Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

This wedding ceremony at the Denver Botanic Garden was held on a gorgeous day in mid-October. The ceremony was held at the Romantic Gardens, and they were washed in warm sunshine, the birds were singing, and the gardens were alive with autumn blooms. Even the guests from Hawaii kept talking about how beautiful it was. It was quite a change from last year when we were buried in snow at the same time of year! The bride hired our flute and violin duo and her one request was that we play "All of Me" by John Legend so I made an arrangement of the song for flute and violin. There were only about 14 guests, and while they took pictures and mingled before the wedding ceremony, we played a mix of classical and popular music. Because of the small size, this ceremony felt very relaxed and I think that the bride and groom truly enjoyed their special day as they mingled with family members and listened to our music.

Prelude Music:
Air from Orpheus (Gluck), Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart), Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), Allegro Non Troppo (Pop), Simple Gifts, What a Wonderful World, Vivement from The Italian Sonata (Chedeville), Largo from Xerxes (Handel)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Denver Botanic Gardens
Wedding Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music in Boulder, Colorado

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

I was asked by local violinist, Jane Uitti, to join her on my flute to provide beautiful live music for a local mountain wedding ceremony in Boulder. This early autumn ceremony was held at the Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center, located just a few minutes drive into the Boulder foothills, combining the charm of the mountains with a convenient location. For her prelude music as the guests arrived, the bride chose all songs by Bach, and then we played traditional wedding ceremony music for the processional. It was a sweet and simple wedding ceremony accompanied by the sound of rushing water in the river below.
 

Prelude Music:
Air from Suite #3 in D major, Arioso from Cantata #156, Gigue from Suite #3 in D major, My Heart is Ever Faithful from Cantata #68, Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata #208

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Processional ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Unity Candle ~ Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)
Recessional ~ March in D Major from the Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach

Flute and Cello Wedding Ceremony Music at The Lodge at Breckenridge

Our flute and cello duo had an unusually warm and sunny day to play for this scenic outdoor October wedding ceremony in Breckenridge, Colorado. The bride chose all of her wedding prelude, ceremony and cocktail hour music and made two special song requests. Her first request was for me to arrange "On Eagles Wings" to be played as she and her fiancee exchanged private vows. The second song was "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Gun's N' Roses, which I arranged as a special surprise for the groom. I based my arrangement on an arrangement from a YouTube video that the groom really enjoyed. We played "Sweet Child O' Mine" during the receiving line after the ceremony. During the cocktail hour we played a mix of classical, jazz, ragtime, and popular music.

Sample Prelude Music:
Handel's Water Music (selections), Air on the G String (Bach), Rondeau (Mouret), The Wedding from Legends of the Fall

Wedding Ceremony Music:
All I Ask of You ~ Moms, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Ringbearer and dog
Canon in D ~ Bride
On Eagle's Wings ~ Private Vow Exchange
The Sound of Music ~ Recessional
Sweet Child of Mine ~ Receiving Line (special surprise for groom)

Sample Cocktail Hour Music:
All of Me, Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), A Whole New World from Aladdin, Blackbird (Beatles), Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin), My Funny Valentine, Rondo Alla Turca (Mozart), Meditation from Thais (Massenet)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: The Lodge at Breckenridge
Photographer: Studio Kiva
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo

Flute and Violin Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens

The weather was warm and sunny for this elegant late summer wedding ceremony at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The ceremony tent was surrounded by beautiful flowers in peak bloom with a water feature as a backdrop. The wedding itself was a time of celebration and the guests were enthusiastic about cheering for the bride and groom during the processional and recessional. It was quite a processional with 11 bridesmaids and 11 groomsmen, a ringbearer and 2 flower girls! The bride chose all of her own processional music and I chose the prelude and cocktail hour music. I also made a special arrangement of "Can't Help Falling in Love" to play during the reflection time during the ceremony and another arrangement of "A Thousand Years" to play as the bride walked down the aisle.

Our duo continued to play upbeat classical music after the ceremony as the guests enjoyed light snacks and drinks.

