There are some enquiries that arrive in your inbox which immediately stand out.
Over the years we’ve been fortunate enough to perform at hundreds of weddings throughout England, Scotland and Wales, travelling the length and breadth of the UK with our piano, cello and sound system. We’ve played in castles, stately homes, country houses, luxury hotels, vineyards, marquees, gardens and even on beaches.
But every now and then something a little different appears.
“Would you be available to perform at our wedding in France?”
When Hattie and Chris first contacted us about providing live music for their wedding at Château de Chanzé, near Bellevigne-en-Layon in the beautiful Maine-et-Loire region of western France, we were immediately intrigued.
Not only would this become our very first destination wedding abroad, but it was also exactly the kind of celebration we had always hoped to be part of.
For us, destination weddings have a unique atmosphere. Guests leave behind the distractions of everyday life, gather together for several days rather than just a few hours and create memories that feel more like a holiday shared with family and friends than simply attending a wedding.
As musicians, we loved the idea from the very beginning.
Taking JAM Duo to France
One question we’re often asked is whether we can travel overseas for weddings.
The answer is a very enthusiastic yes.
Because JAM Duo performs using our own carefully designed setup, travelling by road is actually surprisingly straightforward. For weddings within approximately a day’s drive of Calais, driving allows us to bring everything that makes JAM Duo unique.
Our Nord piano.
Anne-Marie’s Yamaha electric cello.
Our Yamaha sound system.
Our gloss black grand piano shell.
All the equipment that enables us to create exactly the same performance couples experience throughout the UK.
The only real difference is that instead of setting off towards Yorkshire, Scotland or Cornwall, this journey began with an early drive to the Channel Tunnel.
Our Land Rover was certainly earning its keep.
With the piano shell carefully packed alongside our instruments and equipment, it was about as full as we’ve ever managed to make it, but knowing that we could recreate our full wedding setup in France made the journey entirely worthwhile.
For couples considering a destination wedding, that’s something worth remembering. Choosing musicians doesn’t have to mean compromising because your wedding is abroad. Wherever practical, our aim is always to deliver exactly the same experience that couples would receive if they were marrying in the UK.
An Evening in Angers
Rather than travelling straight to the château on the morning of the wedding, we decided to make the journey part of the adventure.
We crossed into France the day before and stayed overnight in the beautiful city of Angers, giving ourselves plenty of time to relax before the wedding day.
It’s one of the advantages of destination weddings that we particularly enjoy.
Instead of rushing from one venue to another as we often do during a busy British wedding season, there is an opportunity to slow down slightly, explore somewhere new and enjoy the anticipation of the celebrations to come.
Everything already felt different.
The warmer weather.
The quieter roads.
The vineyards stretching into the distance.
Even after years of travelling for weddings across Britain, arriving in France somehow made this booking feel especially memorable.
Taking the Scenic Route
Those who regularly follow our blog will already know that weddings aren’t our only shared passion.
Anne-Marie and I both love butterflies.
Whenever time allows before a wedding, you’ll often find us wandering through gardens, parks or country lanes looking to see what species we can find before changing into concert black and becoming wedding musicians once again.
France was no exception.
Rather than taking the quickest route from Angers to Château de Chanzé, we deliberately chose the scenic roads through the Loire countryside.
It proved to be the perfect decision.
Rolling vineyards, sleepy villages, quiet country lanes and beautiful views accompanied us for much of the journey, reminding us why this region has become such a popular destination for couples choosing to marry abroad.
It was a wonderfully peaceful way to begin the day.
By the time we finally turned into the driveway leading towards Château de Chanzé, we already felt relaxed, refreshed and excited about the afternoon ahead.
Discovering Château de Chanzé
First impressions matter.
As professional musicians, we’re fortunate to visit some truly spectacular venues, but Château de Chanzé immediately felt special.
Set amongst beautiful grounds in the heart of the Loire countryside, the château has everything many couples imagine when they dream about a French destination wedding.
Elegant stone buildings.
Beautiful mature trees.
Open lawns.
Traditional courtyards.
A relaxed atmosphere that somehow manages to feel both luxurious and completely welcoming at the same time.
Unlike many large venues, Château de Chanzé never feels intimidating.
Instead, it feels like somewhere families and friends can genuinely make themselves at home for an entire wedding weekend.
It’s easy to understand why Hattie and Chris chose it.
Many destination weddings become much more than a single day’s celebration, with guests arriving in advance and remaining afterwards to enjoy time together. In fact, this wedding weekend included afternoon tea and lawn games before the wedding, followed by a relaxed poolside barbecue the day afterwards, allowing everyone to enjoy each other’s company beyond the wedding day itself.
That slower pace is something we absolutely loved.
