February 13, 2024

A Heartfelt Wedding Ceremony at Sapphire Point Overlook in Dillon, Colorado: Violin and Cello Duo

February 13, 2024/ Christen Stephens

Violin and Cello Wedding Ceremony Music at Sapphire Point in Dillon, Colorado, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Greenhouse Creative Studio

On a cool morning in late August, our violin and cello duo played elegant live music for a casual mountain wedding ceremony. The forecast called for rain, but the morning dawned clear and sunny with summery white clouds in the sky. The rain would come later, and this couple chose well to have a morning ceremony!

We played a mix of romantic contemporary music, setting a sweet and summery mood as guests arrived. We played under the shade of the tall pine trees, and a squirrel was right above us and dropping tiny pine cones on us while we played. We managed to stay mostly focused while this happened, and the cones were too small and soft to hurt us or to damage our instruments!

The ceremony was gentle and heartfelt, and the love that this couple had for each other really shone through. The father of the bride gave quite a long speech, which was so funny at times, that I was convinced that he was a comedian. He assured me afterwards that he’s not, but was happy for the compliment nonetheless.

After the ceremony concluded, the bride had requested that we segue right into their first dance song instead of the usual recessional music. There was some laughter, because bustling the bride’s gown didn’t go as smoothly as planned! Soon the couple was ready, and they enjoyed their first dance, while we accompanied them with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from the Lion King. After that, we played a number of upbeat rock and pop songs to get the party started. Everyone did a toast, followed by photos, and then mingling.

“Lovely, Pleasant Accompaniment”

“I hired Christen for my daughter's wedding. The entire experience was professional, communication was clear and the performance was just fantastic.” - Sharon E., mother of bride

Married at Sapphire Point in Dillon, Colorado
Violin and Cello Duo

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis): Groom + Parents, Ringbearer
Canon in D (Pachelbel): Bride
Can You Feel the Love Tonight? from the Lion King: First Dance
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles): Right after Toast

Sample Selections from the Prelude, Postlude, and Photos:
The Sound of Music, The Last Rose of Summer, Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland), Speechless (Dan + Shay), All You Need is Love (Beatles), Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, What a Wonderful World, Don’t Stop Belivin’ (Journey), I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles), Holy (Justin Bieber), Wildflowers (Tom Petty), Let it Be (Beatles)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Sapphire Point
Photographer: Greenhouse Creative Studios
Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Violin and Cello Duo

Experience the Sweet Elegance of our Violin and Cello Duo.

Listen to Violin and Cello Music Samples

April 07, 2023

A Nostalgic Wedding at the Sebastian in Vail, Colorado: Flute and Cello Duo

April 07, 2023/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Cello Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Sebastian in Vail, Colorado, Photo by David Gillette Photography

As a flutist, I've had the honor of performing at many weddings, but this cool and rainy September ceremony stands out in my memory as truly exceptional. I loved working with this couple, not only because they were from my long time hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, but also because they had a truly sweet love story! They were high school sweethearts who lived their separate lives for a long time and then were reunited and finally married. It was written all over their faces how in love they were!

Despite the rainy weather and some family emergencies that caused delays, the wedding finally got underway in the courtyard outside the Lenora Restaurant. As the guests mingled and took their seats, we played warm and romantic music that set the tone for the ceremony to come.

One thing that made this wedding particularly memorable was the couple's love of the singer Sade. They had requested several special arrangements just for flute and cello, and I really enjoyed creating them. The bride even walked down the aisle to one of Sade's most romantic songs, "Cherish the Day”, and they recessed after the ceremony to a lively arrangement of “Thank You” by Led Zeppelin.

