A spring wedding, pastel tones, and a ceremony that unfolded exactly as it should
There are some weddings where everything simply fits.
The setting, the music, the people — all working together without needing to be forced. William and Harriet’s wedding at Coombe Lodge in Blagdon was exactly that. Thoughtful, relaxed, and beautifully put together, with just the right balance of elegance and personality.
We were delighted to provide music for both the ceremony and drinks reception, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear this was going to be a very special day.
A Seamless Arrival and Setup
One of the first things that stood out was just how smoothly everything ran from the outset.
Coombe Lodge is always a pleasure to work at, and this was no exception. Access was straightforward, with the ability to pull up directly outside and unload quickly — always a huge help when working with a full setup including our gloss black baby grand piano shell.
As always, the visual side matters just as much as the sound.
The piano shell immediately elevates the space. It creates a focal point, something guests notice as they arrive, and it sets a tone before a single note is played. At a venue like this — with its clean lines, elegant interiors, and beautiful grounds — it fits perfectly.
William and Harriet had also given some subtle guidance on colours, suggesting pastel tones to complement the bridal party. Bridesmaids in soft pastels, groomsmen in mole, and the groom in a rich earthy green — it all came together with a quiet confidence. Nothing overstated, just well judged.
Pre-Ceremony: Setting the Atmosphere
Guests began arriving from 12:30, and this is always a key part of the day that often gets overlooked.
This is where the tone is set.
Not the big emotional moments — those come later — but the feeling of the day. The first impression guests have as they walk in, greet each other, find their seats.
For William and Harriet, the music choices here were personal, varied, and full of character.
We moved through a mix that included:
- One Day Like This – Elbow
- The Angel (North London Forever) – Louis Dunford
- Half the World Away – Oasis
- Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
- Friday I’m in Love – The Cure
There’s something quite special about taking well-known songs and reshaping them for piano and cello.
Stripped back, they take on a different role. Less about energy, more about atmosphere. Guests recognise them, but they don’t dominate the room. They sit comfortably in the background while still adding something meaningful.
One particularly nice touch was the request to blend Avril 14th (Aphex Twin) into My Song (Labi Siffre).
This is exactly the kind of detail we enjoy working with.
Moments like this don’t need to be obvious. They just need to feel right. A gentle transition, almost unnoticed by most, but completely in keeping with the mood of the room.
The Ceremony: Five Entrances, One Flow
With around 100 guests seated, the ceremony itself had a lovely sense of scale — large enough to feel like an occasion, but still intimate enough to hold a sense of connection.
One of the key features of this ceremony was the structure of the bridal party entrance.
Five aisle walks in total:
- Three pairs of bridesmaids
- One bridesmaid with the flower girl
- Finally, Harriet with her mother
This kind of structure requires careful musical handling.
Each entrance needs to feel distinct enough to mark the moment, but not so different that it breaks the flow. The challenge is to create a continuous musical arc that supports the full procession.
For Harriet’s entrance, they had chosen A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman.
It’s a piece that works beautifully for a bridal entrance — lyrical, uplifting, and capable of building naturally without becoming overwhelming.
We shaped the arrangement so it could support the full sequence.
A gentle opening as the first bridesmaids began their walk.
A gradual build as each group followed.
And then, just enough lift as Harriet appeared, allowing the moment to expand without becoming too grand.
Timing here is everything.
Each group moved at their own pace, and the music adapted accordingly — extending phrases where needed, holding slightly when there was a pause, and ensuring that nothing ever felt rushed.
By the time Harriet reached the front, the music had arrived exactly where it needed to be.
The Signing: A Change in Tone
After the entrance, the ceremony moved naturally into the signing.
This is always a moment where the energy shifts slightly.
The focus softens. Guests relax. It becomes a space to breathe before the ceremony builds again towards the exit.
William and Harriet had chosen:
- Stargazing – Myles Smith
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer
- Your Song – Elton John
A lovely mix — light, warm, and familiar.
These pieces worked perfectly in that setting. Nothing too heavy, nothing too showy. Just music that sits comfortably in the space and keeps the atmosphere moving gently forward.
Again, the advantage of live music is subtle but important here.
We can adjust length and pacing in real time, ensuring the music fits the exact length of the signing — not finishing too early, not overrunning.
It simply flows.
The Exit: A Lift in Energy
The couple exit is the moment where everything changes.
The formal part of the ceremony is over. The atmosphere lifts. Guests respond more openly. There’s movement, smiles, applause.
For this, William and Harriet chose Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen.
A great choice.
Upbeat without being over the top, and immediately recognisable. It gives that sense of release — a clear signal that the day is moving into its next phase.
We kept the arrangement tight and rhythmic, allowing the energy to come through while still maintaining the style of the duo.
It carried them out perfectly.
Drinks Reception: The Day Opens Up
From the ceremony straight into the drinks reception, the feel of the day shifted again.
If the ceremony is about focus, the drinks reception is about energy.
Guests moving, talking, reconnecting. The space opens up, both physically and socially.
And this is where live music really comes into its own.
William and Harriet had put together a fantastic and varied list for this part of the day, including:
- Feeling Good – Nina Simone
- Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
- All The Small Things – Blink 182
- Accidentally in Love – Counting Crows
- Believe – Cher
- Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
- Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
- The Shire – Lord of the Rings
- Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- Angels – Robbie Williams
- Dreams – The Cranberries / Fleetwood Mac
And many more.
It’s exactly the kind of mix that works well for a drinks reception.
Recognisable. Varied. Full of personality.
We moved through the set organically, reading the room as we played.
Some moments called for something more relaxed and reflective — The Shire, for example, sitting beautifully in the background.
Other moments allowed for a bit more energy — Dancing in the Moonlight, All The Small Things, Pink Pony Club — pieces that guests naturally connect with, even in an instrumental setting.
The key is balance.
You don’t want to dominate the space, but you do want to lift it.
Live music allows that to happen in a way that feels natural rather than forced.
Creating the Right Presence
One of the most important aspects of a drinks reception performance is presence.
Not just playing well — that’s a given — but understanding how to sit within the event.
Where to place the sound.
How to respond to the movement of guests.
When to lift the energy slightly, and when to pull it back.
At Coombe Lodge, with guests moving between the house and the outdoor spaces, this becomes even more important.
We positioned ourselves so the music carried naturally without needing to be intrusive.
The piano shell again played a key role here.
Visually, it anchors the performance.
Sonically, it helps project the piano in a way that feels natural and warm.
Together with the cello, it creates a sound that travels just enough — never overwhelming, always present.
A Day That Felt Effortless
Looking back, what stands out most about William and Harriet’s wedding is how effortless it all felt.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
It comes from good planning, thoughtful choices, and a team of people who understand how to support the day without getting in the way of it.
From the structure of the ceremony to the music choices, everything had been considered — but never overcomplicated.
And that’s often when a wedding works best.
Why Music Matters in Moments Like This
It’s easy to think of music as something that simply “fills the gaps” in a wedding day.
But moments like this show that it does much more than that.
It shapes the entrance.
It supports the ceremony.
It carries the transition into the drinks reception.
It influences how guests experience the day.
And when it’s done live, it adapts to everything around it.
No fixed timings.
No awkward transitions.
No sense of something being slightly off.
Just a natural flow from one moment to the next.
A Pleasure to Be Part Of
William and Harriet were a joy to work with from start to finish.
Clear, thoughtful, and open in their approach — giving direction where it mattered, and trusting us to shape the rest.
Weddings like this are exactly why we do what we do.
JAM Duo – Daytime Wedding Musicians
Always live. No backing tracks.
