This wedding was a special treat for me, because I not only know the groom from high school, but we played in orchestra together. The last time he heard me play was after I’d only had about a year of lessons, so I’m glad he trusted that I had improved since then! The ceremony and reception were both held at the Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton, Illinois, with the ceremony taking place in front of the stone fireplace in the lobby. Perfect for a February wedding!
As a musician himself, Peter made some great choices for their wedding ceremony music. The processionals were traditional (“Canon in D” for the bridesmaids, “Bridal Chorus” for the bride), but the prelude and postlude were filled with music that you might not expect to hear at a wedding ~ much less so on the harp!
The prelude started off with “Stairway to Heaven,” and also included “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera, and “Mexico” by Cake. They had originally planned for a unity candle ceremony, but decided to skip it and have the piece they selected ~ “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie ~ played during the prelude as well. When I saw that piece on their list, I literally squealed with delight ~ I’m a HUGE Muppets fan! It’s going into my playlist as often as possible!
After Ashleigh and Peter were introduced, they and their wedding party exited the ceremony to the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun.” The postlude followed with more popular pieces, including “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Unchained Melody,” and Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” The groom’s father told me the last piece was special to them as it was the first piece that father & son played together for Ashleigh.
I love it when couples choose music that has special meaning to them. The music for your wedding ceremony is something you will always remember, and I was so excited to work with Peter and Ashleigh and be their wedding harpist. If you are planning a wedding at Pere Marquette or anywhere in the St. Louis area, please visit my website ~ St. Louis Harpist ~ for details on including harp music in your own wedding!