But the most touching moment of the day came during the cocktail hour. The groom had requested a surprise song, "By Your Side," which was the bride's favorite Sade tune. The couple had forgotten to include it in the list they gave me, but I was happy to accommodate his secret request. As we played the song, I watched as the bride made her way closer and closer to us, clearly overcome with emotion. Without a word, the couple began an impromptu first dance together to the music, lost in their love for each other. This sweet and unexpected moment gave me goosebumps.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Cherish the Day (Sade) - Bride
Thank You (Led Zeppelin) - Recessional

Sample Selections from Prelude and Cocktail Hour Music:
Gavotte (Handel), March in D Major (Bach), Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison), Kiss of Life (Sade), Pearls (Sade), You and Me (Dave Matthews Band)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: The Lenora Restaurant
Wedding Planner: Party Girl Events
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo
Photographer: David Gillette Photography - thank you for these amazing photos!

Experience the Luxurious Sounds of the Flute and Cello

Listen to Flute and Cello Music Samples

January 04, 2023

A Star Wars Inspired Wedding Ceremony and Reception at The Denver Botanic Gardens: Flute, Viola, Cello Trio

January 04, 2023/ Christen Stephens

The Denver Botanic Gardens are my favorite wedding location because I love gardening and the natural beauty of plants and flowers! This weekend, our flute and strings trio (flute, viola, cello), had the privilege of playing at the Tropical Conservatory for this couple’s wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and full dinner reception.

Flute and Strings Trio Wedding Ceremony and Reception Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Molly Margaret Photography

It was a blazing hot day, and it was even hotter inside the conservatory - probably well over 100 degrees. Thankfully, after the wedding, a few clouds moved and it cooled off a little. As the guests arrived, we welcomed them with Disney music and pop tunes. Then, for the cocktail hour, we switched to elegant classical music. Then, while the guests ate dinner, we played a mix of classical and contemporary music.

The couple particularly loved Star Wars music, and I made several new Star Wars arrangements for them. They also loved Disney, jazz, and well, pretty much everything! They were fun to work with and I loved their music selections. For their first dance, we played “Across the Stars” from Clone Wars, and then for the dance with the parents, we played “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. When we saw the guests lining up with light sabers for the send-off, we knew that we had to play another Star Wars song, so we played “Darth Vaders Theme (The Imperial March)”.

From the Mother of the Bride:

“The perfect garden wedding music!
Thanks so much to Christen and her trio for their wonderful performance at my daughter's wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens in August. We couldn't be happier. They learned the music we requested (so much Star Wars!) as well as pop and big band hits. We received so many compliments from guests and the other vendors. It was the perfect musical accompaniment to the garden wedding and reception. We couldn't have asked for more.”

Sample Music Selections:
It Had to Be You (Harry Connick Jr.), Unforgettable (Sinatra), Love is Here to Stay (Gershwin), I See Fire (Ed Sheeran), Perfect (Ed Sheeran), Stay (Dave Matthews), At Last (Etta James), What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Marry You (Bruno Mars)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Canon in D (Pachelbel): Family
Ice Dance from Edward Scissorhands: Ringbearer and Bride
Star Wars (Main Theme): Recessional
Across the Stars from Clone Wars: First Dance
A Whole New World from Aladdin: Father/Daughter and Mother/Groom Dance
Darth Vader’s Theme (The Imperial March) from Star Wars: Send-off

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: The Tropical Conservatory at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Live Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Strings Trio
Site Coordinator: Serendipity Catering
Photographer: Molly Margaret Photography

Flute and Strings Compliment Each Other Beautifully!

Listen to Flute and String Trio Music Samples

May 05, 2021

Flute, Cello, and Guitar Wedding Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens

May 05, 2021/ Christen Stephens

Flute, Cello, Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver, Colorado

After many unusually cold and rainy April days, this Nebraska couple got lucky with the perfect spring day for their wedding celebration. They were married at the peaceful Woodland Mosaic Garden, one of several wedding sites at the Denver Botanic Gardens. This secluded woodland location has a charming Victorian solarium, making it my favorite wedding site in the gardens. The spring flowers and delicate new leaves sparkled with life, and the sun was warm and inviting.

