June 02, 2021

String Trio Wedding Music at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado

June 02, 2021/ Christen Stephens

The sun came out on a stormy day just in time for this couple to have a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado. Our string trio played peaceful classical prelude music to give the setting a feeling of calm and serenity. The stunning pavilion felt like a safe haven from the storm, and provided the perfect acoustics for our music. In addition to our live music, there was an artist doing a live painting of the wedding scene, adding an additional and unique artistic touch to this couple’s wedding day.

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Sanket Mane

From the Bride:

“THANK YOU for creating such a beautiful entrance for our ceremony! We didn't meet in person until the wedding day but working with Christen was effortless and smooth. She communicated with us regularly and kept us in the loop on what to expect, I really appreciated her flexibility and communication! She rearranged my entrance piece to make it exactly what I had envisioned. I'm so grateful, Thank you!”

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Liebestraum (Liszt) - Parents
Serenade (Schubert) - Flower Girls
Intermezzo (Mascagni) - Bride
Andante (Schubert) - Recessional

Wedding Prelude Music:
Saint Anthony’s Chorale (Brahms), Schubert Andante from String Quartet in A Minor, Romance (Mozart), Largo from Xerxes (Handel), Etude in E major, Op. 10 #3 (Chopin), Andante from Handel’s Water Music, Chorale from Cantata #140 (Bach), Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart), Nocturne from a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mendelssohn), Arioso from Cantata #156 (Bach)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Sanctuary Golf Course
Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens (String Trio)
Photographer: Sanket Mane - Thank you for these beautiful photos!

Experience the traditional elegance of our String Trio.

Listen to String Trio Music Samples

February 06, 2021

My "Best of 2020" Wedding Vendors

February 06, 2021/ Christen Stephens

Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate love during this special time, I’m excited to feature my top 2020 wedding vendors. Despite the challenges that 2020 presented, it was an extremely busy wedding season, but all crammed into July - November. I traveled north to Estes Park and south to Colorado Springs. I left my house at 5:30am to travel off the beaten path to an isolated mountain town called Bond, and I played music for the requisite weddings in Vail and Beaver Creek. Now, for the seventh year running, it’s time to celebrate and recognize my top vendor picks for 2020:

Photographer: Katie Corinne Photography
Venue: Lionsgate Event Center
Officiant: Dana Tucker, Wedding Officiant: Writing with Love
Planner: A Touch of Bliss

Katie Corinne Photography, Colorado Wedding Photographer

I was enchanted the moment I saw Katie’s photos from a wedding that we worked together at the Garden of the Gods Resort in Colorado Springs. I knew right away that Katie’s vibrant photos were something very special. Katie captures the mood and feel of each moment and each location throughout the day, embracing the shifts in weather, lighting, people’s emotions, and even the changing smoke from the Colorado wildfires. Katie is also warm and kind, exactly the kind of person I’d like to work with if I was a bride. Check out these beautiful samples!

Wedding ceremony at Garden of the Gods Resort in Colorado Springs, colorado, Photo by Katie Corinne Photography

Lionsgate Event Center, Colorado Wedding Venue

Charming is the first word that comes to mind when I think of the Lionsgate Event Center and its three beautiful ceremony locations. I played for a wedding at the Gatehouse and was delighted by the elegant and quirky chandeliers hanging from trees, the peaceful water fountain, and the stunning indoor space with its signature stained glass window. The Lionsgate Event Center started as a dairy farm in 1910, and is now converted to a wedding venue that has the look and feel of old grace, romance, and the nostalgia of yesteryear.

Dana Tucker: Writing with Love, Colorado Wedding Officiant

This is the second time that I’ve had the opportunity to work at a wedding alongside Dana, and she impressed me once again. Dana’s company name fits her perfectly! Her ceremony scripts are beautiful and unique for each couple, and her personality overflows with love and kindness. Especially during difficult 2020, Dana’s compassion, authenticity, and joy radiate from her and create the perfect mood for this most important part of a couple’s special day. It’s clear that Dana doesn’t see officiating weddings simply as a job, but that she’s personally invested and cares for each and every couple that she works for.

Colorado wedding officiant, Dana Tucker: Writing With Love, Photo by Katie Corinne Photography

A Touch of Bliss, Colorado Wedding Planner

I’ve had the privilege of working with Natalie at A Touch of Bliss several times over the years, and she consistently delivers amazing results every time! That’s why I’m pleased to recognize Natalie as my top Colorado wedding planner for the second year in a row. Natalie is like a ray of sunshine with her smile (that you can even see behind her face mask), and a warm and engaging personality. She’s also insanely organized, but she doesn’t try to fit everything in a one-size-fits-all system. She’s always flexible and works with each couple and wedding vendor to deliver exactly what the couple needs for their special day. When I play music for a wedding that was planned by Natalie, I know that it’s going to run so smoothly and also be stress free and a whole lot of fun!

Colorado wedding planner, A Touch of Bliss, Photo by Katie Corinne

Colorado wedding planner, A Touch of Bliss, Photo by William Easland Photography

Colorado wedding planner, A Touch of Bliss, Photo by Dan Hand Photography

February 11, 2020

My "Best of 2019" Wedding Vendors

February 11, 2020/ Christen Stephens

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, it’s time to present my sixth annual “Best of 2019” Wedding Vendors! I worked with so many great vendors this past year that it was hard to select just one for each category, so I’m very excited to present my top picks and the amazing work that they do. It was a wonderful and busy year, and I had the privilege of playing music for weddings as nearby as Boulder and Denver, and as far away as Gig Harbor in Washington State. It was a tough decision, but I finally narrowed my top vendor picks to the following outstanding vendors:

Photography: Preston Utley
Venue: Sanctuary Golf Course
Planner: The Soiree Studio
Officiant: Phil Gallagher
Florist: Vintage Magnolia

