On one of the hottest days of the summer, an indoor wedding ceremony sounded especially wonderful. For Annie and Zeke’s wedding at First Christian Church in downtown Springfield, Illinois, everyone was very happy to step out of the heat and into the church. With temperatures soaring outside, guests certainly appreciated the air-conditioned setting as much as the harp did!
The couple planned a ceremony that blended classical and sacred traditions with music that was personally meaningful to them. I played harp for the prelude, processionals, and recessional, while a violinist from the family joined the musical program for one special moment during the ceremony.
Classical & Sacred Harp Music for the Prelude
The couple specifically requested an entirely classical and sacred program for the prelude. As guests arrived and found their seats, I played a selection of traditional repertoire on the harp that complemented the church setting and established a formal, elegant atmosphere before the ceremony began.
For the seating of the family, the couple selected Bach’s Prelude in C. Its flowing lines translate beautifully to the harp and provided a graceful transition from the general prelude into the formal beginning of the ceremony.
The wedding party then entered to Pachelbel’s Canon in D, one of the most enduring pieces of classical wedding music. Although it is familiar, the harp gives the piece its own distinctive character, and it is a beautiful choice for a processional in any setting.
Taylor Swift on the Harp for the Grand Entrance
The music shifted from classical repertoire for the grand entrance with Taylor Swift’s Invisible String. Contemporary songs arranged for harp work particularly well alongside classical selections, allowing couples to preserve the elegance of live instrumental music while including songs that feel personal to them.
A friend of the couple officiated the ceremony, adding another personal element to the afternoon.
During the unity ceremony, the bride’s cousin, a violinist, performed Schubert’s Ave Maria. Having a family member or friend who is a musician play one or two special selections can be a wonderful way to include both the person and their talent in the wedding ceremony.
It also avoids placing responsibility for the entire ceremony music program on someone who is there to celebrate with you. They have their musical moment, then return to being a guest and enjoying the ceremony with everyone else. Meanwhile, a professional musician handles the prelude, processionals, recessional, timing, logistics, and the other musical details throughout the ceremony.
After the ceremony concluded, I returned with another Taylor Swift selection for the recessional, You Are in Love. It brought a contemporary finish to a program that had moved naturally from classical and sacred music into selections with a more personal connection to the couple.
Weddings at First Christian Church in Springfield
First Christian Church is particularly convenient for couples who would like a traditional church ceremony in the heart of Springfield. The church welcomes non-members to hold weddings there, making it an option even for couples who do not have an established church home or congregation.
Its downtown location also puts couples and their guests close to many of Springfield’s hotels, restaurants, reception venues, and other amenities. That downtown access can make the transition from ceremony to the rest of the wedding celebration particularly convenient for guests.
And on a day when central Illinois delivers some of its most intense summer heat, there is certainly something to be said for knowing that everyone will be comfortably indoors for the ceremony!
Springfield IL Wedding Harpist
As a Springfield wedding harpist, I have played for ceremonies in churches, gardens, historic properties, hotels, country clubs, and other wedding venues throughout central Illinois. Each setting brings its own character to live harp music, from the natural resonance of a church sanctuary to the atmosphere of an outdoor garden or elegant reception space.
Repertoire may include classical music, traditional wedding selections, pop, Broadway and musical theatre, film and television music, jazz and the American songbook, Celtic and folk music, hymns and sacred music, and seasonal selections. Couples may also request arrangements of songs that have special meaning to them.
Solo harp works beautifully for a complete ceremony, while ensembles may include harp with violin, cello, flute, vocalist, or other instrumentation. A family member or friend who is a musician may also be incorporated for a special selection, just as the violin was for this wedding.
Harp Music for Downtown Springfield Weddings
A wedding ceremony does not have to be entirely traditional or entirely contemporary. This one moved from Bach and Pachelbel to Taylor Swift, with Ave Maria performed by a family member in between. The result was a music program that respected the church setting while still reflecting the people getting married.
For couples planning a wedding at First Christian Church or another Springfield-area venue, contact me to begin planning live harp music for your ceremony. From the first prelude selection as guests arrive through the final notes of the recessional, the music helps give each part of the ceremony its own sense of occasion.
