March 08, 2018

Flute Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at the Donovan Pavilion in Vail, Colorado

March 08, 2018/ Christen Stephens

At the beginning of autumn, my flute quartet (flute, violin, viola, cello) headed down to Vail, Colorado to play music for a wedding ceremony at the Donovan Pavilion. The drive up to Vail was the most beautiful drive of the whole year. The first snow had just fallen the night before and the aspens were in peak season with their golden yellow leaves. When the sun shone, the aspens glowed, gradually making way to dark pines dusted with fresh snow at the tops of the mountains. Behind the mountain peeks, storm clouds made a dramatic and imposing backdrop. The rain and wind from a large cold front was quickly moving in, and when it was time for our quartet to start playing prelude music, it was sprinkling rain and the wind blew in from the west, bringing in clouds and cold temperatures. We couldn't play the wedding music outside because of the weather so, with the help of my high quality sound system, we were able to play indoors and still be heard clearly outside. We played a mix of contemporary music and hymns for the prelude and then played a traditional processional.

The wedding ceremony was so elegant and the wedding party braved the cold weather so that the couple could have their dream of an outdoor ceremony. The flowers and decor were romantic and glamorous with old-fashioned deep pink roses, greenery, and candles everywhere. The tables were covered in rich blue cloths accented by branches covered in deep gold. The color contrasts and textures were vibrant and luxurious.

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Christen is amazing!!! She is such a talented musician. She made my wedding vision come to life! - from the bride, Married in Vail, Colorado

Samples from Prelude Music: Make You Feel My Love (Adele), All You Need is Love (Beatles), Reign of Love (Coldplay), Come Thou Fount, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Processional and Ceremony Music: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) ~ seating of the parents, bridesmaids and groomsmen, ring bearers, flower girl Canon in D (Pachelbel) ~ Bride Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart) ~ Cord of three strands ceremony Wedding March (Mendelssohn) ~ Recessional Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars) ~ Postlude

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:

Planner: Ann Marlin of Cloud 9 Bliss
Photographer: Cassidy Brooke
Videographer: Emily Brumley of Storyteller Films
Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Flute Quartet
DJ: Elite Entertainment

Rain or shine, make your wedding day sparkle with our wonderful Flute Quartet Music >

February 15, 2018

My "Best of 2017" Colorado Wedding Ceremony Vendors

February 15, 2018/ Christen Stephens

My "Best of 2017" wedding vendor list is here! Every year, I select a top vendor from several different wedding service categories and feature them on my blog. Each of my chosen vendors is someone whom I've worked with in 2017, and each has earned this special mention by being outstanding in some way. This year, I've selected Officiant Phillip Gallagher, Laura Murray Photography, Snapdragon Celebrations, and Della Terra Mountain Chateau.

Phillip Gallagher

Colorado Wedding Officiant

What I Loved: When I worked with Phil for a wedding this past December he became an instant friend. His upbeat personality, flexibility, and professionalism made everything fun and easy for everyone. When a wedding appears effortless, you know that means your vendors are doing their job amazingly well. At this small wedding with no planner, Phil acted not only as an officiant but he went above and beyond his job description in coordinating the little details and putting smiles on everyone's faces despite the cold weather. I highly recommend Phil for any wedding from large to small!

Laura Murray Photography

Colorado and destination wedding photographer

What I Loved: Laura Murray's stunning photos are creatively crafted and each one tells a special story. She poignantly captures both the large and small moments of life, bringing out the personality of her subjects in a thoughtful and genuine way. These amazing photos speak for themselves!

Colorado wedding photographer, Laura Murray

Snapdragon Celebrations

Colorado wedding planner

What I Loved: Jill Chalfant was so professional and easy to work with. She contacted me with all of the information that I needed well in advance and was communicative if I needed anything. She was also helpful and available on the day of the wedding, and the entire ceremony went so smoothly that you knew there had to be expert planning behind it all.

