There’s something undeniably magical about a castle wedding in the English countryside — and when you combine that with a carefully curated soundtrack full of timeless love songs, emotional acoustic moments, and modern classics, you create the kind of wedding day guests remember forever.
In May 2026, JAM Duo had the absolute pleasure of providing live music for the beautiful wedding of Mykéla Clancy and Glenn Shatford at the stunning Clearwell Castle. From the intimate ceremony through to a relaxed and joy-filled drinks reception on the terrace, every musical moment reflected the couple’s personality, story, and incredible taste in music.
With just 30 guests in attendance, this wedding felt deeply personal, warm, and emotional — proof that smaller weddings can create some of the biggest memories.
A Fairytale Setting at Clearwell Castle
Nestled in the Forest of Dean, Clearwell Castle is one of the UK’s most breathtaking wedding venues. The grand castle architecture, sweeping grounds, and romantic ceremony spaces make it a dream location for couples wanting a truly unforgettable atmosphere.
For Mykéla and Glenn, the castle provided the perfect backdrop for an elegant yet relaxed wedding day. Guests began arriving from 1:45pm, taking their seats in anticipation of the ceremony beginning at 2:00pm. JAM Duo performed live pre-ceremony music as guests settled into the space, creating a calm and emotional atmosphere before the main event.
The couple selected a wonderfully eclectic mix of songs for this part of the day — blending cinematic romance, classic ballads, and modern love songs.
Their pre-ceremony selections included:
- “Always Remember Us This Way”
- “Tale As Old As Time”
- “Enchanted” – Taylor Swift
- “Iris” – Goo Goo Dolls
- “Make You Feel My Love”
These songs worked beautifully in an acoustic live setting, helping create an atmosphere that felt intimate and cinematic all at once.
A Beautifully Personal Ceremony Entrance
One of the most memorable moments of the entire day came during Mykéla’s entrance.
The couple chose “Tenerife Sea” by Ed Sheeran for the bridal entrance — a song that has become a modern wedding favourite thanks to its heartfelt lyrics and sweeping melody. Mykéla had specifically mentioned wanting to begin walking once the cello melody entered the arrangement, creating a dramatic and emotional timing for the aisle walk.
With the aisle stretching approximately 70 feet, careful planning went into structuring the live arrangement perfectly. JAM Duo adapted the introduction to ensure the timing flowed naturally for both Glenn’s entrance and Mykéla’s walk down the aisle.
These are the moments where live wedding music truly shines. Unlike a fixed recording, live musicians can subtly adjust timing and dynamics in real time, ensuring every important moment lands perfectly.
As the opening notes echoed through the ceremony space at Clearwell Castle, guests were visibly emotional. The atmosphere was incredibly intimate, with every detail feeling intentional and personal to the couple.
Meaningful Music During the Signing of the Register
For the signing of the register, the couple selected another trio of beautifully sentimental songs:
- “Lover (Timeless Blend)” – Taylor Swift
- “In My Life” – The Beatles
- “Songbird” – Fleetwood Mac
Each song carried a different emotional texture while still fitting seamlessly together stylistically.
“In My Life” by The Beatles added a timeless classic feel to the ceremony, while “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac brought a soft and deeply romantic atmosphere.
Taylor Swift’s influence appeared throughout the day, showcasing how modern couples are increasingly weaving contemporary artists into their wedding soundtrack alongside classic favourites. The “Timeless Blend” version of “Lover” was a particularly fitting choice, reflecting both nostalgia and enduring romance.
An Upbeat Exit to Start the Celebration
After officially becoming newlyweds, Mykéla and Glenn made their joyful exit to “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows.
This song immediately shifted the mood from emotional ceremony to full celebration mode. Guests clapped, smiled, and followed the couple out into the beautiful castle grounds as the energy lifted into the next phase of the day.
Choosing an upbeat recessional song is always a fantastic way to create momentum after the ceremony, and “Accidentally in Love” delivered exactly that feel-good moment.
Drinks Reception on the Castle Terrace
Following the ceremony and group photographs, guests gathered for drinks at around 2:45pm. Weather permitting, the drinks reception took place outside on the terrace — one of the most picturesque parts of Clearwell Castle.
This portion of the day gave JAM Duo the opportunity to perform a wide-ranging live acoustic setlist inspired by the couple’s favourite artists and genres.
What made this playlist particularly special was its diversity. Rather than sticking to one genre or era, Mykéla and Glenn embraced everything from classic rock and country to pop punk, indie, soft rock, and modern chart music.
Some highlights from the drinks reception playlist included:
- “Everywhere” – Fleetwood Mac
- “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Green Day
- “You’re Still The One” – Shania Twain
- “Dreams” – The Cranberries
- “The Only Exception” – Paramore
- “All The Small Things” – Blink-182
- “Champagne Problems” – Taylor Swift
- “Kiss Me” – Sixpence None The Richer
- “Landslide”
- “Perfect” – Ed Sheeran
- “Photograph” – Ed Sheeran
- “Your Song” – Elton John
- “When We Were Young” – Adele
- “The Scientist” – Coldplay
- “Pink Pony Club” – Chappell Roan
- “Shallow” – A Star Is Born
- “Yellow” – Coldplay
The result was a soundtrack that felt incredibly personal and authentic.
