There are some wedding venues which seem to lend themselves naturally to music, and Pauntley Court in Gloucestershire is certainly one of them. Tucked away near Redmarley D’Abitot, not far from Gloucester, this beautiful country house has a wonderfully intimate feel, making it ideal for couples who want their wedding day to feel personal, relaxed and full of atmosphere.
For Hannah and Luke’s wedding at Pauntley Court, JAM Duo were booked to provide evening music, beginning with their first dance and then continuing afterwards with around 90 minutes of live cello and piano music for their guests.
This was slightly different from many of the weddings we play, where we are often involved from the ceremony onwards, providing music for the entrance of the bride, the signing of the register, drinks reception and wedding breakfast. Hannah and Luke had chosen to have a church wedding earlier in the day before moving on to Pauntley Court for the rest of their celebration. Our part in the day began in the evening, just as the formalities had passed and everyone was ready to enjoy a beautifully relaxed end to the wedding day.
A Church Wedding Followed by a Country House Celebration
There is something rather special about a wedding day which begins in church and then continues at a private country house. It gives the day a lovely sense of structure: the ceremony has its own sacred and formal setting, while the reception venue becomes the place for food, speeches, photographs, dancing and time with family and friends.
Hannah and Luke’s wedding followed exactly that pattern. After their church ceremony, their guests made their way to Pauntley Court, where the celebration continued in the beautiful surroundings of the house and grounds.
Pauntley Court is one of those venues which feels immediately characterful. It is not a blank, anonymous event space, but a house with history, warmth and personality. For a smaller wedding of around 30 guests, it offered a really lovely setting: elegant without feeling overwhelming, and special without losing that sense of closeness which makes an intimate wedding so enjoyable.
The couple’s colour scheme was peach, blush pink and cream, with the groomsmen in traditional black tuxedos and bow ties. That combination suited the venue beautifully — soft, elegant and timeless, with just enough formality for the evening to feel properly celebratory.
Evening Music in the Ballroom at Pauntley Court
For this wedding, we were set up in the ballroom at Pauntley Court. The venue has its own piano in the ballroom, which Hannah and Luke had asked us to use, alongside Anne-Marie on electric cello.
Using a venue piano can work very well when the instrument is in good condition and positioned suitably for the event. There is always something rather pleasing about using a piano which belongs to the room itself. It visually belongs there, and it can add a lovely sense of occasion, particularly for a first dance.
Our set-up for the evening was therefore very simple and elegant: live piano and cello in the ballroom, ready to begin with Hannah and Luke’s first dance at 7.30pm.
This is one of the advantages of live music for a first dance. Rather than pressing play on a track and hoping the length, timing and atmosphere all work, we can shape the music around the couple and the moment. We can begin gently, follow the natural pace of the room, and bring the music to a close in a way which feels complete rather than abrupt.
A First Dance from Phantom of the Opera
Hannah and Luke chose All I Ask of You from The Phantom of the Opera for their first dance.
This is a beautiful choice for a first dance. Romantic, lyrical and theatrical without being too overblown, it works particularly well on piano and cello because the melody has such a natural singing quality. The cello can take the vocal line in a very expressive way, while the piano provides the harmonic warmth underneath.
The couple had sent us a reference clip for the structure and length they liked, which is always very helpful. For first dances, couples often know the version they have in mind, but they may not necessarily want the full song exactly as recorded. Sometimes a shorter arrangement works better. Sometimes the important thing is a particular opening, a certain build, or a natural point at which the music can finish.
For Hannah and Luke, the brief was clear: begin with All I Ask of You for the first dance, using the structure they liked, and then continue into live music for the evening.
It was a lovely moment. With their family and friends gathered around them in the ballroom, the live piano and cello gave the first dance a very personal feel. Musical theatre songs can sometimes feel quite grand, but in this setting, with just two instruments and a small number of guests, the arrangement became intimate and heartfelt.
Live Music After the First Dance
After the first dance, we continued playing for around 90 minutes, providing live music as the evening carried on.
This is a really effective way to use JAM Duo at a wedding. Not every couple necessarily needs live music throughout the whole day. Some have a church ceremony with their own organist or choir. Some have a particular plan for the drinks reception or wedding breakfast. Others simply want something special for the evening which feels more personal than a playlist but more relaxed than a loud party band.