Flute and Violin Wedding Music in Vail, colorado — Colorado wedding planner, Snapdragon Celebrations

Flute and Violin Wedding Music in Vail — Colorado wedding planner, Snapdragon Celebrations

Snapdragon Celebrations Photos Courtesy of Laura Murray Photography

Della Terra Mountain Chateau

Colorado Wedding Venue

What I Loved: I love Della Terra Mountain Chateau and the wonderful folks that work there so much that I just had to feature for a second time. The Chateau is situated conveniently near Estes Park and features grounds that have several elegant wedding spaces. The whole property is surrounded by the mountains, trees, and nature's beauty. The inside of the chateau is just what you'd want from a mountain chateau, with a rustic elegance and lively seasonal touches. The ladies that work there are communicative and on top of every detail from start to finish. Della Terra is truly a stunning location for a wedding ceremony!

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony Music in Estes Park, Colorado — Colorado wedding venue, Della Terra

Della Terra Photos Courtesy of Crystaline Photography

January 25, 2018

Flute and Harp Duo at Mount Princeton Hot Springs in Colorado

January 25, 2018/ Christen Stephens

Photos courtesy of Adore Photography

It was a chilly late summer morning when I left my house to play my flute for a wedding at Mount Princeton Hot Springs. The drive took me quickly into the mountains and even though it was a long drive, the scenery was so beautiful that the time flew by. The changes in the location and elevation continually brought new vistas. Sometimes I drove thorough deep pine forests and at other times I was surrounded by airy aspen trees, their brilliant yellow leaves sparkling in the bright autumn sunshine. At other times, there were low scrub lands or open grassy areas that stretched for miles, reminding me of the Colorado plains.

The wedding venue and lawn at Mount Princeton Hot Springs had the feeling of grandeur. During the day, the reception hall was lit with golden sunlight coming through the many high windows, and at night the indoor lights shone out, illuminating the entire building. The hall opened out to a large sloping lawn with perfectly manicured emerald green grass. A river ran behind the ceremony site making a beautiful musical song that added to the ambiance of the location. The backdrop for this scene were the strangely white Chalk Cliffs that glowed in the sunshine. There was also a great view of Mount Princeton and Mt. Antero, dark with pines.

The sun shone in the bright blue sky and it was a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding ceremony. It was extremely windy, so I used my Bose amplification system to make sure that our flute and harp duo would be easily heard above the wind. We serenaded the guests with elegant classical music as they arrived and then we played for the processional. The bride came riding up in a fairy tale-like Cinderella carriage that was pulled by a white horse while we played "Beauty and the Beast". The ceremony was incredibly romantic and there were many happy tears.

After the ceremony, we played for the cocktail hour indoors. We played a selection of contemporary and jazz style romantic songs that worked beautifully for flute and harp and complemented the theme of the wedding. The decorations inside were stunning and flowers were everywhere. The tall windows at the back of the building boasted a grand view of the chalk cliffs. I won't forget this fairy tale wedding!

Colorado flute and harp wedding ceremony music

Prelude Music Sample:

Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Beethoven), Meditation from Thais (Massenet)

Wedding Processional Music:

A Thousand Years (Christina Perri) - Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Flower Girl
Beauty and the Beast - Bride
What a Wonderful World - Tree Planting Ceremony
I'm Yours (Jason Mraz) - Recessional

Cocktail Hour Music Samples:

Moon River, Someone to Watch Over Me (Gershwin), Over the Rainbow, The Ludlows from Legends of the Fall, The Swan (Saint Saens), Simple Gifts, Love is Here to Stay (Gershwin), Unforgettable (Sinatra), It Had to Be You (Sinatra)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:

Venue: Mount Princeton Hot Springs
Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Harp Duo
Photographer: Adore Photography
DJ: Elite Entertainment
Singer: John Redmon

December 26, 2017

Flute and Violin Duo Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Music at The Sevens in Breckenridge

December 26, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Colorado flute and violin wedding ceremony music

Wedding Ceremony Music: Canon in D (Pachelbel): Seating of the parents, bridesmaids and groomsmen River Flows in You (Yiruma): Bride's Processional Ode to Joy (Beethoven): Recessional

Samples from Prelude Music: Trumpet Tune (Purcell), Minuet (Boccherini), Amazing Grace, Air from Suite No. 3 in D (Bach), Allegro Non Troppo (Bach)

Samples from Cocktail Hour Music: Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), Si Bheag, Si Mhor (Irish Air), Allegro from Spring (Vivaldi), Andante from string quartet Op. 29 (Schubert), Postcard to Henry Purcell from Pride and Prejudice, What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)

Vendors:
Wedding Planner: Love Leigh Weddings and Events
Venue: The Sevens
Photographer: Bergreen Photography
Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens (Flute and Violin Duo)
Band: Narrow Gauge Band

Make your wedding come to life with the joyful music of my flute and violin duo.

