Kenilworth Castle Wedding – the end of an era

What a huge honour to play the harp for Mechala and Mark’s Kenilworth Castle wedding, especially as their era of hosting civil ceremonies comes to an end.

The couple came to my home after booking me on a recommendation from the wedding organiser at Kenilworth Castle.

During our music consultation we spent an hour with me playing some of my most requested pieces, and sight-reading through a few songs they had heard online and were considering for the ceremony.

Selecting the songs for the ceremony was quite straightforward, it was the recessional piece that really stumped us.  Both Mechala and Mark wanted something recognisable and upbeat, but also meaningful.  In the end they narrowed it down to two pieces which I worked on and recorded for them to listen to at home and make the final decision.

On the day the sun had been shining all morning with just the right amount of wind to keep the Gate House at Kenilworth Castle nice and cool.  As the guests made their way in for the ceremony I began playing, starting with beautiful, harpy songs then moving into more popular pieces such as All of Me, Human and Take Me To Church.  As the groom entered and awaiting his bride we needed something a little more upbeat, so I shifted gears to You’re Beautiful by Chester See and Rather Be by Clean Bandit.

As Mechala entered her wedding ceremony I played the Bridal Chorus with full glissandos!  As the couple had conducted the legal part of their ceremony a few days earlier, there was no signing of the register.

The newly married exited their ceremony as Husband and Wife to Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, followed immediately by the upbeat party song:  I Gotta Feeling.

A huge thank you from Michelle Dalton Harp to Mechala and Mark for letting me be a part of your beautiful wedding day!

I will miss playing weddings at this gorgeous venue as Kenilworth Castle exits the wedding market.