Sample Prelude Music:
Air from Water Music (Handel), Air from Orpheus (Gluck), Menuet from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart), Minuet (Devienne)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Parents and Groom ~ Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Ringbearer, Flower Girls ~ Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach)
Bride's Processional ~ A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Reflection Song ~ Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis)
Recessional ~ Wedding March (Mendelssohn)

Sample Cocktail Hour Music:
The Italian Sonata - selections (Chedeville), Allegro (Loeillet), Presto from Sonatina in F major (Telemann), Scheherazade Theme (Rimsky-Korsakov), Waltz from Album for the Young (Tschaikovsky), Blackbird (Beatles), For Me and My Gal, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, What a Wonderful World

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Denver Botanic Gardens
Ceremony Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo

Flute and Cello Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Wedding Deck

I was very glad that I brought my winter coat to this chilly rare sunset wedding ceremony on the Vail Wedding Deck. Normally the deck closes before sunset, but a severe thunderstorm had just rolled through, cooling the air and closing the gondola, causing the wedding to be delayed. This destination wedding ceremony was bathed in evening sunset colors forming a glorious backdrop for the bride and groom. Our flute and cello duo played classical prelude music as the guests began to arrive and the bride chose traditional wedding ceremony music for the processional.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Grandparents and Parents ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Minister, Groom, Groomsmen, Bridesmaids, Ringbearer ~ Ode to Joy (Beethoven) Bride ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Recessional ~ La Rejouissance (Handel)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Vail Wedding Deck
Wedding Coordinator: Katie McCann at Collins Coordination
Ceremony Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo

Flute Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at Ten Mile Station

Our flute quartet recently played at Ten Mile Station, a mountainside wedding venue in Breckenridge, Colorado. As the guests arrived on buses from the bottom of the mountain, we entertained them with an upbeat selection of classical music. The beautiful bride walked down the aisle accompanied by "The Wedding Song" by Peter, Paul, and Mary. This was a special request by the mother of the bride, and was the same song that she walked down the aisle to when she married. After the wedding, we moved inside where we played popular, rock, and jazz music for another half hour during cocktails.
 

Sample Prelude Music:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach), Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Trumpet Tune (Clarke), Trumpet Voluntary (Purcell), Simple Gifts (Traditional), Handel's Water Music, Ave Maria (Schubert)

Selected Cocktail Hour Music:
Clocks (Coldplay), It Had to Be You, Such Great Heights (Postal Service), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Don't Stop Believing (Journey)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Ten Mile Station
Photographer: Danica Larsen Photography
Wedding Ceremony Musicians - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute Quartet (flute, violin, viola, cello)

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music at the Larkspur Restaurant in Vail

Our flute and violin duo played for this wedding ceremony at the beautiful Larkspur Restaurant in Vail, Colorado. The wedding was set up on the green lawn to the side of the restaurant and came complete with 360 degree mountain views. The florist graced the wedding area with one of my favorite flowers - beautiful hydrangea blooms. At our music consultation, I played music samples for the bride and together we decided where her favorite songs would fit into the ceremony. Her young niece also had a musical part in the wedding, and she played "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" on her violin while the flower girls and ring bearers walked down. It was a precious moment.

After the wedding, we moved inside the restaurant to play classical music for the cocktail hour. We also threw in a few contemporary pieces that are suited to the flute and violin.

Sample Prelude Music: Rondeau (Mouret), Air from Water Music by Handel, La Rejouissance From Fireworks Music by Handel, Arioso (Bach)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Parents, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen ~ Hornpipe From Handel's Water Music
Ringbearer and Flower Girls ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) - played on solo violin by niece
Bride ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Recessional ~ Wedding March (Mendelssohn)

Sample Cocktail Hour Music:
Allegro Non Troppo (Popp), March in D Major (Bach), Presto in F Major (Telemann), Gavotte (Gossec), Waltz Op. 39 #8 (Tchaikovsky), Canzonetta (Mozart), Simple Gifts, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, All You Need is Love (Beatles)

Visit my Weddings page to learn more about how to make your wedding magical with live music.

Flute and Cello Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at the Donovan Pavilion in Vail

Playing flute for Erin and Erik's wedding ceremony and cocktail hour was one of the highlights of my summer. I loved getting to know the bride and groom during our music consultation because they were so warm, full of joy, and immersed in the present moment. They selected a few traditional pieces and some unique pieces of music for their processional, and I also made a special arrangement of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" for the recessional. The weather at Donovan Pavilion on the day of the wedding was just perfect and the beauty of nature surrounded us. Our flute and cello duo began playing a prelude of classical music to entertain the the guests as they arrived. The recessional was like a huge celebration as we played Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" and the guests cheered for the happy couple.

