perfect for an outdoor wedding ceremony in the Tampa Bay Area with your closest family and friends. If you are planning a wedding that is only 2-3 hours long, the harp is ideal for this type of gathering. I can play harp music for the first dances: father of the bride and bride dance, and mother of the groom and groom dance, and of course the newly husband and wife’s first dance. The harp is a great fit for the cutting of the cake and during the luncheon or dinner reception. The harp will elevate your backyard wedding and provide class with harp ceremony music. If you’re planning on having a beach wedding in Clearwater or St Pete or even getting married in a park in Sarasota, the harp is a beautiful and unique choice that will leave your guests in awe. I know many couples may feel like they are settling in having a small wedding but I see it as a unique opportunity to have an even more memorable wedding. This is how I imagine conversations going 25 years from now:
“Can you believe we got married during a PANDEMIC?” “Yeah! That was so crazy! Do you remember how awesome our harpist was?” Okay I’m not so sure that would be the reply.. But hey I can dream, right? Lol ;) The great thing about having a harpist is that there doesn’t need to be a lot of interaction. All necessary information about the event is relayed to me prior to my arrival. My harp automatically provides a barrier between me and guests. For the time being, I will no longer be hugging or shaking hands with clients or peers. As sad as this makes me (I’m a hugger), it is the best choice during these times. I will also be attending events with a mask. If I feel ill, I will not be attending events. If there is anything I can do to help make planning your intimate wedding easier, please let me know! To say I’m obsessed with Paisleigh and Tyler’s gorgeous wedding may be an understatement (or a little creepy ha!) Seriously, I could not imagine a more perfect wedding. The weather in February is amazing and it couldn’t have been a more delightful day. I absolutely loved the wedding venue, Kathleen’s Garden in Plant City. When you first arrive you walk through lush greenery and past a series of adorable bird houses. It’s like a fairy tale! The wedding ceremony site is in front of a cute little creek with tall oaks surrounding you. The decor was incredible. I loved the circular arch used as the backdrop of the ceremony. I’m a sucker for florals and they did not disappoint! I loved the white roses and tiny hues of blue. One of my favorite locations was the little bar and fire pit tucked away behind some bushes with a little hidden orange tree nearby.
Paisleigh and Tyler might just be the cutest couple ever. I love that they never stopped smiling the entire ceremony. It was obvious how much they enjoy life and their adventures together. I loved being able to provide their ceremony music for their special day. The couple choose “Never Enough” from the Greatest Showman to be played for the processional and Paisleigh walked down the aisle to “Perfect” by Ed Sheehan. After the couple said “I DO!”, I played “I Will Follow You into the Dark” for the recessional. I loooveeed these song selections! Chelsea Renay, the photographer did such an amazing job capturing their day. She definitely made my top favorite photographers when she took 1000000 photos with the harp. Okay, I may be exaggerating but I love that she did multiple poses with the couple and the harp. I’ve had a photographer one time say to a couple “You want a picture.. with that?” Needless to say, they made the list of least favorite. HA! I mean the harp is gorgeous and makes such an elegant addition to wedding photos. I know I may be biased but look at the photos below! Incredible! I’m so happy for Paisleigh and Tyler as they begin their next chapter in their lives. Wishing them nothing but the best! I love my job. <3 ![]() Wow! I'm super excited and humbled by having won WeddingWire Couple's Choice Award for the last 6 years in a row! As you may have read in the many heartfelt reviews, I take pride in my work and professionalism when I'm hired. From the moment you contact me , to helping you in your song selections, or the ease of doing business with online contracts, questionnaires and payment options - my goal is to make it a super easy experience in your wedding (or event) planning process. I'm excited about all the wonderful couples and events I will be playing for this year 2020. If you are still looking for a wedding or event entertainment, musician, or harpist in the Lakeland, Sarasota, Clearwater, or all of the Tampa Bay area...look no further and book me with confidence! Contact me today and let's chat