Shelley Otis - Best Songs on the Harp

About Ceremony Music

Wondering How Many Songs to Pick?

You'll need:

a wedding party song (if you have a wedding party). You can also optionally choose two wedding party entrance songs if you'd like a separate song for the parents, groomsmen, etc.
an entrance song for the bride or member(s) of the wedding couple
an exit at the end of the ceremony

Optional:

a song during the middle of the ceremony if you would like background music during a unity candle, sand ceremony, handfasting, or a moment to remember people who can't be at the wedding. If you are having a Catholic wedding please contact me for additional options for the Mass.

And the rest:

for pre-ceremony, I usually play a mix of classical harp music and slower popular songs such as "To Make You Feel My Love" (Adele) and Grow as We Go (Ben Platt) but if there's anything specific you'd like during this time please let me know.
for cocktail hour, I usually play a mix of the most upbeat popular covers aimed to please a multi-generational audience (so, anything from Louis Armstrong and the Beatles to Justin Bieber) but if there's anything specific you'd like me to play from my list during cocktail hour, there's a space to enter those on the song form.

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Looking for ideas?

check out these Best songs on the harp for......

a romantic entrance:
Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis)
All of Me (John Legend)
Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Tale as Old as Time (Beauty and the Beast)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
How Long Will I Love You (Ellie Goulding)
Turning Page (Sleeping at Last)
Yellow (Coldplay)

an upbeat entrance or exit:
Better Together (Jack Johnson)
Dancing in the Moonlight (King Harvest)
Speechless (Dan & Shay)
Signed Sealed Delivered (Stevie Wonder)
Friday I'm in Love (The Cure)
Here Comes the Sun (the Beatles)
You're My Best Friend (Queen)
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Best Day of My Life (American Authors)
Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)
All You Need is Love (Beatles)
My Girl (the Temptations)
Everything (Michael Buble)

a classical entrance or exit:
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (J. S. Bach)
Largo from Winter (Vivaldi)
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Hornpipe from Abdelazer
Aleman (Thomas Morley)
Canario (Michael Praetorius)

the most traditional entrances and exits:
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
Wedding March (Wagner, aka "Here Comes the Bride")
Wedding March Exit (Mendelssohn)

Jewish weddings:
Erev Shel Shoshanim
Simon Tov

aisle songs with a jazzy flair:
At Last (Etta James)
What a Wonderful world (Louis Armstrong)
Easily (Bruno Major)
She (Elvis Costello)
Jazzy Joy (Beethoven arr. Otis)

more options:
check out my song list page

Is there a song that you've always dreamed of walking down the aisle to but are wondering if it will work on the harp? Get in touch with me to see if it's possible! Most songs are, with the exception of rap and some r&b.

browse additional song options

more inspiration.....

Popular Wedding Entrances and Exits:
"Tried and true" wedding songs that many couples choose

Canon in D
Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis) solo harp harp & violin
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
In the Mood (Glenn Miller)
Tenerife Sea (Ed Sheeran)
Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)- with Cami Sylvia and Fabio Pirozzolo
I Will (The Beatles)
Best day of My Life (American Authors)
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Marry Me (Train)
Tale as Old as Time (Disney)
All of Me (John Legend)
All You Need is Love (The Beatles)
Love Story (Taylor Swift)
Can You Feel the Love Tonight (E. John)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
My Girl (The Temptations)
Ho Hey (Lumineers)
Everything (Michael Buble)
Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
Over the Rainbow (IZ version)
You Raise Me Up
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Prelude in C (Bach)
Wedding March (Mendelssohn)

See my song list for additional options
Contact me to find out what is possible for your wedding

Recent Wedding Requests:
Songs I've learned for weddings in 2022-2023

Speechless (Dan & Shay)
I'm With You (Vance Joy)
Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton)
Arms of a Woman (Amos Lee)
Mii Plaza
Golden Hour (Jvke)
Someone (Aaron Lewis)
Yellow (Coldplay)
Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift)
Video Games (Lana Del Ray)
A Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton)
Halo (Beyonce)
Beautiful Day (Josh Radin)
God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
Send Me On My Way (Rusted Root)
Princess Leia's Theme (from Star Wars)
Mikrokosmos (BTS)
In Case You Didn't Know (Brett Young)
Lovin' You (Minnie Riperton)
Bloom (The Paper Kites)
Merry Go Round of Life (Howl's Moving Castle)
Always With Me (Yumi Kimura)
The Cure (Lady Gaga)
Stay (Justin Bieber)
Andante Grazioso (Sonata#11 Mozart)
The Best (Tina Turner)
White Sandy Beach (IZ)
Married Life (from the movie Up)
You’re My Best Friend (Queen)
When Ginny Kissed Harry (from Harry Potter)
Lover (Taylor Swift)
Stay (Justin Bieber)
Mikrokosmos (BTS)
The Best (Tina Turner)
I Could Fall in Love (Selena)
On My Way (Sheppard)
Grow As We Go (Ben Platt)
Firework (Katy Perry)
What a Wonderful World (Sam Cooke)
Heaven (Brian Adams)
Better Together (Jack Johnson)
Theme from Jurassic Park
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Easily (Bruno Major)
Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)