Just before the busyness of the holiday season, women gathered at the First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville for a retreat. The day started with a light breakfast, and then attendees gathered in the sanctuary for a program of harp music.
I chose classical pieces, folk songs, and several hymns for the morning’s playlist. Twice during the performance, the guests sang hymns to match the theme of the retreat (“When Morning Gilds the Skies” and “This Little Light of Mine”) to harp accompaniment.
As a harpist in Central Illinois, I play for all types of gatherings (weddings, parties, retreats, corporate events, religious services) throughout the region. If having harp music for your event interests you, visit my website (Central IL Harpist) to get in touch!
On a rainy November day, Sara and Mason were married at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis. Fortunately, everything was indoors! Even with the grey skies, the solarium for the ceremony was cozy and beautiful.
I played prelude music for guests to find their seats, and when the everyone was ready, switched to the Etta James jazz standard “At Last” for the family and wedding party processionals.
Sara chose “From This Moment” by Shania Twain for her own walk down the aisle. It’s no surprise that I’ve played a lot of Taylor Swift music for weddings this year, and this was no different! They opted for her song “Lover” for the recessional.
After the newlyweds exited, I played a few more postlude selections and then moved to the atrium to play for the cocktail hour. During this time, the couple’s requests included:
Cocktail hour music continued until the chime sounded for dinner. Having harp music for both your ceremony and reception allows you to include even more of your favorite songs in the playlist, and it creates continuity of sound and mood between wedding events.
If you are planning a wedding in the St. Louis area, please contact me about providing harp music for your day! You can request a quote on my website: St. Louis Wedding Harpist. Happy planning!
Kenedy and Maxwell came to Hot Springs from Austin, Texas, to get married at the iconic Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens. A venue as beautiful as this is worth the trip! Situated in central Arkansas, Hot Springs is home not only to a National Park, but also to historic bath houses, wonderful restaurants, and a thriving arts scene.
The prelude music for the arrival of guests included the couple’s requests of “Come Sail Away” by Styx, “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica, “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”
They did not have a wedding party, and the bride walked down the aisle to “Memory” from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. She wanted this to be a surprise for the groom, so I made sure I didn’t run through it in the chapel that day!
“Clocks” by Coldplay was the recessional for the newly married couple, and then I continued with other upbeat popular songs for the postlude.
There is something magical about harp music in a space as majestic as the Anthony Chapel. If you are getting married there (or anywhere in Hot Springs or Central Arkansas), please contact me via my website – Hot Springs Arkansas Harpist – to receive a quote and start planning your wedding day soundtrack!
What a beautiful fall wedding! Jessica and Joel were married outdoors at Haven on the Farm in Edwards, just outside of Peoria. Their ceremony took place under the shade of trees that lined the drive, and the reception in the purpose-built barn just steps away.
The bridesmaids all wore different shades of purple, which complemented the flowers that stood at the front of the aisle. For late October, and my final outdoor wedding of the year, the weather was lovely! I’ve loved having my carbon fibre harp available for all of my garden weddings this year, so I can play for your wedding, even if it starts raining or the temperatures are extreme. But this one didn’t need the backup!
The prelude included several popular pieces, such as “All of Me” by John Legend and Coldplay’s “Sky Full of Stars.” When planning your ceremony music, you don’t necessarily need to choose each song for the prelude and postlude (unless you want to!). I can take care of that for you, matching the guest entrance music to the style of pieces you have picked for the focal moments of your service.
To begin the ceremony, the families of the bride and groom were seated to “A Thousand Years” from Twilight: Breaking Dawn. The wedding party processional was “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, and Jessica walked down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
“I’m on Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons was the recessional, which had everyone off to the lawn for cocktails and family pictures. I continued to play until the guests had left the ceremony space, and included more upbeat popular pieces in the postlude.
If you are looking for a harpist for your wedding, please contact me! I play for ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and various kinds of parties in Peoria and throughout central Illinois. Visit my website ~ Peoria IL Harpist ~ to discuss your plans!
You don’t need a fancy occasion to enjoy harp music! While most of my events are weddings, I also play for parties of all kinds in all locations. This was a casual get-together of friends who go to the same MMA gym!
I set up and played on the driveway while everyone enjoyed dinner from a food truck, games, and smores around a fire. The music ranged from Metallica to Ed Sheeran, with a few Disney favorites for the kids in attendance.
Harp music adds so much to any gathering! I play for events of all types in Mount Vernon and throughout Central and Southern Illinois and the St. Louis area. Visit my website – Mount Vernon Harpist – to get in touch and showcase the magic of the harp to your guests!
What a great venue! The Bash Des Moines opens directly onto the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, so easy access to wonderful photo opportunities. And inside, you have natural light, the original floor tiles, a tin ceiling, and industrial architectural elements. You have a blank slate to create any style of wedding here!
Leah and Zach held both their ceremony and reception here for their October wedding, where guests were seated to harp prelude music. The draped windows facing the park were the backdrop for the service.
The families and wedding party all entered to the wedding classic “Canon in D” by Pachelbel. Leah also went traditional with her processional music, opting for the “Bridal Chorus” by Wagner.
