Mishawaka Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony at Beutter Park

Sarah definitely wins the prize as my most punctual bride of 2012!  They were wrapping up pictures at the ceremony site when I arrived to set up at 2:30 ~ about an hour before the wedding was scheduled to begin.  The mothers began the processional, followed by the bridesmaids, at 3:25, and the bride was standing at the front by 3:30.  Wow!  I wish every wedding went this smoothly and on schedule!  Not only that, but they had the first comfortable weather of the summer for their outdoor wedding.  It was truly a perfect day!

Sarah loved the piece "Canon in D" so much that she used it for the entrance of the bridesmaids and for her own processional.  When a bride opts to do this, I save the faster section for her big entrance.  At the end of the ceremony, "Trumpet Tune" was the recessional.

As I packed up, the mother of the bride told me that they weren't sure when to begin their entrances, so they just started.  I told her that is exactly what they were supposed to do!  It's my job to make sure that the music starts and stops when it should.  And no matter what, make it look like whatever happens was supposed to happen!  That's the difference with hiring a professional musician to provide the music for your ceremony.  Someone who has hundreds of weddings behind them can adjust quickly to anything unexpected and make the music fit seamlessly. 

If you are looking for a professional, reliable, and experienced wedding musician in Northern Indiana, please contact me!  As a harpist, I regularly perform in South Bend, Mishawaka, and throughout the region.  Visit my website ~ Mishawaka Harpist ~ for details and reviews from my happy couples and their families.

Harp Music in Mishawaka ~ Beutter Park Wedding Ceremony

Amanda and Adam had the perfect fall day for their outdoor wedding ceremony at Beutter Park.  Just outside of downtown Mishawaka, and right on the St. Joseph River, this is a beautiful venue for a wedding ceremony.  The bride and groom first heard me play for a friend's wedding (also at Beutter Park last summer!), and booked me to provide the music for theirs as well.

The prelude was primarily popular songs, including:

• At Last by Etta James
• Bella's Lullaby from Twilight
• Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
• Collide by Howie Day
• Come Away with Me by Norah Jones (the bride's special request)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach
• Only Time by Enya
• Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

When I got the signal for the families to be seated, I played Pachelbel's "Canon in D" for their entrance.  The bridesmaids, escorted by the groomsmen, processed to "With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles.  The junior bridesmaid and ring bearer took the road less traveled, and came down the side of the guests, rather than the center aisle.  Good thing I was watching closely for them!  They were followed by the bride, who entered the ceremony to the traditional "Bridal Chorus" by Richard Wagner.

As they were introduced, the recessional began - "One Love" by Bob Marley - the groom's special request.  Even things you might not think of when you imagine harp music ~ I can usually make them work!  The postlude continued with upbeat, popular music:

• All You Need is Love by The Beatles
• I'll Be by Edwin McCain
• You are My Sunshine by Jimmie Davis
• Your Song by Elton John

Whether you are imagining traditional or contemporary music for your wedding ceremony, the harp can bring your vision to life.  Please visit my website, Mishawaka Wedding Harpist, for information on having harp music at your wedding ceremony (and reception, too!).

Weddings in Mishawaka

It's nice when my schedule works out to have two weddings directly across the street from one another on the same day!  The first ceremony was at Albright United Methodist Church in Mishawaka.  This is my beautiful Webster Laurel Leaf harp set up in the sanctuary:

The only member of the bridal party was the flower girl, and she entered to Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze", with the bride processing to the traditional "Bridal Chorus" - also known as "Here Comes the Bride" by Wagner.  The recessional was the Czech-Bohemian folk song "I See You My Beloved".

After that wedding concluded, I hurried the harp over the river to Beutter Park.  For prelude and postlude, the bride requested popular and upbeat songs, including:

• Somewhere Over the Rainbow from "The Wizard of Oz"
• What a Wonderful World
• Love Story by Taylor Swift
• All I Ask of You from "Phantom of the Opera"

She chose traditional music for the processionals (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring for the families, Canon in D for the bridal party, and Bridal Chorus for the bride) and recessional (Wedding March by Mendelssohn).  For the unity candle, they went for a popular contemporary song (I'm Yours by Jason Mraz).  It was a beautiful afternoon for an outdoor wedding!