On Saturday 30 May 2026, we travelled to Rowton Castle near Shrewsbury for the wedding of Teri Duffy and Josh Wheeler.
This was a really lovely wedding in a beautiful setting, with an outdoor ceremony in the gardens followed by drinks reception music on the terrace. It was another extremely hot day, but unlike some outdoor ceremony spaces, we were able to set up under the shade of a tree, which made all the difference.
Rowton Castle is a very special wedding venue. Set in the Shropshire countryside, it has all the romance and grandeur you would hope for from a castle wedding, but with a relaxed country house feel. The venue describes itself as an exclusive-use 17th-century, Grade II listed castle, set within 17 acres of grounds just outside Shrewsbury. It has gardens, woodland walks, outdoor ceremony spaces and beautiful views, making it a wonderful setting for a summer wedding.
For Teri and Josh, the day had a very elegant feel. Their colour scheme was pale lilac and deep green, and they had asked us to wear all black, which we were very happy to do. With 73 guests, it felt intimate enough to be personal but full enough to create a real sense of celebration.
Arriving at Rowton Castle
We arrived at Rowton Castle in good time to unload and set up for the ceremony. The venue had provided clear instructions for suppliers, with free parking on site and access up the slope towards the castle entrance, where staff were able to guide us.
Supplier access may not be the most glamorous part of a wedding day, but it really matters. As live musicians, we are bringing a piano, cello, sound system, stands, iPads and other equipment, so being able to unload smoothly and know where we are going makes a big difference. At Rowton Castle, everything was well organised and the staff were helpful in directing us to the outdoor ceremony area.
The ceremony was planned for the linden belvedere at the bottom of the garden, with us positioned to the right. This was a beautiful setting for an outdoor ceremony, and the long aisle gave the entrances a real sense of occasion.
Because it was such a hot day, shade was essential. We were very pleased to be able to set up beneath a tree, which gave us enough protection from the direct sun during guest arrival and the ceremony. Outdoor ceremonies are wonderful, but for musicians, shade is more than a matter of comfort. We are often in position for 30 minutes before the ceremony begins and then remain there throughout the ceremony itself. In full sun, that can quickly become difficult for us, our iPads, our instruments and our sound equipment.
A tree is often the perfect solution. It looks natural, does not disturb the appearance of the ceremony space, and allows us to play outside while keeping the equipment protected.
Guest Arrival Music
Teri and Josh had chosen their pre-ceremony music very carefully and asked for the pieces to be played in a specific order.
Their choices were:
Dearly Beloved from Kingdom Hearts
Glimpse of Us by Joji
Liebestraum
Moon River
The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals
This was a particularly beautiful set of pre-ceremony music, with a lovely balance of gaming music, contemporary songs, classical repertoire and timeless film-style romance.
Dearly Beloved from Kingdom Hearts was a wonderful opening choice. We have noticed more couples choosing music from games for their wedding ceremonies, and it can work incredibly well. Many game soundtracks are beautifully written, emotionally direct and very atmospheric. Dearly Beloved has a gentle, reflective quality which is ideal as guests begin to arrive and settle into the ceremony space.
Glimpse of Us by Joji brought a more contemporary and emotional feel. It is a song with a strong sense of stillness and longing, and when arranged for piano and cello it becomes very expressive without needing to be too dramatic.
Liebestraum added a more classical romantic layer. It is one of those pieces that feels naturally suited to a wedding setting, especially in a place like Rowton Castle, where the architecture and gardens already create such a sense of occasion.
Moon River was another beautiful choice. It has that timeless quality which never feels out of place at a wedding. The melody works wonderfully on cello, while the piano can keep the accompaniment gentle and flowing.
The Swan from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals was a perfect final pre-ceremony piece. As cellists will know, it is one of the great cello melodies, and it always creates a calm, elegant and deeply romantic atmosphere. For an outdoor castle ceremony, it felt particularly fitting.
Groom Entrance: Champions League Theme
One of the most memorable music choices of the day was Josh’s entrance to the Champions League theme.
This was a brilliant and unexpected moment. Wedding music does not always have to be serious or traditional. Sometimes the choices that guests remember most are the ones that reflect the couple’s personality. The Champions League theme certainly created a sense of drama, and it gave Josh’s entrance a very distinctive character.
It is also a good example of how flexible live music can be. A piece that people associate with football and television can become part of a wedding ceremony when arranged carefully for piano and cello. It still has the recognisable grandeur of the original, but in a way that fits the setting and the ceremony.
