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Weddings

About

Harpist, Meredith McCracken graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with a BA in Music Performance.

Meredith is the principal harpist with the orchestra of Scottish Ballet, a position she has held for many years.

Meredith is a key figure in the more intimate world of weddings and special events, both private and corporate.

Her repertoire includes many genres, for example Classical, Modern pop, Music from the shows, Disney songs and much more!

Services offered

Meredith offers live harp music for your civil wedding, church wedding, drinks reception & photographs, or your wedding breakfast / meal.

You are very welcome to choose a combination of the above.

A civil or church wedding includes music as guests assemble, the bride's entrance, signing the register and exit of the happy couple.
Meredith arranges many songs for the harp herself so they are unique to her!

A selection of Modern songs:

  • Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
  • Bryan Adams – Everything I Do
  • Bryan Adams – Heaven
  • Birdy - Skinny Love
  • Buble - Home
  • Eva Cassidy – Songbird
  • K-Ci & JoJo – All My Life
  • Des’ree – Kissing You (from Romeo and Juliet)
  • Celine Dion – Immortality
  • Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On from The Titanic
  • Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
  • Marvin Hamlisch – Nobody Does it Better (from The Spy Who Loved Me)
  • George Harrison – Here Comes the Sun
  • Horner – For the Love of a Princess (from Braveheart)
  • James Ingram & Dolly Parton – The Day I Fall in Love (from Beethoven)
  • Iron & Wine – Flightless Bird
  • Michael Jackson – The Lady in my Life
  • Elton John – Your Song
  • Norah Jones – Come Away with Me
  • Annie Lennox – Into the West (from The Return of the King)
  • Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
  • John Legend – All of Me
  • Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are
  • Bruno Mars – Marry You
  • Metallica – Nothing Else Matters
  • Mraz - I Won't Give Up

Some Show Songs

  • Menken – Theme from Beauty and the Beast
  • Menken – A Whole New World (from Aladdin)
  • Myers – Cavatina (She was Oh, So, Beautiful
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein – Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music)
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein – I Could Have Danced All Night (from The King and I)
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein – You’ll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel)
  • Westlake – When You Taught Me How to Dance from Miss Potter
  • Webber – All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera
  • Webber – Close Every Door from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • Webber – Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera
  • Webber – Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera

Some suggestions for your wedding ceremony

  • Bach – Arioso
  • Bach – Air on the G String
  • Bach – Prelude No.1
  • Beatles – I Will
  • Beethoven – Ode to Joy
  • Delibes – Flower Duet
  • Giacchino – Married Life from Up
  • Handel – Air from The Water Music
  • Handel – Hornpipe from The Water Music
  • Handel – The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
  • Lennon – I Will
  • MacKay – Highland Wedding
  • Henry Mancini – Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet
  • Mendelssohn – Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Pachelbel – Canon in D
  • Pokarekare Ana – A Maori Love Song
  • Purcell – Trumpet Tune
  • Purcell – Trumpet Voluntary
  • Stanley – Trumpet Voluntary
  • Wagner – Wedding March (Here Comes the Bride)

A Classical Selection

  • Beethoven – Fur Elise
  • Chopin – Nocturne
  • Clarke/Purcell – Trumpet Voluntary
  • Debussy – Arabesque
  • Debussy – Clair de Lune
  • Elgar – Salut d’Amour
  • Handel – The Harmonious Blacksmith
  • Handel – Theme and Variation
  • Handel – Air from The Water Music
  • Handel- Hornpipe from The Water Music
  • Mascagni – Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
  • Mozart – Romance from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
  • Parry – Sonata in D, Andante and Gavotte
  • Purcell – Trumpet Tune
  • Purcell – Trumpet Voluntary
  • Vivaldi – Allegretto (Spring) from The Four Seasons
  • Vivaldi – Largo (Winter) from The Four Seasons

Some Traditional Scottish, Irish & Welsh songs:

  • Iain of Glen Cuaich
  • Fields of Athenry
  • Strathspey Jig and Reel
  • The Londonderry Air
  • Watching the Wheat
  • David of the White Rock

Favourite Bollywood songs include:

  • Medley of Hai Guzarish / Khuda Jaane / Singh is Kinng
  • Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai (You Are My Night, My Dawn)
  • Chand Sitare Phool Aur Khushboo (Moon, Stars, Flowers and Fragrance)
  • Tere Bina Jiya Jaaye Na (I Can’t Live Without You)
  • Chadni O Meri Chadni (My Moonlight)
  • Tumko Hi Chahenge Hum (Only Pine For You)
  • Tere Liye from Veer Zara
  • Hey Shona, from Ta Ra Rum Pum
  • Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein
  • Tum Hi Ho (Aashiqui 2)
  • Jeene Laga Hoon (from Ramaiya Vastavaiya)

How she works

Meredith will arrive at your venue around 1 hour beforehand to set up for your event.

Timings for your event.

Civil ceremony - 1 hour

Church ceremony - 90 minutes

Drinks reception - 1 hour

Wedding breakfast / Meal - 2 hours

  • Woman-owned
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Frequently asked questions

What services do you offer?

