Magical Music for Your
Houston Wedding
Beyond wedding music…
I offer performances, rather than background music. You will most likely remember it for the rest of your life. It is worth the investment. That is my promise to you.
“AMAZING. Hands down easily one of the easiest vendors to work with.”
I offer performances, rather than background music. You will most likely remember it for the rest of your life. It is worth the investment. That is my promise to you.
PHOTO BY JASON MESLER
It's in the details...
A wedding day is made up of hundreds of small details and decisions. They all add up to your day. I have decades of experience as a professional harpist and I am ready to help you plan your perfect, dreamy wedding music.
I have a play list that I have put a lot of effort into; you can pick anything off of my list and it will work together.
Cultured Wedding Music
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER BROWN
I have lived in India, Malaysia, and Brunei and truly enjoy learning about other peoples’ culture within the context of their wedding. Whether you are from India or Brazoria County, TX I am ready to hear you out and work towards your musical nirvana.
Wedding Ceremony $525
My wedding ceremony service includes 30 minutes of prelude music directly before the ceremony begins, the music while the parents/grandparents are being seated. The wedding party and bride’s entrance music, exit music, and music played while your guests are relocating to the reception. The fee does include use of my sound system, a concert grand pedal harp, and black-tie formal attire.
Wedding Ceremony + Cocktail Hour $750
This includes the same service as above plus an hour of harp music directly following the ceremony. The ‘cocktail hour’ usually lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour. During this time the couple is usually involved in pictures and grabbing a quick bite to eat before their official introduction into the reception.
Harp Music for Wedding Ceremony $525
Please see description above. This fee includes the totality of you getting married. There is no additional fee for outdoor ceremonies. Use of my sound system is included.
Wedding Ceremony+Cocktail Hour $750
This includes the same service as above plus an hour of harp music directly following the ceremony. The 'cocktail hour' usually lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour. During this time the couple is usually involved in pictures and grabbing a quick bite to eat before their official introduction into the reception.
Wedding ceremony + Reception
This includes the same ceremony service stated above. My rate of $275 (after the first hour) can be prorated down to 15 minute intervals. This option is perfect for weddings with seated dinners.
Wedding Ceremony + Reception
Ceremony + 2 hour reception $1075
Ceremony + 3 hour reception $1350
This includes the same service as above plus an hour of harp music directly following the ceremony. The ‘cocktail hour’ usually lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour. During this time the couple is usually involved in pictures and grabbing a quick bite to eat before their official introduction into the reception.
Wedding Testimonials
“Sara was very professional and so fun! She was serious about providing the exact experience we wanted, but fun and easy to work with. Her song catalog is full of music that goes way beyond the typical wedding selections… movie soundtracks, current pop music, and classics… my daughter chose a fun mix. All of our guests loved the harp music.”
Kelly
“I loved Sara’s performance at my wedding last week. She was the talk of the ceremony and really brought the feeling to life. We requested a “Whole New World” a song not on her list- and arranged it herself. It was truly a magical night. I would hire her again if I could! She was timely, professional, and flexible.”
User118193
“This was an added treat for me from my Mom! Sara made our ceremony more beautiful and actually hearing her play was making me tear up before I walked down the aisle. Very professional too!”
Kimberly
Wedding Ceremony Music Guide
Congratulations on the pending bliss! Welcome. I am a professional harpist and have performed at 600+ weddings in Houston.
In the following sections I’m going to outline the different musical portions of your wedding ceremony and offer a few pieces of advice. I hope you have fun reading and planning! For my wedding ceremony service there is room for up to 16 music selections.
Prelude Music
Prelude music is played during the 30 minutes leading up to your ceremony start time. I usually have time to play 10 music selections.
During this time your guests will start arriving and the final set up for the ceremony is underway.
The prelude portion of the ceremony is a great time to show your personality and have some fun. I encourage you to think about what your guests would enjoy. The music really does set the tone for the ceremony and kicks off the wedding day festivities!
From my song list I usually recommend to mix it up- include a couple of standards, a couple of the modern, and a couple of the romantic selections. Of course, it is totally up to you. If there is a group of songs you would like and they are all from the same section-go with it!
Seating of the Parents & Grandparents
The seating of the parents/ grandparents signifies that the ceremony is about to start. First the grandparents are seated, then the groom’s parents, and finally the mother of the bride is seated. 1 music selection will be enough for everyone mentioned above to be seated.
This a great place to let your parents have some input-if there is a selection that is really meaningful to them.
The Processional
Now the officiant and wedding party will enter. This is also 1 music selection. They will enter in this order:
Minister/ Officiant
Groom/Best Man
Groomsmen
Bridesmaids
Maid of Honor/ Matron of Honor
Ring Bearer
Flower Girl
Bride's Entrance
This is your first big moment of many big moments that will happen at your wedding. Make it count! Here, obviously, pick what you want. 1 music selection.
There is nothing wrong with going full-on traditional or completely out of the box. Even after having played the traditional bridal chorus hundreds of times, it is still magical each and every time.
Here is what happens-when it is time for your entrance I get the cue from your coordinator. I start the music, the doors swing open, and there is usually an audible gasp. Everyone knows what’s happening next.
Again, it is one of the very few days in your life when it’s truly all about you (and your partner and family) but mainly you! They say pretty is as pretty does. Well today, as my dad would say “Pretty can do whatever Pretty wants to.”
If you would like to walk in to the Imperial March from Star Wars or Pink Pony Club that’s what we’re gonna do.
Solo During Ceremony, Unity Candle, etc.
Not everyone has music during the ceremony. I will say adding a musical selection during the ceremony is a nice place to slow things down. Not the full 4 minute version of the song-which can become awkward, but a 2 minute version. Enough time to take a breath, realize that somehow you have made it to the front of the ceremony area, reflect on what is about to happen, and give a nod to your parents and friends.
Literally, the entire rest of your day you will be getting your picture taken, trying to greet every single one of your guests, sitting down to eat (please remember to eat), etc. This selection usually happens after you have exchanged vows.
The Recessional
Yay! You are now a married couple. This is your exit music. 1 music selection will be enough for you and your wedding party to exit the ceremony area. I usually play for an additional 10 minutes while your guests exit.
I have tried to cover the basics. Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
Harpist +
Wedding FAQs
Do you perform at outdoor weddings?
Yes! And there is no additional fee for this. Depending on the time of day the wedding is set to take place a shaded option may be necessary. As a professional harpist in Houston, I am well aware of the ‘unique’ challenges an outdoor ceremony entails. I will make it work. It’s always important to have a contingency plan in place in case it rains.
When should I book your services?
I highly recommend booking as soon as you have made the decision. Not a week later. That is true for any of your vendors, but it is especially true for businesses that can only accept/ be at one wedding per time slot. And even more so if your ceremony is on a Saturday night.
I’m guessing you have already figured this out. Houston is a big city, and lots of people are looking to book entertainment on any given Friday and Saturday night! Book early, be happy.
Where will you set up?
Ideally, I like to set up where your guests will be able to see me and where I can a clear view of the aisle. This might be the only time your guests will ever hear a harpist in person, so it is nice for them to be able to actually see it. I usually like to set up on the bride’s side off to the left.
What will the harpist wear to the wedding?
For weddings I always dress black tie formal. A full length, usually strapless gown. As an official vendor I prefer to err on the side of formal rather than not formal enough. However, I have a closet full of vintage cocktail dresses…that I can absolutely wear on request.
But again, my default wedding attire is formal. *Note, even if you are having a simple backyard event, I think it is important for the harpist (me) to be dressed up as it is part of the harp/ harpist package.