1. Pachebel’s Canon in D  - J. Pachebel

There was once a groom who was so nervous, he literally couldn’t stop shaking! He had managed to attire himself, looking very smart, and his best man had prepared all that he should have done, except they had both forgotten their cuff links. Unfortunate, since their sleeves were designed for this purpose, and therefore hanging out of their suit jackets rather abruptly! However, all was forgotten when his bride processed up the aisle to the calming melody of Pachebel’s Canon, undoubtedly on a par as a modern day Wedding March. I have heard since, that the bride consequently bought him a pair of cuff links for their first anniversary!

2. The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - J.S. Bach

The bride and Groom’s arrival to their reception, begins the informalities of celebrating their union. I have known couples to arrive by horse and cart, helicopter, vintage car, hot air balloon, and even motorbike and side car! Nevertheless, an arrival I remember well was of a racing driver in a bright yellow  - extremely low to the ground and ‘cosy’ for any passenger, let alone one in a beautiful bridal gown with a veil… I remain hopeful that she knew about his hobbies before accepting his proposal, and have not tied any further expansions to their family to the roof of the vehicle!

3. Harps at Hamnavoe - I. Mieras

This Scottish folk song was first performed by an ensemble of harps at the Edinburgh Harp Festival a few years ago. Although it has an achingly beautiful melody, it’s development in to dotted rhythms jogs my memory to a wedding where I seemed to be competing with a bagpiper performing downstairs at the hotel. I continued to pluck my strings with determined effort to override the bagpipes, and was consequently amused when we both began to play the same piece- (Skye boat song), unknowingly to the other performer.

4. Spring }
    Winter}  from The Four Seasons - A. Vivaldi

Obviously couples decide to say their vows throughout various times of the year. A particular winter wedding I recall was a medieval style celebration in a barn. A log fire, a hog roast, oak tables and benches complete with goblets of wine hosted warming festivities on such a cold winter’s evening.

5. Come Away With Me - N. Jones
6. Can You Feel the Love Tonight - E. John

For some couples a romantic love song only confirms any words that have not yet been said on their wedding day. At a recent friend’s wedding I played at, I learnt of how the couple had both given each other gifts on the morning of their special day. Unsuspectingly they had both given their partner the same thing… a twig and a leaf in a box. This was due to the fact that when they had first met at university, they could not afford to give each other gifts, and therefore always brought a twig and a leaf for the other person when dating.

7. Salut D’Amour - E. Elgar

I find it interesting why Edward Elgar, an English composer decided to title this piece of music in French. I am inclined to believe that it is because the French language sounds extremely romantic, which was the objective of this piece. Indeed I included it in to my repertoire after having performed it at an extremely romantic wedding. Not only had the groom in question proposed to the bride at the top of the Eiffel Tower in France, but they had met when he saved her life!- he was a fireman.

 8. The Way You Look Tonight - J. Kern

I have heard this piece performed by every jazz artist under the sun, and still I do not tire of it! When listening to speeches at the end of a wedding breakfast, grooms often refer to their bride being beautiful, blushing, elegant and exquisite. Such words always remind me of this song, which I am sure any groom would repeat to his wife on their wedding day:

‘Someday, when I’m awfully low, when the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight. Yes you’re lovely, with your smile so warm, and your cheeks so soft, there is nothing for me, but to love you, and the way you look tonight.’

9. Annie’s Song - J. Denver

We are very lucky to have such a vast range of beautiful heritage estates in England- many that are now open for wedding celebrations.  I recently played in the grounds of such a venue wearing a particularly deep lilac silk dress, only to find that it certainly ‘filled the senses’ of the local bees and butterflies who consequently kept landing on me, thinking I was some sort of wild flower! Hence I have taken to wearing this particular gown whilst playing inside only.

10. Songbird - E. Cassidy

I was first requested to perform this piece for a ceremony accompanying a singer. Unfortunately the singer was delayed at the airport on the day of the wedding, and consequently it was performed as a harp solo. I regret that I do not like to sing in public, (and I would not punish anybody to listen), and therefore the words to this piece are not heard. However, the unmistakable sentiment that Eva Cassidy portrays in her songs can be extracted with a haunting tone that I love about the harp, and therefore enjoy playing this piece.

11. Nocturne for the harp - M. Glinka

A particular favourite harp composition of mine. A Nocturne is a piece representing a ‘nocturnal atmosphere’, but it is also known to be a piece with a romantic affluence, which, in this case, I must agree.

12. Time to Say Goodbye - F. Satori

I always remember performing this piece at a restaurant on Valentine’s evening. A lady had just commented on how she had enjoyed listening to it, and that it was one of her favourite pieces of music, when she returned to her table to find herself being proposed to by her boyfriend! It was obviously ‘time to say hello’, rather than goodbye, but I hope to have contributed to the romance of the evening anyway.

13. Moon River - H. Mancini

One of the most memorable wedding cakes I have seen was an enchanted fairy castle cake, complete with towers and turrets, and small fairy cakes for the children. This particular wedding also had many twinkle lights, candles and small posy baskets for the children. Wedding days can be anything the Bride and Groom wish for; more often than not they are enchanting.

17. Avé Maria - F. Schubert

This piece has been at the core of an internal struggle throughout the years of my playing at weddings. Played in a church, I am free to wallow in the splendour of Schubert’s composition, but I have rarely performed it during civil ceremonies. It is disallowed due to it’s biblical references. However, it is interesting to note that Schubert set his famous piece to a German translation of Sir Walter Scott’s poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’.