Once, I was booked for a wedding that led to love at a crossroads. Back then, I lived in an easy-to-get-to Seattle neighborhood. I had a home studio that I used for teaching harp lessons at the back of my house, and I also had wedding couples visit me there for in-person consultations, which was a popular perk that people took me up on.
The week of the wedding arrived. Customarily, I do a check-in with my client 1-2 days before the event to confirm the details I cannot err on: arrival time, play time, and song details to name a few. I spoke with the bride, and everything was good to go!
I like learning new songs. Many brides request special wedding ceremony songs for their day and I’m always happy to accommodate. Thankfully, the sheet music to the song is often available online. I’ll usually purchase the sheet music intended for piano, because piano translates so well to harp.
Help Selecting Wedding Ceremony Songs
That said, I have a pretty large repertoire already, with songs that are tested and true. You can read my most popularly played wedding songs here: Music Songlist. Its a good place to start from if you’re not sure what kind of music you’d like to have at your wedding.
In general, I would say that a wedding ceremony songs fall into approximately three kinds of programs, in addition to prelude and postlude music. Here are some variations:
…and for the very simple event: #3 – Processional – Recessional
How Special Request Songs Work Best
If a couple has special requests for wedding ceremony songs, I do my best to make that happen. Here’s an example of some songs I’ve learned for particular situations, like themed weddings and holiday parties:
Some Specially Requested Wedding Ceremony Songs
Dreams, The Cranberries – Dedicated to the passing of the lead singer of the Cranberries—Dolores Mary Eileen O’Riordan.
Falling Slowly, from the movie, Once (Glen Hansard). I also recommend the film which is such an authentic and beautiful love story.
Flower Duet, Leo Delibes – Yes, I can transcribe an opera song to harp, but it is not easy.
Hotel California, The Eagles – There have been many versions, here is the original.
In My Life, The Beatles – You will notice this version is a little different. It was take 1 in the recording studio.
Lovesong, The Cure – I enjoying transcribing 80s music for harp, the music that I grew up on.
No Surprises, Radiohead – The guitar arpeggios in Radiohead’s compositions are perfect for harp.
Skinny Love – Bon Iver – Having grown up in Wisconsin, Bon Iver’s early music holds a special place in my heart.
Sweet Child O’Mine – Guns N’Roses – I even play heavy metal band’s softer songs.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Annie Lennox – Songs that were originally created on synthesizers can even be transcribed to harp.
Take On Me, Aha – More synthesizers of the 80s that I have transcribed to harp.
When You Wish Upon A Star, Leigh Harline and Ned Washington – This Disney song is over 100 years old!
I Can Also Provide Wedding Music in Duet and Trio Formats
At this time of writing this, I have been performing professionally for 30 years. In that time, especially from my years as a Seattle harpist, I have met a lot of amazing musicians. I have developed great friendships because of playing songs together with these talented musicians. Performing together often started in clubs with larger ensembles when I was in my 20s, and turned into long term friendships.
Janet Utterbach, violinist, and I play weddings when asked for wedding music Duets. She has performing experience playing in the Yakima Symphony, Bellevue Symphony, Northwest Symphony, and Tacoma Symphony (2nd violin and 1st violin.) Janet has been teaching violin with the Community Music Department at the University of Puget Sound since 1991.
Nate Omdal, bassist, was in my band, the Daphnes, and now we occasionally play weddings together. Bassist, Composer, Producer, Nate Omdal is one of the Northwest’s most dependable producers and his work can be heard all over the city of Seattle. Nate has provided arrangements or worked as musical director for The Seattle International Film Festival, million dollar fundraisers, as well as the Seattle Art Museum, and Bumbershoot.
Josh Rawlings, pianist, has been my favorite musician to play weddings with because of his ability to play anything. He is a GRAMMY-Nominated and Platinum Album Award winning composer, studio musician and performer. He is the pianist featured on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ multi-GRAMMY winning album ‘The Heist’. Josh’s signature sound can be heard on ‘Same Love’ and ‘Downtown’ along with many other major albums.
Other musicians I play weddings with are violinist Julie Baldridge, and cellist Maria Scherer Wilson. With such a depth of resources, your special requested wedding ceremony songs can take on a whole new life when a trio or duo play them.
This is one summer’s day as a harpist. I couldn’t ask for more perfection weather-wise. Blue on blue. Gentle waves and breeze. Seventy degrees. My ferry docks and so begins my work day.
The Arrival
Today’s wedding is in Issaquah at a mansion/estate/farm on a once mellow country road. Now, there are paragliders floating down the blue mountain foothills in the distance. Next to that, is a park and ride, full of RVs and cars, from tourists, commuters, and some probably camping out. The traffic is a non-stop flow of suburban stop and go.
On the drive there, I think to write a theme in B, calling it “Blue Cascade.” But I am looking for my exit, not a melody. Perhaps this will make a nice assignment for myself later.
Between March and through the end of summer, you can listen to the poetry as you wander the gardens. Watch for the signs and scan the QR codes with your phone. Its an absolutely stunning historic venue in south Tacoma. By chance, I’m also booked for a wedding at Lakewold Gardens in May!
We come to rituals to commemorate a moment in time, an event, or a loved one: a birth, love, a death. Often music plays a part in these rituals. Harp music in particular can be a meaningful addition to any ceremony. You need harp music for rituals and rites of passage. My work playing music for several decades at rites of passage and ceremonies of all sorts has given me a unique perspective on the process of ritual.
I have played harp since 1990, and I have been studying music earlier than that. As a young Catholic child, I was introduced to many ceremonies of the church – for holidays, feast days, seasons of the year, and of course, various passages of human life: birth, graduation, marriage, anniversary, and death. Since then, I would guess I’ve played music for nearly 600 weddings, and 500 funerals, memorials, and vigils.
Often, when music is a part of a reverent ceremony, it is a service, rather than entertainment. For instance, when I worked for Providence Hospice as a complementary therapist, I played harp for clients whose life might be on the threshold of death at any minute. There are certain styles and sounds that are most effective at this time. Sometimes my client didn’t have any loved ones present, so the gift of music meant all the more to them.
