As I did last year, I reviewed the music from all of the weddings I provided harp music for throughout 2012 (see the list from 2011). Again, “Canon in D” is a top choice. Last year, it was the most-requested piece for both the bridal processional and the wedding party processional. This year, it not only topped both of those lists, but was the most popular selection for the seating of families as well!
Jason Mraz’s song “I’m Yours” has become significantly more popular, as has music from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. “Fields of Gold” by Sting hasn’t been requested as much, and the traditional recessional (Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March“) dropped below “Trumpet Tune.” Train’s “Marry Me” is still a popular choice for mid-ceremony music, where it is tied for the top spot with “Ave Maria” and Enya’s “Only Time.”
Most couples choose one of the traditional pieces for the processionals, but are more willing to try something unique for their mid-ceremony music (such as for the unity candle/sand) and for their recessional. Many of my weddings combined the traditional wedding favorites with contemporary pieces that everyone would recognize. Last year, my brides were nearly evenly split between “Canon in D” and “Here Comes the Bride” for their processionals. In 2012, nearly twice as many opted for “Canon” than for the more traditional selection!
Going beyond just a “Top 10” list, the listing below includes ALL of the music chosen by my brides and grooms in 2012. Each list has the most popular pieces at the top, and the numbers in parentheses tell you how many times my couples have chosen that song for that moment of their ceremony.
Click on the songs highlighted in blue to hear a sample of me playing those pieces on the harp.
Bridal Processionals (entrance music for the bride):
- Canon in D (32)
- Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) (17)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (2)
- All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera (2)
- What a Wonderful World (1)
- Wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme (1)
- Trumpet Tune (1)
- The Luckiest (1)
- Sunrise, Sunset (1)
- Romance Without Words (1)
- Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid (1)
- Not Fire, Not Ice (1)
- Meditation from Thais (1)
- Marry Me (1)
- Largo from Xerxes (1)
- Hymne (1)
- Eyes on Me from Final Fantasy VIII (1)
- Down by the Salley Gardens (1)
- Collide (1)
- Beauty and the Beast (1)
- Ave Maria (1)
Bridal party processional (entrance music for the bridesmaids, ring bearer, and flower girl):
- Canon in D (17)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (8)
- King William’s March (6)
- Prelude in C (5)
- Hymne (3)
- Fields of Gold (3)
- Marry Me (2)
- Down by the Salley Gardens (2)
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (2)
- Arioso (2)
- When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio (1)
- Unchained Melody (1)
- Trumpet Voluntary (1)
- Trumpet Tune (1)
- The Prayer from Quest for Camelot (1)
- The Luckiest (1)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine (1)
- Spring (Third Movement) from The Four Seasons (1)
- Someone to Watch Over Me (1)
- Sheep May Safely Graze (1)
- Love Story (1)
- Fanny Power (1)
- Caro mio ben (1)
- By Kell’s Waters (1)
- Ave Maria (1)
- Autumn Leaves (1)
- All You Need is Love (1)
- All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera (1)
- Aerith’s Theme (1)
- A Summer Place (1)
- A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella (1)
Family processional (entrance music for parents and grandparents):
- Canon in D (4)
- Winter from The Four Seasons (3)
- What a Wonderful World (2)
- Wind Beneath My Wings (1)
- Try to Remember from The Fantasticks (1)
- Till There Was You from The Music Man (1)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine (1)
- Prelude in C (1)
- Pavane Style Renaissance (1)
- Memory from Cats (1)
- King William’s March (1)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (1)
- In My Life (1)
- From This Moment On (1)
- Fields of Gold (1)
- Concerning Hobbits from Lord of the Rings (1)
- Bless the Broken Road (1)
- At Last (1)
- Arioso (1)
Unity candle/sand or other mid-ceremony music:
- Only Time (3)
- Marry Me (3)
- Ave Maria (3)
- Your Song (2)
- You Raise Me Up (2)
- What a Wonderful World (2)
- The Wedding Song (2)
- The Prayer from Quest for Camelot (2)
- Sheep May Safely Graze (2)
- Hymne (2)
- You’ve Made Me So Very Happy (1)
- When Irish Eyes are Smiling (1)
- Unchained Melody (1)
- Spring (Third Movement) from The Four Seasons (1)
- Romanza (1)
- Prelude in C (1)
- One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story (1)
- O Perfect Love (1)
- My Heart Will Go On from Titanic (1)
- Meditation from Thais (1)
- Main Theme from Final Fantasy VII (1)
- Lord’s Prayer (1)
- In My Life (1)
- I’m Yours (1)
- I Cross My Heart (1)
- Hey There Delilah (1)
- Grow Old Along with Me (1)
- Fields of Gold (1)
- Come Sail Away (1)
- Cantique de Jean Racine (1)
- Bella’s Lullaby from Twilight (1)
- Arioso (1)
- Angel (1)
Recessional music (exit from the ceremony for the couple & wedding party):
- Trumpet Tune (10)
- Wedding March (8)
- Trumpet Voluntary (5)
- King William’s March (5)
- I’m Yours (5)
- Winter from The Four Seasons (2)
- Spring (Third Movement) from The Four Seasons (2)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (2)
- Here Comes the Sun (2)
- Great Day (2)
- Fields of Gold (2)
- At Last (2)
- All You Need is Love (2)
- All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera (2)
- What a Wonderful World (1)
- Unchained Melody (1)
- Throne Room (1)
- The Book of Love (1)
- Thank You (1)
- Storybook Love from The Princess Bride (1)
- Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie (1)
- Love Story (1)
- Hey Soul Sister (1)
- Fanny Power (1)
- Eight Days a Week (1)
- Down by the Salley Gardens (1)
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (1)
- Canon in D (1)
- Bittersweet Symphony (1)
- Ave Maria (1)
- Aria from Rinaldo (1)
- Andiam mio tesoro (1)
- All My Loving (1)
Whether your musical tastes lean toward traditional or not, the harp can provide all of the music for your wedding ceremony! If you are interested in having a harpist at your wedding, please visit my website: The Classic Harpist.