Choosing
music for wedding ceremonies is a very personal process. The sample
wedding ceremonies below will give you an idea of what other
couples
have chosen to reflect their ideas about their marriage. You may
include harp solo as the only music for your wedding celebration or may
add other instruments such as horn or violin. Some churches limit music
choices, so before you
start choosing music, check with your clergy about any restrictions
that may be in place. More often than not, the restrictions are few.
Some couples choose all classical
harp music so that the ceremony is a
more formal part of the celebration than the reception. Others include
music from their heritages
and you'll see in the samples included here
how music becomes a symbol of
the combining of their cultures. Others
prefer popular music that is meaningful to them. You don't
have to include a march as your wedding processional if you'd prefer to
walk down
the aisle to your favorite
song. There are many old standards used in
wedding ceremonies and they're used a lot because they work
so well. As you
choose your ceremony music, think first about what you'd like to hear,
not what is usually used. That way the harp music you choose for your
wedding ceremony will be unique as it reflects you as a couple.
At the bottom of this page you'll find wedding
worksheets you may
download to use to keep track of your ideas. There are more resources
for planning your Chicago area wedding at our Event
Resources Links Page.Images
outlined in blue will enlarge when clicked. If you are planning an
outdoor wedding you might find our list of outdoor wedding hints
helpful.
The following mp3 files (some harp, some midi) may be helpful in
choosing your ceremony music. Each opens and plays in a new window so
you can mix and match and see how things fit together.
Other suggestions are marked on my repertoire lists.
Outdoor wedding tip #1: SHADE
You invited
people you love to your wedding: love them and don't make them sit in
full sun for a long time.
Outdoor wedding tip #2: SHOES Wear flat/low heeled shoes. Small, high
heels sink into grass which can ruin shoes. Change for the reception.
Outdoor wedding tip #3: LISTEN Assess natural noise levels at ceremony
site, traffic, fountains, etc. Amplify if needed so guests can hear.
Outdoor wedding tip #4: COMFORT Provide bottled water for guests if
it's hot. Keep guests hydrated&comfortable; as they celebrate
with
you.
Outdoor wedding tip #5 LOCATION Choose a location allowing easy access
for guests not be able to navigate a long walk on uneven grass.
Outdoor wedding tip #6: WIND Hire a florist who knows how to secure
flowers so they can't blow over&be ruined. Plan ahead &
prevent
a mess.
Outdoor wedding tip #7: WIND/CANDLES Even with a glass chimney, a
slight breeze will extinguish a candle. Consider a sand or wine
ceremony instead.
Outdoor wedding tip #8: AISLE RUNNER Find some way to secure the aisle
runner to the ground or use rose petals instead.
Outdoor wedding tip #9: PARASOL OR FLOWERS? Replace your bride's maids
flowers with beautiful parasols for a unique effect.
Outdoor wedding tip #10:
MUSIC Live music
is easier to coordinate than recorded music. Choose instruments that
aren't affected by humidity.
You may download one of the
worksheets
below to
use to plan your music. When we meet to plan your wedding
music, this is the form that we'll fill out together as music is
selected. When you look over my repertoire list, be sure that you are
using the proper list for the harp that I'll use. The Concert Pedal
Harp repertoire list is not the same list as the Renaissance Harp
repertoire list.
It's
much faster to browse PDF
files online
if you don't have to download
them first. If you have a Mac and use Safari, you already know how
handy this can be. Here's some tips that might make this possible
for you if this feature isn't already enabled on your computer.
NE Ohio Harp Wedding
Ceremony Music 
