On the last Saturday in June, I had two wedding ceremonies for which I played the harp. The first was an outdoor wedding in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
For the prelude, the bride requested the traditional Welsh folk songs “By Kell’s Waters” and “Suogan,” along with “Sheep May Safely Graze” by Bach and “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera. For the entrance of the bridal party, she chose “Canon in D” by Pachelbel.
Her own entrance was less traditional. She selected the “Bridal March from Skjevik” by the Norwegian composer Trond Ottar Maalen. The ceremony concluded with “Trumpet Voluntary” as the recessional, followed by the first movement of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and “Air” from Handel’s Water Music.
The second ceremony of the day was at the Centre Meeting House outside of Niles, Michigan (formerly the Morris Chapel). I get to play for weddings there often! The bride requested non-classical music for the prelude as guests arrived, and to include “Mayonnaise” by Smashing Pumpkins before the service.
For the seating of families, she chose “What a Wonderful World,” followed by “Fields of Gold” by Sting for the bridal party entrance. “Blue Sky” by the Allman Brothers was both the bride’s processional and the recessional, using the slow beginning for the bride, and the upbeat middle section as the couple left the ceremony.