Ceremony music
Cocktail/banquet music
Entertainment
Other (I offer live harp music for your civil wedding, church wedding, drinks reception & photographs, or your wedding breakfast / meal. You are very welcome to choose a combination of the above)

What is included in the wedding package?

A civil or church wedding includes music as guests assemble, the bride's entrance, signing the register and exit of the happy couple. I arrange many songs for the harp myself so they are unique to me

How far in advance should I contact you?

Once you know your date and venue, as early as possible please, especially at weekends

What style of music do you offer?

Classical
Lounge
Pop
Other (Weddings & Partnerships, Christenings & Naming Ceremonies, Funerals, Vow renewals Classical Music, Opera Favourites, Popular, Traditional Scottish Irish & Welsh Music, Bollywood, Christmas)

Type of musical group:

Solo
Soloist

Size of group:

Soloist

Repertoire:

Weddings and Civil Partnerships, Christenings and Naming Ceremonies, Funerals, Classical Music, Opera Favourites, Popular, Traditional Scottish Irish and Welsh Music, Bollywood, Christmas

Is it possible to request something that's not in the repertoire?

If you have a favourite song which transfers well to the harp and I have enough time, I will arrange it for you after negotiating an extra fee

What's your experience?

I studied the harp at the RSAMD, graduated with a BA in Music Performance. Principal Harpist with Scottish Ballet since 1985, and was Principal Harpist with the BBC SSO for 17 years

Do you have your own equipment?

Yes

Do you need specific materials or conditions to offer your service?

Yes, 1 armless dining chair & good lighting please. Firm and level flooring

Can you travel?

Yes, within a radius of say 90 miles of my home, though I'm prepared to negotiate should you be further afield. Within the UK though please!

Is there a charge for travelling?

Yes, 35p per mile if not local to my home

Do you cover more than one wedding a day?

Yes

Do you work alone or do you have a team of professionals?

Alone

What is the length of time of the act?

Civil Ceremony or Drinks Reception - up to 1 hour. Church Ceremony - up to 90 mins. Wedding Breakfast - up to 2 hours. A combination of the above

How much time do you need to prepare for an act?

I am well prepared, so I can be available for bookings even if they are last-minute, of course depending on my availability!

Do you do open-air acts?

No

Do you charge per hour or per event?

Per hour

If needed, would you be able to work extra hours?

Yes

How do you charge extra time?

By the hour please

What are the forms of payment?

The client and I sign a binding contract therefore avoiding payment issues should either party wish to cancel. Payment in full at least 14 days before the event. No deposit required
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Do you have any questions?

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5.0 out of 5 rating
3 reviews
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    5 out of 5 rating
100% Recommended by couples
Linda
Linda H. Sent on 16/10/2016
5 out of 5 rating
So glad we found Meredith McCracken to play at our wedding. She was outstanding. All our guests commented on how beautiful her music sounded before and during the wedding service. She was totally professional throughout and made a very special day, perfect. Cannot recommend her services highly enough.
Helen
Helen A. Sent on 25/01/2015
5 out of 5 rating
After initial frustrations with making enquiries elsewhere for various musicians for our wedding and getting no response I filled out an online form on Weddingspot to make an enquiry to Absolute Harp, and was impressed with the quick response I received. Meredith made it really easy to communicate with by email as she quickly responded to my enquiries and random questions. Her price was very reasonable and her web page gave us a taster of the quality of her services so we booked - and I'm very glad we did!

After asking what style of music we had in mind we received an email with several suggestions of classical pieces popular at weddings, which made it a lot easier to pick the music we wanted for the ceremony. For the drinks reception we left it to Meredith to play a selection of classic pieces and beautiful interpretations of modern day songs. The music suited our venue perfectly and sounded wonderful. I couldn't help but pause half way through signing the register to take it all in.

Meredith stayed over a little longer than booked in order to play right up until our guests had been seated for the breakfast at no extra charge, and came over midway through to check that everything was OK.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Meredith for a wedding or other special event. Thank you so much!

Mrs Jessop
July 2014
Pendrell Hall, Codsall Wood, Staffordshire
E
Expensivepurpleflowers42323 Sent on 18/07/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic experience all round, Magical atmosphere, 100% recommend!

Meredith was fantastic right from before booking through to our wedding day. She was brilliant at communicating via email and over the phone, and although we were unable to meet face to face prior to our wedding day due to COVID, Meredith made it so easy to organise and made us so comfortable with our choice!
Meredith kindly suggested some perfect pieces for our ceremony and drinks reception, playing a few of our favourite tunes and even arranged and learnt a new piece especially for us. She is incredibly talented and all of our guests commented on how beautiful her playing was and what a fantastic atmosphere she created.
Thank you so much Meredith, you made our day even more special. Would 100% recommend, get booking now! You’ll not regret it!
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The Heriotts /Lodge, 9 Worcester Rd WR9 8AA Droitwich (Worcestershire)

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