Meeting Hélène from Sparkling Days
Every so often we work with someone who immediately raises the bar.
For Hattie and Chris’s wedding, that person was undoubtedly Hélène from Sparkling Days.
After nearly two decades performing at weddings across the UK, Anne-Marie and I have worked alongside countless wedding planners.
We can honestly say that Hélène is one of the very best.
Long before the ceremony began, it was obvious how much preparation had gone into every aspect of the day.
Every supplier knew exactly where they needed to be.
Every timing had been carefully considered.
Every transition flowed naturally.
Nothing felt rushed.
Nothing felt uncertain.
As musicians, that’s incredibly reassuring.
Rather than worrying about logistics, we could simply concentrate on creating the best possible musical experience for Hattie, Chris and their guests.
Sometimes the best wedding planners are the ones guests hardly notice because everything simply works.
Hélène achieved exactly that.
Thoughtful Planning Makes All the Difference
There was one detail in particular that summed up just how experienced Hélène is.
It was a beautifully warm June afternoon.
As any outdoor musician knows, direct sunshine can present genuine challenges for instruments and technology. Pianos, electronic equipment and even iPads displaying sheet music all prefer shade when performing outside for long periods.
Before we’d even had to think about it ourselves, Hélène already had the perfect solution.
She had arranged for us to perform beneath the shade of a mature tree on the château terrace.
It was ideal.
Better still, it meant we could remain in exactly the same position throughout the afternoon and evening.
There was no need to move equipment between the ceremony, drinks reception and later parts of the celebration.
Everything flowed seamlessly.
From our perspective as musicians, it was one of the most thoughtfully planned outdoor setups we’ve experienced.
Sometimes it’s the little details that make the biggest difference.
Welcoming the Guests
As guests began arriving shortly before the ceremony, the atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed.
Around forty family members and friends, the vast majority travelling from Britain, gradually gathered in the château courtyard while we welcomed everyone with live music.
Our pre-ceremony programme reflected Hattie and Chris’s personalities perfectly.
There were contemporary favourites including Everglow by Coldplay and Taylor Swift’s Love Story, alongside the timeless charm of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World. As guests took their seats, we concluded with music from The Lord of the Rings before Hattie made her entrance to Pachelbel’s beautiful Canon in D.
Watching everyone settle into the afternoon beneath clear blue skies, surrounded by the elegance of a French château and the peaceful countryside beyond, it was difficult not to pause for a moment and appreciate where music had taken us.
From village churches in England to castles in Scotland and now a château in the Loire Valley, this was another reminder of why we love what we do.
And the best was still to come…
A Beautiful Outdoor Ceremony
One of the many things we love about destination weddings is the feeling that there is no rush.
Unlike many UK weddings, where guests often arrive shortly before the ceremony and leave later that evening, destination weddings tend to unfold at a gentler pace. Friends and family have usually travelled together, many staying for several days, and there is a wonderful sense that everyone has escaped everyday life for a while.
That atmosphere was immediately obvious as guests gathered in the château courtyard.
With around forty guests, almost all having travelled from Britain, it felt wonderfully intimate. Everyone knew one another, conversations flowed easily and there was a genuine sense of excitement as the ceremony approached.
As live musicians, moments like these are always special.
Our pre-ceremony music quietly became the soundtrack as guests found their seats, admired the surroundings and looked forward to the celebrations ahead.
Hattie and Chris had chosen a wonderfully personal selection of music that reflected their own tastes while creating exactly the relaxed atmosphere they wanted.
Louis Armstrong’s timeless What a Wonderful World.
Coldplay’s Everglow.
Taylor Swift’s Love Story.
Counting Crows’ Accidentally in Love.
As the ceremony drew closer, we concluded with two beautiful pieces from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack – The Shire followed by May It Be. There was something wonderfully fitting about hearing those familiar melodies floating across the château gardens as everyone settled into their seats beneath the French sunshine.
Then came one of those moments every wedding musician looks forward to.
Hattie appeared.
As she began her walk towards Chris, we performed Pachelbel’s timeless Canon in D, one of the most enduringly popular bridal entrance pieces ever written.
Some music never loses its magic.
As musicians, we’ve played Canon many hundreds of times, yet every wedding feels completely different because every couple brings their own story to it.
Watching Chris waiting beneath the trees while family and friends looked on, it felt every bit as special as the very first time we performed it.
Music Throughout the Ceremony
One of the privileges of performing live is being able to accompany every stage of the ceremony naturally.
During the signing of the register, Hattie and Chris had selected three beautifully contrasting pieces.
The gentle simplicity of Glue Song.
The much-loved Married Life theme from Pixar’s Up.
And the soaring Romantic Flight from How to Train Your Dragon.
