I first met Gina & Joe when they attended a harp concert I gave in March at the Chicago School of Hot Yoga. It was the perfect opportunity for them to hear the harp in person, and imagine how well it would fit in with their wedding plans! Although they both live in Chicago, they were planning a destination wedding on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan.
The island has no cars, so the only transportation is by bike or horse-drawn taxi. Since it was a beautiful day, and Mission Point isn’t too far from the ferry dock, I decided to walk there. I got lots of stares from people as I pushed the harp down the street!
I arrived at Mission Point about three hours before the wedding was scheduled to begin. Since I was dealing with ferry schedules, no car, and the Fourth of July weekend, I allowed a lot of extra time. It was a perfect day to spend some time sitting under a shade tree, enjoying a good book. This time, I was so early that I arrived before the first wedding of the day at the resort. It’s not often that I just get to observe a wedding (from a distance, of course), without concentrating on the music!
The weather was beautiful for the outdoor ceremony at the gazebo. For the entrance of the families, I played “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music. This was a special song for them, since the groom first met the bride’s mother when they attended this musical. The bridal party processional was “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” and the bride’s entrance music was “Canon in D.” During the unity sand ceremony, they requested the Josh Groban song “You Raise Me Up.” The recessional was the traditional Mendelssohn “Wedding March.”
Gina & Joe departed the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage, and their guests went up to the resort for the cocktail hour. It was nice enough out that they were able to enjoy drinks and appetizers on the porch – as long as the seagulls stayed away! The wedding coordinators and banquet staff loved the harp, too, and had their pictures taken with it before the guests arrived. Mackinac Island resorts and hotels hire staff from all around the world, and there were several young men from Jamaica who especially enjoyed the music!
As I was playing for the cocktail hour, the flower girl and ring bearer came over to see the harp up close. I also gave them the opportunity to sit behind the harp and give it a try – a great photo op for the parents (and maybe inspiring another future harpist)!
Music for the cocktail hour was a variety of popular pieces, including a reprise of “You Raise Me Up” and “Somewhere in Time” ~ no Mackinac Island wedding would be complete without it!
Like my wedding on Saturday, their colors were gray and yellow. I especially loved their cake set up in front of their sweetheart table.
I was so pleased to be able to provide harp music for this wedding ceremony and reception. If you are planning a wedding for Mackinac Island, I’d love to be your harpist as well! Just visit my website:
for information on how I can make your Mackinac Island destination wedding even more romantic with elegant harp music!
