Michael and Amanda were blessed with a beautiful (but hot!) Chicago day for their wedding ceremony. The service took place at the magnificent Holy Family Catholic Church on Roosevelt road, near the University of Illinois Chicago campus. One of the oldest church buildings in Chicago (that means it’s not air conditioned!), its size dwarfs even my harp that stands six feet tall.
There was another wedding in the church at 3:00 prior to our 5:00 ceremony. I was able to get in, set up, and tuned with no problems at all, but I think the florists were a little rushed! They did a beautiful job – the sanctuary doesn’t need any ornamentation. They tied antique gold ribbons around the pews, and filled them with white hydrangeas (my favorite flower!).
The church’s wedding coordinator made sure the processional went smoothly, lining up all of the wedding party and giving me a cue when they were ready to begin. A good coordinator is always a worthwhile investment, whether they come with your church or you hire an outside vendor! The mothers entered to “Arioso” by Bach.
Each of the bridesmaids wore a different style of dress in varying shades of peacock blue. They looked beautiful, and entered to “Canon in D” – one of the most traditional songs for the entrance of the bridal party. The bride’s entrance music was another Bach piece, “Prelude in C” from The Well-Tempered Clavier.
No music was planned during the service, but I improvised on glissandos while everyone shared a sign of the peace. The recessional was the Beatles song “All You Need is Love” – approved by the priest in advance, of course!
If you are planning a wedding in a church, be sure you check with your pastor or priest to see if there are any restrictions on the music that can be played during the service. Some are more relaxed, others have very strict rules. It’s always best to find out well before your wedding day to avoid disappointment!
My harps have been all over Chicago and throughout the suburbs. If you’d like to see how a harpist can fit in with your wedding plans, please visit my website:
for details. I’d love to work with you and enhance your ceremony and reception with harp music!