Film music has become increasingly popular at weddings in recent years, and it is easy to understand why.
Without many guests even realising it, these pieces already carry emotional memories. They tell stories of love, friendship, adventure and commitment long before a single note is played at a wedding.
Performed live on piano and cello, they become even more personal.
As the ceremony reached its conclusion and Hattie and Chris made their way back down the aisle together as husband and wife, we accompanied their exit with All You Need Is Love by The Beatles.
There could hardly have been a more appropriate choice.
Champagne, Cocktails and the Loire Sunshine
If the ceremony was emotional, the drinks reception was pure celebration.
As congratulations were exchanged, glasses were filled and photographs began, guests gathered once again in the château courtyard beneath glorious blue skies.
One of the advantages of Hélène’s thoughtful planning was that Anne-Marie and I were already exactly where we needed to be.
There was no dismantling equipment.
No hurried relocation.
No interruption to the atmosphere.
We simply continued playing as the afternoon unfolded around us.
That continuity makes a remarkable difference.
Instead of music stopping and starting throughout the day, it becomes a constant presence that gently links one part of the celebration to the next.
It’s one of the reasons couples increasingly choose live musicians for several parts of their wedding rather than simply the ceremony alone.
Throughout the drinks reception we performed a carefully selected mixture of Hattie and Chris’s favourite artists, including arrangements inspired by Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and Imagine Dragons, alongside classics such as At Last, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Sweet Disposition and Dancing in the Moonlight.
The atmosphere couldn’t have been more relaxed.
Guests wandered between conversations.
Children explored the château grounds.
The photographer quietly captured family photographs while everyone else enjoyed cocktails and canapés in the afternoon sunshine.
It felt less like a formal wedding schedule and more like friends enjoying a wonderful summer’s afternoon together.
Why Destination Weddings Feel Different
This was something Anne-Marie and I commented on several times throughout the day.
There is a noticeably different rhythm to destination weddings.
Perhaps it’s because everyone has travelled together.
Perhaps it’s because guests have already spent time together before the wedding itself.
Or perhaps it’s simply because nobody has to worry about driving home at the end of the evening.
Whatever the reason, there is often a wonderful sense that everyone can simply relax.
Conversations last a little longer.
People are in no hurry to check their watches.
The day seems to breathe.
As musicians, we notice these things because music naturally follows the atmosphere around it.
Rather than feeling like separate sections of a timetable, the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast became one continuous celebration.
Dining Beneath the Trees
As the afternoon gradually gave way to early evening, guests were invited to make their way towards the wedding breakfast.
This has to be one of the most picturesque dining settings we’ve ever seen.
Tables had been beautifully arranged beneath mature trees, creating natural shade while delicate fairy lights waited patiently for darkness to fall later in the evening.
The setting perfectly captured everything people imagine about a summer wedding in France.
Elegant without being formal.
Luxurious without feeling extravagant.
Relaxed without ever losing its sense of occasion.
As Hattie and Chris made their entrance into dinner, we welcomed them with Bitter Sweet Symphony, another of their carefully chosen pieces, before continuing throughout the wedding breakfast with a varied programme of contemporary favourites.
One of the things we particularly enjoyed was how personal their music choices were.
Rather than following trends, they simply chose songs they genuinely loved.
From George Ezra to Luke Combs.
From McFly to Snow Patrol.
From Bridgerton-inspired arrangements to timeless classics.
Every selection reflected their personalities, making the soundtrack feel entirely unique to them.
A Wedding to Remember
By this point in the day, it was impossible not to reflect on just how fortunate we were to be part of it.
Only twenty-four hours earlier we’d been driving through Kent towards the Channel Tunnel with a fully loaded Land Rover.
Now we found ourselves performing beneath the trees of a beautiful French château, surrounded by vineyards, blue skies and one of the warmest, friendliest groups of guests imaginable.
Music has an extraordinary way of taking us to remarkable places.
For Anne-Marie and me, this wasn’t simply our first destination wedding.
It was the beginning of something we genuinely hope to do much more often.
As the evening continued and speeches gave way to golden-hour photographs, it was clear there was still one very special moment waiting to come…
Golden Hour in the Loire Valley
One of the wonderful things about a June wedding in France is just how long the day seems to last.
As the speeches came to an end and guests continued enjoying dinner beneath the trees, the evening sunshine bathed Château de Chanzé in a warm golden light. It was exactly the sort of evening photographers dream about.
While Hattie and Chris slipped away for a few golden-hour photographs around the château grounds, guests continued chatting, laughing and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere that had characterised the entire day from beginning to end.
Looking around, it struck us once again that destination weddings really are something quite special.
Rather than feeling like a tightly packed timetable, the day unfolded naturally. There was time to talk, time to enjoy the surroundings and time simply to appreciate being together.
