February 03, 2023

Violin and Cello Duo Wedding Ceremony and Dinner Music at the Vail Golf Club

February 03, 2023/ Christen Stephens

Violin and Cello Wedding Ceremony and Dinner Music at Vail Golf Club Wedding Island, in Vail, Colorado, FLute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by The Cavern Photography

It was an unusually cold and rainy August day when my violin and cello duo played for a wedding ceremony and dinner at the Vail Golf Club in Vail, Colorado. The bride had fallen in love with a YouTube recording of “Speechless” by Dan + Shay. It was played by a violin and cello duo, and she wanted to walk down the aisle to that very thing, and we made it happen for her.

The ceremony took place out on the Vail Wedding Island, and we waited for the pouring rain to stop before we went out there to tune our instruments and warm up. Soon, guests began to arrive, and we played romantic classical music to set the mood before the ceremony. When we played for the wedding party, the pastor announced each person that walked down the aisle just as if it was a grand reception entrance. Everyone cheered for each person, and the loudest cheers went to the bride, of course!

During the ceremony, we played “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the Lion King for the Unity Lasso. The entire ceremony was in Spanish, and I was grateful that I knew just enough to know when it was time for the unity ceremony to begin. The traditional ceremony included a lengthy sermon, and I was glad to once again, to understand just enough Spanish to know the general idea of what the pastor was saying.

Cocktails were supposed to be outside, but the temperature was falling rapidly and it was just too cold for the guests, so cocktails were cut short and the guests moved indoors and were seated for dinner. We played elegant pop music during dinner, and I used my professional sound system to project our sound enough to be pleasantly heard but not so much that people had to raise their voices to talk.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Canon in D (Pachelbel): Bridesmaids, Ringbearers, Flower Girls
Speechless (Dan + Shay): Bride
Can You Feel the Love Tonight from the Lion King: Unity Lasso
Wedding March (Mendelssohn): Recessional

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Vail Golf Club
Live Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Violin and Cello Duo
Photographer: The Cavern Photography
Videographer: Diego Garcia Avila

April 09, 2022

Violin and Cello Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Vail Golf Club

April 09, 2022/ Christen Stephens

The fall foliage and weather could not have been more perfect for this long-awaited Vail wedding celebration. This couple had booked me back in 2019, and they sadly had to postpone their 2020 wedding to 2021. It was so exciting when the big day finally arrived!

This bride wanted to have classic wedding music for her ceremony and cocktail hour. We chose a mix of our favorite classical and romantic contemporary songs and created an elegant music program with a good flow. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the patio of the Vail Golf Club. The guests often recognized the songs that we were playing but couldn’t always place the titles, so we helped out when they asked.

From the Bride:

“We could not recommend Christen more! She was incredibly professional from the first time we spoke, and then thoughtful and understanding when we had to postpone our wedding. The ceremony and cocktail hour music was beautiful and exceeded our expectations. We were so impressed by the variety of music offered and how detailed Christen was throughout the planning process. Thank you Christen and Brightin for being a part of our special day!!”

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Ode to Joy (Beethoven) - Parents, Officiant, Maid of Honor, Best Man, Groom
Canon in D (Pachelbel) - Bride
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) - Recessional

Samples from the Prelude and Cocktail Hour Music Selections:
Butterfly Waltz from Twilight, The Sound of Music, A Day Without Rain (Enya), Can You Feel the Love Tonight from the Lion King, Si Bheag, Si Mhhor, What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong), Curious Story (Schumann), A Thousand Years from Twilight, Autumn (Vivaldi)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Vail Golf Club (Wedding Island)
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Violin and Cello Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Wedding Planner: Snapdragon Celebrations
Photographer: Nate and Jenny
Videographer: Larisa Graham Films

December 19, 2020

Flute and Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Wedding Island in Vail, Colorado

December 19, 2020/ Vail Golf Club/ Christen Stephens

The second half of September is my favorite time of year in Vail, Colorado, with the cooler weather, warm sunshine, and spectacular autumn foliage. This year was no exception, and this Denver couple timed their wedding day perfectly for dazzling peak fall color!

Flute and Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Wedding Island in Vail, Colorado - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Sarah Roshan

Our flute and guitar duo played a song list selected by the bride and groom, and we loved how a few of the guests and other vendors engaged with the music with small bursts of singing and dancing!

During the ceremony, the couple did a symbolic golf shot into the the lake, while we accompanied the moment by playing “What a Wonderful World”. The good cheer of the guests, our music and the spectacular setting were a very poignant oasis in the midst of crazy times.

From the Bride:

”Magical Touch for our Wedding Ceremony”

“Christen and Alex provided flute and strings music for our wedding ceremony and it was wonderful. Christen was extremely responsive from the first time we reached out and worked with us to pick our perfect list of songs. It added a truly magical touch to our wedding ceremony and I highly recommend.”