Our flute and cello duo played 90 minutes for the cocktail hour. We began with upbeat classical music and transitioned to popular, rock, and jazz. While we were playing for the cocktail hour, one of the guests asked if we could play "A Whole New World" - they had been singing that song earlier in the day. We played their request and all the guests around us began singing with us and more people joined in until we were surrounded by singing. It was like that moment at the end of a movie when everything works out and everyone is celebrating.

Erin and Erik - I wish you much joy in your marriage together! You are an amazing couple!

Sample Prelude Music:
Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Clair De Lune (Debussy), Morning Prayer (Tchaikovsky), Air from Suite #3 (Bach), To A Wild Rose (MacDowell), Ave Maria (Schubert)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Officiant, Groom, Parents ~ The Ludlows From Legends of the Fall
Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Ringbearer, Flower Girl ~ Canon in D
Bride ~ Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis)
Recessional ~ Wildflowers (Tom Petty)

Selected Cocktail Hour Music:
Roses from the South, (Strauss), Fugue in B minor (Handel), Minuet in G (Bach), Burlesca (W.F. Bach), Spring (Vivaldi), Allegro (Handel), Blue Spanish Eyes, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, You Raise Me Up, I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles), A Whole New World (Aladdin)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue ~ Donovan Pavilion
Photographer ~ Audry Hannah Photo
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony Music in Vail

I traveled up to Vail on this hot summer day to play solo flute for a wedding ceremony on the beautiful Vail Wedding Deck. The hot sun shone down on me and I wished I brought sunscreen, but there was nice cool breeze. The guests began to arrive 45 minutes before the ceremony, and since I was set up already, I began playing early to give them lovely music to walk in to. The bride requested that I play jazz and popular music so I put together a song list that I thought the guests would enjoy.

Sample Prelude Music:
Annie's Song (John Denver), Don't Stop Belivin' (Journey), Longer (Dan Fogelberg), Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), Blackbird (Beatles), Autumn Leaves

Processional Music:
Wedding Party ~ Entr'acte (Bizet)
Bride ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Recessional ~ Prelude from Te Deum (Charpentier)
Postlude ~ Hornpipe (Purcell)

Flute Trio Wedding Ceremony Music in Vail, Colorado

Photo Courtesy of Michael Rawlings Photography

Our flute trio had a wonderful time playing for this wedding ceremony on a beautiful, sunny, blustery day on the Vail Wedding Deck. The sunflowers and the still-green hills made a glorious backdrop for the bride and groom.

Our trio played classical prelude music as the guests arrived. The only song that the bride specifically requested was the "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner, with the melody played on the violin. Our viola player was very flexible and brought her violin along in addition to her viola. Half the time during the prelude and cocktail hour, she accompanied on viola, and half the time, she played the melody on violin. This switching around was actually a really nice change for us musicians and I think that the guests enjoyed the variety in sound.

After the ceremony, we went back down the gondola to the Four Seasons Hotel in Vail. The cocktail reception was held on the elegant Flame Deck of the Marriott Four Seasons. We played classical music there for another hour as the guests enjoyed the food.

Sample Prelude Music:
Salzburger Menuette (Mozart), Largo from Winter (Vivaldi), Arioso (Bach), Andantino K 236 (Mozart), Fantasie (Telemann), Ecossaise (Beethoven)

Ceremony Music:
Bride ~ Bridal Chorus
Recessional ~ Trumpet Tune

Sample Cocktail Hour Music:
Air from Suite #3 (Bach), Italian Song (Tschaikovsky), Mozart Trios, Toy Symphony (Haydn)

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Michael Rawlings Photography
Wedding Ceremony Venue: Vail Wedding Deck Reception
Venue: Marriott Four Seasons, Vail
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute Trio (flute, viola, cello)

Flute Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Cordillera Lodge in Vail

Our flute trio (flute, viola, cello) played for this elegant wedding ceremony at Cordillera Lodge in Edwards, Colorado recently. The weather turned out perfectly with lots of lovely sunshine and a cool breeze that felt wonderful. The bride chose contemporary and popular music for her prelude, and I arranged "Reign of Love" for our trio to play as she walked down the aisle. The young flower girl was brought down in a flower covered wagon which was a brilliant idea and very sweet.

