Some weddings are all about the view. Liz and Shane’s wedding at Waterfront Southport Hotel was certainly one of those days.
Set on the Promenade in Southport, overlooking Marine Lake and close to the seafront, Waterfront Southport Hotel is a modern wedding venue with a wonderfully open feel. The wedding room has large panoramic glass windows, filling the space with natural light and giving guests beautiful views out across the water and surrounding coastline.
For Liz and Shane’s wedding, JAM Duo provided live music for the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, all within one space in the hotel. This meant we could set up once, remain in position throughout the day, and allow the music to flow naturally from one part of the celebration to the next.
It was a lovely wedding, full of personality, pastel colours, a small and intimate guest list, and a music brief which included gaming, Studio Ghibli, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts and The 1975.
A Southport Wedding with Panoramic Views
Waterfront Southport Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel wedding venue on Southport’s Promenade. The hotel overlooks Marine Lake and is close to Southport’s main attractions, with 131 bedrooms, event spaces and a roof garden bar. Its wedding setting is described by the hotel as a backdrop for couples wanting vows, views and an unforgettable party. The venue’s own information highlights its promenade location and waterside views, which are a major part of the appeal for weddings in Southport.
For Liz and Shane’s wedding, the view was one of the things we noticed immediately. The room had fabulous panoramic glass windows, allowing the outside light and scenery to become part of the day. Some wedding rooms feel enclosed and separate from their surroundings, but this one felt open, bright and connected to Southport’s waterfront setting.
That kind of room works particularly well for live music. The view gives guests something beautiful to look at, while the sound of cello and piano adds warmth and atmosphere inside the space. Together, it creates a calm and elegant setting for the ceremony, before the room gradually changes in feel for drinks and then the meal.
Ceremony, Drinks and Meal All in One Room
For this wedding, everything happened within the same room: the ceremony, the drinks reception and the wedding breakfast.
From a musician’s point of view, this can work extremely well when the room has the right layout. Rather than moving instruments and equipment between different spaces, we can stay in one position and let the music continue as the day moves from one stage to the next.
Liz and Shane had suggested we set up upstairs, near the wedding arch, with lift and stair access available. This worked well because the wedding and reception were all happening in the same space.
There are several advantages to this kind of arrangement.
Firstly, it makes the day feel very smooth. Guests do not need to move from room to room, and the atmosphere remains consistent. Secondly, it allows the music to be present throughout the main daytime celebration without interruption. Thirdly, it means we can adapt easily as the room changes from ceremony set-up to drinks reception and then into the wedding breakfast.
For a wedding with around 47 guests, this suited the day beautifully. It kept everything intimate, relaxed and easy to follow.
A Pastel Wedding with a Dog in the Bridal Party
Liz and Shane’s colour scheme was pastels, which worked beautifully with the light and open feel of the room. Pastel colours always suit a summer wedding, especially in a bright space with natural daylight. They give the day a soft, romantic quality without feeling too formal.
Their bridal party included five bridesmaids and one dog.
We always love it when couples include their dog in the wedding day. It immediately brings a bit of charm and personality to the ceremony. Dogs can be unpredictable, of course, but that is often part of the joy. They make the ceremony feel more personal and more relaxed, and guests always enjoy seeing them involved.
For musicians, it also reminds us that weddings are not just formal events. They are family occasions. They are about the people — and sometimes animals — who matter most to the couple.
A Music Brief Full of Personality
Liz and Shane’s music brief was one of the most distinctive we have had recently.
Rather than giving us a long list of standard wedding songs, they asked whether we knew any music from:
The Legend of Zelda
Kingdom Hearts
Studio Ghibli
Dragon Quest
The 1975
This was such a lovely brief because it immediately told us something about them. It was personal, imaginative and a little different from the usual wedding playlist.
Gaming music, anime-inspired music and film scores can work incredibly well for weddings, especially when arranged for cello and piano. Many of these pieces are already melodic, atmospheric and emotionally rich. They often have the same qualities couples look for in wedding music: beauty, nostalgia, romance, drama and a sense of story.
Studio Ghibli music, in particular, has a magical quality. It can be gentle, wistful, playful or deeply emotional. On cello and piano, it sits beautifully in a wedding setting because the melodies are so expressive.
Likewise, music from games such as The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts and Dragon Quest often carries a strong emotional pull for people who grew up with those worlds. To some guests it may simply sound beautiful; to the couple, it may mean something much deeper.
That is one of the reasons we enjoy playing this kind of music at weddings. It allows the day to feel truly personal without the music becoming intrusive or gimmicky.
Pre-Ceremony Music
For guest arrival before the ceremony, Liz and Shane asked for music from their chosen worlds: Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, Studio Ghibli, Dragon Quest and The 1975.
Pre-ceremony music is one of the most important parts of the atmosphere. Guests arrive, find their seats, greet each other and begin to settle into the mood of the day. Live music during this time gives the room a sense of occasion before the ceremony officially begins.
