- Atlanta, GA
- Harpist
- Contact for rates
Matt K. said
“The performance was an excellent aspect to our St. Patrick's Day event that a great many guests (adults and children alike) complimented, and the professionalism made it easy. ”
Rachel Payne - Harpist
Overview
A harp adds a certain elegance and ambiance to a wedding or other special event that few other musical instruments can. Rachel has been working with brides for over 10 years to customize their ceremony music to fit their individual style. Her repertoire stretches from Celtic music to love songs by John Denver - with a few Beatles melodies, Disney classics, and most traditional ceremony songs thrown into the mix as well. If there is a song that is not on her list, she will do what she can to accommodate your requests. She does have references upon request.
Book your wedding with Rachel today!
Reviews
28 reviews
Karen W.
February 11, 2026Rachel played beautifully!
We all relaxed to such calming lovely songs.
Hired as: Harpist
Kristen O.
July 20, 2025Incredible experience!
Rachel was amazing! She was super easy to work with and did such an incredible job to make our wedding ceremony so special! She is so talented and I would definitely recommend Rachel!
Hired as: Harpist
Kathy B.
June 1, 2025Excellent!!!
Rachel was easy to communicate with and is very professional. She was set up well before the time we requested and was ready to go. We are extremely happy with the service she provided. I would highly recommend!!!
Hired as: Harpist
Angela B.
May 6, 2024A flawless performance.
Rachel is so sweet. She was so professional and really went beyond to find the pieces I requested. She weaved each piece into an musical art tapestry. I would not hesitate to reserve her again for my next event. Thank you so much Rachel.
Hired as: Harpist
Sharon D. N.
February 15, 2024Excellent and professional
Rachel was so easy to work with. She played for our Valentine’s party 58 in attendance. Everyone was so impressed with her. She would be an asset to any event.
Hired as: Harpist
Booking information
Price range: Starting at $250
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 240 minutes
What to expect
Although no two weddings are the same, my typical outline stays generally the same or can be customized to suit my brides' preferences. I begin playing the prelude thirty minutes prior to the wedding ceremony and play until the bride's mom is seated. Occasionally, I have brides that pick out what songs they want to have played during this time, but usually I pick Celtic, classical and popular songs that set the tone for the couple's celebration and love. The bride's and groom's families are the last people to get seated before the bridal party's entrance. Some popular choices for the families' processional are "The Prayer" or "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." After the moms are seated, the bridal party begins to make their processional. It lasts from the first bridesmaid through the flower girl and/or ring bearer. Next is the bride's grand entrance. Whether she prefers to stick with the traditional pieces of "Bridal March of Lohengrin (Here Comes the Bride)" or "Pachelbel's Canon" or go with a more contemporary choice, I have repertoire to suit most needs. Some weddings include a symbolization of the couple's union with a unity candle or sand ceremony which usually has a song to accompany it. After the marriage is sealed with a kiss, the recessional is played until the bridal party and the family exits. Following the recessional, I continue to play lively music while guests exit the ceremony area and move towards the reception.
About
Rachel moved to Chattanooga in 2007 and has become one of the finest harpists in Chattanooga. She has continued to build her repertoire to suit many different styles for her clients' tastes. She works with individuals to make her music set an enchanted, elegant ambiance for any special occasion.
At age 12, Rachel began to tinker with the small 19-string Celtic harp that her grandfather had built for her many years prior. She began taking private lessons in the summer of 1997, just after her grandfather passed away. After just a couple of years, Rachel graduated to a larger Celtic harp made by Robert Cunningham from Atlanta, Georgia.
Rachel continued to take lessons to sharpen her skills and began to play for my family members' weddings or events at church. In the summer of 2000, she began to play professionally at weddings, funerals, banquets, open houses, and other special events. She also began teaching to students around the Pittsburgh area. Her youngest student was 8 and the oldest was in her 80’s! In 2007, Rachel left Pennsylvania and continued her music career in the Chattanooga TN are where she currently resides.
Additional booking notes
The harp's sound carries best on hard, un-carpeted floors. Depending on the size and the acoustics of the room that I play in, I may or may not need a microphone. What I have found works the best is to have a lapel microphone clipped on the inside of the harp's soundboard to really magnify the sound.
