Some weddings simply feel joyful from the very beginning.
Georgina and Mirko’s wedding at Mulberry House was exactly that kind of day — sunshine over the lake, a relaxed atmosphere throughout, genuinely lovely guests and a couple who were clearly enjoying every second of their wedding from the moment people arrived.
Jules and Anne-Marie of JAM Duo provided live piano and cello music across the entire daytime celebration, beginning with the outdoor ceremony beside the lake before moving into the beautiful Garden Room conservatory space for drinks reception music and finally relocating again into the marquee for the wedding breakfast.
This was another full Option 3 daytime wedding package for JAM Duo and exactly the sort of flowing multi-space wedding day that we love being part of.
One of the things we enjoyed most about this wedding was how naturally the entire day moved from one atmosphere into another. Outdoor lakeside ceremony. Relaxed drinks reception indoors with guests moving between the gardens and conservatory. Then finally the elegant warmth of the marquee for the meal and speeches.
It all felt calm, stylish and genuinely personal.
We would also like to say a huge thank you to Georgina and Mirko themselves for being such a warm and appreciative couple throughout the entire process. Their message to us beforehand genuinely meant a lot, and it was a pleasure to help shape such an important day for them both.
A Beautiful Outdoor Ceremony Beside the Lake
Mulberry House is one of those venues that works brilliantly for couples wanting a countryside feel without losing elegance or structure.
Set within landscaped grounds in Essex, the venue combines gardens, lakeside ceremony areas and modern reception spaces in a way that allows the entire wedding day to flow naturally without guests feeling constantly moved around from place to place.
For Georgina and Mirko, the ceremony took place outdoors beside the water under glorious sunshine for most of the afternoon.
After a run of rather unpredictable spring weddings recently, it was wonderful to arrive to calmer conditions and bright skies reflecting across the lake. Outdoor ceremonies always carry a slightly different atmosphere from indoor weddings. Guests relax differently, conversations feel softer before the ceremony begins and live music naturally drifts across the space in a very elegant way.
For this wedding we positioned ourselves beside the lakeside ceremony area, performing live piano and cello music as guests arrived and took their seats.
The couple had carefully chosen music that blended emotional modern classics with timeless romantic pieces, creating exactly the warm atmosphere they had hoped for.
Elegant Pre-Ceremony Music
As guests gathered outdoors, we performed selections including:
- I Get To Love You – Ruelle
- My Heart Will Go On
- All Of Me
- How Long Will I Love You
- A Thousand Years
This sort of playlist works beautifully for outdoor ceremonies because the music feels familiar and emotional without ever becoming too formal or overpowering.
One thing we particularly liked about Georgina and Mirko’s choices was how cohesive the entire musical style felt across the day. Everything leaned towards elegant, melodic and romantic rather than dramatic or heavily theatrical.
That always suits live piano and cello exceptionally well.
The sound of cello outdoors especially has a warmth and richness that naturally complements lakeside ceremonies. Combined with live piano, it creates atmosphere in a way recorded music simply cannot replicate.
Canon in D and Ave Maria – A Timeless Ceremony Entrance
The ceremony entrance itself felt wonderfully classic.
The bridesmaids and flower girls entered to Canon in D, one of the most enduringly popular wedding ceremony pieces ever written and still incredibly effective when performed live.
There is a reason couples continue returning to it decade after decade. The repeating progression creates calmness and anticipation without distracting from the moment itself.
Then came Georgina’s entrance to Ave Maria.
Performed live on piano and cello beside the lake in the sunshine, it created an incredibly elegant atmosphere. The simplicity and emotional restraint of Ave Maria makes it particularly powerful during bridal entrances because it allows the focus to remain entirely on the moment rather than the performance.
One thing that worked especially well at this wedding was the pacing of the ceremony itself. Because this was a celebrant-led ceremony rather than a registrar-led service, the structure felt slightly more relaxed and personal, allowing moments to breathe naturally.
A Celebrant Ceremony with Hand Tying
Celebrant-led weddings have become increasingly popular in recent years and it is easy to understand why.
They allow couples far more freedom in shaping the tone and structure of the ceremony itself, often creating something that feels more personal and reflective of the relationship rather than simply following a legal format.
Georgina and Mirko included a hand tying ceremony as part of their vows, which worked beautifully within the outdoor setting.
These symbolic elements often translate particularly well visually during outdoor weddings because guests can see everything clearly and the ceremony feels naturally connected to the surroundings rather than confined to a formal room.
From a musician’s perspective, celebrant ceremonies also allow slightly more flexibility musically. The pacing can adapt more naturally, pauses feel less rushed and transitions between moments can be shaped around the atmosphere rather than strict procedural timing.
The entire ceremony felt warm, relaxed and genuinely heartfelt.
An Everlasting Love – The Perfect Ceremony Exit
For their exit music, Georgina and Mirko chose This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole.
This is always a brilliant ceremony exit choice.
