Although Allyx and Ethan were married earlier in Los Angeles, they wanted to celebrate with their family and friends in Minnesota, too! Many of my couples have opted for a smaller or private ceremony, and then a larger celebration later. What started as a pandemic necessity has become something fairly common!
They held their ceremony and reception at The Whim in Minneapolis. This venue has multiple space configurations available that allow lots of flexibility in how you utilize the space. Guests entered through the front of the building, which is where the cocktail hour would be hosted later. The back of the building, with big windows and lots of natural light, was the setting for both the ceremony and the dinner (after a room flip!).
As guests took their seats in a circle surrounding where the couple would say their vows, I played the couple’s requests of classical music and the jazz standard “At Last.” The wedding party entered to “Autumn Leaves,” followed by the bride’s processional to “Wind Forest” from the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro.
During the service, they performed their own unique unity ritual, which had also been incorporated into their original LA ceremony – a sharing of olives! They chose “All I Ask of You” from the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera for their recessional. The first piece for guest dismissal was “Come Sail Away” by Styx.
Wedding music can be traditional – but it doesn’t have to be! I love working with couples to create a customized soundtrack for their weddings, and having the music both surprise and delight their guests! I play for weddings and other events in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. You can visit my website – Minneapolis Harpist for Weddings – to inquire about availability for your date!
