We love a good Cotswold Wedding and today we returned to the beautiful setting of the Swan Hotel in Bibury. Nestled on the banks of the enchanting River Coln in the ‘most beautiful village in England’, The Swan Hotel truly provides a picture-perfect setting for your big day.
The Wedding
Bethany-Jayne and Scott
Friday 24 May 2024
The Swan Hotel, Bibury, Cotswolds
Ceremony, Drinks and Meal
Arriving in good time we managed to sneak a space outside the front of the hotel which made things easier when it came to unloading our kit into the venue. The decision had been made to have an indoor ceremony, although it had been noted apparently that the couple were rather keen on an outdoor wedding. But no matter, we set about building our piano shell and bringing in our instruments.
Half way through the setup it was then decided that the wedding would be outside! The weather wasn’t perfect, but equally it wasn’t raining. And so we swiftly moved everything outside and found a suitable location where we could provide music for the ceremony and drinks reception from one spot.
Music for the Ceremony
Pre Ceremony
Better together – jack johnson
Brown eyed girl – van morrison
Your song – elton john
A million dreams – greatest showman
Marry you – bruno mars
Bridal Entrance
Married life – Disney’s Up!
Signing
Lord of the rings – The shire and may it be
Looking Glass – Brandy
Exit
Mr Blue sky – Electric light Orchestra
Music during the Drinks Reception
As the weather was being kind, albeit a little chilly, everyone (including us) remained outside for the drinks reception which followed the ceremony.
Some of the songs we included in our set for the drinks reception included:
Pure imagination from Wonka
Unchained Melody
Killing me softly
Accidently in love from Shrek
What was i made for – from the film Barbie
All the small things – Blink 182
All star – Smash Mouth
Music for the Wedding Meal
From the drinks reception it was a short move back across the road and back into the hotel for the wedding breakfast. I think of all the many venues we go to this is the only one where we have to carry our piano across a road between the drinks and meal! But fortunately the quiet side streets of Bibury do not really pose much of a challenge! You are more likely to find a duck in the road!
Within ten minutes or so we were set up again indoors and ready to provide music for the wedding meal.
The bride and groom were happy to let us choose the music for this part of their wedding day and said they have a wide musical taste. For the meal we tend to bring things down a bit to more of a cocktail jazz feel – although equally that depends on the overall tempo of the wedding. Sometimes we also have people singing along during the meal! Luckily experience will usually tell us which set to aim for to ensure the music is suitable for the occasion.
We really enjoyed providing music for Beth and Scott and we would like to thank them for choosing JAM Duo for their Daytime Wedding Music in Gloucestershire. We wish them both every happiness as they embark on their married life together.