about your event! :) xoxo Kristen Elizabeth Anna and Philippe’s Sweet #DestinationWedding at #FloridaBotanicalGardens in Largo Florida11/6/2019 Some people don’t know that my husband and I never had a “real” wedding. We got married at the Courthouse with just our mom’s and two of our friends present. But if I had to plan a “real” wedding (and get married again ha!), I’d want it to be just like Anna and Philippe’s. Venue that is special and has meaning? Check! Our closest family and friends? Check! Gorgeous dress and flowers? Check. AMAZING HARP MUSIC? Check! ;) Anna and Philippe’s wedding was truly perfect. They decided to have their wedding at the beautiful Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. The gardens are incredible and one of the best I’ve ever seen (and I’ve visited my share). The gardens span over 30 acres and entrance is granted by just a donation request. I love that the couple chose this location for a specific reason. The bride had been visiting the gardens since she was a baby! The garden is so special to her that she even has a tattoo of one of the flowers found in the garden. I love this!! There is just something so romantic about an intimate destination wedding with just a few guests. I love being able to play for weddings like this. Having the harp at a small wedding really makes it special. It’s so fun for me because the guests interact more with me while I’m playing and it really makes me feel included in such a big day. The bride and groom selected timeless love songs for the ceremony. The opening processional was “La Vie En Rose”. The bride walked out to “What A Wonderful World”. She so elegantly described it as a “eternal love song” and is absolutely correct! My favorite song they selected was “Edelwiess”. Now I know what you’re thinking…. “Really?”. Of course the song is beautiful and nostalgic (Can you believe my husband has never seen The Sound of Music?) but the reason why they selected it was my favorite. The bride’s grandma is Austrian and they selected that song in honor of her. I loved that Anna’s grandma approached me afterwards and told me how much she loved that song. <3 I love being able to share in these memorable moments! I will never forget this wedding (partly because it was the only wedding in history to begin EARLY! lol) I wish Anna and Philippe all the best! Xoxox If you are looking for a wedding harpist for your wedding ceremony in the Tampa Bay area, contact me today! Oh my word! I was so excited when April asked me to play at her wedding at the incredible, historic Fenway Hotel. When you pull into the driveway of the hotel and follow it’s curve, you arrive to a staircase under the Porte-cochere. Following the stairs into the hotel, you’re greeted with the smell of fresh cut wood. I suspect Cedar or sandalwood. (I just made that up, but seriously it smells woody!). Even though the hotel itself is historic, the hotel has been recently remodeled and restored. It is finished with all the contemporary upgrades. Let’s talk about the gorgeous tile that decorates the bathrooms. Ugh it's the perfect blend of old and new, antique and contemporary. I loved it so much. The hotel emphasizes their love of music, especially since the hotel was originally built in the jazz era. I felt at home with the harp.
The front lawn was the perfect location for wedding ceremony. There was a waterfront view and gentle breeze that came off the harbor. The couple choose simple yet beautiful floral arrangements to decorate the arch. The arch mirrored the arches in the Porte-cochere. I loved the elegant design of the ceremony and that the couple included their two, very adorable pups in the wedding party. However, my FAVORITE thing was how Casey was admiring April. At one point he was so entranced by her that he didn’t repeat after the officiant. The officiant stated the line, repeatedly but Casey was enchanted and didn’t hear the Pastor. It was adorable and gave me all the feels. It was such a sweet moment and I feel privileged to have witnessed it. Side note, I've seen weddings were the couple included their beloved animals but this was the first wedding that had a specific caretaker for the pups! I thought this was genius! FairyTail Pet Care were amazing, they walked the dogs and provided treats for when they behaved. EVERYONE that includes their animals in the wedding party should use this service! (This is not sponsored lol!) Wishing April and Casey a lifetime of laughter, love, and puppy kisses! <3 |
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Kristen Elizabeth
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February 2023
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