May 03, 2026

A Chapel Ceremony and Mountaintop Celebration in Beaver Creek: Violin and Cello Duo

May 03, 2026/ Christen Stephens

Violin and Cello Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at The Chapel at Beaver Creek and Beano’s Cabin, Photos by Paula Bartosiewicz, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

Autumn came late in Beaver Creek this year, and the peak autumn foliage arrived just in time for this couple’s mountain wedding ceremony. But the story doesn’t start there! On the bride’s visit to Beaver Creek, she heard a pianist singing and playing praise music at the chapel and thought she sounded like an angel. The moment she heard Emma Waldorf perform, she knew that she needed to incorporate her music in her ceremony.

From the Bride:

“INCREDIBLE! Christen was beyond professional and top-notch. Having strings at my wedding was always one of my dreams, and Christen exceeded every expectation! She played every song I had envisioned and worked with me seamlessly to bring all my ideas to life. I could not have asked for a better violinist and cellist.”

The bride then reached out to me, to see if we could collaborate with Emma for the ceremony, and of course, I was all in. Because Emma’s background was more in worship and praise music than classical performance, this collaboration took a little extra care behind the scenes. I provided piano parts for all of our shared music, and used my personal background as a church pianist to guide the preparation process, so that her music would blend seamlessly with our violin and cello duo.

The entire vision came to life on a beautiful September day at The Chapel at Beaver Creek. As guests began to arrive for the ceremony, the sounds of violin, cello, and piano welcomed them and filled the chapel. The bride requested blend of classical favorites and Christian worship music for the prelude, and we played favorites such as Amazing Grace, Be Thou My Vision, Canon in D, and Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.

The ceremony began with the seating of the family, which was set to “What a Beautiful Name.” Then came “The Blessing” for the wedding party — a striking entrance for a large group that included 11 groomsmen and 13 bridesmaids, all dressed in black, along with flower girls and a ring bearer. After a calm and worshipful ceremony, we played “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, to send the guests off to the reception, which took place at Beano’s Cabin, even higher up the mountain.

As the cocktail hour began, we set up on the porch overlooking the lawn and reception area. The air was cool, crisp and fresh - something that I love about living in Colorado. We accompanied the setting with a relaxed and playful mix of romantic favorites, pop songs, and feel-good classics, including The Sound of Music, Wildest Dreams, Can’t Help Falling in Love, Young and Beautiful, Daylight, Enchanted, Sky Full of Stars, A Thousand Years, Here Comes the Sun, and Love on Top.

As the celebration continued, we were asked to play for additional time, and we were happy to accommodate with the extra music that we always include in our set lists. As we wrapped up, guests were ushered inside for dinner as the sun dipped below the mountain peaks.

It was such a memorable day because the bride and groom didn’t just choose pretty music - they personalized the music to themselves, their music preferences, and their faith.

Wedding Vendors:
Planner: BCK Weddings and Events
Ceremony Venue: The Chapel at Beaver Creek
Reception Venue: Beano’s Cabin
Photographer: Paula Bartosiewicz
Videographer: Love Story Collective
Florals: Bustle and Bloom Floral Co.
Hair: Divine Beauty Artists
Signage and Paper Products: Boco Designs
DJ: Vail DJs
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Limousines: Vess Limousines

Experience the Worshipful and Celebratory Moods of Violin and Cello.

Listen to Violin and Cello Music Samples

January 19, 2026

A Summer Evening Wedding in the Highlands Ranch Mansion Gardens: String Trio

January 19, 2026/ Christen Stephens

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Highlands Ranch Mansion, Photo by Kayla Willis Photo & Film

This summer evening wedding at the Highlands Ranch Mansion belonged in a storybook. The lush gardens and golden afternoon light backed by the dramatic mansion was the perfect setting for this couple’s vows. The Highlands Ranch Mansion features historic architecture, sweeping lawns, and old, majestic trees. It’s a quiet retreat from modern life, with gracious, old-world elegance and vibrant gardens.

It was an unusually rainy summer, with clouds coming through every afternoon, and on this day, Colorado decided to keep us on our toes. We kept our instrument cases ready, and even had to do a quick pack-up as a brief rain shower moved through. Then, we continued to play prelude music as the guests mingled in the garden at the ceremony site. Despite the weather, we played every song selected by the client - a little classical, a little Sinatra, a little Beatles, and even some Counting Crows and Beauty and the Beast.

Shortly before the ceremony began, we heard a distant boom of thunder and the wind became extremely gusty. We crossed our fingers for the weather to hold off as the processional began with “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey. When it was time for the bride’s entrance, we segued into the favorite Canon in D, as she was escorted by her father. I was in love with the bride’s dress - very simple with voluminous folds of satin, always falling around her perfectly.

The ceremony was accompanied by high winds, but the rain held off. The officiant’s shared history with the couple added an extra layer of meaning and detail to the Christian ceremony. The kiss was our cue to launch into “At Last” by Etta James for the recessional, and it was such a romantic feel as the couple recessed back down the aisle.

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Highlands Ranch Mansion, Photo by Kayla Willis Photo & Filmusic at the Highlands Ranch Mansion, Photo by Kayla Willis Film & Photography

Afterwards, we continued with postlude music, having fun with the jazzy and upbeat selections that the couple made. Guests enjoyed the sounds of “All You Need Is Love,” “It Had to Be You,” and “It’s De-Lovely” as they had a joyful send-off. Just as we were wrapping up, the thunder boomed and the rain started, and everyone retreated indoors, as a rainbow arced across the sky.

Experience the Timeless Elegance of Our String Trio.

Listen to String Trio Music Samples

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Highlands Ranch Mansion
Wedding Planner: A Touch of Bliss
Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Photographer: Kayla Willis Photo & Film

November 28, 2025

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

November 28, 2025/ Christen Stephens

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

January 05, 2025

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

January 05, 2025/ Christen Stephens

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

Experience the Worshipful and Celebratory Moods of Violin and Cello.

Experience the Timeless Elegance of Our String Trio.

Experience the Classic Elegance of Violin and Cello.

Thank you, vendor dream team!

Experienced the Classic Charm of Our String Quartet.