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

October 09, 2017

Cello and Piano Duo Wedding Ceremony Music in Beaver Creek

October 09, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Photos courtesy of Irving Photography

In June, my cello and piano duo played for a beautiful wedding ceremony at Beaver Creek Chapel. The bride made romantic music selections and a couple of her special requests included "Hymn by the O'Neill Brothers" and "For the Love of a Princess" from Braveheart. Beaver Creek Chapel is a wonderful acoustical space for live music and they also have a quality piano onsite, a perfect complement to the elegant classical music, love songs and hymns that the bride chose for her ceremony.

Prelude Music: Hymn (O'Neill Brothers), Arioso (Bach), Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke), Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach), Laudate Dominum (Mozart), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)

Processional Music: For the Love of a Princess from Braveheart ~ Seating of the Parents The Ludlows from Legends of the Fall ~ Wedding Party Processional The Swan (Saint-Seans) ~ Bridal Processional Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Redeemer ~ Unity Candle Simple Gifts ~ Recessional

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Wedding Planner ~ Party Girl Events
Photographer ~ Irving Photography
Wedding Ceremony Music ~ Christen Stephens (Flute and Cello Duo)
Venue ~ The Chapel at Beaver Creek
Officiant ~ Tim Wilbanks

September 20, 2017

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

September 20, 2017/ Christen Stephens

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 21, 2017

Flute and Violin Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at Copper Mountain, Colorado

August 21, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Violin Wedding Music in Copper

This summer my violinist and I traveled up to beautiful Copper Mountain in Colorado to play for an intimate wedding ceremony. This was my first time on a chair lift and I was ready and excited for the adventure, but I'm also afraid of heights! I managed to load myself and all of my equipment onto the chair, but the chair started to move forward before I was ready, and right away things began to fall off! After some assistance to re-load my things, and after a few tense moments while I got used to the height, I began to relax. I enjoyed the brilliant wildflowers scattered in the green grasses below and the scent of the majestic pines, a scent which I look forward to every time that I visit the mountains. I almost made it to the top when the wind gusted and a few of my things flew off the lift. Later, a wedding guest was so kind and drove his truck down and picked them up for me! I was so grateful. The ride down was much smoother because I had learned some tricks in loading my things. They were also kind enough to stop the chair lift this time long enough for me to get situated. I also found a really helpful bar and footrest that I can bring down for added security. I do believe that I'm an expert at this now!

The wedding ceremony was wonderful. It took place at Solitude Station in the Nature Center Gazebo, which is a beautiful work of architecture in addition to being a perfect shelter. My flute and violin duo played elegant classical music and set the mood for the guests as they arrived. It felt like a small private concert. The ceremony was very short and full of humor and joy. At the bride's request, we surprised the groom and all of the guests by playing the theme from Indiana Jones for the recessional. Everyone laughed as soon as they recognized the tune, and it was a really fun and unexpected moment.

From the Bride: Christen at Flute and Strings was amazing to work with! It was so easy to get our music selections to her and she was quick to respond to any and all questions we had. The day of the wedding could not have gone smoother. Both musicians were punctual and flexible. We originally thought we had a larger ceremony space to work with, but ended up in a smaller venue. Both musicians adapted to the surroundings and didn't miss a beat. My now husband really wanted the Indiana Jones theme music as our recessional and Christen worked with me to have that accomplished as a surprise for him. He was totally shocked and it sounded amazing! We could not thank Christen and her team enough for playing such a memorable ceremony. I would highly recommend!

