Central Illinois Harpist ~ Wedding Music at Lincoln Park, Springfield

The bridge in Springfield's Lincoln Park is a beautiful location for a wedding ceremony.  It is quietly nestled away from the rest of the park and can provide a beautiful backdrop for a wedding as it did for Tracey and Justin's ceremony. 

As the guests arrived, I played several pieces from both classical and popular genres, including All I Ask of You, Fields of Gold, Aria from Rinaldo, and Prelude in C. 

 
As the family and the bridesmaids approached the bridge, I played Canon in D.  When it was time for Tracey's entrance, I played the traditional bridal march, Here Comes the Bride.

As the ceremony came to a close, the music for the couple's recessional was Ode to Joy, which in my opinion makes for a great recessional song.  As the guests mingled and talked to the bride and groom, I provided postlude music also taken from classical and popular genres, including songs such as Time to Say Goodbye, Trumpet Tune, King William's March, and All You Need is Love.

If you would like more information about having us play at your Central Illinois wedding, please visit our website, Springfield Illinois Wedding Harpist.

Wedding Music in Southwest Michigan ~ Willow Harbor Vineyards

Liz and Matt had a perfect Fall day for their outdoor ceremony at Willow Harbor Vineyards in Three Oaks, Michigan.  It had rained earlier in the day, but by late afternoon, the sun was shining and the sky was blue!

When I arrived at the vineyard (early, of course!), I was the first one there.  The chairs were all set up, and flowers delivered, but there was no one to be found.  Just to be on the safe side, I called their back-up ceremony location to make sure that the earlier rain hadn't relocated the ceremony.  With their assurances that it was still going ahead at Willow Harbor, I set up the harp, and was ready to go long before the first guests arrived!

As the families were seated, I played "Canon in D" by Pachelbel,  They didn't have a traditional wedding party ~ just two ring bearers and a flower girl.  The kids entered to "Sheep May Safely Graze" by J.S. Bach.  The bride arrived at the ceremony in Willow Harbor's vintage Rolls Royce, and her entrance music was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (another Bach piece).

 
The ceremony included a wine sharing ~ perfect for a vineyard wedding! ~ with Schubert's "Ave Maria" playing in the background.  The recessional was "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles.

Photo:  Earthbound Officiants

Every summer, Jeff and I play for several weddings at Willow Harbor.  It's a beautiful venue for your ceremony or reception, and we'd love to add harp music to your wedding!  Visit our website, Three Oaks Wedding Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for additional information and a quote for your wedding music.

Photo:  Earthbound Officiants

Client Thanks | Grand Rapids Wedding Music

Devon's work was fabulous. My now-husband and I wanted some very specific songs played for our wedding and were overjoyed what Devon was able and willing to learn them. Devon played the songs beautifully. In particular, we asked her to play a somewhat obscure song that we love for when I walked down the aisle. I have to say, it was my favorite part of the wedding to hear that song while I walked down the aisle.  We'd recommend Devon to anyone who is looking for a professional, reliable, and talented musician.

~Katy, Bride

September 3rd, 2011
Wedding at Fallasburg Park, Lowell, Michigan

Mackinaw Valley Vineyard ~ Harp & Violin Wedding Music

Situated midway between Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois, the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard is a popular Central Illinois wedding venue!  Doug & Crystal had a beautiful Friday evening ceremony at their outdoor gazebo.  They put their ceremony music high on their priority list, booked early, and had some amazing music selections!

The prelude and postlude included the harp & violin duets:

• All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera
• Autumn Leaves
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
• Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
• In Dreams from Lord of the Rings: Breaking of the Fellowship
• Misty
• Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera
• My Funny Valentine
• My Heart Will Go On from Titanic
• Only Time
• Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid
• Someone to Watch Over Me from Oh, Kay!
• Unchained Melody
• Your Song

For the entrance of the bridal party, we played the "Theme" from Final Fantasy VII, and the bride's processional music was "Theme of Love" from Final Fantasy IV.  "Eyes on Me" (Final Fantasy VIII) played as the couple performed their signing ceremony, and the recessional was "Throne Room" from Star Wars Episode IV. 

 
Not necessarily music you might expect on the harp, but it was a lot of fun to put together, and the guests enjoyed it, too.  They even applauded the recessional, and a few couples stuck around to dance during the postlude - that was a first for me!

If you are planning a wedding at Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, or anywhere in the Bloomington & Peoria areas, please contact me about providing your wedding music!  Visit my website, Central Illinois Wedding Music, for details and more information.

Harp Concert ~ Southwest Michigan

Last Wednesday evening, I presented a solo harp concert at the Lincoln Township Library in Stevensville, Michigan.  I had given a concert there a few years ago, and was delighted to be back! 

The program included works by Bach, Handel, Godefroid, Weinzweig, Andres, Salzedo and Gustavson, along with folk songs and the popular songs "At Last," "In My Life," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and "Glitter in the Air."

After the performance, many members of the audience (including a fellow harpist!) stayed to ask questions and to get an up-close view of the harp.  I love to give recitals and presentations for organizations!  Please contact me about providing musical entertainment for your club, church, or community event.  You can visit my website, The Classic Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for details.

West Lafayette Harpist ~ Wedding at Ross Camp

Samantha and Matt enjoyed a beautiful day for their outdoor wedding!  They set up a tent on the lawn at Ross Camp outside of West Lafayette, Indiana, and had their ceremony just outside of it in front of the pond.  Guests were able to just walk a few steps into the tent for the reception!

When we met a few weeks before the wedding, they had most of their music selected, but hearing it in person really made an impact!  They chose the Irish folk song "Down By the Salley Gardens" for the seating of families, followed by "Arioso" for the bridal party's entrance music.  The bride's processional was "Canon in D," and as the couple participated in the unity sand ceremony, I played the spiritual "Deep River." 

 
As the ceremony concluded, the newlyweds exited to "Fields of Gold" by Sting.  I continued to play an extended postlude as guests found their seats in the tent and the wedding party took formal pictures. 

The harp music selections for this ceremony were a nice variety!  You don't have to stick with just classical music; you can mix it up and include some of your favorite popular pieces along with the traditional wedding music.  If you'd like a harpist for your wedding, visit my website ~ West Lafayette Harpist ~ or call 1-877-HARP-578.

Wedding Music in South Bend ~ Ceremony at Pine Creek Church of the Brethren

The most interesting part about this wedding for me was that the bride's mom and step-dad, who happened to be the officiant, were pleasantly surprised that the Bride picked harp music for the wedding.  The most comical part had to be some of the things that the flower girl decided to say!  During my wedding ceremony this past Saturday, the bride's daughter, who was the flower girl, insisted on asking the officiant, who was grandpa, if she could go to the bathroom now.  It definitely made the room laugh!

This ceremony was a mix of traditional and classical.  For the bridesmaids, I played Come Sail Away by Styx.  Going more traditional for her entrance, the bride selected Canon in D.  For the recessional, I played King William's March.

If you would like to learn more about having harp music for your South Bend Wedding, please visit our website, South Bend Wedding Music.