Sanctuary Golf Course, Colorado Wedding Venue

Wedding ceremony at the sanctuary golf course in sedalia, colorado

After I played for a wedding ceremony at the Sanctuary Golf Course, I knew that they would be my top pick for this year’s wedding venue because I couldn’t stop talking about them afterwards. The setting is in a part of Sedalia that feels remote from everything while being conveniently located a mere 30 minute drive to downtown Denver. The golf course is perched on the side of the Rockies, overlooking the countryside, and you can see for miles from the wedding pavilion. In addition to stunning views, the immaculate grounds feature a large waterfall, lovely stone architecture, and bright flowers spilling from every nook and crevice. The wedding pavilion itself is gorgeous and it allows for an outdoor wedding ceremony with incredible views while still sheltering the guests from any bad weather. Dani, the sales coordinator and event manager was a dream to work with, and she went above and beyond to coordinate with us so that the couple’s wedding day would be perfect.

Preston Utley, Colorado Wedding Photographer

Photo by Colorado Wedding photographer, presion utley

This is the second year that I’ve chosen Preston Utley to be my top wedding photographer. His photos are incredible, combining creativity, emotion, and beauty. He was kind enough to share these amazing photos with me and I had such a hard time choosing which ones to feature because they each moved me in a special way.

Not only are Preston’s photos amazing, but when he’s on a photo shoot, he has a way of blending into the scenery so that you hardly know he’s there, and he makes his job look effortless. He’s also a great person, easy to talk to, relaxed and yet completely professional. Without further ado, I’ll let these incredible photos speak for themselves.

Phil Gallagher, Colorado Wedding Officiant

This is the second year in a row that I’ve chosen Phil Gallagher to be my top wedding officiant. He’s fantastic at his job and he makes the wedding couple look like pros at getting married. Most importantly, I can tell that Phil loves his job, and he loves each and every one of his couples. Phil goes above and beyond his job description, and I’ve often seen him arriving very early and getting to know the guests and other vendors. I even see him assisting other vendors with their setup, pushing carts and carrying things. Phil is one of those people who I’m pretty sure was born to do the exact job that he does.

Colorado wedding officiant, Phil Gallagher

Soiree Studio, Colorado Wedding Planner

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Christine Ashburn of Soiree Studio a few times, and she makes wedding planning seem effortless even though it’s a very complicated job. Leading up to the wedding, she answers all of my many (and I mean many!) questions with such kindness and organization. She follows through with me on the day of the wedding for our music cues and day-of instructions, and this attention to detail is reflected in every aspect of her wedding planning. As a wedding vendor myself, I know that making everything feel so seamless and easy like Christine does is quite a feat!

Colorado wedding planner, soiree studio, Photo by Melissa brielle

Vintage Magnolia, Colorado Florist

I’ve never featured a florist before, but I’ve seen Vintage Magnolia’s flowers at several weddings now, and I’m always stunned by their incredible arrangements and bouquets. They truly deserve a special shout out! Because they’re located right in Vail, their flowers arrive to Vail area weddings looking so bright and fresh. I’m always excited to hear that Vintage Magnolia is doing the flowers because each arrangement is gorgeous and unique, perfectly reflecting the couple. They arrive early and their arrangements stand up to Colorado’s sometimes very gusty wind, which tends to make mishaps with less carefully secured flowers quite common.

November 05, 2019

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado

November 05, 2019/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Classical and Contemporary String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado

Our music enhanced the incredible setting, and we greeted the arriving guests with a selection of classical and contemporary songs. I custom selected the songs for the couple to give their special day a feeling of peaceful elegance.

The bride and groom both told me that when they heard the bride song, they were incredibly moved by the moment, and as the musicians, we can’t that we didn’t have tears in our eyes too!

Samples from Prelude Music:
Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach), Andantino (Mozart), Wedding Song (There is Love) (Peter, Paul, and Mary), Be Thou My Vision, Air from Suite #3 in D Major (Bach), A Whole New World from Aladdin

Wedding Processional Music:
A Thousand Years (Christina Perri) - Parents and Groom
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis) - Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Ringbearers, Flower Girl
Canon in D (Pachelbel) - Bride
A Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)- Recessional

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - String Trio
Venue: Sanctuary Golf Course
Officiant: Clinton Anderson
Photographer: Brinton Studios
Videographer: Elevate Photography

This summer, I played cello with my string trio for this elegant and romantic wedding ceremony at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado. The Sanctuary Golf Course is an idyllic setting for a wedding with lush green grounds, waterfalls, vibrant flowers, and a beautiful wedding pavilion overlooking sweeping vistas.

From the Bride:

Christen played for our wedding ceremony and did an absolutely wonderful job! We had a string trio, and really enjoyed working with Christen throughout the entire process. She helped us select our ceremony music and worked with our officiant to make sure everything went smoothly. We can't thank her enough.” - Tara T.

Experience the elegance of strings for your wedding ceremony. Listen to string trio or string quartet music samples.

Quick Tip: Have an outdoor wedding ceremony under a pavilion or covered area so that you and your guests will be sheltered from sun, wind, and rain, and still have a magnificent view.

Blog

From the Bride:

Experience the traditional elegance of our String Trio.

Katie Corinne Photography, Colorado Wedding Photographer

Lionsgate Event Center, Colorado Wedding Venue

Dana Tucker: Writing with Love, Colorado Wedding Officiant

A Touch of Bliss, Colorado Wedding Planner

Sanctuary Golf Course, Colorado Wedding Venue

Preston Utley, Colorado Wedding Photographer

Phil Gallagher, Colorado Wedding Officiant

Soiree Studio, Colorado Wedding Planner

Vintage Magnolia, Colorado Florist

From the Bride: