The Soundtrack to the Moment You Say “I Do”
Few moments in life are as emotionally charged as your wedding ceremony. From the first note guests hear as they take their seats to the music that carries you joyfully down the aisle as a married couple — each piece of music helps to tell your story.
At JAM Duo, we’ve had the privilege of providing live music for hundreds of wedding ceremonies across the UK — from grand castle halls and elegant hotels to rustic barns and romantic garden settings. Every ceremony is unique, and the music you choose becomes part of its heartbeat.
In this guide, we’ll share our insight into choosing ceremony music that reflects your style and personality, creates the perfect atmosphere, and enhances every key moment. Whether you dream of classical elegance, modern romance, or something completely personal, we’ll help you craft a seamless musical journey from start to finish.
Why Live Music Matters
There’s something irreplaceable about live music. It’s not just sound — it’s atmosphere, emotion, and connection. Live instruments breathe life into a moment in a way recordings simply can’t match.
When we perform as JAM Duo — Anne-Marie on cello and Jules on piano — we’re responding to what’s happening around us. The exact timing of your walk down the aisle, a glance between you both, the joyful laughter of your guests — these subtle cues shape how the music flows. That’s something only live musicians can do.
Couples often tell us how special it feels knowing their aisle walk or signing music wasn’t a button pressed on a playlist, but a moment performed just for them. The dynamic between cello and piano allows us to move effortlessly from tender and romantic to grand and cinematic, ensuring every note fits your vision.
The Structure of Your Ceremony Music
Most wedding ceremonies (civil, religious, or humanist) have four main musical sections:
- Pre-Ceremony Music — sets the tone as guests arrive and take their seats.
- Processional / Entrance Music — the grand moment when the bridal party and bride make their entrance.
- Signing of the Register — music played during official signing or symbolic rituals.
- Recessional / Exit Music — joyful and upbeat as you walk out together as newlyweds.
Let’s explore each of these in more detail and how to choose the right music for every stage.
1. Pre-Ceremony Music: Setting the Scene
As guests arrive and settle into their seats, music begins to create your atmosphere long before the ceremony officially starts. These 15–20 minutes are an opportunity to introduce your style — whether that’s modern romantic, timeless classical, or something totally eclectic.
We usually suggest a gentle mix of pieces that feel welcoming and calm. For example:
- Classical favourites such as Clair de Lune (Debussy), Air on the G String (Bach), or Canon in D (Pachelbel).
- Contemporary love songs arranged for piano and cello — A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), All of Me (John Legend), Perfect (Ed Sheeran).
- Film and TV themes like Love Actually – PM’s Love Theme or Bridgerton’s elegant orchestral covers, which add a cinematic touch.
We often tailor pre-ceremony music around your chosen style. For example, if your wedding has a Disney or movie theme, we’ll include instrumental versions of songs your guests will instantly recognise. For couples who prefer a more classical feel, we might blend romantic adagios and piano solos to fill the space with warmth.
The key is continuity — your pre-ceremony music should feel cohesive and gently lead into your processional moment. As we play live, we always time the final piece to finish neatly before the registrars or officiant begins.
2. The Processional: The Moment Everyone Remembers
The processional (entrance) is one of the most emotional and unforgettable moments of any wedding. The choice of music here sets the entire tone for your ceremony — it can be grand and dramatic, simple and heartfelt, or quietly elegant.
For many brides and grooms, this is the piece they’ve dreamed about for years. Whether you want to glide down the aisle to Canon in D or surprise everyone with a modern classic like Lover by Taylor Swift, the most important thing is that the music feels authentic to you.
A Few Ideas for the Processional
Traditional Choices:
- Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
- Bridal Chorus – Wagner (“Here Comes the Bride”)
- Salut d’Amour – Edward Elgar
Romantic Contemporary Options:
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Lover – Taylor Swift
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
- All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Something a Little Different:
- Glasgow Love Theme – from Love Actually
- Turning Page – Sleeping at Last
- Halo – Beyoncé (slowed-down instrumental)
At JAM Duo, we pride ourselves on timing your processional perfectly. Because we play live, we can stretch or pause sections to ensure the music rises and falls exactly with your walk. If your bridal party includes bridesmaids, flower girls, or family members, we can also adapt the arrangement to suit their pacing — creating one seamless, emotional moment.
We’ll usually rehearse the walk with your coordinator or registrar beforehand, so when the moment arrives, everything feels effortless.
3. The Signing: A Time to Reflect and Breathe
After you’ve exchanged vows and rings, the signing of the register (or similar moment in a humanist or symbolic ceremony) allows everyone to exhale and soak in what’s just happened.
Music here should feel reflective and uplifting — something that keeps the atmosphere romantic without overpowering conversation or photographs.
Popular Choices for the Signing Include:
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- Your Song – Elton John
We usually play two or three shorter pieces here, depending on how long the signing takes. If you’d like, one of these can be a special dedication — perhaps a song that means something to your parents, or a favourite from your first date.
