Violin and Cello Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Golf Club in Vail, Colorado, Photo by Meg Illuminate

This June wedding at the Vail Golf Club was truly one of the highlights of my wedding season. The family’s Midwestern warmth made me feel right at home, especially since much of my own family is from Wisconsin! Jackie, the bride’s mother, poured her whole heart into making the day unforgettable for her daughter. With a playful laugh, she told me they were “pretending to be rich for a day,” and they certainly pulled it off with effortless style and lots of love.

The mid-June weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and the constant spring rain and snow made the golf club lawn and trees look almost impossibly lush. The mountains still wore little crowns of leftover snow under blue skies and puffball clouds.

The ceremony took place on the open lawn next to the clubhouse, with the majestic Gore Range as a backdrop. I performed on cello, along with my violinist, and we played under the porch overhang for shade and the perfect acoustics. Our sound system carried our music beautifully to both the ceremony lawn, and also the cocktail hour, which later took place on the porch.

As guests began to arrive, we had the air humming softly with elegant strains of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Purcell, and other classical favorites, as requested by the couple. Their prelude list was a cohesive flow of classical music with touches of sacred music woven throughout.

The ceremony began with Bach’s Air on the G String as the families, officiant, groom, and wedding party made their way down the aisle. The bride walked slowly to the classic strains for Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and was escorted by her dad.

The faith-filled ceremony was officiated by the groom’s father, Greg, and he was so professional, like he’d been officiating weddings his whole life. We accompanied communion for the couple with The Blessing by Kari Jobe. When we finished playing, the officiant’s words gave me goosebumps in a good way, “How profound is it that the song they were just playing was from the Aaronic blessing, the blessing that I just spoke over you guys. We didn’t coordinate that - that was a God thing.”

As the newly pronounced couple took their first steps together down the aisle, we played What a Wonderful World, and then we segued into more classical music as the cocktail hour began. We played an extra long cocktail hour that included classical favorites such as highlights from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the Flower Duet, Meditation from Thaïs, and selections from Strauss, Schubert, Handel, Bach and more.

One of the loveliest parts of this day was the atmosphere the families created. Jackie, the mother of the bride, welcomed us with such sincerity and gratitude, and the couple was just as gracious. Their guests also created an environment of ease, and they were so complimentary of our music throughout the day.

As the sun gilded the mountaintops with gold, we concluded our final hour of music as guests moved indoors for the dinner and reception portion of the event.

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Vail Golf Club
Photographer: Meg Illuminate
Wedding Planner: Glitter and Bliss
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

Experience the Classic Elegance of Violin and Cello.

Listen to Violin and Cello Music Samples

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Golf Club in Vail, Colorado, Photo by Kimi D Photography

The autumn foliage was at its peak for this couple’s beautiful wedding day in the Colorado mountains. The overcast sky intensified the vibrant colors of the trees, creating a luxurious backdrop for their wedding ceremony.

With a storm moving in, the couple made the thoughtful decision to relocate their ceremony from the wedding island to a spot closer to the clubhouse. This change allowed easy access to the ceremony site, allowing everyone to enjoy the day without worrying about being caught in severe weather.

Prior to the ceremony, our string quartet enjoyed setting the mood with a personalized music setlist, thoughtfully chosen by the couple. Their selections showcased an eclectic blend of romantic ballads, modern pop favorites, and inspirational melodies, creating a custom musical touch for their special day. We began playing as guests arrived and mingled in the outdoor space, which was alive with vibrant autumn colors.

For the processional, the couple chose traditional music, starting with the very romantic “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis for the family. Then, we performed the entirety of Pachelbel’s Canon in D, a very rare occurrence due to the length of the piece. The sweet family dog, Luna, joined the processional, adding a cute touch and eliciting a collective “awww” from the guests.

As the ceremony unfolded, the gusty wind picked up, and big raindrops began to fall. To protect our instruments from the blowing rain, we quickly moved further under the shelter, and the officiant sped up the ceremony. The couple remained focused and calm and the rain lightened just in time for a more serene conclusion to their vows.

After the ceremony, we played for an additional ten minutes, creating a fun and upbeat vibe as guests transitioned to the cocktail hour. Once our portion was complete, we coordinated with the DJ, who seamlessly took over the entertainment for the reception. Fortunately, the heavier rain arrived only after everyone was safely inside!

Selections from the Prelude and Postlude Music:
Simple Gifts
I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)
Stand by Me (Ben King)
Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith)
O for a Thousand Tongues
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis): Family
Canon in D (Pachelbel): Wedding Party, Ringbearers, Flower Girls
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach): Bride
All You Need is Love (Beatles): Recessional

Thank you, vendor dream team!

Wedding Vendors:
Planning & Design: BCK Events
Venue: Vail Golf Club
Photography: Kimi D Photography
Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Videography: Gold Heart Weddings
Florals: Pixies and Posies
Cake: Backyard Bakeries
Hair and Makeup: Divine Beauty Artists
DJ: Vail DJs
Offciant: Phil Gallagher
Rentals: Colorado Tents and Events
Transportation: Timberline Tours
Vail Pedicab: Vail Pedi Cab

Experienced the Classic Charm of Our String Quartet.

Listen to String Quartet Music Samples

Blog

A Timeless June Wedding at Vail Golf Club: Violin and Cello Duo

Experience the Classic Elegance of Violin and Cello.

A Charming Autumn Wedding Celebration in the Colorado Mountains: String Quartet

Thank you, vendor dream team!

Experienced the Classic Charm of Our String Quartet.