Top Wedding Music of 2017

It has been a few years since I’ve done a post like this – primarily because the intervening time was spent in India and Nigeria!  With over a full year back in the US playing the harp for weddings, it’s time to review the music the couples with whom I worked chose to accompany their wedding days.

Putting the list together surprised even me!  In past years, “Canon in D” has topped the list for family seating, the wedding party processional, and the bride’s processional.  This year, while still one of the most popular pieces chosen, it’s not the runaway favorite it has been in the past!

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz was popular the last time I did a list like this for 2012, but much less so now.  The Beatles are always frequently requested, especially for the recessional at the conclusion of the ceremony, and this year saw many couples choosing “A Thousand Years” from Twilight for some element of their ceremonies.  On the classical side, “Clair de Lune” by Debussy has been popular, having been played for everything from bridal processionals to recessionals.

Going beyond just a “Top 10” list, the listing below includes ALL of the music chosen by my brides and grooms in 2017.  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 particular moment of their ceremony.

Click on the songs highlighted in blue to hear a sample of me playing those pieces on the harp.  I’ve included a few of my favorite wedding photos from 2017 as well, so you can see where the harp has taken me this year!

Bridal Processionals (entrance music for the bride):

• Canon in D (8)
• Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) (6)
• A Thousand Years from Twilight (3)
• La Vie en Rose (2)
• Clair de Lune (2)
• Can’t Help Falling in Love (2)
• The Swan (1)
• Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie (1)
• Michelle (1)
• Marry Me (1)
• Lovesong (1)
• Loch Lomond (1)
• Have I Told You Lately (1)
• Game of Thrones theme (1)
• Fields of Gold (1)
• Doe Eyes from Bridges of Madison County (1)
• Concerning Hobbits from Lord of the Rings (1)
• Bridges and Balloons (1)
• Bridal March from Skjevik (1)

Family seating:

• Canon in D (3)
• What a Wonderful World (2)
• Time of Your Life (1)
• Meditation from Thais (1)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (1)
• I Love How You Love Me (1)
• Have I Told You Lately (1)
• Edelweiss from The Sound of Music (1)
• Clair de Lune (1)
• Can’t Help Falling in Love (1)
• Ave Maria (1)
• Arioso (1)
• Amazing Grace (1)
• A Summer Place (1)

Wedding party processional:

• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (4)
• Canon in D (3)
• Bless the Broken Road (3)
• Unchained Melody (1)
• The Luckiest (1)
• Tale as Old as Time from Beauty and the Beast (1)
• Romanza (1)
• Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie (1)
• Prelude in C (1)
• My Heart Will Go On from Titanic (1)
• Marry Me (1)
• Killing Me Softly (1)
• Theme from Jupiter (1)
• Isn’t She Lovely (1)
• Hymne (1)
• Hornpipe in G Major (1)
• Halo (1)
• Hallelujah (1)
• Falling Slowly from Once (1)
• Everything I Do (1)
• Concerning Hobbits from Lord of the Rings (1)
• Chura liya hai (1)
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King (1)
• All My Loving (1)
• Air from Water Music (1)
• A Thousand Years from Twilight (1)

Mid-ceremony interludes (for the unity candle/sand, etc.):

• A Thousand Years from Twilight (3)
• Hallelujah (2)
• Ave Maria (2)
• Amazing Grace (2)
• When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio (1)
• They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love (1)
• The Prayer from Quest for Camelot (1)
• Sheep May Safely Graze (1)
• Serch Hudol (1)
• Lord’s Prayer (1)
• Jab koi baat (1)
• I’ll Be (1)
• Hymne (1)
• Groovy Kind of Love (1)
• Falling Slowly from Once (1)
• Concerning Hobbits from Lord of the Rings (1)
• Can’t Help Falling in Love (1)
• Arioso (1)

Recessional:

• Wedding March (8)
• Here Comes the Sun (3)
• Great Day (3)
• All My Loving (3)
• Trumpet Voluntary (2)
• Marry Me (2)
• Tenerife Sea (1)
• Stuck Like Glue (1)
• Spring from The Four Seasons (1)
• Siman tov (1)
• One Love (1)
• Ode to Joy (1)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (1)
• I’m Yours (1)
• Groovy Kind of Love (1)
• Everybody Loves Somebody (1)
• Clair de Lune (1)
• All You Need is Love (1)
• A Whole New World from Aladdin (1)
• A Thousand Years from Twilight (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.  I work with couples around the world to personalize their wedding music and would love to hear from you!