The bride is an accordion player, and she was quite knowledgeable in music and made a variety of music selections from classical to traditional Irish, jazz, Beatles, and other contemporary songs. Both the classical and modern songs sounded perfect with our flute, cello, and guitar trio.

We played traditional classical music to greet guests as they arrived and mingled before the ceremony. This couple chose to officiate their own ceremony, and Colorado is one of only a few states where this is easy to do and recognized legally. I played short musical excerpts throughout the ceremony to set the mood and to provide lovely transitions.

After the ceremony, we switched from classical music to pop, rock, and jazz music. Everyone enjoyed our music along with cocktails and mingling. As we played, the solarium was set with tables and chairs for the dinner that would be soon to follow. We wrapped up the cocktail portion of the event with the couple’s first dance, which we accompanied with “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind, and Fire. Our guitarist switched from his classical guitar to his steel string guitar, and we really rocked it!

Ceremony Music:
Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach) - Groom then Bride
Simple Gifts (Traditional) - Tree Planting Ceremony
Rondeau from Abdelazer (Purcell) - Recessional
Fantasy (Earth, Wind, and Fire) - First Dance

Cocktail Hour Music (sample selections):
Make You Feel My Love ( Adele), Viva la Vida (Coldplay), Shallow (Lady Gaga), All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, All You Need Is Love (Beatles), Come Away With Me (Nora Jones)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Denver Botanic Gardens (The Woodland Mosaic Garden)
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens (Flute, Cello, Guitar Trio)
Photographer: Ryan Dearth Wedding Photography

Our Flute, Cello, and Guitar Trio can have traditional and romantic sound, or pick up the tempo for lively contemporary music.

Contact Christen

October 28, 2020

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony Music at the Chapel at Beaver Creek, Colorado

October 28, 2020/ Christen Stephens

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony Music at the Chapel at Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek Colorado, Music by Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by David Gillette Photography

Every year has at least one wedding that stands out as exceptionally special, and for me, this wedding was one of those treasured moments. The bride hired me to play solo flute for her Beaver Creek wedding ceremony when the pandemic was still a vague idea somewhere off in China. When things began to get crazy, we kept checking in with each other - Are you staying healthy? Is everything still good on your end with the wedding?

In the end, and after much hesitation, the wedding went forward as planned. The music stayed the same, but the guests list became a lot smaller. The bride selected her entire song list, and I enjoyed learning several new songs and revisiting some old favorites. The ceremony was full of music, and I played prelude music as guests arrived, and also played for the processional, communion, signing of the marriage license, benediction, recessional, and first dance.

The first dance was a special moment in a storybook setting, with the stone church and vibrant fall foliage as a backdrop. The couple danced to a recording of Annie’s Song, and I improvised over the recording on my flute.

Prelude Music: Canon in D Major (Pachelbel), Wedding Song (There Is Love) (Peter Paul and Mary), Perhaps Love (John Denver), Sunshine on My Shoulders (John Denver), Longer (Dan Folgerberg), Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart), You Are so Beautiful (Joe Cocker), For the Beauty of the Earth, The Wedding Song (Kenny G)

From the Bride:

“Christen’s Flute Playing Was Amazing and Special”

“We had a beautiful mountain ceremony. Her flute playing was amazing and special. She went above and beyond by learning a few new songs I specifically requested. If you want quality and a true professional go with Christen for your wedding music... I’m sure glad we did!”

Wedding Vendors:
Venue - Beaver Creek Chapel
Ceremony Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Solo Flute
Photographer - David Gillette Photography
Videographer - Capture the Action
Officiant - Scott Bebee

Ceremony Music:
Annie’s Song (John Denver) - Wedding Party
Bridal Chorus (Wagner) - Bride
Sunshine on my Shoulders (John Denver) - Signing of the marriage license and communion
Edelweiss (tune only) - Accompany sung benediction
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) - Recessional

Experience the timeless beauty of the flute for your wedding ceremony or event.

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