The cello really shines in this moment — its lyrical tone brings warmth and depth, while the piano creates a gentle flow beneath. It’s a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy live music at its most intimate.
4. The Recessional: Joy, Celebration, and Applause
And then, in a burst of smiles, confetti, and applause, it’s time to walk back up the aisle as a married couple. The recessional calls for something upbeat, joyful, and full of energy.
This is where you can truly let your personality shine. Some couples opt for a traditional fanfare, others go for pop classics or even film themes that make everyone grin.
Uplifting Recessional Ideas:
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- All You Need Is Love – The Beatles (a crowd favourite!)
Because we perform live, we can start the exact moment your officiant announces you as newlyweds — giving your guests an immediate cue to cheer and celebrate. The music lifts the room and carries you right into your confetti moment or drinks reception.
Making It Personal: Blending Songs or Creating Unique Arrangements
Many JAM Duo couples love the idea of blending two songs together — for example, starting with Canon in D and transitioning into Can’t Help Falling in Love, or mixing Love Story (Taylor Swift) with Perfect (Ed Sheeran).
These blends work beautifully because they combine tradition with personal meaning. We arrange everything ourselves, so we can tailor the music to your exact vision and ensure the transitions feel seamless.
We’ve also created cello-and-piano versions of everything from Coldplay to Bridgerton, and even Friends Theme + Unchained Melody — no request is too unusual!
Your ceremony should sound like you, not a playlist template — and that’s where live musicianship really shines.
How JAM Duo Help You Choose
Choosing music can feel daunting, especially when you’re balancing emotion, tradition, and personal taste. That’s why we’re here to guide you.
When couples book us, we help curate (or rather, personally select) a full list of songs for each section of your ceremony. You can pick from our extensive repertoire — over 300 tracks covering classical, pop, film, and jazz — or request specific pieces that we’ll arrange for cello and piano.
Here’s how we usually help couples plan their ceremony music:
- We start with your overall vibe: romantic, cinematic, fun, elegant, or eclectic.
- We build your playlist section by section: pre-ceremony, processional, signing, exit.
- We refine the flow: making sure there’s contrast and continuity — calm beginnings, emotional peaks, and joyful endings.
- We finalise timing: ensuring each piece fits your ceremony length and transitions smoothly.
We also liaise with your venue coordinator or celebrant to make sure everything runs seamlessly on the day. Our portable setup means we can play indoors or outdoors, and we’re completely self-contained with our own professional sound system and even battery power if needed.
Considering Alternatives (and Why Live Still Wins)
Of course, couples sometimes consider alternatives — a string quartet, harpist, solo pianist, or even recorded tracks through a sound system. Each option can be beautiful in its own right, but there are distinct advantages to the cello and piano combination.
- Range and Warmth: The cello provides a soulful depth, while the piano adds clarity and rhythm — together they cover a full orchestral spectrum without being overpowering.
- Flexibility: We can perform almost any genre — from Bach to Billie Eilish — and adapt to any acoustic or venue space.
- Emotion: Because we’re responding in real time, our performance feels alive. The timing of a crescendo can rise with your walk, not before or after it.
- Consistency: JAM Duo are always Jules and Anne-Marie — we never use substitutes or “deps,” so the sound you hear online is the sound you’ll have on your wedding day.
We’ve seen how couples and guests respond when live music fills the air — people pause, smile, and truly listen. That’s the magic of a live duo.
Practical Tips for Choosing Your Ceremony Music
Here are a few final pieces of advice to help you plan confidently:
- Start early. Don’t leave music to the last minute — some songs need arranging or rehearsal time.
- Think about pace. If your aisle is long, you’ll want a piece that can build gradually. For shorter aisles, simpler melodies often work best.
- Consider your venue acoustics. Barns and chapels sound different from marquees or gardens — we can help you choose pieces that suit the space.
- Personal touches. Choose at least one song that truly means something to you as a couple — those moments resonate most deeply.
- Coordinate with your registrar. Civil ceremonies have some music restrictions (no religious references), so check this early to avoid surprises.
A Ceremony to Remember
When the final note fades and you walk hand in hand down the aisle, your ceremony music becomes a memory etched forever in the hearts of everyone there.
For us at JAM Duo, that’s what it’s all about — creating musical moments that feel personal, heartfelt, and beautifully timed. From the gentle hum of the cello to the sparkle of the piano, our live music brings your ceremony to life.
Whatever your taste, whatever your venue, we’ll help you choose music that tells your story — one note at a time.
✨ JAM Duo – Piano and Cello Wedding Musicians
Beautiful live music for ceremonies, drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts across the UK.
🎵 Always live – never backing tracks
💍 Soundtracking memories that last forever
📍 Covering England, Scotland and Wales