Wedding Prelude and Postlude Music:
All You Need is Love (Beatles), Perfect (Ed Sheeran), Could you be Loved (Bob Marley), Sunshine of my Life (Stevie Wonder), Here Comes the Sun (Beatles), A Whole New World from Aladdin, Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Come Away With Me (Norah Jones) - Wedding Party
Make You Feel My Love (Adele) - Bride
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) - Golf Shot into lake during ceremony
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder) - Recessional

Listen to Flute and Guitar Music Samples

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Vail Wedding Island
Ceremony Music: Flute and Guitar Duo by Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Photographer: Sarah Roshan

March 18, 2019

Flute and Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Golf Club

March 18, 2019/ Christen Stephens

My flute and guitar duo headed up to Vail on a chilly day in early October to play for a wedding ceremony at the Vail Golf Club. A cold front was moving in, and the weather forecast called for cold temperatures, wind, thunderstorms, and possibly even hail. We were all praying that the weather would end up being beautiful so that this couple could have the elegant wedding ceremony of their dreams.

Because of the cold temperatures, the wedding location was moved from the wedding island to the beautiful lawn space right in front of the Vail Golf Clubhouse. It was the perfect location for the guests to enjoy the heated patio, and then move outside to their seats right before the ceremony. There were a few sprinkles of rain during the ceremony, but the couple was able to have their ceremony outdoors with the stunning autumn colors and the sweeping mountains of the Gore Range as their backdrop. After the wedding ceremony concluded, the clouds poured rain and the guests moved back to safety under the covered patio to enjoy cocktails and our pop and jazz tunes.

Quick Tip:
If your wedding day isn’t sunny, it’s actually a great thing for photos! On cloudy days, colors pop and shadows disappear, making photos of both people and scenery brilliant and beautiful. If you don’t mind getting a little wet, rain and snow also add a sense of drama and romance to your wedding photos.

Sample Selections from Prelude and Postlude Music:
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole), Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton), The Ludlows from Legends of the Fall, Come Away With Me (Norah Jones), Fly Me to the Moon (Sinatra), Cheek to Cheek (Sinatra)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
What a Wonderful World (Lois Armstrong): Parents and Grandparents, Groomsmen, Officiant
Perfect (Ed Sheeran): Bridesmaids, Ringbearers, Flower Girl
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis): Bride and Dad
You are the Sunshine of my Life (Stevie Wonder): Recessional

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Vail Golf Club
Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Guitar Duo
Wedding Planner: REL-Event Designs
Officiant: Scott Beebe
Photographer: Brooke Heather Photography

Autumn dates fill fast, so book us now to reserve our fun and elegant music for your wedding day

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December 12, 2017

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music on the Vail Wedding Island

December 12, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Photos courtesy of Kristopher Lindsay Photography

Colorado flute and guitar wedding ceremony music, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

It was the first day of autumn when my guitarist and I headed down to Vail, Colorado to play for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. The ceremony was held at the Vail Wedding Island, and the cocktail hour was held on the covered patio of the Vail Golf Clubhouse. Fall decided to come swiftly on its first day with a rainy cold front, and our drive across the mountains was interspersed with heavy rain showers. We hoped that the weather wouldn't stop the couple from having the beautiful wedding of their dreams.

When we arrived, the sun peered through the clouds just long enough for me to get several photos of the changing Aspen trees, glowing in their golden glory of peak season. We played prelude music on the wedding island and braved the weather, brightening up the gloomy and rainy day with our cheerful flute and guitar music. It did rain on us, but we each brought instruments that could take a little rain, so we kept playing.

The rain stopped just as the bride was about to walk down the aisle, but the wind gusted so strong that while she was walking, it tore her veil right from her head! She burst into a fit of laughter and it was contagious and soon everyone was laughing. We kept playing the bride's walking song and after about a minute, she completed her walk down the aisle and was happily married. The sun shone brightly through the clouds just as the couple was presented as husband and wife.

After the ceremony, we moved to the covered and heated patio of the clubhouse, and we warmed up as we played upbeat contemporary and jazz tunes while the guests enjoyed hous d'ouvres and cocktails. I brought my top of the line Bose L1 sound system and our sound carried beautifully throughout the space. We even got a special music request and I Googled the sheet music on my cell phone. We played it, but music was very tiny!

