Some weddings feel like a lovely continuation of a story, and Ellie and Henry’s wedding at Kingscote Barn in the Cotswolds was exactly that. We were delighted to be asked to provide live music for their ceremony and drinks reception, but there was also a very special family connection to this wedding.
Back in September 2021, we played for the wedding of Ellie’s brother Will and his wife Julia at Upcote Barn, also in the Cotswolds. That was one of our earlier weddings as JAM Duo, when we were performing with acoustic cello and a Yamaha keyboard. A few years on, it was wonderful to see Will and Julia again at Ellie and Henry’s wedding, with Julia as one of the bridesmaids.
For Ellie and Henry’s day at Kingscote Barn, we performed with our current JAM Duo setup: Nord Stage piano, Yamaha electric cello and our gloss black piano shell. It was a particularly hot day, so we set up outside beneath the shade of one of the venue umbrellas, which gave us the perfect spot for both the ceremony and drinks reception.
It was also rather fitting that this wedding took place on World Music Day. A day dedicated to music, a beautiful Cotswold setting, and a wedding full of personal song choices — a very good combination.
A Wedding at Kingscote Barn in the Cotswolds
Kingscote Barn is a beautiful wedding venue near Tetbury, set in the rolling Cotswold countryside. It has that classic barn wedding feel: relaxed, elegant and full of character, with lovely outdoor spaces for ceremonies and drinks receptions when the weather allows.
Ellie and Henry were hoping to be outside for both the ceremony and drinks, and the weather certainly made that possible. With blue skies and warm sunshine, the outdoor setting worked beautifully. The ceremony took place outside, with guests gathered in the sunshine and the barn doors forming part of the backdrop.
The dress code and styling gave the day a very elegant feel, with black tie for the men and evening dresses for the ladies. The colour scheme was sage green, which suited the Cotswold setting perfectly and gave the wedding a soft, stylish and timeless look.
Live Ceremony Music Outdoors
For the ceremony, we were positioned outside to the left side at the back of the aisle, near the barn doors. This worked very well for playing as guests arrived, then for the bridal party entrance, signing and exit.
Because it was such a hot day, the shade of the venue umbrella was very welcome. Outdoor wedding ceremonies are always beautiful, but they do bring a few practical considerations for live musicians. Instruments, equipment and sound systems all need to be carefully placed, and a little shade can make a huge difference to both comfort and performance.
We used our Nord piano, Yamaha electric cello, Yamaha sound system and gloss black piano shell. The piano shell gives a lovely visual focus for an outdoor ceremony, while the electric cello and Nord allow us to produce a clear and reliable live sound in an open-air setting.
This is one of the reasons our current setup works so well for outdoor weddings. It looks elegant, sounds consistent, and allows us to bring live piano and cello music to places where a traditional acoustic piano or cello would not always be practical.
Guest Arrival Music
Ellie and Henry chose a beautiful selection of music for the pre-ceremony, blending classical, Disney, romantic ballads and classic wedding favourites.
Their guest arrival music included:
- Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
- Hallelujah
- What a Wonderful World
- Tale as Old as Time
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
This was a lovely way to welcome guests as they arrived and took their seats. Canon in D is always a graceful choice for a wedding ceremony, and it works especially well outdoors, where the repeated patterns and gentle build of the piece create a calm and elegant atmosphere.
Tale as Old as Time brought in a Disney touch, while Can’t Help Falling in Love was chosen as the final piece before the bridal entrance. That is always a nice way to shape the ceremony music: using the last guest arrival song to settle the mood before the bridal party begins their walk down the aisle.
Bridal Entrance – A Million Dreams
For the entrance of the bride, Ellie chose A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman.
This is a wonderful choice for a bridal entrance. It has a sense of hope and emotion without being too formal, and it works beautifully on piano and cello. The melody sits naturally on the cello, while the piano gives the arrangement shape and movement.
With live music, we can time the entrance precisely around the bridal party. Ellie had four bridesmaids before her entrance, followed by the bride herself, so the music needed to flow naturally while allowing enough time for each part of the procession.
That is one of the real advantages of having live musicians for your wedding ceremony. We are not pressing play on a fixed recording. We are watching, listening and shaping the music around what is actually happening in the moment.
Signing Music with Disney and Film Favourites
During the signing, Ellie and Henry chose another lovely set of songs:
- You’ll Be in My Heart – Tarzan
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight
- Accidentally in Love
These choices continued the Disney and film theme beautifully. You’ll Be in My Heart is a particularly touching song for a wedding ceremony, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight always brings a warm, romantic feel. Accidentally in Love added a more upbeat and joyful touch, which helped move the atmosphere towards the celebration that followed.
One of the things we love about ceremony music is how personal it can be. It does not have to be limited to traditional classical choices. Disney, film themes, musicals, pop songs and personal favourites can all work beautifully when arranged for piano and cello.
Couple Exit – Brown Eyed Girl
For their couple exit, Ellie and Henry chose Brown Eyed Girl.
This was a brilliant choice. After the stillness and emotion of the ceremony, the exit music needs to lift the mood and send the couple back down the aisle with energy and joy. Brown Eyed Girl has exactly that feeling — bright, familiar and celebratory.
The couple exit is one of those moments where live music can really help create a sense of occasion. As soon as the applause begins and the couple start walking back down the aisle, the music becomes part of the celebration. It is a lovely moment to play.
