Always Glad to be Back at Maxwell Mansion
I’ve played several times at Maxwell Mansion, but this is the first time I’ve sat down and written about it. Have you considered having your wedding and/or reception there? I definitely recommend it! It’s one of the most versatile spaces I’ve performed at. There are so many different ways to arrange everything, and even though I’ve been there more than once, each wedding has seemed to be in a unique location.
I played a full dueling pianos style wedding at Maxwell Mansion last year, and we had out whole set-up in one of the front rooms. It was a perfect way for people to dance but still have the opportunity to wander around the other rooms. The music carried very well throughout the building which was very nice, because believe me, you will want to wander around!
The wedding I played at last week was just me by myself, and nearly everything was set-up outside Maxwell Mansion. It was July 4th weekend, so all night we could hear the whispers of fireworks in the background, and the bride and groom even brought sparklers for everyone. It was the perfect time of year for an outdoor wedding. There were even (I think) boysenberry plants all around the grounds. I even had a few landing on me while I played! (But believe you, they were great about making sure none were near the white wedding dress!)
It was such a cool, casual affair, and the bride’s brother in law even played live during the ceremony. At Felix and Fingers, we work with guest musicians all the time. I just plugged him into my system, gave him a microphone, and he was good to go! I managed the mixing board the whole time. One of the perks of hiring us is that we’re all excellent sound engineers!
I began dinner with some jazz and other background music. When everyone was finished eating, I started taking requests. There’s something than never gets old about seeing a bunch of friends and family members in formal dresses and suits dancing to “Baby Got Back!” There was a fire pit a little further back, and the ambiance it created was awesome!
The only venue with an organ in the bathroom!
I can’t say enough about the staff at Maxwell Mansion. Jennifer, who was running everything, was completely on top of everything. Any questions I had were answered right away! The staff were smiling all night. At least three of them offered to help me load my car at the end of the night. I can speak from personal experience that their mixologists are at the top of their games. I don’t drink at weddings I play at, but at an event I attended last year, the guy tending bar made me the best old fashioned I’ve ever had!
Check out Maxwell Mansion and the similarly awesome Baker House here. They are some of the most unique venues, not only in Lake Geneva, but anywhere. If you do, I hope you reach out to Felix and Fingers to provide the best entertainment imaginable!
