The Wedding Ceremony

Prelude:
This is the music played while the guests are being seated.  It sets the mood (much as the flowers, decorations, and location as a whole do) as people arrive, and is usually soft background music--not too lively or overstated.

Sometimes brides specify some of the pieces that are to be played during this time (such as during the seating of the parents and grandparents),  but generally prefer not to pick out all 15 to 30 minutes of music.  It is often best to let me know if there's any broad type of music you do or don't want included, and within those parameters I'll do my best to select pieces that fit the mood and setting you've created.

See my repertoire list for ideas.

Processional:
The processional music is played while the wedding party and bride walk down the aisle.  If the wedding party is large, some brides opt to have 2 pieces--one for the wedding party, and one for the entrance of the bride (such as the traditional 'Here Comes the Bride').  For church weddings, some brides even choose to have the harpist play the wedding party processional and have the organist play the wedding march for the bride.

Generally, pieces that make the best processionals are pieces that can be performed at a walking tempo and that can ended at various points during the performance.  This is to accommodate the differences in how many people are in your wedding party, the length of the distance they have to travel, and the speed at which they walk. (You don't want to have to wait 5 minutes for the music to end once the bride has reached the altar).

This is a list of pieces that either I recommend or are commonly used as wedding processionals.  If you know of a piece you'd like to use as a processional that isn't listed here, ask me, and we'll see if we can make it work.
 

Canon in D by Pachelbel	A commonly used piece, and one I recommend highly.  It sounds great on the harp, and can be easily tailored any length necessary.  Its mood is gentle and flowing.
Processional by McDonald	As its name implies, this piece was specifically written for the harp to be played as a processional.  I highly recommend it as an upbeat and joyous processional.
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach	Commonly used as a processional, this piece is gentle and flowing and has religious meaning.
Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) by Wagner	This is a traditional wedding march which works on the harp.  It can also be used for the entrance of the bride only.  Its mood is majestic.
Wedding March by Mendelssohn	This is the other traditional wedding march.  It also works on the harp and can be used solely as the bride's music.  Its mood is grand and majestic.

Solos:
You may choose to have one or more pieces played during the ceremony, depending on how much music you want to include and how long you want your ceremony to be.

If the solo is to be played during a quiet part of the ceremony (such as during the lighting of the Unity Candle), almost any piece that is soft and pretty can work (the pieces in the French Romantic category work particularly well).  If the solo will be the main focus of the ceremony while it is played, you may wish to choose something romantic (such as "All I Ask of You" from the Phantom of the Opera), something religious (such as Ave Maria), or a piece of special meaning to you.

Also beautiful is the musical version of the Lord's Prayer by Albert Hay Malotte.  It can take the place of the congregation reciting the prayer aloud, and can be played either as a harp solo or as a duet with a singer.
 

Recessional:
The recessional music is played as the bride and groom, wedding party, and wedding officiate walk back out down the aisle.  The music is usually upbeat and celebratory, and does not have to be very long.

Here are a few suggestions:

Renaissance Pavane by P. Wachs	This piece is great as a recessional.  It's both joyous and majestic, and suites the mood very well.
Processional by McDonald	This processional also works great as a recessional because of its upbeat and joyous character.
Wedding March by Mendelssohn	This is another processional that works as a recessional.  It's a good piece for giving the ceremony a traditional feel.
Trumpet Voluntary by Purcell	A traditional wedding piece which works on the harp. It heralds forth the newly wedded couple like a fanfare.
Trumpet Tune by Purcell	Another traditional wedding piece that works on the harp.

Postlude:
The postlude music is played immediately after the recessional as the guests leave their seats.  Postlude music is not always needed, but if the guests are leaving slowly (particularly if the wedding party is greeting each guest in a reception line on the way out), it is nice to fill the time with upbeat, celebratory music.

Variations and Possibilities:

Not all of this music has to be played by the harpist.  You may want an organist to play the processional and recessional, or you may have a vocalist sing a solo during the ceremony.  Harp also sounds great in combination with violin, flute, or voice.  I have duet arrangements of most of the music listed above and am willing to accompany singers.

If there is a specific piece not listed in my repertoire list that you would like to have played at your ceremony, I will do my best to locate the sheet music for the song and arrange it for harp.

Christian ceremonies:  I have a large repertoire of hymns that you may wish to include in your ceremony.
Jewish ceremonies:  most of the pieces in my repertoire list in the category 'Jewish' are suitable for wedding ceremonies.  Tradition and the religious strictness of your ceremony may dictate their place in the ceremony.
Other religions and ethnicities:  I am quite willing to expand my repertoire in order to make your ceremony exactly what you want it to be.  You may have to provide the music, but if it can be arranged for harp I will do so.

The Wedding Consultation:

Know what you like, but don't know the names of the pieces?  Want to pick pieces from my repertoire but need to hear what they sound like?  There is never any charge for a wedding consultation:  I play for you and you pick the pieces you like best. Contact me and we can make an appointment.

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