Drinks Reception Outside at Kingscote Barn
After the ceremony, we remained outside for the drinks reception. This meant the music could continue seamlessly as guests moved from the formal part of the day into a more relaxed afternoon atmosphere.
Ellie and Henry asked us to arrange the drinks reception music in an order that made sense, allowing the pieces to transition naturally from one to another. This is something we often do for couples. Rather than treating the music list as a rigid sequence, we shape it in the moment depending on the atmosphere, the timing, and the energy of the guests.
Their drinks reception choices included a wonderfully varied selection:
- Africa – Toto
- The Fate of Ophelia
- Bridgerton Theme
- Jurassic Park
- The Force Theme
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love
- Dancing in the Moonlight
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- Beneath Your Beautiful
- Unchained Melody
- I Will Always Love You
- Love Story
- Part of Your World / Under the Sea
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
- Just the Way You Are
- Love of My Life
- Marry You
- Wildest Dreams
- Your Song
This was a fantastic list for an outdoor drinks reception. It had pop, rock, film music, Disney, Bridgerton and classic love songs, giving us plenty of variety to work with.
A drinks reception is a brilliant opportunity to include music that reflects the couple’s personality. It does not need to be background music in the bland sense. It should still feel like part of the wedding, but with enough flexibility for guests to chat, mingle, have photographs and enjoy the setting.
Disney, Film Music and Modern Wedding Songs
Ellie and Henry’s music choices had a lovely mixture of styles, but there was definitely a thread of film and musical storytelling running through the day. From Tale as Old as Time and A Million Dreams to Tarzan, The Lion King, Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the music gave the wedding a very personal feel.
Film music works particularly well for piano and cello because so many of these melodies are naturally lyrical. The cello can bring warmth and emotion to a theme, while the piano supports the harmony and rhythm. Whether it is Jurassic Park, The Force Theme or a Disney classic, these pieces can sound elegant and wedding-appropriate without losing their original character.
The drinks reception also included plenty of recognisable modern songs, from Wildest Dreams and Love Story to Marry You, Just the Way You Are and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. This mixture helps keep the atmosphere fresh and engaging throughout the afternoon.
A Return to a Family Wedding Story
One of the most special parts of this wedding for us was the link back to Will and Julia’s wedding in September 2021. We played for their wedding at Upcote Barn, another beautiful Cotswold venue, and it was lovely to see them again at Kingscote Barn for Ellie and Henry’s day.
A lot has changed for JAM Duo since those earlier weddings. At that time, we were performing with acoustic cello and a Yamaha keyboard. Today, our setup has developed into the Nord Stage piano, Yamaha electric cello and gloss black piano shell, which gives us a much more flexible and visually elegant presentation for weddings.
Seeing familiar faces at a later family wedding is always very special. It reminds us that weddings are not isolated events, but part of a much bigger family story. To be invited back, in effect, for another chapter of that story is something we never take for granted.
World Music Day
Ellie and Henry’s wedding also happened to fall on World Music Day, which felt very appropriate.
As musicians, we spend so much of our lives travelling to weddings and helping couples mark the most important moments of their day. Music has a way of giving structure and emotion to a wedding in a way that words alone cannot quite manage. It tells guests when to be still, when to smile, when to celebrate, and when something important is about to happen.
At a ceremony, the bridal entrance music becomes part of that memory forever. During the signing, it gives a gentle background to a private and meaningful moment. At the couple exit, it releases all the joy and applause of the ceremony. Then, during drinks, it helps set the atmosphere for the celebration that follows.
So to be playing for a wedding on World Music Day, outside in the Cotswolds, with a list full of personal songs, film themes, Disney, pop and classic wedding favourites, felt rather perfect.
Thank You to Ellie and Henry
A huge thank you to Ellie and Henry for asking JAM Duo to be part of their wedding at Kingscote Barn. It was a beautiful day in the Cotswolds, and we were delighted to provide live piano and cello music for both the ceremony and drinks reception.
It was also lovely to see Will and Julia again after playing for their wedding at Upcote Barn back in 2021. Having Julia as one of the bridesmaids made that family connection even more special.
From A Million Dreams for Ellie’s entrance to Brown Eyed Girl for the couple exit, and from Disney and Bridgerton to Toto, Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Taylor Swift during the drinks reception, this was a wedding full of character and personal music choices.
Congratulations Ellie and Henry, and thank you again for choosing JAM Duo for your Cotswold wedding.
Live Wedding Music at Kingscote Barn
JAM Duo provide live piano and cello music for weddings at Kingscote Barn, across the Cotswolds and throughout the UK. We play for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours and first dances, with music tailored to each couple.
Our Listen page includes over 350 recordings for inspiration, but couples are never limited to a fixed set list. Whether you would like classical music, Disney, film themes, Bridgerton, Taylor Swift, rock, pop, musicals or something completely personal, we can shape the music around your day.
For outdoor weddings, our Nord piano, Yamaha electric cello, Yamaha sound system and gloss black piano shell provide a reliable and elegant live music setup, ideal for ceremonies and drinks receptions in gardens, courtyards, lawns and barn venues.
If you are planning a wedding at Kingscote Barn or elsewhere in the Cotswolds, JAM Duo would be delighted to provide live piano and cello music for your day.