After the emotional atmosphere of the vows and hand tying, the music immediately lifted the mood into celebration as guests applauded the couple back down the aisle.
Outdoor ceremony exits especially benefit from upbeat live music because the energy carries naturally across the entire space. Guests begin smiling, conversations start immediately and the transition into drinks reception happens effortlessly.
It was one of those moments where you could feel the entire atmosphere of the wedding lift another level.
Drinks Reception in the Garden Room
Following the ceremony, guests moved into the conservatory-style Garden Room for drinks reception while still spilling naturally out into the grounds around the venue.
This part of the day had exactly the atmosphere Georgina and Mirko had hoped for:
Elegant.
Relaxed.
Romantic.
Never intrusive.
Their requested musical style suited the setting perfectly. Rather than wanting high-energy background entertainment, they specifically asked for warm, emotional live music that complemented conversation rather than dominating it.
Their drinks reception selections included:
- Perfect
- All Of Me
- Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Yellow
- Make You Feel My Love
- Just The Way You Are
- Lovely Day
- Better Together
- Thinking Out Loud
- Fast Car
This sort of repertoire works beautifully during daytime wedding drinks receptions because guests recognise the melodies immediately while still being able to relax and socialise comfortably.
Live music during this part of the day is often less about individual songs and more about shaping the overall atmosphere of the wedding. The music fills natural pauses, softens transitions and helps maintain momentum while photographs, drinks and conversations continue around the venue.
The Garden Room at Mulberry House proved ideal for this style of performance, allowing the sound of piano and cello to remain warm and intimate without becoming overpowering.
Working Alongside Other Wedding Suppliers
One thing we particularly enjoyed at this wedding was meeting and working alongside the magician and children’s entertainer during the drinks reception.
It is always genuinely nice meeting other suppliers who understand how to help shape the atmosphere of a wedding professionally without making themselves the centre of attention.
Wedding days work best when suppliers collaborate naturally rather than competing for focus.
The entertainment during the drinks reception complemented the atmosphere perfectly. While we provided the musical backdrop, guests were also enjoying close-up magic and entertainment for the younger children, which kept the entire reception feeling lively and engaging without ever losing its elegance.
As musicians who work at weddings every week across the UK, we always appreciate meeting suppliers who clearly care about the couple’s experience first and foremost.
It also makes the entire day feel far more relaxed behind the scenes when everyone works together professionally.
Moving into the Marquee for the Wedding Breakfast
Following drinks reception, we relocated once again into the marquee ready for the wedding breakfast.
This is one of the reasons couples often choose our full daytime package. Rather than the music stopping completely between different parts of the wedding, the atmosphere carries continuously throughout the day.
At Mulberry House the transition worked especially well because each space had its own character:
- Lakeside ceremony outdoors
- Garden Room drinks reception
- Elegant marquee dining
By the time guests entered the marquee for dinner, the atmosphere already felt established and relaxed.
For the meal itself, Georgina and Mirko again chose music centred around warmth, romance and familiarity rather than anything overly formal.
Selections included:
- Yellow
- Adore You
- How Long Will I Love You
- I’m Yours
- Budapest
- Perfect
- Make You Feel My Love
- Better Together
This sort of repertoire is ideal for wedding breakfasts because it creates energy in the room without overpowering table conversation.
Wedding breakfast music is actually one of the most important parts of daytime entertainment because it prevents the room ever falling flat between courses while still maintaining elegance throughout the meal.
Live piano and cello works especially well during dining because the sound feels sophisticated and atmospheric without demanding constant attention.
A Wedding Full of Warmth and Personality
What we probably remember most from Georgina and Mirko’s wedding was simply how relaxed and appreciative the entire day felt.
Nothing felt forced.
Nothing felt overly staged.
Guests were happy.
The atmosphere flowed naturally.
The weather largely behaved itself.
And the couple clearly enjoyed every moment.
Sometimes the most memorable weddings are not necessarily the largest or most extravagant ones. They are simply the weddings where everything feels genuinely comfortable and thoughtfully put together.
The colour palette of champagne dresses alongside black tuxedos and bow ties suited Mulberry House beautifully, especially against the bright spring sunshine and greenery around the lake.
Combined with the celebrant-led ceremony and elegant live music throughout the day, the whole wedding felt timeless without being overly traditional.
Live Wedding Music at Mulberry House Essex
Mulberry House continues to be a fantastic venue for couples wanting an elegant countryside wedding in Essex with flexibility across indoor and outdoor spaces.
For musicians, it is also a venue that allows the day to evolve naturally from one atmosphere into another, which always makes live performance especially rewarding.
From the lakeside ceremony through to the conservatory drinks reception and marquee meal, Georgina and Mirko’s wedding was a pleasure to be part of from beginning to end.
A huge thank you again to both of them for choosing JAM Duo to provide the soundtrack to such a special day. We genuinely loved being part of it and wish them both every happiness for the future.