Why Acoustic Wedding Music Works So Well
One of the reasons live acoustic music works so beautifully during ceremonies and drinks receptions is its versatility.
Songs that might originally feel huge and high-energy in their recorded versions can take on entirely new emotional qualities when performed live by an acoustic duo. Tracks like “All The Small Things” and “What I’ve Done” become nostalgic and intimate, while songs like “Yellow” and “The Scientist” feel even more emotional in stripped-back arrangements.
For wedding guests, live music also creates a stronger sense of atmosphere than a playlist alone. It fills spaces naturally without overwhelming conversation and adapts dynamically to the energy of the room.
At smaller weddings like Mykéla and Glenn’s, this becomes even more impactful. With only 30 guests present, every interaction and every moment feels magnified. Live musicians help tie those moments together organically.
Taylor Swift, Nostalgia, and Modern Wedding Trends
One thing that stood out throughout this wedding was the influence of Taylor Swift on the day’s soundtrack.
From “Enchanted” and “Lover” to “Champagne Problems,” “Wildest Dreams,” and “Snow On The Beach,” the selections reflected a growing trend we’ve seen at weddings across the UK: couples embracing deeply personal and emotionally resonant music choices over strictly traditional wedding songs.
Taylor Swift’s songwriting lends itself especially well to weddings because her songs capture nostalgia, storytelling, romance, and emotion so vividly. When performed acoustically, they become even more intimate.
Alongside these modern choices, the couple balanced the playlist with timeless artists like Elton John, Adele, Coldplay, and Fleetwood Mac — creating a soundtrack that appealed to every generation attending the wedding.
A Relaxed and Intimate Celebration
Because the wedding was intentionally intimate, the atmosphere throughout the afternoon felt incredibly relaxed and authentic.
Guests mingled on the terrace with drinks in hand while live music drifted through the castle grounds. Without the pressure of a huge guest list or rigid schedule, the day unfolded naturally, giving everyone time to truly enjoy the setting and celebrate with the couple.
This style of wedding has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many couples are opting for smaller guest counts in favour of more meaningful experiences, stunning venues, and personalised details.
At Clearwell Castle, that approach worked perfectly.
Why Music Planning Matters
One of the best things about working with couples like Mykéla and Glenn is seeing how much thought goes into their music choices.
Every song on their list clearly meant something to them — whether it represented shared memories, favourite artists, or simply songs they loved listening to together.
Thoughtful music planning transforms a wedding from feeling generic into something unmistakably personal.
A few things this couple did particularly well included:
Mixing Genres and Eras
Their playlist moved effortlessly between classic rock, indie, country, modern pop, acoustic ballads, and pop punk.
This variety kept the drinks reception feeling fresh and engaging for guests of all ages.
Choosing Songs with Emotional Meaning
Many of the selected songs carried deeply emotional lyrics and nostalgic themes, helping create memorable moments throughout the day.
Trusting Live Interpretation
By allowing JAM Duo flexibility in adapting songs acoustically, the couple ensured the music suited the atmosphere of each part of the wedding naturally.
Performing at Clearwell Castle
As musicians, performing at Clearwell Castle is always a pleasure.
The venue offers stunning acoustics indoors and an incredible atmosphere outdoors on the terrace. The staff were welcoming and organised throughout the day, helping everything run smoothly from setup through to the drinks reception.
With free onsite parking and easy venue access available for suppliers, setup was seamless — always a helpful detail for live musicians transporting instruments and sound equipment.
The ceremony setup at the rear of the ceremony space allowed the music to feel immersive without distracting from the couple, while the terrace performance area created the perfect backdrop for relaxed afternoon celebrations.
A Day Full of Personality and Emotion
What made Mykéla and Glenn’s wedding so memorable wasn’t extravagance or scale — it was personality.
Every detail felt authentic to them.
From the emotional entrance song to the nostalgic drinks reception playlist, the day reflected who they are as a couple and the music they genuinely love.
That authenticity is always what guests remember most.
Planning Live Music for Your Own Wedding?
If you’re currently planning your wedding and considering live music for your ceremony or drinks reception, Mykéla and Glenn’s wedding is a perfect example of how impactful thoughtful music choices can be.
Whether your taste leans towards classic love songs, indie favourites, modern pop, rock anthems, or acoustic reimaginings of nostalgic tracks, live musicians can help create an atmosphere that feels completely unique to your day.
At JAM Duo, we love working closely with couples to build personalised soundtracks that reflect their story and style. From aisle songs and signing music through to relaxed drinks reception performances, every set is tailored specifically to each wedding.
Weddings at venues like Clearwell Castle remind us why live music plays such an important role in creating unforgettable moments.
A huge congratulations again to Mykéla and Glenn — and thank you for allowing JAM Duo to be part of such a beautiful celebration.