Prelude Music:
Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan), At Last (Etta James), Over the Rainbow, Romantic Flight from How to Train Your Dragon, Such Great Heights (Postal Service)

Ceremony Music:
Processional ~ A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Bride ~ Reign of Love (Coldplay)
Recessional ~ Yellow (Coldplay)

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony Music and Dinner Music in Denver

This hot day began with a beautiful cool morning, perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony at the War Memorial Rose Garden in Littleton, Colorado. This picturesque gem is located near downtown Littleton and across the street from beautiful Sterne Park. The roses were just beginning to reach peak bloom and their scent filled the air with a sweet, nostalgic perfume. As a former music major, the groom had many ideas for his music selections and I incorporated them into the prelude, postlude, and dinner music. As guests began to arrive, I played a prelude of classical and traditional Irish music on solo flute. The wedding ceremony was very simple with only immediate family and friends attending. After the wedding ceremony, I played for fifteen more minutes as the wedding party and family were photographed.

Selected Wedding Prelude Music:
Aylesford Gavotte (Handel), Pastorale (Vivaldi), Star of the County Down (traditional Irish), Banish Misfortune (traditional Irish), Shebeg and Sheemore (traditional Irish), Berceuse (Faure), The Butterfly (traditional Irish), Largo from the New World Symphony, Theme from Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov), Waltz (Brahms)

Dinner was held at Maggiano's which is the couple's favorite restaurant. I began by playing some classical and Irish tunes and then switched to show, jazz, movie, and popular music. The groom made a special request that my last song be "Feeling Good", and I really enjoyed learning that wonderful classic song. The guests enjoyed drinks and appetizers while I played and when I finished, dinner was served. I was invited to join everyone for dinner and particularly enjoyed the pork and mashed potatoes and one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Wedding Party and Bride ~ Chorale from Cantata No. 140 (JS Bach) Recessional ~ Prelude from Te Deum (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)

Selected Dinner Music:
Salut D' Amour (Elgar), Vocalise (Rachmaninoff), Irish Traditional music, Entr'acte from Carmen (Bizet), The Ludlows from Legends of the Fall, What a Wonderful World, Isn't it Romantic?, Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, (Everything I Do), I Do it For You from Robin Hood, The Way You Look Tonight, As Time Goes By from Casablanca, Cheek to Cheek, Feeling Good from The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Venue: War Memorial Rose Garden in Littleton
Dinner Venue: Maggiano's in Englewood
Wedding Ceremony and Reception Musician: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Solo Flute

Flute and Harp Duo - Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park

Cocktail Hour Music Included: Clair De Lune (Debussy), Flower Duet (Delibes), Traumereri (Schumann), March from Judas Maccabaeus (Handel), Autumn from the four seasons (Vivaldi), Meditation from Thais (Massenet), Air on the G String (Bach)

Vendors:
Della Terra Mountain Chateau: Della Terra Mountain Chateau - Estes Park, Colorado Photographer: Dream Time Images
Officiant: Carolyn Carpenter of Sunflower Weddings
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Harp Duo.

This past weekend, I played for a wedding ceremony at Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park. It was hot in Denver, but beautiful and cool in Estes Park where we were surrounded by towering pines and the beauty of nature. I played my flute accompanied by Colorado Harpist, Mary Keener. It rained a little as we played the prelude but we stayed dry under the protection of the shelter that Della Terra recently built. The sun came out just in time for the ceremony to begin and it was a gorgeous wedding. The brides had listened to our flute and harp music samples online and they knew exactly what they wanted for their ceremony music. They also selected most of their own prelude music with help of my repertoire list. After the ceremony, we moved to the deck where we played classical cocktail hour music.

