CLASSICAL MUSIC

Harpists
A harp is an angelic instrument, providing a soothing and dulcet tone, and a truly heavenly sound.

Ideal for the more stereotypical classical piece of music, the harp also lends itself perfectly to certain modern classics and even contemporary ballads.

Typically more at home during a civil ceremony where it can provide a romantic accompaniment to the procession, register signing and recession, it can also work wonders during smaller wedding breakfasts. If you are planning to engage the services of a harpist to play during a reception with a great number of guests, make sure you check whether the musician or venue can provide some form of speaker system or amp to help carry the sound. Also, be sure to know in advance where the harpist will be situated, that there is sufficient room for them to perform, and that the doorways are large enough to fit the ginormous harp through!

Pianists

With many of the most popular pieces of classical music having been composed for the piano, some would argue that a pianist is the perfect choice for a couple looking to integrate classical music into their big day.

Whether it's slow and romantic pieces of music such as Brahms' Lullaby, or more lively and vibrant tunes such as Handel's Hornpipe that you're after, the piano has the versatility to perform them all. Often, pianists will also be able to offer modern music as part of their repetoire, sometimes even performing vocally alongside them (check out our article entitled 'Mood Music' for more on this). However, you will find that a great deal of them will remain true to the music they grew up being educated with, and the likes of Beethoven and Chopinwill feature prominently on many a playlist.

As we mentioned earlier in the article when discussing the harp, if you're engaging the services of a pianist, make sure that you know exactly where they'll be located during the day. Perhaps even more importantly, double check that they can actually fit their piano through the doors!