Prelude Music:
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon (Handel), Si Bheag Si Mhor (traditional Irish), Ode to Joy (Beethoven), Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Spring from the Four Seasons (Vivaldi), Trumpet Tune (Purcell), selections from Handel's Fireworks and Water Music

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Ashokan Farewell (Jay Ungar and Molly Mason) - Mothers and Grandmothers
Rondeau - Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
A Thousand Years - Bride
Theme from Indiana Jones - Recessional
All You Need is Love - Postlude

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Solitude Station
Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo
Officiant: Gretchen Abernathy
Photographer: A friend of the family

August 03, 2017

Flute and Cello Duo at Tapestry House in Laporte, Colorado

August 03, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Cello duo in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Christen Stephens

Photos courtesy of Ash Meier Photography This spring, my flute and cello duo headed up to the Tapestry House in Laporte, Colorado to play for an elegant wedding ceremony. The charming Queen Anne style Tapestry House is a delightful wedding location. The lush green lawns are highlighted with flowers and graced with mature shade trees that are dripping with elegant twinkle lights. Everyone enjoyed the shade under the trees as our duo played a selection of classical prelude music to set an elegant mood. The bride and groom chose processional and recessional songs to complement their traditional wedding ceremony.

I first thought that the Tapestry House was a beautifully restored historical home, but upon reading the history of the home on the venue's website, I found out that I was mistaken. The house is authentic to the time period but was more recently built. This is because the original house had deteriorated so badly that it was dismantled. The owners carefully salvaged wood, brick, stone, and architectural elements from the original house and incorporated them back into the new Queen Anne Revival Victorian that now occupies the original house site. Featuring six different colors of paint, the Tapestry House is called a “Painted Lady”, which is a term that refers to homes from the late Victorian era that featured three or more contrasting colors of paint. Although the home is new it is such a remarkable reproduction of a Queen Anne Revival style Victorian home that the Poudre Landmarks Foundation has included it twice, since 2002, on its historic homes tour.

Samples from the Prelude Music: March in D (Bach), Spring (Vivaldi), Arioso (Bach), Menuet from the Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach (Bach)

Wedding Ceremony Music: Air from Overture #3 in D Major (Bach) ~ Groom, bridesmaids, ringbearer, flower girl Canon in D (Pachelbel) ~ Bride La Rejouissance (Handel) ~ Recessional Hornpipe Finale (Handel) ~ Postlude

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Tapestry House
Photographer: Ash Meier
Musicians: Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo

Add the elegance of the flute and cello to your wedding! Listen to Music Samples >

Flute and Cello duo in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Christen Stephens, Photos courtesy of Ash Meier Photography — Flute and Cello duo in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Christen Stephens, *Photos courtesy of* *Ash Meier Photography*

March 07, 2017

Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music in Aspen, Colorado

March 07, 2017/ Christen Stephens

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)

February 04, 2017

My “Best of 2016” Colorado Wedding Ceremony Vendors

February 04, 2017/ Christen Stephens

My 2016 top wedding vendors are in! Once again I have chosen my favorite vendors from last season in three different categories - wedding photographer, wedding planner, and wedding venue. These people were an inspiration to me and a joy to get to know and work with. My vendor choices are JoAnn Moore of Mountains and Meadows Weddings and Events (Colorado and California Wedding Planner), Preston Utley Photography (Colorado Wedding Photographer), and The River Bend (Lyons, Colorado Wedding Ceremony Venue). Congratulations!

Mountains and Meadows Weddings and Events

Award Winning Event Specialist serving Colorado, California and beyond

What I Loved: Wouldn’t it be fun if your best friend was also your expert wedding planner? How about if your wedding planner turned into one of your best friends? JoAnn was so easy to work with. She is very efficient, but for her it wasn’t just about getting things done. JoAnn is also genuine and personable and I could tell that she loves her job. She was great at taking the lead and communicating with me while also being flexible and accommodating for us in every way.

Preston Utley

Colorado Wedding Photographer

What I Loved: Preston Utley captures moments that are so lovely that they seem like they must have been carefully staged, but I’ve seen him in action and it’s all genuine, in the moment, breathtaking reality. These amazing photos are enough to win Preston a top place in my vendors this year but he’s also just a great guy and fun to be around. He and his team move around the event so quietly that you don't notice they are there, but they also seem to be everywhere at once, capturing each and every unique moment.

