Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony Music on the Vail Wedding Deck in Colorado

Vow Renewal Wedding Ceremony on the Vail Wedding Deck, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

Towards the end of July, I played for a wedding vow renewal ceremony on the Vail Wedding Deck. There was a pretty good chance of thunderstorms in Vail that afternoon, but the rain held off, allowing for the ceremony to take place under the sunshine and occasional clouds. The wind was extremely gusty, and it brought in smoke from the southern Colorado wildfires, but that just added a mysterious and magical quality to the setting.

I played a mix of classical and contemporary prelude music on my flute, and I used my amplification so that I could be heard over the wind. Everyone gasped in surprise and delight when the couple's spunky and adorable daughter joined me on her flute to play "Can't Help Falling in Love" as the bride walked down the aisle.

The couple had been married for ten years, and their vows were as tender as first time couples, but also so refreshingly real as they had faced many years of life together. They had gone through many joys and challenges in their ten years of married life, and through them they grew closer to each other and were more in love than ever. I don't think that there was a dry eye by the time the ceremony was over. Then the bride gave everyone yet another surprise by announcing that a second child was on the way! Everyone cheered.

It was quite wonderful when the officiant announced "And now I pronounce you....are still husband and wife!" at the end. I was so inspired that I thought how nice it would be to do a 15 year vow renewal with my husband in a few years. I continued to play my flute after the ceremony to add ambiance as photos were taken.

From the Bride:
"Christen played beautifully at my ten year wedding renewal! She even worked with my daughter to perform a surprise duet together as I walked down the aisle which was such a hit. Thank you so much for everything!"

Enjoy the elegance and beauty of my solo flute music for your wedding ceremony! Here are solo flute music samples.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles) - Groomsmen
The Way You Look Tonight (Sinatra)- Bridesmaids
Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis) - Duet with Bride's Daughter for Bride's Walk

Prelude and Postlude Music Included:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach), Hornpipe (Purcell), Moon River, Prelude from Te Deum (Charpentier), When I Fall in Love (Nat King Cole),  Cheek to Cheek (Sinatra), All My Loving (Beatles)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Vail Wedding Deck
Wedding Planner: White Birch
Wedding Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Solo Flute
Photographer: Ashley Waldron Photography
Videographer: Roots and Wings Productions
Reception Location: Arrabelle Ballroom

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

Photos courtesy of Kristopher Lindsay Photography

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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
 

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

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

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

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

Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music in Aspen, Colorado

This past weekend in early March, I played flute as part of a quartet for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour in Aspen, Colorado. It was a beautiful spring-like day when we headed up to Aspen and when we arrived there were many people skiing on the slopes enjoying the warm weather. We took the Silver Queen Gondola up to the sundeck on the top of Aspen Mountain where the wedding ceremony would take place.

The bride chose to get married at sunset. It was chilly, sunny and windy on top of the mountain and the red and orange sunset was spectacular. When dusk fell it became very cold but the bride kept warm in an elegant fur capelet, and hand warmers were passed out to the guests. Our quartet was organized by A Touch of Class Music and it was made up of a flute, violin, cello and guitar. We played classical prelude music before the ceremony began. After the ceremony, everyone moved inside near the large fireplace where they warmed up and enjoyed drinks. We entertained the guests with a selection of jazz tunes.

Sample Prelude Music: Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Giga (Handel), Andante Op. 29 (Schubert), Minuet (Beethoven), Allegro and Bourree from Water Music (Handel)

Wedding Ceremony Music: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) ~ Last Prelude Song Largo from Winter (Vivaldi) ~ Parents Air from Suite No. 3 (Bach) ~ Processional Canon in D (Pachelbel) ~ Bride You've Got a Friend in Me (Randy Newman) ~ Recessional

Sample Cocktail Hour Music: Fly Me to the Moon, Autumn Leaves, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Satin Doll

Wedding Ceremony Vendors: Wedding Planner ~ Nicole from Ashley Nicole Events Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Musicians ~ A Touch of Class Music Venue ~ The Little Nell (Sundeck Patio and Benedict's)