Prelude Music Included: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach), Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart), On Wings of Song (Mendelssohn)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Mothers ~ Ave Maria (Schubert)
Wedding Party (Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girls, Ringbearer) ~ Trumpet Voluntary
Bride #1 ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Bride #2 ~ Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
Sand Ceremony ~ The Swan (Saint-Saens)
Rose Ceremony ~ Arisoso (Bach)
Recessional: DJ takes over while we move to the cocktail hour site

Music Ideas for a Small Wedding Ceremony

When planning a small wedding ceremony, it's important that the music you choose will reflect the intimate feel of the gathering of your closest family and friends. A soloist is perfect for a very small wedding ceremony, and a duo or trio works well with a slightly larger ceremony. A general rule of thumb is to hire at least one musician per 50 guests. If you are having a very small wedding ceremony, you may want to hire a soloist. My specialty is the flute, and I often play solo flute for wedding ceremonies and cocktail hours. Solo flute, along with other single-note instruments, sounds great playing classical music but can also play any genre of music as long as the songs have a distinct melody. The sweet and rich sound of solo flute carries well and is easily heard outdoors, but is especially full and resonant in indoor spaces such as inside a church sanctuary. When I play solo flute for wedding ceremonies, I will often play classical music for the ceremony and then transition to more contemporary and jazz selections for the cocktail hour or reception.

If you are planning to invite more than 50 guests or if the guests will be spread apart over a large area outdoors, I recommend hiring a duo or trio. Both our flute and violin duo and our flute and cello duo give a personal and intimate feel to a small wedding ceremony and have a fuller sound than a soloist. Both of these duos sound wonderful with classical music but many contemporary songs can also be arranged to be performed by these duos.

If you want to hear mostly contemporary music at your wedding, a flute and guitar duo is the perfect choice. This duo retains a feeling of simplicity both visually and tonally, but has the most full sound of the three duos because the guitar can play several notes at once. This duo is very versatile and sounds great playing classical, popular, rock and jazz music. We often amplify this ensemble so that the guitar can be heard well.

A trio is also a great option for a small wedding ceremony. Trios sound much fuller than duos, but still provide an intimate feel. Take a look at the flute trio that we offer.

Whatever music you choose for your small wedding ceremony, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and your vision. If you don't know what ensemble to choose, communicate your thoughts to your local wedding music professional and they will help you choose the perfect ensemble to meet your needs.

Photos Courtesy of Grace Combs Photography

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at the YMCA in Estes Park

Our flute and guitar duo recently played for a beautiful October wedding ceremony at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning with gusty winds that challenged our ability to secure our sheet music and supplies. However, with many clips for our music and heavy rocks to hold down our music stands, we kept everything secure for the duration of our performance. By keeping the wind directly to my back, I was also able to get a good sound out of my flute. The ceremony was held outdoors at the Sara Smith Chapel which was a lovely location with a wild Colorado mountain feel. We played classical prelude music that the bride let us select and then a classical processional that I helped the bride select. During the ceremony, a small choir sang an incredible version of "Be Thou My Vision" and I felt honored to hear their talented performance in such an amazing setting. They sang this while the couple performed a foot washing ceremony, symbolizing the the servant-hood of marriage in comparison to Christ and the church. Then, because both the bride and groom are scientists, they did a small science experiment that they made up to represent marriage and the blending of two lives together. While they did that, we played Simple Gifts.

Selected Prelude Music:
Musette (Bach), Gavotte (Gossec), Polonaise (Mozart), Little Italian Song (Tchaikovsky), Valse Sentimentale (Schubert)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Bridal Party (Grandmothers, Mothers, Bridesmaids, Flower Girl) ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Bride ~ Gavotte from Sonata for Flute in C major (Handel)
Unity Ceremony ~ Simple Gifts
Recessional ~ Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
Postlude ~ Hornpipe from Water Music (Handel), Gymnopedie No. 1 (Satie)

Vendors:
Venue: YMCA of the Rockies - Estes Park
Photographer: Katie Keighin Photography
Wedding Ceremony Musicians - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Guitar Duo

Solo Flute - Wedding Ceremony Music at Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park

Outdoor autumn wedding ceremonies can be tricky in the Colorado mountains because the weather can be anything from warm and sunny to freezing cold and snowing. This bride hoped for the best with her early October wedding ceremony, but was also ready to brave the worst. It was clear to see why she wanted an outdoor wedding ceremony at Della Terra Chateau in Estes Park. The chateau is beautifully situated in the mountains and gives the feel of majestic isolation that is pure Colorado. The grounds feature garden areas and small ponds and bridges that blend well into the wild Colorado landscape. Wildlife abounded and I saw several elk, wild turkeys, and many birds and chipmunks. Inside, the chateau was built to reflect the classic European charm of years gone by. I had no idea what to expect from the weather as I drove up the fog-shrouded mountains. The forecast was calling for thunderstorms and even snow later in the evening. When I arrived at Della Terra, it was cold and cloudy and I set up under a small musician pavilion to protect my flute from the drizzling rain.