The River Bend

Colorado Wedding Venue

What I Loved: The River Bend is a charming wedding venue in an idyllic setting that highlights the extraordinary beauty of Colorado’s great outdoors, and yet it's only a 30 minute drive from Boulder. This beautiful property is private and quiet, graced with mature trees and an expansive tidy lawn. The best part is the dramatic redstone cliffs and St. Vrain River that run behind the ceremony site. The staff was wonderful and helpful and they seem to offer just about everything one would need for a beautiful country wedding.

January 12, 2017

Flute Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at the Chapel at Beaver Creek

January 12, 2017/ Christen Stephens

Photos Courtesy of Preston Utley Photography — *Photos Courtesy of* *Preston Utley Photography*

On a Saturday in mid-December, my flute quartet (flute, violin, viola, cello) left Denver and headed up to Beaver Creek, Colorado to play for a holiday wedding ceremony. A blizzard was forecast to hit the Colorado mountains that evening and we left very early and were prepared to face the worst. When we left Denver it was sunny and in the 50's but the weather quickly became worse as we drove further into the mountains. We drove for five hours over dark and icy roads thought the blizzard. Accidents and stranded vehicles were everywhere but I drove carefully and we enjoyed each other's company inside our cozy car.

We arrived safely at the Chapel at Beaver Creek and it was such a welcoming sight after our long drive. Colored lights and greenery were everywhere and the sanctuary was bright, warm and charmingly decorated for the season. As we waited to play, we enjoyed listening to prelude music played by Michael Lancaster on the bagpipes. To conclude the prelude, our quartet played "All I Want is You" by U2.

Prelude Music: Michael Lancaster on bagpipes All I Want is You (U2) by Christen Stephens flute quartet

Wedding Ceremony Music: The Ludlows from Legends of the Fall ~ Wedding Party Reign of Love (Coldplay) ~ Bride's Processional Glasgow City Police Pipers by Michael Lancaster - Recessional

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Wedding Planner ~ Meg Stepanek of Gemini Event Planning
Ceremony Quartet ~ Christen Stephens - Flute Quartet
Ceremony Bagpiper ~ Michael Lancaster
Photographer ~ Preston Utley
Videographer ~ Kyle Hodge

Make your wedding magical and hire my Flute Quartet

November 14, 2016

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens

November 14, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Photos Courtesy of Brittany Renee Photography — *Photos Courtesy of* *Brittany Renee Photography*

In July, our flute and violin duo played for an intimate wedding ceremony at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The ceremony took place in the Romantic Gardens, which are green and serene, spilling over with roses and transporting one back to the Victorian Era. Our flute and violin duo played under one of the two small gazebos, and it beautifully amplified our sound and also protected our instruments from the sun and rain. Often it was sunny and raining at the same time and the ceremony began with an unusually heavy gust of wind. Despite the erratic weather and a few hitches before the ceremony began, this flexible couple carried on. The weather calmed down and the sun shone brilliantly for a beautiful finish to this wedding ceremony. Our duo played a selection of classical and more contemporary tunes to keep the guests entertained before the wedding and the bride selected her own processional and recessional songs.

Sample Prelude Music:
Aire from Orpheus (Gluck), Allegro Non Troppo (Popp), Andante from String Quartet in A minor (Schubert), Air from Handel's Water Music, Artist's Life (Strauss), Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis), Let Me Call You Sweetheart (Bing Crosby)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Bride's Processional ~ A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Recessional ~ All of Me (John Legend)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Denver Botanic Gardens
Photographer: Brittany Renee Photography
Musicians: Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo

November 03, 2016

Flute Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at Vail Interfaith Chapel

November 03, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Recently, our flute trio (flute, viola, cello) played classical and contemporary wedding ceremony music at Vail Interfaith Chapel in Vail, Colorado. We always love playing at Vail Chapel because of the beautiful acoustics that carry our sound throughout the sanctuary. Our very busy bride had a high stress job, so after a short consultation, I put together a music set list for her prelude and worked with her day-of coordinator for the details. I mixed classical and contemporary music and chose songs based on the bride's musical preference. The ceremony was emotional and joyful and the couple had the support of a lot of friends and family. After we played the recessional, a bagpiper played outside and led everyone to the reception site. We left the Vail Chapel to a gorgeous autumn day.