During communion, which was distributed by the bride and groom, and the signing of the marriage license, I played the “Largo” from Vivaldi’s Concerto in D for Guitar. This piece adapts quite well to the harp! Their recessional was another wedding favorite, “Wedding March” by Mendelssohn.
For the venue to flip the room, they had guests make their way across the street to the sculpture park. I continued with harp music until they had all left the space – and then got the harp out of the way so reception tables could be moved into place! Wedding vendors all work together to make your day a success, with a lot of that work happening behind the scenes!
If you are looking for a wedding musician in Des Moines or anywhere in central Iowa, please visit my website {Des Moines Harpist for Weddings} to get in touch!
When you get married in a house of worship, there are always certain guidelines you have to follow within the service. In the Catholic church, most parishes require music during the Mass be sacred or classical and liturgically appropriate. As I’ve played for hundreds of Catholic weddings, I’m happy to help you navigate this and come up with music that you love and will be allowed by the church!
Chelsea and Vincent were married at St. Anthony Catholic Church in downtown Davenport, Iowa. This historic Quad Cities church is not only beautiful, but has fantastic acoustics for the harp! As guests entered and took their seats in the pews, I played a mix of light classical pieces, harp solos, and hymns.
They chose “Clair de Lune” by Debussy for the family and wedding party entrances, and then Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” for the bride’s processional. As this was just the wedding service without the full Mass and Eucharist, there was no additional music needed during the ceremony itself.
For the recessional, they went with “Trumpet Voluntary.” As guests filed out, I continued with other uptempo classical selections.
Planning your wedding music should be fun! I love working with couples to come up with a playlist for their ceremony that matches their style, venue, and level of formality. Visit my website – Quad Cities Harpist for Weddings – to get on my calendar!
Alecia and Cliff were married on a Tuesday evening at Chandler Hill Vineyards in Defiance, Missouri. Surrounded by their children, friends and family, their ceremony overlooked the hills of Missouri’s wine country just before sunset.
I played the prelude as guests arrived at the winery and were seated on the balcony. The groom and his children walked down the aisle to “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica. The bride was escorted into the ceremony by her sons to Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted.”
They chose “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds for the unity ritual bringing their families together, and the recessional at the end of the ceremony was a joyful “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).”
After photos, everyone enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the back patio of the winery. Harp music continued through the cocktail hour, and included light classics, pop songs from the 1990s through today, Broadway favorites, and jazz standards.
If you are planning a wedding in the greater St. Louis area, I’d love to provide the music for your day! Visit my website {St. Louis Harpist for Weddings} to get in touch and receive a quote!
What a beautiful fall day to celebrate with Emma and Cody! They held their ceremony and reception at Greenwood Springs Event Center outside of Joplin, Missouri. Their Sunday daytime wedding was blessed with lovely weather for the outdoor event.
The ceremony was held on the lawn, with views of the brook and mill. As guests were seated, I played a mix of popular love songs and light classical pieces. The families of the bride and groom entered, and then I switched to “Canon in D” by Pachelbel for the wedding party processional.
Emma chose the romantic piece by Debussy, “Clair de Lune,” for her grand entrance. With this music playing, it’s like floating down the aisle! At the conclusion of the ceremony, they opted for the traditional recessional – “Wedding March” by Mendelssohn.
After the newly-married couple and the wedding party exited, guests made their way to the reception space right behind the ceremony site. I continued playing harp postlude music, which included upbeat classical pieces like “Trumpet Tune” and “Trumpet Voluntary.”
If you are planning a wedding in the Joplin area, please get in touch to discuss your music! I play throughout Southwest Missouri, as well as Northwest Arkansas, Eastern Oklahoma, and Eastern Kansas. Visit my website – Joplin MO Wedding Music – to start planning!
Danielle and Cole celebrated their wedding in Pella, Iowa. Their shared Dutch heritage made this “Little Holland” of the Midwest the perfect place to get married!
The ceremony and reception were both held at Tamory Hall downtown. The space, located on the second floor of the historic building, boasts exposed brick walls, lots of natural light, and multiple spaces to configure as you prefer for your event.
As guests found their seats for the ceremony, I played a variety of classical and contemporary harp solos. The wedding party came down the aisle to Leonard Cohen’s beautiful “Hallelujah,” followed by the bride to “Concerning Hobbits” from Lord of the Rings.
During the unity ritual, they opted for something more classical – Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” It’s a long piece, but easily shortened to any length you need! The recessional was one that has been becoming more requested lately, “This Must be the Place” by the Talking Heads.
The cocktail hour immediately followed the ceremony, so it made sense to keep the harp music going as well! They requested all classical pieces, so I played some that people would recognize as well as some that are not necessarily familiar but sound gorgeous on the harp.
Music for your wedding can be classical and traditional or contemporary and unique – or a bit of everything! What is important is that your music is meaningful to you. I love working with couples to come up with a customized playlist that reflects your preferences and includes your favorite songs. Providing music for weddings and events throughout Iowa, I would love to discuss your plans! Find out more by visiting my website: Pella Iowa Wedding Music.
