Lonndon was one of the most organized (and therefore the most relaxed!) brides I’ve ever encountered. When I reached out a month before her wedding to see what music she’d like and go over all of the logistical details, she responded right away with documents that had everything spelled out already. Amazing! When you have the planning and decisions taken care of early, you can spend the weeks leading up to your wedding – and your wedding day itself – just enjoying the moments.
The ceremony and reception were both held at the Allerton Park Mansion in Monticello. The park has so many beautiful wedding venues, both indoors and in the gardens, that you can plan any style or size of wedding you would like here! Lonndon and David chose to have everything in one place indoors. And on a hot August afternoon, it was a lovely place to be!
I played classical and sacred music as guests were directed to their seats, and then transitioned to Schubert’s “Ave Maria” for family seating and the wedding party processional. Lonndon’s bridal entrance was to “Fields of Gold” by Sting. As the couple and their witnesses signed the license, I played “All I Ask of You” from the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera. To conclude the service, they opted for “All My Loving” by The Beatles as the recessional.
A quick turn over of the room, and I continued with more harp selections for the cocktail hour. Guests enjoyed drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres, while I played more contemporary selections. The bride and groom had some favorites that I made to sure to play towards the end of the cocktail hour so they would be through with pictures and actually able to hear them! Some of these included:
- “One Love” by Bob Marley
- “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
- “Yellow” by Coldplay
- “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith
- “LoveSong” by The Cure
- “In My Life” by The Beatles
Harp music can be classical – but it certainly doesn’t have to be! I can play all of the traditional wedding music, but you are also free to customize your selections to create the perfect soundtrack for your day. Visit my website ~ Central IL Harpist ~ to start planning your wedding music!