Sample Prelude Music: Allegro from Spring (Vivaldi), Ode to Joy (Beethoven), The Wedding Song (Peter, Paul, and Mary), Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Salzburger Menuette (Mozart),

Wedding Ceremony Music: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)~ Seating of the Families Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach) ~ Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girl, Ringbearer Canon in D ~ Bride Trumpet Voluntary ~ Recessional

Wedding Ceremony Vendors: Venue - Vail Interfaith Chapel, Vail, Colorado Wedding Coordinator - Steps and Stones Photographer - Maheux Studios Photography Videographer - Larisa Graham Videography Florist - Petals and Pours Musicians - Christen Stephens (Flute Trio)

October 12, 2016

Flute and Harp Wedding Ceremony Music at Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge, Colorado

October 12, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

In late summer our flute and harp duo played for a wedding ceremony at Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge, Colorado. This busy destination bride relied on her mom to handle most of her wedding planning and her mom did an amazing job with everything including the timeline, decor, and last minute details. The ceremony was outdoors on the patio, and as the guests arrived in shuttles, our duo greeted them with classical music to set the mood. At the bride's request, we finished with "The Lord's Prayer" right before the ceremony began. After the ceremony, we moved indoors to play a mix of classical and contemporary music during the cocktail hour.

Sample Prelude Music:
Adagio (Bach), Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Piano Concerto No. 21 (Mozart), Arioso (Bach), The Lord's Prayer (Malotte)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Hornpipe (Purcell) ~ Family and wedding party
Canon in D (Pachelbel) ~ Bride
Meditation from Thais ~ Knot tying ceremony
Simple Gifts ~ Recessional

Sample Cocktail Hour Music:
Clair De Lune (Debussy), Flower Duet (Delibes), The Days of Wine and Roses (Mancini), Minuet of the Blessed Spirits (Gluck), La Vie En Rose (Louis Armstrong), Someone to Watch Over Me (Gershwin), Over the Rainbow, Largo from the Four Seasons (Vivaldi), When I Fall in Love, The Swan (Saint Saens)

September 23, 2016

Flute and Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park, Colorado

September 23, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, Photos with watermark courtesy of Joe Pyle Photography — Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, *Photos with watermark courtesy of Joe Pyle Photography*

It was forecast to be a cool and rainy day when our flute and guitar duo headed up to Estes Park to play for this Minnesota couple's wedding ceremony. Everyone's prayers were answered and the sun shone brightly warming the crisp mountain breezes. The wedding was held under the Pavilion at Black Canyon Inn, and the backdrop of mountains and blue skies and clouds was epic. The bride and groom requested that we play a mix of classical and popular music for the prelude and they selected their processional and recessional songs.

From the bride: "Beautiful Music! We chose the flute and guitar. She (Christen) was very easy and fun to work with! Very professional and we are so so so happy we chose her and her team."

Sample Prelude Music:
Andante from Sonata in C Major (Mozart), Annie's Song (John Denver), To Make You Feel My Love (Adele), The Girl (Dallas Green)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Wedding Party ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Flower Girl ~ Reign of Love (Coldplay)
Bride ~ Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis)
Recessional ~ Could You Be Loved (Bob Marley)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue - Black Canyon Inn
Photographer - Joe Pyle
Ceremony Musicians - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Guitar Duo

September 03, 2016

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music at Sapphire Point in Dillon, Colorado

September 03, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, Photos Courtesy of Steve Tinetti Photography — Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, *Photos Courtesy of* *Steve Tinetti Photography*

In July, our flute and violin duo played for a very intimate wedding ceremony at Sapphire Point in Dillon, Colorado. It was such a small wedding ceremony that there weren't actually any guests! Instead, this destination bride decided to have her ceremony professionally recorded and then share the recording with her friends and family members.

Our duo played soothing prelude music before the ceremony as the bride and groom posed for their wedding photos. Then, we cleared the area of curious hikers so that the bride and groom could make their grand entrance down the winding forest path. Our flute and violin duo played "Postcard to Henry Purcell" from "Pride and Prejudice" as the bride and groom walked. After the ceremony, we played a little more and we both even signed the marriage certificate as witnesses, and posed for a few photos with the bride.