Maid of Honour and Bride Entrance
Teri and Josh did not have bridesmaids, but they did have one maid of honour, who walked down the aisle before the bride.
For the maid of honour’s entrance, they chose Meditation from Thaïs. This is a stunning piece for a wedding ceremony. It has a long, singing melody and a graceful emotional shape, making it ideal for a slow and elegant aisle walk. On cello, the melody has a natural warmth and depth, while the piano provides a gentle harmonic foundation beneath it.
For Teri’s entrance, the chosen piece was Ave Maria by Gounod.
This was a beautiful and traditional choice for the bride’s entrance. Ave Maria has an unmistakable sense of ceremony and reverence, and it works especially well in a formal outdoor setting. At Rowton Castle, with the long outdoor aisle and the castle gardens around us, it felt very special.
Teri and Josh had noted that the outdoor ceremony aisle was very long, while the indoor option would have been shorter, and they trusted us to adjust the music as necessary. This is exactly where live music makes such a difference. With a long outdoor aisle, we can allow the music to unfold naturally, extend phrases if needed and time the ending so that it feels complete when the bride reaches the front.
A recorded track cannot do that. It simply continues regardless of where the bride is. With live musicians, the music can breathe with the moment.
Signing of the Certificate
For the signing of the certificate, Teri and Josh chose:
What a Wonderful World
Here Comes the Sun
Your Song
They asked for these to be played in that order, with no worries if the final song was missed. This is a very sensible way to plan signing music because this section of the ceremony can vary in length depending on the registrar, photographer and venue.
What a Wonderful World was a lovely first choice. It has warmth, optimism and a timeless quality that suits the signing perfectly. Here Comes the Sun was especially fitting on such a hot and bright day, and it brought a lighter, more relaxed feel to the ceremony. Your Song added a final romantic touch if time allowed.
The signing music is often slightly more relaxed than the entrance music. The formal vows have taken place, the couple are married, and everyone has a chance to breathe. These pieces created a gentle, happy atmosphere before the couple’s exit.
Couple Exit: All You Need Is Love
For their exit music, Teri and Josh chose All You Need Is Love by The Beatles.
This was a perfect choice for the end of the ceremony. The exit music needs to lift the atmosphere and carry everyone from the formal ceremony into the celebration. All You Need Is Love is instantly recognisable, joyful and ideal for that first walk back down the aisle as a married couple.
As Teri and Josh walked back down the aisle, the applause and music created a lovely celebratory moment. After the emotion and stillness of the ceremony, the exit always feels like a release. Everyone smiles, the couple relax, and the day moves into its next chapter.
Moving for the Confetti Walk
After the ceremony, Teri and Josh had planned a short ten-minute break where they would be alone after the exit while the photographer arranged the guests for the confetti throw walk.
This was also our opportunity to move to the next location for the confetti walk and welcome drinks. Their instructions were very clear: after the ceremony, we were to move up to the top of the garden where the seating was, near the cannons, with staff guiding us.
This kind of timing is really helpful for live musicians. Moving a piano, cello and sound system takes a little time, even when everything is organised efficiently. Having a clear ten-minute window meant we could relocate without interrupting the flow of the day.
For the confetti throw, Teri and Josh chose Dancing in the Moonlight.
This was a perfect confetti song. It is upbeat, bright and immediately celebratory. Confetti moments are full of movement, laughter and photographs, so the music needs to have energy. Dancing in the Moonlight gave the moment exactly that.
Drinks Reception on the Terrace
After the confetti throw, family photos and welcome drinks began. We then played for the outdoor drinks reception on the terrace.
Rowton Castle is a lovely venue for an outdoor drinks reception. The gardens, terrace and castle backdrop create a relaxed but elegant setting, and guests can move easily between photographs, drinks and conversation. On a sunny day, it feels very much like the kind of classic English summer wedding people imagine when choosing a castle venue.
Teri and Josh had planned their drinks reception music in two halves. This was a thoughtful detail because they wanted to be present for the first half of the music, before possibly going away for couple photographs with the photographer. It meant they could hear the songs that mattered most to them before being pulled into the next part of the day.
They asked for Married Life from Up to be played immediately after the confetti throw while the group photographs were being taken. They also specifically asked for it to be played on both instruments, with the melody on the cello.
This is exactly the kind of musical detail we love. Married Life is a beautiful piece, full of warmth and gentle nostalgia. With the melody on the cello, it has a very expressive, singing quality, while the piano provides the lightness and movement underneath. It was a lovely choice for the family photo section because it created atmosphere without being too loud or distracting.