The bride chose solo flute music for her wedding ceremony, and I played elegant music on my flute as the handful of guests began arriving. As the guests arrived, the cold rain began to fall in earnest and umbrellas were quickly supplied to the guests and they wrapped themselves in the warm blankets that had been provided. I chose cheerful spring-like music to give the atmosphere a feeling of warmth, and one of the guests later told me that my music was the perfect balm for the cold, dark weather. The processional began, and just as the bride reached the front, the sun came out and the rain abated just long enough for a beautiful ceremony to take place.

Selected Wedding Prelude Music:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach), Danza Pastorale (Vivaldi), Spring (Vivaldi), Hornpipe (Purcell), The Swan (Saint Seans), Minuetto (Mozart)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Wedding Party ~ Trumpet Voluntary
Bride ~ Trumpet Tune
Recessional ~ Bourree from Handel's Water Music
Postlude ~ Hornpipe from Handel's Water Music and Chopin's Waltz, Op. 69 No. 2

Wedding Vendors
Wedding Venue: Della Terra Mountain Chateau
Officiant: Reverend Simone Shepherd
Ceremony Musician: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Solo Flute

The view behind the ceremony site

Flute and Cello Duo at Piney River Ranch in Vail, CO

In August, our flute and cello duo headed up to Piney River Ranch in Vail to play for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. After a string of cold and rainy days, the sun finally came out at this incredible mountain location and made for a beautiful wedding day. Once we arrived in Vail, we followed a long set of directions through White River National Forest. The 45 minute drive brought us over very rutted roads and was very challenging in our Prius. Since the going was slow, we embraced the moment and rolled down our windows to enjoy the peaceful quite and the spectacular scenery. We arrived at the lodge in time to enjoy a meal at the Piney restaurant. I ordered their signature pulled pork BBQ, which was exceptional, and having lived in North Carolina for a while, I can be picky about my BBQ! We also had time to take photos of the lake and of the resident moose, Monty Jr.

The bride knew what she wanted for music, and she chose most of the prelude music and all of the ceremony music on her own with the aid of my repertoire list. She requested that we fill out her prelude selections with music from movies with big scenery to compliment the lake and mountain backdrop. I really enjoyed making these music selections and it was wonderful to play them in a location that perfectly complimented them.

One of the best moments of the wedding ceremony was when Monty the moose walked through the water right behind the couple! The pastor had been talking about living in the moment and not letting life slip by us unnoticed. The reactions of the guests was wonderful as the ceremony paused and we all took some time to embrace that wonderful moment.

For the cocktail hour, the bride requested Beatles, Sinatra, and jazz styles. Our flute and cello duo mostly plays classical music, but I was eager for the challenge and after looking through my extensive music library, I found a number of popular and jazz pieces that would work wonderfully with the flute and cello.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Mothers, Groom, Pastor, Groomsmen ~ Haunted by the Waters from A River Runs Through It
Bridesmaids ~ All I Ask of You Bride ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Recessional ~ La Rejouissance from Handel's Water Music
Postlude ~ Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)

Selected Prelude Music:
The Sound of Music, To a Wild Rose (MacDowell), Largo from Winter (Handel), The Wedding and the Ludlows from Legends of the Fall, Clair De Lune (Debussy), Si Bheag, Si Mhor (Irish Traditional), Moon River , from Breakfast at Tiffany's, What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

Selected Cocktail Hour Music: 
Imagine (Beatles), When I'm Sixty Four (Beatles), A Whole New World, I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles), Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, Blue Spanish Eyes, All of Me, My Funny Valentine, Blackbird (Beatles), Misty

Christen and Heather playing at Piney River Ranch, courtesy of Zach Mahone Photography