From the bride: "Our wedding was just a small elopement at Sapphire Point in Colorado but we couldn't imagine it without music. Not only did Christen give us several song selections but she arranged a song that I requested. She played beautifully and the music helped calm our nerves. I would highly recommend Christen for any size wedding. Her music is exquisite!"

Sample Prelude Music:
A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Air from Suite #3 (Handel), Ode to Joy (Beethoven), Romanza (Mozart), St. Anthony's Chorale (Brahms), Traumereri (Schumann), Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Bride's Processional and Recessional ~ Postcard to Henry Purcell from Pride and Prejudice

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue ~ Sapphire Point
Officiant ~ Julie Wright-Kyle
Photographer ~ Steve Tinetti Photography
Ceremony Musicians ~ Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo

August 15, 2016

Flute and Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the River Bend in Lyons, Colorado

August 15, 2016/ Christen Stephens

In late June, our flute and guitar duo played for a wedding ceremony at the River Bend in Lyons, Colorado. The setting at the River Bend was perfect for this outdoorsy adventure loving couple. It was idyllic with mature trees, a lush lawn, and a river curving in front of high rock walls. The guests enjoyed drinks, socializing, and playing corn-hole by the river before the wedding. Our flute and guitar duo played a mix of classical, popular and jazz tunes for the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, and then we played another hour for the dinner reception.

From the bride: "Christen Stephens was a wonderful addition to our wedding - very professional, timely, and easy to communicate with to figure out details for the wedding. Music was beautiful and just what we were looking for. Highly recommended."

Sample Prelude Music: Invention No. 10 (Bach), Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison), Autumn Leaves, Everything I Do (I Do it For You), Annie's Song, The Days of Wine and Roses, Berceuse, Op. 16 (Faure), Arioso (Bach)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Canon in D ~ Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girl
The Ludlows ~ Bride's Processional
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 ~ Recessional

Sample Cocktail Hour and Dinner Music:
Cheek to Cheek, All My Loving, Fly Me to the Moon, Entr'acte (Bizet), Try to Remember, Tango (Albeniz), Gavotte (Handel), To Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Giuliani Sonatas (selections), When I Fall in Love, Misty, Pastorale (Vivaldi), Unforgettable

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue - River Bend
Wedding Coordinator - Purple Summer Events
Photographer - Nine Photography
Ceremony and Reception Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Guitar Duo

August 04, 2016

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Vail Wedding Island

August 04, 2016/ 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."

July 25, 2016

Flute and Cello Duo Wedding Ceremony Music at the Wedgwood Center in Boulder, Colorado

July 25, 2016/ Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, Photos with a watermark are courtesy of TomK Photography — Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens, *Photos with a watermark are courtesy of* *TomK Photography*

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:

Venue: Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center
Photographer: Tom K Photo
Wedding Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo

In June, our flute and cello duo played for a very musical destination wedding ceremony at the Wedgwood Wedding and Banquet Center in Boulder, Colorado. The bride and groom had many fun song selections that they incorporated throughout their ceremony, and they each had a secret song that they chose for each other. The groom sang his secret song ("All I Ask of You") to the bride as we accompanied on flute and cello. The groom even sang some of his vows. The ceremony was full of laughter and fun and was truly a celebration of love. I adored the vintage bottles and colored sand that the couple used for their sand pouring ceremony.

Sample Prelude Music:
New York, New York, The Sound of Music, The Ludlows, Can't Help Falling in Love, Moon River, All of Me, Wildflowers (Tom Petty)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) ~ Seating of the Families
Canon in D (Pachelbel) ~ Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles) ~ Flower Girls and Ringbearer
Sweet Child of Mine (Guns N' Roses) ~ Bride's Processional
In the Still of the Nite (The Satins) ~ Sand Ceremony
La Vie En Rose (Louis Armstrong) ~ Bride's song for the groom
All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera ~ Groom's song for the bride
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) ~ Recessional
Simple Gifts (Lord of the Dance version) ~ Postlude

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