First Half of the Drinks Reception Music
For the first half of the drinks reception, Teri and Josh chose:
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
Dear Theodosia
New York, New York
Friday I’m in Love
Angels
Beautiful Girls
So This Is Love from Disney’s Cinderella
If I Ain’t Got You
Nobody Does It Better
Cheek to Cheek
This was a wonderfully varied selection. It moved from classic romance to musical theatre energy, Disney charm, contemporary soul and elegant jazz standards.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You is always a brilliant drinks reception piece. It is joyful, familiar and full of warmth. Dear Theodosia from Hamilton brought something more intimate and thoughtful, while New York, New York added a bit of showbiz sparkle.
Friday I’m in Love by The Cure was a lovely upbeat choice, and Angels by Robbie Williams always works well for wedding guests. Beautiful Girls brought a more playful contemporary touch, while So This Is Love from Cinderella continued the fairytale feeling of the castle setting.
If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys is a beautiful song for piano and cello. The melody works naturally on cello, and the piano part can retain the richness of the original. Nobody Does It Better and Cheek to Cheek brought in a more classic, elegant quality, which suited the Rowton Castle terrace very well.
Second Half of the Drinks Reception Music
For the second half of the drinks reception, the choices included:
Unforgettable
At Last
Fly Me to the Moon
True Love Ways
L-O-V-E
La Vie en Rose
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Half the World Away
Together in Electric Dreams
Feeling Good
This second half had a lovely classic feel, with several songs that work beautifully for a castle terrace drinks reception.
Unforgettable, At Last, Fly Me to the Moon, L-O-V-E and La Vie en Rose all have that timeless elegance that sits so well in a drinks reception setting. They are stylish without being too formal, and familiar without feeling overplayed. On piano and cello, they create a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love brought a little extra energy, while Half the World Away gave the set a softer, more nostalgic feel. Together in Electric Dreams was a fun and unexpected choice, and Feeling Good made for a strong, dramatic addition to the list.
This kind of variety is ideal for drinks reception music. Guests may be chatting, having photographs taken, collecting drinks or simply enjoying the setting. The music needs to support all of that, adding atmosphere without demanding constant attention.
Outdoor Music on a Hot Day
Like the previous few weddings we have played this week, Teri and Josh’s wedding was very hot. Fortunately, at Rowton Castle we were able to position ourselves under the shade of a tree for the ceremony, which made outdoor playing much more manageable.
This is something we often mention when couples are planning outdoor ceremonies. We are always very happy to play outside, but some form of shade is really important. It protects us, but it also protects the instruments, iPads and sound equipment.
For a ceremony and drinks reception, we can easily be outside in one place for a long period of time. We usually begin playing before guests arrive, continue through the ceremony, and then often carry on into the drinks reception. Direct sun for that length of time can cause problems very quickly, especially for screens and electronic equipment.
At Rowton Castle, the tree cover was ideal. It allowed us to remain part of the outdoor ceremony setting while also keeping everything protected. It also looked completely natural within the garden, which is always preferable. Our own larger canopy can be useful in some situations, but for a ceremony space, natural shade is often the most elegant answer.
A Lovely Castle Wedding in Shropshire
Teri and Josh’s wedding at Rowton Castle was a beautiful day to be part of.
The venue gave the day a real sense of romance, the outdoor ceremony setting was lovely, and the terrace drinks reception had a relaxed summer atmosphere. Their music choices were full of personality, from Kingdom Hearts and the Champions League theme to Gounod’s Ave Maria, The Beatles, Disney, Hamilton, jazz standards and classic pop.
That is one of the great joys of modern wedding music. A wedding soundtrack can be completely personal. It can include the music a couple loves, the music that makes guests smile, the music that creates atmosphere, and the music that gives each part of the day its own identity.
For Teri and Josh, the ceremony felt elegant and emotional, while the drinks reception had a lovely balance of romance, fun and classic style. It suited the venue beautifully.
Congratulations Teri and Josh
It was a real pleasure to play for Teri and Josh’s wedding at Rowton Castle.
From the outdoor ceremony beneath the trees to the confetti walk and drinks reception on the terrace, it was a lovely summer wedding in a truly romantic Shropshire setting. The shade from the tree made the outdoor ceremony practical for live music, and the whole day had a warm, happy and elegant feel.
Congratulations Teri and Josh. We wish you every happiness for your future together.
Jules and Anne-Marie
JAM Duo
