What wedding music packages do you offer?

As a specialist in wedding ceremony music, I offer a range of services to suit any type of ceremony, which includes church weddings, civil ceremonies, humanist ceremonies, spiritual ceremonies, interfaith blessings, vow renewals, same-sex ceremonies, and so on.

My signature ceremony music package includes singing while accompanying myself on either the Irish harp or piano, instrumental pieces, and pre-ceremony music.

I also offer drinks reception music as a standalone service or as part of a combination package with ceremony music. You can find out more about my drinks reception packages here: https://claireheffernan.com/receptionmusic/

What instruments do you play/provide?

As a professional singer, pianist, and Irish harpist, I am able to provide a range of musical services to suit your needs:

As a soloist: I am comfortable singing and accompanying myself on either the harp or piano, and I am also able to perform instrumental music on either instrument.

As a collaborator: Other musicians can be invited to join me, such as a violin player, which is the most popular addition. I can be hired as a solo singer to work with other musicians, such as a string quartet. I am also available to provide harp or piano accompaniment for another singer or musician of your choice.

Where are you based and how far do you travel? 

I am based near Limerick City and currently accepting bookings for weddings in Limerick and surrounding areas, typically within a 1.5-hour radius. This would include all of Limerick, as well as parts of Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Laois, Offaly, and Tipperary. Outside of this radius, I also frequently find myself in Killarney, a major wedding destination in Ireland. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss your wedding location.

Are you available on weekdays?

I am available 7 days a week.

Can you accompany my friend to sing/play at the ceremony? 

Yes, I’m happy to collaborate with another singer or musician. With a Master’s degree in accompaniment, I have the experience to support other performers, whether it’s a family member or friend singing one song, or a professional musician joining me for the entire ceremony. We would be in touch before the wedding to discuss the music in detail, and meet on the day or morning of the ceremony for a run-through of the music together.

How far in advance should we book you?

I am taking bookings up to December 2026, and some key dates already have a waiting list. However, I often take bookings at short notice, so it’s still possible that I’ll be available for your date. I’d be delighted to hear from you, even if your wedding is just a couple of weeks away. To avoid disappointment, please contact me when you’re ready to book.

Could you tell us about your pricing?

When you enquire, I will offer you a fixed ceremony fee based on your chosen package and location. This fee does not change with the length of the ceremony, the number of attendees, or the number of songs played, giving you peace of mind to adjust your plans without worrying about additional costs.

To receive a personalised quote or price list, simply fill out my contact form with your details. I offer a variety of singing, harp, piano, and accompaniment packages for both ceremonies and receptions, and I’d be happy to provide a bespoke quote based on your specific date, location, and chosen package(s).

Harp and piano are priced the same, so you don’t need to commit to your choice of instrument at the time of booking.

I also have a new range of reception music packages (starting at €200) available exclusively to couples who have booked me for their ceremony music.

The quote provided upon booking will remain the same unless booking details change after booking (e.g., date, location, or chosen package) or if any special requests are added on after booking.

Does it cost extra to have a second musician?

Yes, if you would like to hire a second musician to work with me (such as a violin player), they will quote their own fee separately to my fee. 

What does our ceremony music quote include?

I am dedicated to providing a seamless and professional music experience for your special day. This includes thorough planning with you in the weeks or months leading up to the wedding, as well as on-site coordination including transport, setup, sound checks, and coordination with other vendors such as the officiant, photographer, and wedding planner on the day of the wedding.

Please note that the following are not included in the initial ceremony music quote, but can be arranged:

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your specific needs, do not hesitate to contact me.

How do we book you?

Once I have confirmed my availability for your event date and location and we have agreed on a package and quote, I will require a deposit with in 7 days to secure the booking. The deposit can be paid online by card via Stripe. I will send you a link to your payment form, you can read through the T&Cs, and once paid, you will automatically have a receipt for your records. Please note that the deposit is a non-refundable booking fee for a specific package, date, and location, and no booking is considered secure until the deposit has been received.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the payment process, do not hesitate to contact me.

What happens after we send a deposit? 

After receiving your deposit and booking form, I will send you an email to confirm your booking and provide any further relevant details based on the package you have booked. This may include guidance on selecting ceremony music, a timeline for planning, and any other important information you may need. 

Can we book ceremony music now and decide on reception music later?

If you are interested in booking me for ceremony music but are unsure about adding reception music at this time, it is possible to place a deposit for the ceremony music and add on reception music later, subject to availability.

However, if you know that you would like to include reception music in your package, it is best to book it in at the same time as your ceremony music to ensure availability. This will help you avoid disappointment and ensure that you have the musical experience you desire on your special day. 

What ceremony music packages / instruments do you offer?

I offer four main packages for ceremony music, with the first two accounting for 99% of my bookings:

1. Singing with harp accompaniment (includes harp instrumentals)
2. Singing with piano accompaniment (includes piano instrumentals)
3. Piano only (soloist or accompanist)
4. Harp only (soloist or accompanist)

If you have any questions or need assistance selecting the best package for your needs, don’t hesitate to contact me.

We can’t decide between harp and piano!

Do not worry about selecting the “right” instrument for your event – they are both stunning, it is completely up to you, and you can change your mind at any point until your music is finalised. 

