Charmed Weddings & Events

We are pleased to have been featured on the Charmed Weddings and Events blog.  They are wedding coordinators in Michigan, so contact them if you are planning an event in the area.  In the article, they focused on how we use classic instruments to play contemporary music.  Enjoy!

http://eventcharm.com/2010/07/a-new-twist-on-an-old-favorite/

Harp Music for a Catholic Wedding Mass

This wedding was unique in that I never actually was able to speak with the bride.  She emailed me a couple of song choices, and put me in touch with the music director at her church.  Between the two of us, we came up with a wonderful variety of music that was performed by a combination of harp, guitar, and vocals.

I played prelude music on the harp as guests arrived at South Bend's Little Flower Catholic Church, and the music director was able to communicate with the priest and bridal party to let me know when everyone was ready to go.  If you have more than one musician for your wedding, I highly recommend having a soloist for the prelude!  This allows the other musician to be a point person for your officiant or coordinator, and when he or she joins the soloist for the processional music, you get a new and bigger sound.

We played "Canon in D" by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bridal party and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach for the bride's processional.  The music director sang the psalm and accompanied herself on the guitar for the verses.  For the congregational response, I played along on the harp.  We used the Mass of Creation setting along with the "Celtic Alleluia" - everyone knows that one!  I played solos ("Meditation" from "Thais" and "Winter" from "The Four Seasons") during the offertory and the sign of the peace, and we played "Take and Eat" as a duet during communion.  Near the end of the service, I accompanied her singing the Schubert "Ave Maria" in Latin.  The Mendelssohn "Wedding March" sent the newly married couple down the aisle.

If you have hired professional musicians for your wedding, or they are provided by your church, they can be an excellent source of suggestions for your music.  This bride only had a few pieces that she wanted included, and left the rest up to me and the church's music director.  We had a wonderful time putting together the rest of the music, and dividing it up so the sound would be varied throughout the service!

A Double-Reception Saturday

On May 8th, I was excited to play for two wedding receptions.  One was an afternoon event in South Bend, Indiana, and the other was an evening party in Brookfield, Illinois.

For the first reception, which was held at the South Bend Country Club, the bride and groom chose a mix of classical and popular songs, with one very special request.  As they entered the hall, they wanted me to play "Somewhere in Time", since they had met on Mackinac Island.  Some other music they chose included:

• Classical:  Ave Maria, Canon in D, Ode to Joy, Spring from "The Four Seasons"
• Popular:  Unchained Melody, All You Need is Love, Misty, What a Wonderful World, I'm Yours
• Disney:  A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, A Whole New World, I'm Wishing, Bella Notte, Something There, When You Believe, Can You Feel the Love Tonight

I was extra excited to play for the next reception - it was at the Brookfield Zoo!  When we got married, if we had realized getting married at a zoo was even possible, we would have done it, too!  The reception was held at Bocadito's Restaurant, which is close to the penguin exhibit (a personal favorite).

The bride requested that I play mostly classical music, and that it not be too recognizable.  We created a musical background that the guests were able to enjoy without humming along.

The mother of the bride did have a few other requests, which I interspersed with the less familiar music:

• A Time for Us from "Romeo and Juliet"
• It Had to Be You
• Embraceable You
• Moonlight in Vermont
• Till There Was You
• And This is My Beloved
• Grow Old Along with Me

It's always a good idea to ask your family members and future spouse if they have any music that they would like to hear during the wedding.  If it isn't something that can be included in your ceremony, either due to venue/officiant restrictions or if it's just not to your liking, play it during the cocktail hour when everyone is more relaxed and the music isn't as highlighted.

Wedding Wire Rated 2010

Thank you to the brides we have worked with in the past, and have reviewed our services on Wedding Wire!  We are proud to be "Wedding Wire Rated" for 2010, and look forward to the remainder of this year's events.  After your big day, be sure to visit http://www.weddingwire.com and review your vendors, and if you submit five reviews, you will receive a gift card.  We look forward to receiving your comments!

       

Inn at Aberdeen Wedding Ceremony

My first outdoor wedding of the year was at the beautiful Inn at Aberdeen Bed & Breakfast on April 17th.  Since I attended Valparaiso University, it's always enjoyable to get back to the area!  It seems like every year for my first outdoor ceremony, I forget my music clips - I did it again.  Very hard to play when your music is blowing all over the place!  Fortunately, I found a skirt hanger in the back of the van, broke off the clips, and they worked perfectly!

Other times I've played at this location, they have had me set up in the gazebo.  This time, however, I was placed on a balcony of the Inn overlooking the ceremony site.  The guests could hear the music from the moment they arrived, and I had a perfect vantage point to watch the processional and time the music appropriately.  It was hard for me to hear the officiant from that far away, but got a cue to begin the recessional.

The couple requested "One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story to be played during the prelude.  My favorite part was finally getting to meet the bride after the ceremony (everything had been handled through the on-site coordinator).  She had a fabulous dress, and bright red shoes!

A Renaissance Wedding Ceremony

On April 10th, my new Laurel Leaf harp had its public debut.  I've had this harp for a little over a year, and have been using it for teaching and practicing.  Now it's broken in and ready to perform!

The wedding colors were black and gold, so it fit in perfectly.  The ceremony was held at Zion UCC Church in South Bend, Indiana, and the music chosen included Celtic and Renaissance tunes along with "Aria from Rinaldo" by G.F. Handel and "King William's March" by J. Clarke.  I'm looking forward to getting the new harp out more often!

Indiana Statehouse Wedding Ceremony

On March 13th, I had the pleasure of playing for a wedding in the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.  It has amazing acoustics, and is a dramatic background for your wedding ceremony.  It gives your photographers a chance to shoot from above, giving your wedding pictures a unique perspective.

The bride opted to have her ceremony performed in the round, with guests seated in a circle, and the bride and groom in the center.  It gives more of your guests a front row seat!  She chose some non-traditional pieces for her ceremony music.  For the entrance of the wedding party, I played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz".  The bride entered to Canon in D by Pachelbel, and the recessional was "All I Ask of You" from "Phantom of the Opera".