The late May Bank Holiday weekend of 2026 brought some glorious weather across much of the UK, and nowhere was that more evident than at the beautiful Davenport House in Shropshire.
On 24th May 2026, we had the pleasure of providing live music for Emily and Eric’s wedding ceremony and drinks reception at this stunning Georgian country house. With bright sunshine, warm temperatures and a wonderful group of family and friends gathered to celebrate, it was one of those wedding days that felt perfectly suited to an English country house setting.
For this wedding, we provided music throughout the indoor ceremony before moving outside for the drinks reception, where we performed beneath the welcome shade of a large tree in the gardens. Given just how warm the afternoon became, it turned out to be the perfect location.
As always, Jules performed on our Nord stage piano while Anne-Marie played her Yamaha electric cello, creating a live soundtrack that accompanied some of the most important moments of Emily and Eric’s wedding day.
A Beautiful Wedding Venue in Shropshire
Davenport House is one of those venues that manages to combine grandeur with warmth.
Located in the Shropshire countryside near Bridgnorth, the Georgian mansion offers elegant interiors, sweeping staircases, beautiful reception rooms and extensive gardens overlooking the surrounding landscape.
It is easy to see why it has become one of the region’s most sought-after wedding venues.
Unlike some larger country house venues, Davenport House retains an intimate atmosphere. Guests feel relaxed and comfortable whilst still enjoying the impressive surroundings that make a wedding day feel special.
The venue is particularly well suited to live music. The ceremony rooms provide excellent acoustics, while the gardens create a wonderful setting for outdoor drinks receptions during the summer months.
When we arrived on the morning of Emily and Eric’s wedding, the house was already looking magnificent in the sunshine.
Preparing for the Ceremony
After unloading our equipment and setting up near the staircase area designated for musicians, we completed our sound check and prepared to welcome guests.
Emily and Eric had chosen a fantastic collection of music for the ceremony.
One of our favourite parts of wedding planning is seeing how couples personalise the soundtrack to their day, and this wedding featured a wonderful mixture of contemporary chart music, classic love songs and upbeat favourites.
As guests arrived from 1pm onwards, we performed a selection of pre-ceremony music including:
- All You Need Is Love
- If I Ain’t Got You
- Love Story
- Beautiful Girls
- Golden Hour
These choices immediately established a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere as guests found their seats and anticipation began to build.
Taylor Swift continues to be enormously popular at weddings, while Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You always translates beautifully for piano and cello.
The combination of familiar melodies and elegant live arrangements helped create exactly the kind of atmosphere couples often hope for before the ceremony begins.
The Bridal Entrance
The entrance of the bridal party is always one of the most important moments of any wedding ceremony.
Emily had chosen two separate pieces to accompany the processional.
The bridesmaids entered to Glue Song, creating a gentle and romantic beginning to the procession.
For Emily’s own entrance, we performed Devotion by Justin Bieber.
It was a lovely and highly personal choice.
One of the reasons we enjoy performing live for ceremonies is that every entrance can be carefully timed to match the pace of the wedding party. There are no concerns about pressing play at exactly the right moment or trying to fade tracks in and out.
Instead, the music flows naturally around the movement of the ceremony.
As Emily made her way into the ceremony room, accompanied by family and friends watching on, the atmosphere became wonderfully emotional.
Music During the Signing of the Register
Following the ceremony itself, we performed a series of upbeat songs during the signing.
Emily and Eric had chosen:
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered
- Accidentally In Love
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love
This was a fantastic sequence of songs.
The signing section provides a wonderful opportunity to inject some personality into the ceremony, and these choices brought plenty of energy and smiles to the room.
Each piece worked beautifully for piano and cello and helped maintain the celebratory mood as the newly married couple completed the formalities.
A Joyful Exit
For their exit music, Emily and Eric selected This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).
This song has become a modern wedding classic and it is easy to understand why.
The joyful melody and positive energy make it perfectly suited to the moment when a couple leave the ceremony as newlyweds.
As guests applauded and prepared for the celebrations ahead, it provided the ideal conclusion to the ceremony.
Into the Sunshine
Following the ceremony and confetti photographs, guests made their way into the gardens for drinks reception.
The weather could hardly have been better.
The sunshine was glorious throughout the afternoon and temperatures climbed steadily as guests gathered outside to enjoy the gardens and spectacular views.
Because of the heat, we were positioned beneath the shade of a large tree, which proved to be a perfect location for both the musicians and guests.
From there, our music drifted across the gardens as family and friends relaxed with drinks and enjoyed the first few hours of married life with Emily and Eric.
Drinks Reception Music
Unlike the structured timings of a ceremony, drinks receptions allow us a little more freedom to tailor the music to the atmosphere of the event.
Emily and Eric had encouraged us to perform a mixture of popular songs and classical favourites that guests would recognise and enjoy.
Their brief was wonderfully open, which allowed us to create a varied and engaging set list throughout the afternoon.
Alongside some of the couple’s favourite artists including Hozier, Noah Kahan, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, we performed a wide range of contemporary and classic material that suited the relaxed garden setting.
One particularly memorable request was Golden from KPop Demon Hunters, which had been requested with some younger guests in mind.
We always enjoy including music that reflects different generations of guests, and it was lovely to see younger family members recognising some of the songs being performed.
Meanwhile, familiar favourites from across the decades provided plenty of musical moments for parents, grandparents and friends alike.
Why Piano and Cello Work So Well Outdoors
Outdoor drinks receptions remain one of our favourite parts of a wedding day.
The sound of piano and cello carries beautifully in a garden setting.
Unlike louder amplified entertainment, the music creates atmosphere without overwhelming conversation. Guests can continue chatting comfortably whilst still enjoying recognisable melodies floating across the space.
On warm summer afternoons such as Emily and Eric’s wedding, the combination feels particularly effective.
The music becomes part of the environment, helping to create a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere without ever demanding attention.
Many guests probably don’t consciously notice every song being played, yet the presence of live music subtly transforms the experience of the afternoon.
Spring Colours and Summer Weather
Emily and Eric’s wedding colour palette reflected the season perfectly.
The bridesmaids wore blue dresses, while the wider wedding styling incorporated bright spring-inspired colours including pink, orange and yellow.
Against the backdrop of Davenport House and the vibrant gardens, the overall effect felt fresh, colourful and full of personality.
Combined with the glorious sunshine, it created exactly the kind of setting many couples imagine when planning a late spring wedding.
A Wonderful Couple
Emily and Eric were a pleasure to work with from start to finish.
Their music choices demonstrated exactly what makes a wedding soundtrack memorable. Rather than focusing on a single genre, they selected songs that reflected their personalities, their favourite artists and the atmosphere they wanted to create for guests.
The result was a soundtrack that felt personal, varied and fun.
From Beatles classics and Taylor Swift favourites to Justin Bieber, Alicia Keys and Queen, every choice contributed something unique to the day.
Thank You Emily and Eric
We would like to say a huge thank you to Emily and Eric for inviting JAM Duo to be part of their wedding day at Davenport House.
From the beautiful ceremony and joyful exit to the sunshine-filled drinks reception beneath the trees, it was a wonderful celebration to be part of.
We thoroughly enjoyed performing for their family and friends and helping create the soundtrack to such a special day.
We wish Emily and Eric every happiness for the future and thank them for allowing us to share their wedding day.
If you are planning your own wedding at Davenport House and are looking for live music for your ceremony, drinks reception or wedding breakfast, JAM Duo would be delighted to help create the perfect soundtrack for your celebration.