If you have listened to my recordings and you are still unsure whether to choose harp or piano, I can advise you further. Start by focusing on your song choices, and we can see which instrument might suit your songs the best. Piano might be better suited to rock, jazz, or musical theatre, and Irish/folk music is wonderful on the Irish harp. However, most songs will work on either instrument. A handful of pieces on my repertoire list are only available with piano (you will see them marked with a piano symbol 🎹 on my website). If you want any those songs, piano is your instrument. 

Can we have both harp and piano at the ceremony? How much is it to add on the second instrument?

I offer a choice between the harp or piano for your ceremony, and the price is the same for either instrument. You are welcome to change your mind about your preferred instrument at any time until your music is finalised. Please note that I will only bring one instrument to the ceremony. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Can we have one instrument (e.g. piano) at the ceremony and the other instrument (e.g. harp) at the drinks reception, or does it have to be the same instrument for both?

You have the option to have one instrument at the ceremony (such as the harp) and a different instrument at the drinks reception (such as the piano), or to have the same instrument for the entire day. The choice is entirely up to you and the price is the same either way.

How do we choose our ceremony music?

I will send you a detailed email with a template for either a church ceremony or a non-church ceremony (e.g. a civil ceremony), along with some advice for choosing music for each part of the ceremony and some useful resources such as my suggestions and full repertoire list. We will plan the music entirely through email (unless you prefer to request a call for a mutually agreeable time). I will offer as much advice, suggestions, and feedback as you need to help you create the perfect musical experience for your ceremony.

If you are having trouble deciding, you can simply send me a list of your favourite songs from my repertoire list and I’ll suggest how to best arrange them for your ceremony.

For church ceremonies, the music typically includes hymns, and must be approved by the priest.

Non-church ceremonies may vary depending on the type of ceremony and the guidelines of your celebrant or registrar.

I will work with you to ensure that all of these details are taken care of and that all the music fits seamlessly into your ceremony and meets any guidelines that may be in place.

Can you sing traditional church hymns (or is it all modern music that you do)?

Absolutely. In fact, I sing at least one hymn at practically every wedding mass. I usually sing at least four hymns, but it depends on the couple’s preferences and the priest’s requirements. There is a dedicated “Church Music” section on my repertoire list here, and you can listen to a playlist of my church music recordings here.

Do we have to have hymns at the church?

For a church wedding, it is expected that some parts of the mass will include hymns, such as the Responsorial Psalm, if it is to be sung. I can offer guidance on the most appropriate places to include hymns in the service and suggest options for incorporating more modern songs as well. However, the specific balance of hymns to modern songs will depend on the preferences of your priest and the guidelines of your parish. I will work with you to create a church music program that reflects your personal taste and fits within the guidelines of your church.

When do we need to send you our ceremony music choices? 

If you have any questions or want to discuss your music choices, you can reach out to me at any time after booking. If I don’t hear from you after booking, I will reach out to you about two months before the wedding date to begin the process of finalising your music. It is best to send me your proposed list of songs 6-8 weeks so we have plenty of time to make any necessary adjustments. This will also give you time to review your selections with your celebrant or priest and ensure they meet any guidelines. We will aim to finalise all music and ceremony details 1 month before the wedding date. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance with your music planning.

Note: You may want to finalise your song choices earlier than this proposed timeline if you plan to include them in your wedding booklets.

Can we request a song that is not on your repertoire list?

If there is a song that you wish to have me sing or play at your ceremony, and you cannot find it on my repertoire list, then this song is a special request. 

With a special request, it is essential that you make the request at least 6 weeks in advance (when your initial proposed list of music is due). This makes sure we have enough time to see if it is suitable for the instrument you’ve chosen, to make sure the sheet music can be sourced if necessary, and to be sure that it is appropriate for any ceremony guidelines. Naturally, it also allows me time to prepare it to a good standard. 

Please let me know what special request song you are considering as early as you can, and we’ll work together to make it happen if possible. Also please note that special requests are usually limited to one per booking, and their accommodation is at my discretion and not always guaranteed. (For more information, see the question ‘What does our ceremony music quote include?‘ above.) 

Which instrument is better for a large church/large wedding? Will you be loud enough on your own?

I am experienced in performing at large churches, and have all the necessary equipment to ensure a good sound can be heard by all guests. This includes a microphone for my voice, a pickup for my harp, and amplifier for my keyboard. Sometimes I will use the church’s sound system if it is available and if I believe it to be superior to my own. I also bring a backup speaker to every ceremony to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

It is worth considering that, for larger indoor drinks receptions (for example, over 200 guests in the one space), the piano tends to carry better than the harp, as it has more bass. Hotel lobbies or bars, when full of guests, carry such a contrasting acoustic to that of a church. A ceremony can be thought of as a sit-down concert performance (even a solo unamplified instrument could be heard when everyone sits and listens), whereas at an indoor drinks reception, which often takes place in a bar-type environment, the music may need to compete with lots of happy chatter, and so there are extra considerations.

Please contact me to discuss your specific requirements and your venue space (which I may already be familiar with) and I will advise which option(s) may be the best for you.