Samples from Prelude Music: Here Comes the Sun (Beatles), Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), God Gave Me You (Blake Shelton), "Aylesford Gavotte" (Handel), Annie's Song (John Denver), Gavotte from Sonata for flute in C Major (Handel)

Processional Music:
Groom ~ Amazed
Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Ringbearer, Flower Girl ~ The Swan (Saint-Saens)
Bride ~ To Make You Feel My Love (Adele)
Recessional ~ Hornpipe Finale (Handel)

Samples from Cocktail Hour Music: How High the Moon (Ella Fitzgerald), Unforgettable (Sinatra), You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder), Satin Doll (Duke Ellington), Cheek to Cheek (Sinatra), Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Vail Wedding Island and Golf Club
Wedding Planner: Jessica Kate Productions
Photographer: Kristopher Lindsay Photography
Live Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Guitar Duo
DJ: DJ Guy

September 20, 2017

Flute and Violin Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Wedding Island

September 20, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Violin Wedding Music in Vail, colorado

hotos in this post courtesy of Laura Murray Photography

The big day finally arrived! Ashley contacted me almost two years ago because she wanted to make sure that she reserved our flute and violin duo for her wedding day in Vail. Her special day finally arrived full of sunshine and mid-summer mountain beauty. The Gore Range provided a gorgeous backdrop to the wedding ceremony, which took place outdoors on the Vail Wedding Island. My violinist and I played contemporary prelude music as the guests enjoyed cocktails and socialized before the ceremony. The refreshing drinks kept everyone cool before the ceremony and it also provided lots of great photo opportunities.

The special part of the processional was our collaboration with the bride's best friend and singer, Allie. I made a custom music arrangement of "I Will" by the Beatles and Allie sang along with our duo for the procession of the flower girl and ring bearer. It was the sweetest most meaningful moment, and the fact that the very young ring bearer didn't want to walk down the aisle at all made it even more charming, and brought about some chuckles from everyone.

Congratulations Ashley and Ethan!

Samples from Prelude Music: Blackbird (Beatles), All of Me (John Legend), In the Good Ol' Summertime, A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), All You Need is Love (Beatles), Ode to Joy (Beethoven), Spring from the Four Seasons (Vivaldi)

Processional Music: Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis) ~ Parents, Officiant, Groomsmen Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) ~ Bridesmaids I Will (Beatles) ~ Flower Girl and Ringbearer Canon in D ~ Bride

Postlude: Hornpipe (Handel)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Wedding Island at the Vail Golf and Nordic Clubhouse
Wedding Planner: Jill Chalfant of Snapdragon Celebrations
Wedding Ceremony Music: Flute and Violin Duo by Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Photographer: Laura Murray
Videographer: Sherri Innis of Love Story Films
Reception Location: Donovan Pavilion

Reserve our elegant flute and violin duo for your wedding day or event! Here are Music Samples >

August 04, 2016

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Wedding Island

August 04, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Sample Prelude Music:
All You Need is Love (Beatles), Don't Stop Belivin' (Journey), Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Yellow (Coldplay), Reign of Love (Coldplay), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) ~ Seating of the Family and Groomsmen
Young and Beautiful (Lana Del Rey) ~ Bridesmaids, Ringbearers, Flower Girls
Canon in D (Pachelbel) ~ Bride
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) ~ Recessional

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Wedding Planner - Meg Stepanek of Gemini Event Planning
Venue - Vail Wedding Island at the Vail Golf Club
Photographer - Michele DeVires - IN Photography
Cake - Mountain Flour
Rentals - Alpine Party Rentals
Wedding Ceremony Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - String Trio

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, Photos Courtesy of Michele DeVries of IN Photography — Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, *Photos Courtesy of Michele DeVries of* *IN Photography*

It was during a gorgeous day at the end of June that our string trio had the pleasure of playing for a large wedding ceremony at the Vail Wedding Island, located at the Vail Golf Course. The happy bride and groom had an epic backdrop of sparkling water reflecting a view of the Gore Range Mountains. There were about 35 people in the wedding party and the processional was grand. The bride looked stunning in a fitted lacy wedding gown and she wore an elegant and delicate vintage lace veil which she had carefully attached just before the wedding. The weather was perfect as the guests enjoyed cool drinks and champagne at the beverage table before the wedding.

The bride made a special request that our string trio play "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey for the processional of the ringbearers, flower girls, and bridesmaids. I made a special arrangement for the processional by adding some rhythmic elements played underneath the soaring melody, and it worked perfectly for walking.

From the bride: "Christen Stephens is absolutely the best. She played the most fabulous music during our ceremony. It was gorgeous. She went above and beyond mixing classical music with modern music just as I requested. She even created a gorgeous rendition of a new song for the wedding that went perfectly with the rest of the classical songs played in the processional. I would HIGHLY recommend Christen Stephens."

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From the Bride:”Magical Touch for our Wedding Ceremony”

Autumn dates fill fast, so book us now to reserve our fun and elegant music for your wedding day

From the Bride:

”Magical Touch for our Wedding Ceremony”