There is no more romantic destination for a wedding than Mackinac Island! Everyone arrives by ferry. With no cars on the island, all transport is on foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage. Even the harp rides along!
The morning started out rainy, but cleared by the afternoon ceremony. Emily and Sheldon were married in the forest grotto on the Inn at Stonecliffe grounds. The venue is far removed from the bustle of the main street, and the lawn has beautiful views of the Mackinac Bridge!
The prelude included the wedding classic “Canon in D,” and then a shift to more popular music – starting with “Stairway to Heaven” for family seating. My repertoire is quite varied, and both classical and contemporary music sound beautiful on the harp! The processional for the wedding party and bride (announced by glissandos) was “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
During the unity tree-planting ceremony, I played “Falling Slowly” from Once. Their recessional returned to something classical – J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
Once the guests had exited the grotto, I brought the harp back up to the patio for cocktail hour. Along with the couple’s special requests (“A Thousand Years” from Twilight: Breaking Dawn and “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles), I played popular songs from the 1990s through current hits. Not necessarily songs you would expect to hear on the harp, but the perfect way to transition from the ceremony to the party!
I play for weddings and events on Mackinac Island and throughout Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Get in touch via my website ~ Mackinac Island Harp Player ~ to check availability, view song lists, watch videos, and get a quote for your event!
