Harpist Emily Fife

Emily Fife, harpist has been playing the harp 27 years and has been performing professionally at weddings and special events mostly in Kentucky and Indiana for the last 15 years. She also gives harp lessons training the next generation of harpists for weddings and special events in the future.

A harp is a beautiful instrument to have as part of any wedding ceremony or cocktail hour. When one walks into a wedding ceremony and there is a harpist playing, they are often struck by what a beautiful atmosphere of beauty, elegance, uniqueness, and regality that has been created. A harpist elevates the ambiance and creates a beautiful environment for a wedding and is a great instrument for creating a very intimate experience for your wedding guests.

Per Emily, “Any experienced harpist has the ability to play the timeless classical requests that brides have come to know and love, as well as, play more modern and contemporary musical pieces. Some of the top requested pieces I received [recently] were: Canon in D by Pachelbel, Jesu', Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod, Bridal March by Mendelssohn, A Thousand Years by Christina Perry, Perfect by Ed Sheeran, Hallelujah by Cohen, All of Me by John Legend, Marry Me by Train, Marry You by Bruno Mars, and A River Flows In You by Yiruma. Additionally, what I love about live music at a wedding ceremony is the musicians ability to adjust a piece - to lengthen it or end it at any time, or create a carefully timed crescendo or glissando for a bridal entrance or special moment within the ceremony. Live musicians can work with the couple to pick music and have it arranged in a way where it flows seamlessly from the prelude music, to the processional, to the bridal entrance and beyond.”

Emily is able to play indoors or outdoors, which makes it a great instrument to select for your wedding, especially with a lot of weddings moving outdoors during the pandemic. Emily shares, “With the modern bride opting for non-traditional wedding sites, the harp is able to be setup and played outside or in a newly popular wedding and event barn. Most harpists only require and request that they not be asked to play in the rain, though shade is greatly appreciated on a very hot day. Another great option, especially if the wedding and cocktail hour are at the same place is to hire the harpist to play at both the wedding and then the cocktail hour of the wedding. It's fairly easy to move the harp from one place to another if the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour are in the same general location. A harpist does not require amplification or electricity, ceremony and cocktail hour are in the same general location. A harpist does not require amplification or electricity, though many harps have amplification features built into their harps and can be amplified electronically, making it easy in all venues large or small for the harp music to be heard.”