Live cello and piano after the first dance sits beautifully in that space.
It gives the evening atmosphere without overwhelming the room. Guests can continue chatting, drinking, taking photographs and enjoying the setting, while the music gives the whole space a sense of warmth and occasion.
For a smaller wedding such as Hannah and Luke’s, this worked particularly well. With around 30 guests, the music did not need to be loud or showy. It needed to support the evening, create a lovely mood, and give the final part of the day a distinctive sound.
Hannah and Luke’s Evening Music Choices
Hannah and Luke had chosen a brilliant selection of music for the evening. Their list included romantic classics, musical theatre, Disney, pop songs and contemporary favourites — exactly the kind of varied mix which works so well for cello and piano.
After the first dance, they asked us to play:
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
Angels – Robbie Williams
All About You – McFly
Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
A Million Dreams – The Greatest Showman
Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
Tale as Old as Time – Beauty and the Beast
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
As It Was – Harry Styles
How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
Your Song – Elton John
Annie’s Song – John Denver
River Flows in You
Harry in Winter – Harry Potter
Everglow – Coldplay
Halo – Beyoncé
You’ve Got the Love – The Source / Florence + The Machine
Another Love – Tom Odell
Yellow – Coldplay
This was such a good evening playlist because it had variety but still felt coherent. There were songs guests would immediately recognise, pieces with strong emotional associations, and a few slightly more cinematic choices which always sound beautiful on piano and cello.
One of the joys of playing as a duo is that we can move quite naturally between styles. A Queen song, a Disney ballad, a Coldplay track and a piece from Harry Potter may look very different on paper, but when arranged for cello and piano, they can sit together beautifully.
The cello brings warmth, melody and expression, while the piano provides rhythm, harmony and texture. This means we can give popular songs a more elegant, wedding-appropriate sound without losing what makes them recognisable.
Why Cello and Piano Work So Well for Evening Wedding Music
Most people think of cello and piano for the ceremony or drinks reception, but it can also work wonderfully in the evening, especially for smaller weddings, country house weddings and celebrations where couples want something stylish but not intrusive.
There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, live cello and piano gives the evening a sense of occasion. Even if guests are simply standing with a drink or chatting after the first dance, live music immediately makes the room feel more special.
Secondly, it is versatile. We can play musical theatre, film music, Disney, pop, classical-style arrangements and modern love songs, all with the same instrumentation. This allows couples to include music which reflects their own taste without needing to choose between elegance and personality.
Thirdly, it works particularly well in historic rooms. At a venue like Pauntley Court, where the ballroom already has character and atmosphere, live acoustic-style music feels completely at home.
And finally, it is ideal for intimate weddings. A full band is not always the right fit for a small guest list, particularly if the evening is designed to be relaxed rather than a full dancefloor party. Cello and piano can still mark the importance of the first dance and carry the evening forward, but in a way which suits the scale and tone of the wedding.
Using the Venue Piano
For Hannah and Luke’s wedding, we used the piano in the ballroom at Pauntley Court. This is always a slightly different experience from bringing our own Nord piano and piano shell, because the instrument is part of the venue and therefore part of the room’s character.
When a venue piano is suitable, it can be a lovely option. It gives the music a very natural visual presence and can be especially effective for a first dance.
Of course, using a venue piano always depends on the instrument itself: its tuning, condition, position and accessibility. For many weddings we bring our own Nord Stage piano, often housed in our gloss black grand piano shell, which gives a very consistent and elegant set-up wherever we are. But where a venue piano works well, we are always happy to use it.
At Pauntley Court, the ballroom setting made this feel entirely appropriate. The piano belonged in the space, and together with the cello, it created a beautifully simple musical set-up for the evening.
Meeting Pat Partridge Photographer Again
One of the other lovely parts of this wedding was seeing Pat Partridge Photographer again.
We have worked alongside Pat before and often seem to bump into him at weddings around the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. He is always a pleasure to see — a thoroughly nice chap, relaxed, professional and very easy company on a wedding day.
