"On Earth, As It Is In Heaven"
harp Waterford Michigan Detroit weddings harp for hire
BOOK A HARP FOR YOUR WEDDING!
It is always a great honor and privilege to be asked to play at such an important event, and on such a special day, as your wedding! Each and every wedding is such a unique and wonderful event, and the music of the harp can give it an extra special flair that you and your guests will always remember and cherish!
(the picture below is of my harp)
Because the harp is easily portable, I have been able to play everywhere from back yards and outdoor parks, to the grandest and largest of churches. And, of course, it is the perfect background music for your guests if you have a dinner reception!
The harp has such a magical, enchanting sound that it never fails to impress those who hear it! The beauty of the music that comes from its strings truly touches the heart and soul, making it one of the most inspirational instruments you could choose!
Owing to the fact that so few people these days play the harp at weddings, , I have put together a CD with commonly requested musical selections for weddings, called "Forever, I Do," to help you choose what songs you might like to have played at your wedding. Included on that CD is the song you hear playing in the background on this page - "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Other common wedding songs that I have played at weddings include such favorites as Pachelbel's "Canon in D," Wagner's "Here Comes the Bride / Bridal March from Lohengrin," Schubert's "Ave Maria," Stookey's "The Wedding Song," Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," Mendelssohn's "The Wedding March," "The Trumpet Voluntary," and so on. I can, of course, learn anything that you would like to hear!
If you want to listen to samples of other songs from my wedding CD, Click here to go there now.
Just because the sound of a harp is so heavenly, don't worry that the price of booking one will be out of this world as well! I hope that you will find the cost within your budget, as it is my goal to make it affordable for you, while providing music that I hope you will find to be worth every penny!
Rates for Weddings: $ 125
Wedding and Reception: $175
(include $25 for rehearsals, additional fees may apply for out of town locations)
I think it is important for you to know what you are getting for your money, so I always like to include a short description of what is involved so that you will know!
For a typical wedding (not including rehearsals or receptions), it normally involves about five hours of my time from start to finish. I always spend a minimum of an hour and a half in practice at home on the day before your wedding, as I want everything to go as smoothly, and to sound as perfect, as possible! About and hour and a half before the ceremony itself, I start getting packed up, get dressed appropriately, etc. so that I can be on location at least forty five minutes before the ceremony begins. After the ceremony which is typically anywhere from a half hour to and hour, I commonly play music while all the guests leave. So by the time I get packed up again and back home, it is usually about an hour after the wedding is over, for a total of about five hours involved.
I also think it is important for you to know that all funds received from playing the harp are put towards volunteer activities. Funds received from playing the harp at weddings or other events enables me to play the harp for free, as a volunteer, at many local hospitals, nursing homes, and as a volunteer for hospice patients who are nearing the end of their lives. So besides the wonderful music that you hear, you should feel good knowing that your money is going to help others in our community! At the end of each year, the money taken in is donated to various charitable organizations - such as local Food Banks, the Red Cross, and Mercy Corps International. For instance, at the end of 2004, that money was donated to the Red Cross for the Asian Tsunami relief. So not only does your money buy some beautiful music, that money goes on to accomplish even further good!
( click here to go to links page for more information on the above organizations )
You can read how I first got my start playing the harp as a volunteer for patients in hospitals and in hospice situations in the section of this web site found at:
The Story of How Illuminated Hearts Was Founded
I hope that you will take advantage of the wedding CD mentioned above, as it can be a great help for to you to hear the harp and get an idea of what songs you might like to hear! If you would like to hear a song but don't know if I play it, don't hesitate to ask! I am always glad to learn any song not already in my repertoire, and typically there is plenty of time before the wedding for me to learn anything new.
I am often asked at what parts of a service the harp is commonly used. Most often, it is requested for me to play starting about 1/2 hour before the service, as people arrive and sit down, and also at the end of the service as people are leaving. Sometimes a pianist or organist is also involved in playing a song or two. In the service itself, that depends completely on your plans! But any place where there is quiet period is a good place for the harp - perhaps in the background if a "unity candle" is being lit, or softly in the background during the exchange of vows, etc. And because the harp is easily portable, I can take it right out the front door of the church, and play it in the background as you drive away!
In addition, I am often requested to play if there is a reception to follow, as the harp is such an enchanting thing for guests to hear as they arrive, and makes great background music if there is a dinner involved!
Booking is simple - simply e-mail me at: flowingtree@hotmail.com for further questions or to see if I am available on the date you would like me to play for you! In most cases, you will receive a prompt reply within 24hrs.
I typically prefer to work the old-fashioned way, where one's word and promise is as binding as any document! For that reason, I do not normally request a deposit from anyone. If for some reason your plans would change due to some emergency or other situation, simply inform me so that I will know and can plan accordingly. As for my end of the bargain, I have never missed an appointment, rehearsal or ceremony, and never plan to! If some emergency would ever occur from my end, I would of course notify you as soon as possible, and I would of course feel obligated to do everything possible to find a replacement musician for your wedding!
If you decide to hire me for your wedding, it will indeed be my great privilege and honor to be part of such a joyous and special moment in your life!
