String Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at Della Terra Mountain Chateau, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Autumn Parry

On a glorious day in late September, our string quartet enjoyed playing elegant wedding ceremony and cocktail hour music at Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado. The vibrant fall colors created a magical setting for the couple, who timed their wedding day perfectly to enjoy peak autumn foliage.

The ceremony was held outside in the wedding area, with a picturesque mountain backdrop, complete with the friendly wild turkeys who often roam the mountainside. We arrived well ahead of schedule to set up and ensure every detail was in place for our performance. We also coordinated with the Della Terra sound technician to connect our instrument microphones into their custom sound system. This meant that guests could hear our music all the way down the walkway and at the ceremony site.

From the Bride:

“The Wedding Music of My Dreams!
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Christen and her string quartet! From the very first conversation, Christen’s responsiveness, communication, creativity, and kindness stood out. It was such a joy stepping into her world and feeling her passion for music as we planned the ceremony and cocktail hour music for my wedding day.

The quartet was timely, looked amazing, and played some of the most ethereal music I’ve ever heard. As the bride, my only regret was not being able to listen to every single song they played! A particularly special moment was receiving an MP3 recording of the song I walked down the aisle to—something I’ll treasure forever.

Having a string quartet at my wedding was always a dream of mine, and Christen brought that dream to life in the most magical way. Thank you, Christen, for making my day so unforgettable. I highly recommend her and her talented team to anyone looking for stunning live music!” - Kate H., Bride

As guests began to arrive, we played elegant classical pieces that perfectly complemented the formal feel that the couple wanted for their ceremony. The ceremony was so sweet, and the couple kept looking over at their adorable young son, who seemed to know just the right moments to stay quiet and to get excited with his uninhibited enthusiasm.

The couple also performed a tree planting for their unity ceremony, accompanied by our string quartet playing Schubert’s Ave Maria. As the ceremony concluded, we played At Last by Etta James as the newlyweds walked back down the aisle amidst enthusiastic cheers from the guests.

Following the ceremony, we transitioned to the patio for cocktail hour, where we played upbeat modern music selected by the bride. She was excited about some of our new additions to the repertoire. They were songs that she was familiar with but that would be a first for the groom. The guests also recognized the fun contemporary music that the bride selected, and as we completed our portion of the event, we left them tapping their toes,

Selections from the Prelude Music:
Serenade (Schubert)
Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni)
Gavottes #1 and #2 from Suite in D Major (Bach)
Liebstraum (Lizst)
Menuet Op. 11 No. 5 (Boccherini)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Air from Suite #3 in D Major (Bach): Family
Canon in D (Pachelbel): Wedding Party
Feather Theme from Forest Gump: Bride
Ave Maria (Schubert): Unity Ceremony (Tree Planting)
At Last (Etta James): Recessional

Selections from the Cocktail Hour Music:
Heat Waves (Glass Animals)
Roses (Chainsmokers)
Snow Scene from Father of the Bride
Dog Days are Over (Florence and the Machine)
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)
All of Me (John Legend)
Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)