It was also lovely to catch up with him after his own recent wedding in Ibiza. One of the nice things about working regularly in the wedding industry is that you do start to see familiar faces. Photographers, planners, coordinators, venue teams and musicians all cross paths at different weddings, and it is always nice when those professional relationships become friendly and familiar.
For couples, this also matters more than they may realise. A wedding day runs most smoothly when suppliers work well together, communicate calmly and understand how each part of the day fits around the rest. We are always very conscious of this. Whether we are liaising with a photographer, a venue coordinator, a registrar, a church team or a wedding planner, our job is to be helpful, flexible and professional.
Pauntley Court as a Wedding Venue
Pauntley Court is a very special Gloucestershire wedding venue. It has the feel of a private country house rather than a conventional hotel, which makes it particularly well suited to couples looking for an exclusive and personal celebration.
The setting near Redmarley D’Abitot gives it that peaceful countryside feel, while still being accessible from Gloucester, the Cotswolds, Herefordshire and the surrounding area. For couples planning a country house wedding in Gloucestershire, it offers a really lovely balance of history, intimacy and style.
The ballroom was a beautiful setting for Hannah and Luke’s first dance and evening music. Some rooms simply respond well to live music, and this was one of them. Piano and cello suited the space, the guest numbers and the overall feel of the wedding perfectly.
Because Hannah and Luke had already had their church wedding earlier in the day, the evening at Pauntley Court felt like the closing chapter of the celebration: relaxed, romantic and personal.
A Different Way to Include JAM Duo in Your Wedding Day
Hannah and Luke’s wedding is also a good example of how couples can book JAM Duo for just one part of the wedding day.
Although we are often booked for ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, there are many other ways to include live music. Some couples book us just for the ceremony. Others want us for drinks and dinner. Some book us for a cocktail hour before the evening party. And, as in Hannah and Luke’s case, some couples choose live music for the first dance and the early evening.
This can be particularly effective when:
- you are having a church wedding earlier in the day;
- you want something special for the first dance;
- you have a smaller guest list;
- you want elegant evening entertainment rather than a loud band;
- you love the sound of cello and piano;
- you want your evening music to feel live, personal and beautifully arranged.
Because all our music is performed live by the two of us, we can adapt to the atmosphere in the room. We are not tied to backing tracks, fixed timings or a rigid playlist. That makes the music feel more natural and more connected to the moment.
First Dance Music Played Live
A live first dance is a wonderful way to make the evening feel personal.
Many couples spend a lot of time choosing the right first dance song. It may be a favourite piece from a musical, a song from a film, something from a holiday, a song that reminds them of when they first met, or simply a piece of music they both love.
Having that song played live makes it feel different. It becomes part of the room, not just something coming through speakers. The timing can breathe. The arrangement can suit the couple. The ending can feel natural. And the whole moment becomes much more memorable.
For Hannah and Luke, All I Ask of You was a particularly lovely choice. It brought together romance, theatre and elegance, and it worked beautifully in the ballroom at Pauntley Court.
Congratulations Hannah and Luke
A huge congratulations to Hannah and Luke on their wedding.
It was a real pleasure to join them at Pauntley Court for the evening, beginning with their first dance and continuing with live cello and piano music afterwards. Their music choices were full of romance, personality and warmth, and the intimate setting of the ballroom made the whole evening feel very special.
We were delighted to be part of the final chapter of their wedding day and to provide live music as they celebrated with their closest family and friends.
Live Wedding Music at Pauntley Court and Across Gloucestershire
JAM Duo provide live cello and piano music for weddings throughout Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and across the UK. We regularly perform for church weddings, civil ceremonies, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours, first dances and evening celebrations.
Whether you are planning a full day of music or simply want something special for one part of your wedding, we can create live music to suit the setting, the atmosphere and your own personal choices.
For couples getting married at Pauntley Court, or at another country house wedding venue in Gloucestershire, cello and piano can provide a beautifully elegant soundtrack — from the first notes of the ceremony through to the first dance and beyond.
All our music is performed live by Jules on piano and Anne-Marie on cello. No backing tracks, no deps, and no pre-recorded shortcuts — just live music, arranged and performed for your wedding day.
