For Rachael and Brogan’s Wedding Mass, I partnered with a fabulous vocalist to cantor during the service. The harp provided accompaniment for all of the sung parts of the Mass, and having a professional singer lead the congregation helps your guests to participate in the liturgy more fully.
During the service itself, Catholic churches require the music to be sacred or classical. Some, however, give you more leeway with the prelude and postlude music. With that in mind, the couple chose more popular pieces as instrumental prelude music (“A Thousand Years,” “Marry Me,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love“).
Once the processional was lined up, I played JS Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for the seating of families and the entrance of the wedding party. The bride had a separate song for her entrance: “Canon in D” by Pachelbel.
For the Responsorial Psalm, they chose the Francesca LaRosa setting of Psalm 145, “How Good is the Lord to All.” We used the Mass of Creation and “Celtic Alleluia.” The offertory music was “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris, with “Taste and See” and “One Bread, One Body” for the Eucharist.
The ceremony concluded with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” as the recessional. With the Mass ended, we returned to popular songs for the postlude as the bride and groom dismissed their guests (“All of Me,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “You’re Beautiful,” “Perfect“).
I play for weddings in Prairie du Chien and throughout Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Northeast Iowa, and Southeast Minnesota. Visit my website – Wisconsin Wedding Harpist – to listen to more audio samples, see pictures, and request a quote!