Weddings & Special Events
Let the harp add a distinctive elegant touch to any special occasion-- corporate events, birthdays, rehearsal dinner, bridal and baby showers, special church services, teas, luncheons and dinners.
Melissa plays for over 100 wedding and special events each year in a variety of venues.
Please contact Melissa to book a date or ask a question not covered in the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Choosing Music for your Wedding Ceremony
Traditional Processional
I have compiled the following list of commonly requested selections simply to provide a starting point to assist you in planning your own program. Feel free to inquire about your favorite selections...the only limiting factor being the availability of sheet music and playability on the harp.
Prelude
Soft background music performed while guests are being seated. If you do not have particular requests for this music, select a category of harp music you would like performed (for example,light classical music or popular love songs).
Processional
Begins when the officiant and the groom approach the altar. The bridesmaids (along with the groomsmen who may join them) continue to walk to this selection. Traditionally, this is a majestic piece played at a pace that is easy to walk to. For non-traditional weddings or smaller wedding parties, this selection need not have a majestic sound, but should retain an easy walking tempo. This piece ends when the entire wedding party reaches the altar.
Bride's Entrance
Traditionally, the bride enters to fanfare music that announces her arrival (most often, Here Comes the Bride). Again, for non-traditional weddings or small weddings, other music may be chosen to suit the bride's taste, as long as it sounds good played at an easy walking pace. This piece ends when the bride reaches the altar. When there are no other bridesmaids, other than the maid or matron of honor, the bride sometimes elects to enter to the same piece of music as the maid or matron of honor .
Recessional
A triumphant, almost quickly paced piece played as the newlyweds walk up the aisle as husband and wife, followed by the wedding party
Postlude
Lively selections played as guests file out. As with pre-ceremony music, specific requests and preferred categories are welcome.
Wedding Ceremony Suggestions
Traditional Bride's Entrance:
Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin by Wagner
Alternative Processionals
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Largo from Winte (The 4 Seasons) by Vivaldi
Largo from Xeres by Handel
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by JS Bach
Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke (Purcell)
Trumpet Tune by Clarke (Purcell)
Hymne by Vangelis
Air on a G-string by Bach
Traditional Recessional
Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
Alternative Recessionals
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
Concerto for Harp in B-flat by Handel
Sinfonia from Solomon (Arrival of the Queen of Sheba) by Handel
Allegro from Spring (The 4 Seasons) by Vivaldi
Rondeau (from Masterpiece Theater) by Mouret
Additional Ceremony Suggestions
Ave Maria by Schubert
Ave Mara by Bach/Gounod
The Lord's Prayer by Mallotte
O Perfect Love by Barnaby
The Gift of Love (The Water is Wide) Hymn
The Wedding Song by Stooky
Panis Angelicus by Franke
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Popular/Love Song Suggestions
All I Ask of You by Weber
The Prayer by Sager
My Heart Will Go On (Titanic Theme) by Horner
A Time for Us (Romeo and Juliet) by Rota
One Hand, One Heart (from Westside Story ) Bernstein
