9 Beautiful Harp Songs to Play at Your Wedding
Brittany Barber
Contributor
As you know, there are a ton of components involved in planning a wedding ceremony — but let's take a moment to focus on wedding music, shall we? If you're leaning toward having a live musical performance at your wedding, consider hiring a harpist to play a series of romantic wedding songs for you.
There are many options when it comes to songs that can be played on the harp, from classical pieces (played specifically by classical harpists) to modern love songs (with the option for virtual harp performances, too). We've put together a small list of examples that you should check out if you're on the hunt for harp wedding music inspiration.
Bonus: Scroll to the end for tips on how to choose and hire the right harpist for your wedding.
READ MORE:
- 30 Unique Wedding Entertainment Ideas
- Your Complete Wedding Planning Checklist
- Browse Wedding Musicians on The Bash
Here are 9 beautiful wedding songs you should discuss with your prospective harpist:
1. Deux Arabesques - Debussy
If you thought Debussy's Deux Arabesques was magical on the piano, well wait 'til you hear it played on the harp (it is truly taken to a whole other level of majestic). You'll probably want to speak with a classically trained harpist who studied at a conservatory if you're leaning toward a piece like this.
2. Everything I Wanted - Billie Eilish
You don't have to stick to classical pieces, even if you're hiring a wedding harpist. A popular song like Billie Eilish's Everything I Wanted would sound beautiful at your wedding, too, perhaps during the cocktail hour or after the ceremony. Just make sure to check in with your harpist's repertoire, so you can organize accordingly.
3. Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi
Lewis Capaldi's Someone You Loved could honestly be mistaken as a classical piece when played on the harp. If you and your fiancée are lovers of indie or alternative music, you can always find a musician who can transpose one of your favorite tunes to play on the harp (or even Celtic harp!) at your wedding.
4. Moon River - Andy Williams
Moon River is magical in its own right, but played on the harp? Swoon. It could be used as a recessional song, or played after the ceremony at the reception, too. You could even hire a harpist and a vocalist to play together as a duo, if you were also looking for lyrical accompaniment. Just make sure to communicate this request at the start of your search for musical performers, as to avoid any confusion down the road.
5. You and Me - Lifehouse
You and Me by Lifehouse has become a love song for the ages, whether it's played on the harp, violin, or even bagpipes. Start a conversation with a harpist in your area to check out their repertoire of wedding songs.
6. Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Another popular wedding song is Perfect by Ed Sheeran. It sounds amazing on the harp alone, but paired with a violin? Talk about pulling on my heartstrings. (I'm sorry, but I had to.) Have a look through these classical duos (as well as trios and quartets!) to start a conversation with musicians for hire in your area.
7. The Night We Met - Lord Huron
Prepare for some serious waterworks if you're planning on hiring a harpist to play The Night We Met by Lord Huron. It might even be more touching played on the harp, either during the wedding processional or included along with your wedding dinner music.
8. Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
The only thing more whimsical than the cascading rings of a harp? The magical sounds of six harps, harmonizing together. Consider hiring a group of harpists to play Pachelbel's Canon during the wedding processional for a truly awe-inspiring experience.
You'll want to check in with your venue to make sure they can accommodate multiple harps — keep in mind that they're heavy instruments that will need a considerable amount of planning when it comes to transporting them.
9. Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Although you might want to hear Lana Del Rey's Young and Beautiful and all of its massive sound played by an entire orchestra (which is also totally doable), it could sound just as magnificent played by a solo harpist, too.
Harpist booking tips:
- On The Bash, you can search through an extensive list of top-rated, bookable musicians, entertainers, and party rentals in your local area. While browsing harpists, be sure to review vendor profiles and check out their audio clips, videos and photos.
- When preparing a request for one of our musicians, keep in mind that the more details you can provide, the more accurate the price quote you'll receive. If you receive a price quote that seems like it needs clarification, don't hesitate to reach out to the vendor directly to find out more
- Communicate your expectations and special requests to any prospective harpists, and make sure to ask about their repertoire — especially if you have a particular song that you would like them to perform.
- Make sure to discuss what kind of atmosphere and mood you are hoping to set for your event. If you're hosting an intimate wedding, then perhaps a single Celtic harp will do. If you're hosting outdoors or in a large space, you might want to consider booking a harpist with an electric harp.
- Check in with your venue to make sure it can accommodate a harp. They usually weigh around 80 pounds, so transporting it in and out of your venue (and keeping it protected from the elements if you're hosting outside) are crucial details to consider.
Questions to ask your prospective harpist:
- Has the performer booked gigs at similar events?
- What music does the performer specialize in and does it match your taste?
- If your event needs amplification, can this performer provide it?
- Will the performer work to individualize your event?
- Can they provide past client testimonials or referrals?
There are tons of benefits to booking through The Bash. Our guarantee ensures that our vendors are held to the highest standard of professionalism. All deposit and balance payments made online through our secure EventPay system are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. You’ll also have hands-on support from our Account Services team who is available to help with any event needs, including a last-minute replacement.
For more advice on hiring musical entertainment, check out these tips on how to book a band — and be sure to check out The Bash for more wedding planning tips and ideas.
About Brittany Barber
Brittany Barber, lover of books, dogs, and romance, graduated from Bishop’s University with a Communications and Theatre degree. After spending some time working abroad in the theatre world, she is now a freelance writer covering a range of lifestyle topics including event planning for The Bash, WeddingWire, 2life and Fluttr, and shopping for BuzzFeed.
