A Joyful Jewish Wedding Celebration at the Denver Botanic Gardens: Flute and Cello Duo
/Our flute and cello music set a light and joyful tone for this delightful Jewish wedding celebration at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The mid-September day was warm and sunny with an occasional cool breeze, the perfect weather for an outdoor wedding ceremony! The wedding took place inside the solarium at the Woodland Mosaic Garden, and our music sounded magical as it was naturally amplified by the glass. The bride arranged to have us play for both her ceremony and cocktail hour, and guests heard the sound of our music throughout the entire garden area.
We played a mix of classical music, including a good amount of Bach, for the prelude as guests began to arrive. It was a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, and the Rabbi stood under the chuppah to signal the start of the processional. The chuppah is a canopy that a Jewish couple stands under during their wedding ceremony, and it symbolizes the home that the couple will build together.
The ceremony was a delight because Rabbi Emily Hyatt explained the traditions as they came up during the ceremony, and her joy and enthusiasm made the service so fun to witness. Emily gave the guests a brief tutorial on how to shout “Mazel tov!” after the glass was broken, and they even got to practice a few times. The practice paid off, because they enthusiastically shouted “Mazel tov!” after the groom broke the glass, and the couple walked down the aisle together, accompanied by our duo playing “At Last” by Etta James.
After the fun recessional, we switched to playing a mix of classical and nostalgic contemporary music for the cocktail hour. At the couple’s request, we included a lot of Beatles, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis. When we finished playing, the guests gathered inside the solarium for dinner and the next part of the celebration.
From the Bride:
“Christen Stephens was amazing to work with from start to finish. Christen is very attentive to detailed and organized so all the planning process for our wedding music was easy to follow and clear. Christen worked with us to find another musician to play with her. I was in tears listening to them play our processional song. All the music was absolutely beautiful. My only regret was not booking her for longer because the music was absolutely incredible.” - Esther B., Bride
Selections from the Prelude Music:
Gavotte in G Major (Handel)
Rondeau (Mouret)
Largo from Xerxes (Handel), Traumereri from Kinderscenen, Op. 15 #7
Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 (Mozart)
Wedding Ceremony Music:
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles): Bride and Groom
At Last (Etta James): Recessional
Selections from the Cocktail Hour Music:
Anglaise (Bach)
I Will (Beatles)
Allegro from Sonata in F Major, Op. 1 #11 for Flute (Handel)
Siman Tov U'Mazal Tov
Love Me Tender (Elvis)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Let it Be (Beatles)
Spring from the Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
All You Need is Love (Beatles)
I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles)
Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Woodland Mosaic Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Officiant: Rabbi Emily Hyatt
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo
Photographer: Tombrella Photography