Past booked events
February 2026
10
Tuesday
Dinner Party
1:30pm - 2:00pm
•
Ooltewah, TN
December 2025
23
Tuesday
Religious Celebration
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Cedartown, GA
August 2025
16
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
03
Sunday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Guild, TN
June 2025
28
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Rising Fawn, GA
May 2025
31
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
1:00pm - 1:15pm
•
Rising Fawn, GA
March 2025
22
Saturday
Wedding
3:00pm - 6:00pm
09
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Apison, TN
September 2024
21
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Trenton, GA
May 2024
25
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
04
Saturday
Bridal Shower
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
April 2024
19
Friday
Surprise
9:30am - 10:30am
•
Chattanooga, TN
February 2024
14
Wednesday
Dinner Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
10
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
January 2024
05
Friday
Worship Service
7:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Calhoun, GA
December 2023
12
Tuesday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 6:45pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
June 2023
15
Thursday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
May 2023
14
Sunday
Southern Blooms Festival
9:00am - 4:30pm
13
Saturday
Southern Blooms Festival
9:00am - 4:30pm
07
Sunday
Southern Blooms Festival
9:00am - 4:30pm
April 2023
29
Saturday
Secret Place Open House
All-day event
15
Saturday
Wedding Reception
4:45pm - 5:45pm
•
Cleveland, TN
March 2023
19
Sunday
Shamrock City
All-day event
18
Saturday
Shamrock City
All-day event
12
Sunday
Shamrock City
All-day event
11
Saturday
Dinner Party
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
11
Saturday
Shamrock City
All-day event
10
Friday
Anniversary Party
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Ringgold, GA
February 2023
15
Wednesday
Wine Down Wednesday
5:30pm - 6:30pm
14
Tuesday
Valentine's Day
5:30pm - 6:30pm
January 2023
28
Saturday
Birthday Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
October 2022
22
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Chickamauga, GA
September 2022
27
Tuesday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Georgetown, TN
24
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 5:45pm
•
Cartersville, GA
17
Saturday
Wedding
4:00pm - 6:00pm
April 2022
30
Saturday
Birthday Party
5:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Oak Ridge, TN
26
Tuesday
Graduation
2:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
November 2021
26
Friday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
October 2021
17
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Talking Rock, GA
08
Friday
Rehearsal Dinner
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Lookout Mountain, GA
September 2021
03
Friday
Personal Occasion
10:00am - 11:30am
•
Chattanooga, TN
August 2021
30
Monday
Coker Tire Open House
5:00pm - 7:30pm
08
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Cleveland, TN
May 2021
01
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Georgetown, TN
December 2020
19
Saturday
Wedding
3:00pm - 5:00pm
November 2020
01
Sunday
Gatlinburg wedding
4:15pm - 5:30pm
August 2020
08
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
Fort Oglethorpe, GA
October 2019
12
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 3:45pm
•
Hixson, TN
September 2019
29
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Lookout Mountain, GA
June 2019
15
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Harriman, TN
April 2019
27
Saturday
Wedding Reception
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Lenoir City, TN
November 2018
15
Thursday
Grand Opening
5:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
October 2018
14
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
May 2018
26
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Georgetown, TN
April 2018
28
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
2:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
19
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Trion, GA
May 2017
27
Saturday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Lookout Mountain, GA
May 2016
14
Saturday
Private Residence, Dayton, TN
7:00pm - 8:00pm
06
Friday
Tennessee River Place
7:00pm - 8:00pm
October 2015
02
Friday
Tennessee River Place
7:00pm - 8:00pm
May 2015
23
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
December 2013
28
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Chattanooga, TN
June 2013
30
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Collegedale, TN
Set list
I have a very large and steadily growing repertoire. Since my harp is a Celtic harp, I have a lot of Celtic music that I play intertwined between more commonly known songs. I have songs just for fun from movies - lots of Disney movies, Braveheart, Shrek, and many, many more!
Setup requirements
Chair with no arms (optional)
decent lighting (cannot play in the dark)
Report Rachel Payne - Harpist
Harpist
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