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Venue: Piney River Ranch, Vail
Wedding Coordinator: Meg Stepanek of Gemini Event Planning
Photographer: Zach Mahone Photography
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo

Flute and String Trio - Wedding Ceremony and Cockail Hour Music at Silverthorne Pavillion

It's always nice to travel from the hot summer weather of Colorado's front range to the mountains, and this time our destination was the town of Silverthorne, where it was a sunny 70 degrees. This wedding was held at the Silverthorne Pavilion which is located by the banks of the Blue River. Our flute, viola, and cello trio played classical prelude music and then traditional wedding processional music that the bride and groom selected together. The wedding ceremony was very sweet and as the couple said the vows they had written for each other, we tried to hold back our tears. Sometimes it doesn't make a difference how many weddings we have played for - each one is beautiful and unique! After the ceremony, we moved to the shaded patio where we played a mix of classical and popular music as the guests enjoyed appetizers and drinks. The bride and groom had several song requests for their cocktail hour music and I put together the remainder of our set list using those songs as my inspiration.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Wedding Party ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Bride ~ Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
Recessional ~ Wedding March from a Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelssohn)

Selected Wedding Prelude Music:
Largo from Winter (Vivaldi), Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Selections from Handel's Water Music, Allegro from Sonata in F major (Handel)

Selected Cocktail Hour Music:
Italian Song (Tschaikovsky), Ecossaise (Beethoven), What a Wonderful World, Over the Rainbow, All You Need is Love, Romantic Flight from How to Train Your Dragon, Imagine, Anything Goes (Cole Porter)

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Venue: Silverthorne Pavilion
Wedding Coordinator and Photographer: Laura Pierson at L Elizabeth Events
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute Trio (flute, viola, cello)

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Ceremony Music in Breckenridge

This weekend, I played flute for a wedding ceremony in an incredibly beautiful location. The ceremony was held on the lawn of a private residence in an idyllic mountain setting above the town of Breckenridge. The landscaping was gorgeous and flowers spilled from every corner and lined the garden paths, framing the mountain backdrop. Storms began to move in, giving the mountains and sky a dramatic and eerie look, and thunder began to rumble and echo around the mountains. Because of the coming rain, the decision was made to begin the ceremony 15 minutes earlier than originally planned. Our flute and guitar duo welcomed the guests with classical prelude music and then began playing the processional music. Just as the bride began her walk down the aisle, the sun came out and stayed out for most of the ceremony, even as the thunder continued to rumble in the distance. The storm held off just long enough for the beautiful wedding ceremony to finish and for the photographers to get some great shots afterwards. Thank you Steve Tinetti for sharing these beautiful photos!

After the ceremony, I was invited to stay for the cocktail hour, so I drove to Breckenridge Lodge and Spa where I had a few refreshments and enjoyed watching the storms move in over the mountains as I got to know few of the guests.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Parents and Attendants Processional ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (JS Bach)
Bridal Processional ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Recessional ~ Wedding March from a Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelssohn)

Prelude Music:
Classical selections from Bach and Telemann

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Steve Tinetti Photography - Thank you Steve for these wonderful pictures!
Wedding Ceremony Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Guitar Duo

Flute and String Trio at the Lodge at Cordillera in Edwards, CO

Recently, we enjoyed spectacular views from the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, Colorado. This very busy bride asked us to select her wedding ceremony music for her, and we took care of everything so she could focus on getting married. With severe thunderstorms the previous day, everything had to be moved indoors, and rain continued to threaten on the wedding day. However, the following afternoon the sun came out and the bride had her beautiful outdoor wedding after all. Our trio serenaded the guests with classical music as they came to their seats and then we played for the ceremony. Afterwards, we moved down to the pool area where we played classical music for the cocktail hour.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Bridesmaids and Flower Girl ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring Bridal
Processional ~ Sheep May Safely Graze
Recessional ~ La Rejouissance from Handel's Water Music

Selected Prelude and Cocktail Hour Music:
Selections from “Water Music” (Handel), Spring (Vivaldi), Ecossaise (Beethoven), Papageno's Aria from the Magic Flute (Mozart), Salzburger Menuette (Mozart), Gavotte (Gossec), Gigue (J.S. Bach)

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Venue: The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera
Wedding Coordinator: Valerie Woodbury
Ceremony Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute Trio