It was wonderful to be back at The Tinsmith for another wedding! Although I’m playing for weddings most weekends, it’s rare that I get back to the same venue multiple times – there are so many places for couples to get married! This one in particular is a beautiful location with separate spaces for the ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour, all with a blank canvas with an industrial vibe.
When guests began to arrive for the ceremony, I played classical harp music for the prelude. I always match the style of the pre-ceremony music to what the couple has chosen for the featured moments, so it creates a musical continuity throughout the service.
The family was seated to Bach’s “Prelude in C.” The wedding party and the bride all entered to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” with the most majestic part of the piece reserved for the bride’s entrance moment. A professional live musician can do this – repeat, skip, jump ahead, create variations on the fly – to make the music line up perfectly with whatever happens!
They went traditional for the recessional, choosing Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” as they walked back down the aisle as a married couple. Guests followed them to the cocktail hour in the sunroom and reception hall, where the harp music continued after a quick location change.
Although the music for the ceremony was classical and traditional for the ceremony, they wanted to change it up for the reception. They requested pop music from the 1960s through today, with a heavy emphasis on Taylor Swift songs. After the ceremony, guests often tell me they wish there was more harp music. Extending it through the cocktail hour is the perfect way to do this – and I can play even more of your favorite songs!
Playing throughout Madison and the state of Wisconsin (plus Northern Illinois), I would love to add harp music to your wedding day! You can find out more and contact me via my website: Madison Wedding Musician.
