Well, 2020 was certainly different! Far fewer weddings than a “normal” year, but I still wanted to do this recap of what my couples who were able to get married this year chose as the soundtrack for their wedding days. Some were early in the year, before everything shut down, and then as places started to re-open, some were rescheduled. Many of my 2020 weddings will happen later in 2021 (or even 2022!).
This list of the most-requested wedding ceremony songs from 2020 is a wonderful place to start your music planning. You’ll see the traditional favorites, plus many more unique options. A harp can be classic or contemporary – or a mix of both!
Instead of creating just a “Top 10” list, the listing below includes ALL of the music chosen by my couples in 2020. Each list has the most popular pieces at the top, and the numbers in parentheses tell you how many times I have played that song for that particular moment of a ceremony. Click on the songs highlighted in blue to hear a sample of me playing those pieces on the harp. You’ll also see pictures of a few of the venues where I played for weddings this year.
“Canon in D” is still popular, for both wedding party and bridal processionals, but the traditional “Bridal Chorus” by Wagner was only used by one of my brides from this year. Overall, there were more requests for contemporary and popular songs instead of classical and traditional music. Either way, the harp is a beautiful and elegant choice for your ceremony music!
If you are looking for a musician for your wedding, contact me to discuss the music for your ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner!
Bridal Processionals (entrance music for the bride):
- Canon in D (4)
- A Thousand Years from Twilight: Breaking Dawn (3)
- Trumpet Voluntary (2)
- Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) (1)
- Bridal March from Skjevik (1)
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (1)
- Latch (1)
- Moon River (1)
- Perfect (1)
- The Swan (1)
- What a Wonderful World (1)
Family seating:
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (3)
- Tale as Old as Time from Beauty and the Beast (2)
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King (1)
- Canon in D (1)
- Fields of Gold (1)
- I Love How You Love Me (1)
- Largo from Concerto in D (1)
- Stairway to Heaven (1)
- Sunrise, Sunset (1)
- Unchained Melody (1)
- What a Wonderful World (1)
Wedding party processional:
- Canon in D (5)
- A Thousand Years from Twilight: Breaking Dawn (1)
- All of Me (1)
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (1)
- Fields of Gold (1)
- Hallelujah (1)
- La Vie en Rose (1)
- Love Story (1)
- My Heart Will Go On from Titanic (1)
- Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz (1)
- Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie (1)
Mid-ceremony interludes (for the unity candle/sand, etc.):
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (2)
- Ave Maria (1)
- Edelweiss from The Sound of Music (1)
- Falling Slowly from Once (1)
- In Dreams from Lord of the Rings (1)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (1)
- My Girl (1)
- Perfect (1)
- River Flows in You (1)
- Skye Boat Song (1)
- Storybook Love from The Princess Bride (1)
- The Prayer from Quest for Camelot (1)
- True Colors (1)
- Water is Wide (1)
Recessional:
- Wedding March (3)
- Hornpipe from Water Music (2)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (2)
- All My Loving (1)
- Better Together (1)
- Despacito (1)
- Here Comes the Sun (1)
- Love Me Like You Do (1)
- Perfect (1)
- Trumpet Tune (1)
- With a Little Help from My Friends (1)
- You’re My Best Friend (1)
If you are planning your wedding, please visit my website: The Classic Harpist. I work with couples worldwide to plan their wedding music. With the harp, that can be anything you want it to be! I play all of the classical wedding favorites, as well as non-traditional options: jazz, pop, rock, Broadway, Bollywood, Arabic, Celtic, Renaissance, and more!
