October 10, 2026, was a beautiful date for Katrina and Ernesto’s wedding at Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton, Illinois. Their ceremony took place inside the lodge, in front of the impressive stone fireplace that is one of the building’s most recognizable features. As musicians themselves, I knew that the ceremony music would be particularly personal, and their selections brought together an extraordinary variety of styles.
Their program included classical piano repertoire, jazz standards, video game soundtracks, film music, rock, and Celtic-inspired pop, along with a specially arranged processional that required some careful musical planning.
A Personal Prelude at Pere Marquette Lodge
Every selection for the prelude and postlude came from the couple’s requests, giving their guests a musical introduction to the celebration that reflected their individual tastes.
The classical selections included Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” Satie’s “Première Gymnopédie,” and Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” Jazz standards such as “Autumn Leaves” and “Misty” added another dimension, while “Orinoco Flow” by Enya, “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal, and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” a song with special significance to the groom, brought familiar popular music into the program.
Video game music was also an important part of the selections. I played “Calm” from Minecraft, “Aerith’s Theme” from Final Fantasy VII, and “Song of Memory” from Final Fantasy IX. These pieces have beautiful melodies that translate naturally to the harp, adding another dimension to a program that ranged from classical music and jazz to contemporary pop and rock.
Wedding Processionals with Debussy & The Princess Bride
For the seating of the family, Katrina and Ernesto selected Debussy’s “First Arabesque.” Its flowing figures and delicate melodic writing are particularly beautiful on the harp, and the piece provided an elegant beginning to the formal procession.
The wedding party entered to “Storybook Love” from The Princess Bride, a romantic film theme that brought another musical style into the ceremony.
A Custom Harp Arrangement of “Dawn” from Pride & Prejudice
For Katrina’s grand entrance, she requested “Dawn” from Pride & Prejudice, composed by Dario Marianelli. Creating the harp arrangement for this selection was one of the most interesting parts of preparing their ceremony music.
There is a beautiful rhythmic connection between this piece and Debussy’s “First Arabesque,” which I played for the family seating. Both feature flowing passages in which two different rhythmic patterns overlap, creating a gentle interplay that gives the music its distinctive movement. This made the selections especially complementary within the procession.
The original composition contains four distinct musical sections, each contributing something important to the piece. To include all four within the time available for Katrina’s entrance, I created a custom medley that brought the sections together into a shorter, continuous arrangement. This preserved the musical ideas from throughout the original while shaping them into a length appropriate for her procession.
I also built flexibility into the arrangement so I could extend the music as needed. I follow the actual movement of the wedding party, adjusting the music as entrances take place. The arrangement allowed all four sections to be represented while giving me the ability to bring the piece to its musical conclusion the moment Katrina reached the front.
This is one of the advantages of creating arrangements specifically for a wedding. A favorite composition can be adapted to the length and structure of the procession while preserving the musical elements that made the couple choose it.
An Upbeat Recessional & More Requested Music
Following the ceremony, I played “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” made famous by Natalie Cole, for the recessional. Its bright, energetic character was a wonderful contrast to the more delicate music of the processionals and gave the newly married couple a celebratory conclusion to their ceremony.
I continued with the couple’s requested postlude selections as guests departed, carrying their eclectic musical program through the final notes of the ceremony.
Wedding Music Beyond the Traditional Repertoire
One of the things I loved most about this wedding was the breadth of music the couple chose. Their program demonstrated how naturally different genres can coexist within a single wedding ceremony.
The harp has an extensive classical tradition, but that is only one part of the repertoire I offer. I also play contemporary pop and rock, Broadway and musical theatre, film and television themes, Celtic and folk music, jazz standards, sacred music, seasonal selections, and video game soundtracks.
Couples are welcome to combine these styles in whatever way reflects their preferences. Katrina and Ernesto’s ceremony was a wonderful example of that range.
The same flexibility extends to prelude and postlude music, which can be especially personal parts of the program. Songs connected to family members, favorite games, films, and other memories can all become part of the wedding day.
Harp Music for Grafton & St. Louis Area Weddings
Pere Marquette Lodge is a distinctive wedding venue in the Grafton area, with its large stone fireplace, timber construction, and setting within Pere Marquette State Park. The lodge offers a memorable indoor ceremony space, and its location near the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers makes it a popular choice for celebrations in the Riverbend region.
I provide wedding harp music in Grafton and Jersey County, Illinois, as well as Alton, the Metro East, and the greater St. Louis area. Whether the ceremony takes place in a lodge, church, garden, vineyard, historic property, hotel, or ballroom, I can help create a musical program suited to the couple, the setting, and the ceremony itself.
Plan Your Grafton or St. Louis Wedding Harp Music
If you are planning a wedding at Pere Marquette Lodge or elsewhere in the Grafton and St. Louis region, contact me to check availability and request a personalized quote.
From traditional classical selections to contemporary favorites, video game soundtracks, and original arrangements of meaningful songs, I would love to help you create a musical program that reflects your tastes and incorporates the music you want to hear on your wedding day!
