Wedding Forum - Walking down the aisle to a harpist???...

Evening all... honest opinions would be greatly appreciated...

H2B would like me to walk down the aisle to a harpist playing and then have them playing during the sit down dinner... I haven't been to a wedding where I've heard a harpist playing so don't really have any strong opinion of it..

What do other people think and have you been to a wedding where a harpist has played?

Thanks brides :-) xx

i love the idea of a harpist but we've gone with a string quartet instead! I think live music will make it really special, its a lovely classy touch. If it had cost less to have a harpist we would definitely have gotten one, but it was going to cost the same for a quartet so that's what we went with. I say do it :o)

i've heard lots of harpists from playing in orchestras but never heard on at a wedding - mainly because I've only been to one wedding! They are beautiful, really gorgeous sounding instruments - whats putting you off?!

wow, thats good! We were quoted £500 which was the same price as the quartet. Our room is tiny too, they're going to have to sit in the bay window! lol. Why don't you have a listen on Spotify or Youtube and see if theres anything you like? xx

Oh yeah... never thought about going on you tube!!! lol.. I do like the sound of the one that the place recommended but didn't like what they played... but will you tube like crazy tonight... :-) xx

I would agree in regards to relying on cd's.. Last wedding I went to, when the bride was walking down the aisle, the cd kept on jumping.. I really felt for her as the first time it happened her smile turned upside down... and it didn't help that people started sniggering..

Like you, my OH really wants one so I guess we're having one... just need to find a piece of music that I like I guess..
I have to start not caring what other people think in regards to our wedding as it's about Martin and I ...

Thank you so much for the advice especially in regards to youtube.. not sure why I didn't think of that :-) xx

I was think of one as I'm walking down and I assumed that during the ceremony they wouldn't be playing as then people wouldn't be able to hear our vows??

And then they'll be playing for about an 1.5hr during the sit down dinner..

In regards to leaving do you mean as we are walking back down once we are married??? gosh never thought of that..
Need to get my thinking cap on and pull my fingers out!!! lol

Thanks for saying that you'd look as well that would be brilliant... this wedding planning thing is not easy!! lol :-) xx

yeah you'll need one for you entering and leaving, some for signing the register and also probably some for when the guests are arriving. Are you having a civil ceremony or in a church? If its a civil ceremony you'll need about 4 for during the signing of the register, and the same for when guests are arriving. I've found a brilliant 'tutorial' style video on youtube by a wedding harpist giving suggestions - its called A Brides Guide to Wedding Harp Music. She's got some excellent suggestions and she demonstrates all the different pieces xxx

Oh wow thank you so much for that @Sara .. that's h2b and mine evening sorted... he's well chuffed that other brides have said go for it... although he did say 'why did I need to confirm it with other first!' lol no pleasing some people...

@Suzky123 yeap definitely have decided to go for it and will be checking out you tube this evening..

Thank you all so much for your input :-) xx

just realised you get married one day before me you jammy bugga haha!

There's absoloutely *nothing* wrong with having a harpist play at your wedding. Where I am (south west), couples use them quite frequeently. A harpist/string quartet does give a certain serenity and calm to a typical classical wedding.

If you have been brought up in and around classical music, then you will love it, but be warned! A good one will charge!

Going by your post though, you seem to me very middle-of-the-road on the subject, so do seek somegood ones out and ask about an audition or a cd demo.

It is lovley to listen to. I've been brought up surrounded by classical/barqoue music and can fully appreciate what the effect can have.

If you like it, then go for it!

my cousin had a few harpists playing and it was beautiful, really set the mood i think

i would love a harpsit but oh hates them

Hiya all

Thank you all so much your comments and opinions.. the general consensus is to go for it... :-)

We spent a good few hours on you tube last night as well as on other various sites listening to all the different harpists play and wow there are some beautiful sounds out there... I also didn't realise that you can ask them to play more or less any music that you like.. I know slow or what!!

OH loves it and he was like a kid in a candy shop yesterday so I guess we are having a harpist... I think we may just settle for when I walk up as well as during the signing but not during the dinner as there is a long interval between the ceremony and the sit down dinner... and we're not sure how this would work...

Next week will be spent going through h2b record collection (2000+) to decide on what we want played.. happy days :-) and then hopefully we are not too late to book the harpist that was recommended by the hotel..

@sara we've checked out the tutorial on you tube and yeap the suggestions are worthwhile ... thank you again for letting me know about this..

Thank you all again for taking the time to give me your opinions... 6months and 26 days and I become MrsMHunt... super excited

:-) xx