Violin and Cello Wedding Music at the Vail Golf CLub in Vail, Colorado, Photo by May Be Take a Photo

The blustery mountain winds and soft light on this late June day created a dramatic setting for this cinema-inspired wedding. The ceremony took place on the Vail Wedding Island at the Vail Golf Club, amidst the pine-scented air. There was still some snow on the Gore Range, making the perfect backdrop for this couple’s vows.

From the Bride

“We got married last month and couldn't be more happy about working with Christen! From the moment we inquired to the actual wedding day, she was extremely professional, attentive and responded to our questions so quickly. We asked for a new arrangement for our ceremony song and she was extremely enthusiastic about working on it and even gave us a live recording of it after our day. If you're looking for live music on your wedding day you HAVE to go with Christen.”

As guests gathered, our violin and cello duo set the tone with a mix of film scores and modern favorites. Music from How to Train Your Dragon, The Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars caught guest’s attention, and we mixed these with familiar favorites like “Kiss Me,” “Birds of a Feather,” and “Wildest Dreams.” When we played “Blackbird”, a bird in the tree above us warbled right on cue, as if to perfectly re-create the Beatles version.

When it was time for the ceremony to begin, the officiant made his way down the aisle, and that was our cue to wrap up the prelude music. After the “no phones” announcement, we segued into “Speechless” by Dan + Shay, as parents and the wedding party made their way down the aisle.

The bride’s entrance was accompanied by “Marry Me” from Pirates of the Caribbean, and I loved arranging this for our duo, specifically for her walk down the aisle. The bride also plays violin, and after the wedding, I sent her a copy of the arrangement so she could keep the music with her and enjoy it whenever she wanted to.

As the ceremony closed with a kiss, we played the lively “All You Need Is Love”. We continued the energy as the couple walked back down the aisle, and then played more softly as the officiant announced shuttle information. After the announcement, we crescendoed again, and continued the energy with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” as the last of the guests were shuttled back to the clubhouse.