I love December weddings! My last wedding ceremony of the year was on December 19th – a Sunday afternoon. When all of the students have left for the semester, college campuses are so peaceful, and even more so when they are covered with a light blanket of snow.
This ceremony was held in Rieth Recital Hall in the Goshen College Music Center. You can’t ask for better acoustics than that! I was set up in the balcony above the stage where the ceremony took place, on the same level as the organ.
They had the stage decorated with white draping, candles, and vases filled with silver branches.
During the prelude as the guests arrived, I played a variety of classical and Celtic songs, including Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze,” “Down by the Salley Gardens,” and “Carolan’s Welcome,” a song by the blind Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan.
As soon as the groom and groomsmen entered, I began playing the traditional “Canon in D,” which served as the entrance music for the families of the bride and groom as well as for the wedding party. For the bride’s processional, she chose “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera.
During the lighting of the unity candle, I played a song made famous by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli – “Con te partiro” (Time to Say Goodbye). For the recessional, “Fields of Gold” by Sting. You might be surprised how well that song fits the sound of the harp!
Once the ceremony was complete, the guests headed to the reception in the lobby of the Goshen College Music Center. With the floor to ceiling windows, it was the perfect location to look out over the winter landscape. Their colors were royal blue, purple, and silver, and the centerpieces were magnificent ~ purple orchids and hanging crystals!
Planning a wedding or event in Northern Indiana? Contact me for information about live harp music: Northern Indiana Harpist