I loved working with Julia and her family to plan her wedding ceremony music! She was so sweet when we had our consultation to pick out the harp music for each element of the service, and just beautiful on her wedding day. The ceremony was held inside (fortunately – it was a hot day that ended in thunderstorms!) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. I got the harp inside just as the rain began to fall.
The bridesmaids all wore knee-length gray dresses, and the flowers were yellow and green with accents of periwinkle. Gray and yellow are popular this year – they were the colors for both of my weddings this weekend!
She had one special request for the prelude music as guests arrived – “Claire de Lune” by Debussy. After I played that piece, I filled in with other Classical and Romantic harp solos. During the seating of families, the bride chose “Meditation” from the Massenet opera Thais. The bridal party processional was Bach’s “Prelude in C” and the bride entered to “Fairest Isle” by Purcell.
At the groom’s request, it was important to include Schubert’s “Ave Maria“, so I played that as the couple presented roses to their parents. The recessional was an upbeat tune by the blind Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan: “Fanny Power,” which looks much better when listed in your ceremony program as “O’Carolan’s Wedding March”! Following the ceremony, the guests walked down the street to the reception at Beiger Mansion.
While most of the harp music for this ceremony was classical, it wasn’t entirely traditional. If your church or officiant has restrictions on the music that can be played, you aren’t stuck with the same pieces everyone else uses! I love working with couples to customize a wedding music program that is unique and memorable. Visit my website, South Bend Wedding Music, or call 1-574-344-9401 for more information on having a harpist for your wedding!
