When planning your wedding music, you need to take into account the venue where your ceremony will be held. Many houses of worship have guidelines you will need to follow, so it’s best to know what those are before making your song choices! With experience playing for weddings of most faiths, I can guide you in that respect and help you come up with music that you love that fits the requirements of your church.
For Catholic weddings, most parishes require the music to be classical or sacred. Elizabeth and Elijah were married at the Roncalli Newman Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and had a friend serve as cantor for their Nuptial Mass. Yes, I can accompany the singer of your choice for your wedding!
As guests were seated in the sanctuary, I played a variety of classical music, including Bach’s “Arioso” and “Prelude in C,” Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” and Handel’s “Air” from Water Music. The processional for the wedding party and bride was “Canon in D” by Pachelbel.
They chose the “Mass of Creation” setting, and “Spirit Wind” was the responsorial psalm. For the preparation of gifts and the Eucharist, the cantor sang “The Servant Song” and “Pange Lingua” with harp accompaniment. After communion, I played the Twila Paris song “How Beautiful” as a harp solo.
The recessional to conclude the ceremony was “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach, followed by other uptempo classical music such as “Trumpet Tune” and “Trumpet Voluntary.”
As a harpist, I play for weddings in La Crosse and throughout western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. If you are interested in having harp music for your ceremony, reception, or other event, please contact me via my website: La Crosse Wisconsin Harpist.