Sophie & Mike | 30 December 2025
Late December weddings have a character all of their own — quieter, more intimate, and often deeply atmospheric. Sophie and Mike’s wedding at Danby Castle, set on the edge of the North York Moors, was a perfect example of how a winter celebration can feel both romantic and relaxed.
JAM Duo were delighted to provide live cello and piano music for the wedding ceremony and drinks reception, both held indoors within the castle’s main venue building. With around 50 guests, the day felt personal and thoughtfully paced, allowing live music to play a central role without ever overwhelming the space.
A Unique North Yorkshire Wedding Venue
Danby Castle is a wonderfully distinctive venue. Tucked away near Whitby, it combines historic stonework with a warm, welcoming interior that works beautifully for winter weddings. Everything for Sophie and Mike’s celebration took place inside the main building, creating a sense of closeness and continuity as the afternoon unfolded.
The castle’s ceremony room and reception spaces are ideally suited to live acoustic music, with natural warmth and character that complements cello and piano particularly well.
Indoor Winter Wedding Ceremony Music
The ceremony took place at 2:00pm, with JAM Duo positioned at the rear of the ceremony room — a placement that allowed the music to fill the space gently while keeping the focus firmly on Sophie and Mike.
Pre-Ceremony Music
As guests arrived and settled, we performed a selection of modern, romantic pieces chosen by the couple:
- How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- A Million Dreams – The Greatest Showman
- Beautiful Crazy – Luke Combs
- Back at One – Brian McKnight
These songs set a calm, emotional tone and worked beautifully in the castle setting, creating a sense of anticipation without feeling formal or heavy.
Entrance of the Bride
For Sophie’s entrance, the choice was the timeless Canon in D. Performed live on cello and piano, it provided a sense of occasion that suited the historic surroundings perfectly, while still feeling warm and personal rather than traditional for tradition’s sake.
Signing of the Register
During the signing, Sophie and Mike chose a trio of heartfelt love songs:
- Amazed – Lonestar
- All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
- Lover – Taylor Swift
These were performed in a gentle, flowing style, allowing the moment to feel relaxed and unhurried.
At one point during the ceremony, the celebrant nodded for light background music while proceedings continued — a subtle but important moment where live musicians can really add something special. River Flows in You worked perfectly here, underscoring the ceremony without drawing attention away from it.
Couple Exit
The ceremony concluded with Best Day of My Life — an upbeat, joyful choice that sent Sophie and Mike back down the aisle to smiles, laughter, and a real sense of celebration.
Drinks Reception Music at Danby Castle
Following the ceremony, the day moved seamlessly into the drinks reception, which ran from 2:30pm to 4:00pm. For this part of the afternoon, we relocated to a small stage area, giving the music a slightly more prominent role while still remaining firmly in the background.
Sophie and Mike had shared a long list of songs they loved and asked us to shape these into a natural musical journey for the reception. We curated the order carefully, beginning with relaxed, melodic pieces and gradually lifting the energy as the afternoon progressed.
Highlights included:
- All About You – McFly
- Shallow – Lady Gaga
- Angels – Robbie Williams
- Another Love – Tom Odell
- If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
- Stand by Me
- Rule the World – Take That
- Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
- Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
- Dancing in the Moonlight
Interwoven among these were some wonderfully characterful choices, including:
- Africa – Toto
- All the Small Things – Blink-182
- Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
- What I’ve Done – Linkin Park
- Married Life – Up
- Jurassic Park Theme
This mix gave the reception real personality — familiar, fun, and occasionally unexpected — and worked beautifully on cello and piano. Guests chatted, laughed, and lingered over drinks while the music subtly shaped the atmosphere in the room.
Styling, Colour Scheme & Atmosphere
The winter palette of burgundy bridesmaid dresses and navy blue groomsmen’s suits suited Danby Castle perfectly, echoing the warmth of the stone walls and the season outside. With six bridesmaids, the ceremony felt full and joyful without ever feeling crowded.
Everything about the day felt unforced — stylish but comfortable, emotional without being overly formal — and live music played a key role in maintaining that balance.
Working with the Venue
It was a pleasure working at Danby Castle, and we’d like to thank Kaylie Dewing for her support and coordination on the day. With easy access, free on-site parking, and well-organised spaces, everything ran smoothly from arrival to departure.
Thank You, Sophie & Mike
Thank you, Sophie and Mike, for choosing JAM Duo to provide the live music for your wedding ceremony and drinks reception. Playing for your winter wedding at Danby Castle was a genuine pleasure, and we loved being part of such a warm, relaxed celebration.
We wish you both every happiness for the future and hope the music remains a cherished part of your memories of the day.