As musicians, we become part of that rhythm.
Music doesn’t need to dominate the occasion.
Instead, it quietly supports every conversation, every laugh and every memory being created around it.
A First Dance Beneath the French Sky
As daylight slowly began to soften, everyone gathered back in the château courtyard for one final moment before the evening celebrations moved indoors.
Hattie and Chris had chosen Yellow by Coldplay for their first dance.
It’s one of those songs that seems perfectly suited to piano and cello.
Gentle.
Intimate.
Romantic.
Performed live beneath the evening sky, surrounded by family, friends and the beautiful stone buildings of Château de Chanzé, it was a wonderfully fitting conclusion to our part of the celebrations.
As the final notes faded away, the DJ took over for the evening party inside the château, while Anne-Marie and I quietly packed away our instruments after what had been one of the most memorable weddings of our careers.
Why We Fell in Love with Destination Weddings
Driving home over the following days gave us plenty of time to reflect on the weekend.
Of course, Château de Chanzé is a beautiful venue.
The Loire Valley is stunning.
The weather certainly helped.
But what stayed with us most wasn’t any one individual moment.
It was the feeling.
Destination weddings create an atmosphere that is difficult to describe until you’ve experienced one for yourself.
Guests arrive already relaxed.
Families spend several days together rather than just a few hours.
Everyone shares the same experience from beginning to end.
The result is an occasion that feels less like an event and more like a wonderful holiday centred around the people you love most.
It’s easy to understand why so many British couples are choosing France for their wedding.
Bringing the Full JAM Duo Experience to France
One question couples often ask is whether travelling abroad means compromising on the music.
The answer is simple.
Not at all.
Because we travelled by road via the Channel Tunnel, we were able to bring everything with us.
Our professional instruments.
Our sound system.
Our gloss black grand piano shell.
Our complete performance setup.
Nothing was left behind.
That means couples planning a destination wedding in northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg or other destinations within comfortable driving distance can enjoy exactly the same JAM Duo experience that we provide throughout the United Kingdom.
From beautifully timed ceremony music to elegant drinks receptions, relaxed wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours and live first dances, everything travels with us.
For us, that’s incredibly important.
We never want distance to mean compromise.
A Wedding Team That Worked Beautifully Together
Every successful wedding depends upon great teamwork.
Hattie and Chris had assembled an exceptional group of suppliers, many of whom had travelled from Britain, while others have made France their home. It created a wonderful blend of familiar faces and local expertise that worked seamlessly throughout the day.
Special mention, however, has to go once again to Hélène from Sparkling Days.
Quite simply, she is one of the finest wedding planners we have ever worked with.
After hundreds upon hundreds of weddings, compliments like that are never given lightly.
Every supplier was looked after.
Every transition happened exactly when it should.
Every guest always knew where they needed to be.
Most importantly, everything felt effortless.
That is the hallmark of outstanding wedding planning.
If you’re considering getting married in France, we cannot recommend Hélène highly enough.
She played a huge part in making Hattie and Chris’s day such a pleasure to be part of.
Looking Ahead
When we accepted this booking, we hoped it would be the first of many destination weddings.
By the time we packed the Land Rover for the journey home, we knew for certain that it wouldn’t be the last.
We absolutely loved every minute.
The journey.
The scenery.
The château.
The people.
The music.
Everything about the experience reminded us why we became musicians in the first place.
Travelling to beautiful places, meeting wonderful people and providing the soundtrack to some of the happiest days of their lives is a privilege that never grows old.
If anything, this wedding has inspired us to look even further afield.
Planning a Destination Wedding in France?
If you’re dreaming of getting married in France and wondering whether live music can be part of your day, we’d love to hear from you.
JAM Duo specialises in elegant live piano and cello music for destination weddings, bringing the same professional performance, presentation and attention to detail that couples throughout the UK have enjoyed for many years.
Whether you’re planning an intimate château wedding, a vineyard celebration, a country estate, a luxury hotel or a private family gathering, we can travel with our complete performance setup to venues within comfortable driving distance of northern France.
Every destination wedding is different.
Every couple has their own story.
Every celebration deserves its own soundtrack.
We’re always delighted to create that soundtrack together.
Congratulations, Hattie and Chris
Finally, we’d like to thank Hattie and Chris for inviting us to share such an unforgettable weekend.
From the moment we received your enquiry to the final notes of your first dance, it has been an absolute pleasure.
We hope your memories of Château de Chanzé, the sunshine, the laughter, your wonderful family and friends and your beautiful wedding day stay with you for many years to come.
For Anne-Marie and me, this wasn’t simply our first destination wedding.
It marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for JAM Duo.
We cannot wait to return to France.
À bientôt!