For this wedding, the music had a gentle cinematic feel. Rather than simply playing a list of standard love songs, we were able to bring in music that reflected Liz and Shane’s own tastes.
This kind of brief is a wonderful reminder that wedding music does not have to be predictable. A ceremony can begin with gaming music, anime themes, indie pop, film scores or anything else that has meaning to the couple.
The important thing is that it works in the setting — and with cello and piano, a surprisingly wide range of music does.
Bridal Entrance Music
Liz and Shane had sent us a specific YouTube link for the bridal entrance, which they had also emailed when booking.
For bridal entrances, reference links can be very helpful because they allow us to understand the exact feel, tempo and structure the couple has in mind. Sometimes there are several versions of the same piece, especially with film, game and anime music, so having the right reference makes all the difference.
The entrance of the bride is always one of the most carefully timed parts of the day. With live music, we can shape the piece around the actual pace of the bridal party. If the bridesmaids take longer, we can extend. If the bride appears sooner, we can move the music forward. If there is a pause before the entrance, we can hold the atmosphere without anything feeling awkward.
For Liz and Shane, the bridal entrance had a very personal feel. It was not just a piece chosen from a standard ceremony list; it was clearly something they had thought about and selected because it meant something to them.
That always makes the moment more special.
Signing Music
For the signing, Liz and Shane again asked for music from Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, Studio Ghibli, Dragon Quest or The 1975.
The signing is a lovely moment for this kind of music. It gives us a little more space than the bridal entrance, because guests are seated and the couple are completing the formalities. The music can be slightly more reflective, cinematic or atmospheric.
Pieces from Studio Ghibli and gaming soundtracks work particularly well here because they often have a storytelling quality. They can create atmosphere without demanding too much attention. Guests may recognise the music, or they may simply enjoy it as something beautiful and different.
In many ways, the signing is the perfect place for a couple to include music that feels personal but not necessarily obvious. It is a quieter moment in the ceremony, and the music can sit gently underneath it.
Couple Exit: Kawaranai Mono
For their exit music, Liz and Shane chose Kawaranai Mono.
This was a lovely and distinctive choice. It is not the sort of exit music you hear at every wedding, and that made it feel even more personal.
A couple’s exit piece needs to lift the room. It marks the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration. Sometimes couples choose something upbeat and instantly recognisable; other times they choose something with a more personal connection.
Here, the choice felt very much in keeping with the rest of the musical brief. It gave the ceremony a finish that belonged to Liz and Shane, rather than simply following a traditional wedding pattern.
That is one of the great joys of modern wedding music. The exit does not have to be Mendelssohn or a standard pop song. It can be something from a film, a game, an anime soundtrack, a band you love, or anything else that captures the right feeling.
Drinks Reception Music
After the ceremony, we continued playing for the drinks reception in the same room.
Because everything was happening in one space, this transition was very straightforward. Guests could relax, enjoy drinks, chat and take photographs while the music continued in the background. There was no need for us to move equipment or reposition ourselves, which helped keep the atmosphere calm and seamless.
The drinks reception music continued the same general theme: music from gaming, Studio Ghibli, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts and The 1975.
This is where a brief like this really comes into its own. Over a longer set, we can explore different moods. Some pieces can be gentle and romantic; others can be lighter, more playful or more upbeat. The 1975 also brought in a more contemporary indie-pop element, giving the set a different texture alongside the instrumental and cinematic music.
For guests, it created a distinctive atmosphere. The music was elegant enough for a wedding reception, but personal enough to feel like Liz and Shane’s day.
Wedding Breakfast Music
We also provided music during the wedding breakfast, again in the same space.
The couple had purchased additional time, allowing the music to continue through the meal before speeches took place afterwards.
Wedding breakfast music needs to be handled slightly differently from ceremony or drinks reception music. During the meal, guests are seated, talking and eating. The music should create atmosphere, but it should never dominate the room.
Cello and piano are ideal for this. The sound is warm and present, but it can sit comfortably underneath conversation. Because we were already in the room and set up from the ceremony, the transition into the meal felt very natural.
For Liz and Shane, the same musical world continued through the wedding breakfast. This gave the whole day a coherent sound. Rather than having one type of music for the ceremony and something completely different later, the wedding had a clear musical identity from start to finish.
That is one of the benefits of choosing a more distinctive brief. It can make the entire day feel connected.
Gaming and Studio Ghibli Music for Weddings
Gaming and Studio Ghibli music are becoming increasingly popular at weddings, and it is easy to understand why.
Many couples have grown up with these soundtracks. They are not just background music from games or films; they are part of people’s emotional lives. They carry memories of childhood, teenage years, friendships, favourite stories and shared interests.
For wedding music, that is incredibly powerful.
A piece from The Legend of Zelda may remind a couple of a favourite game they played together. A theme from Kingdom Hearts may carry years of nostalgia. Studio Ghibli music may evoke a particular atmosphere: gentle, magical, romantic or bittersweet. Dragon Quest music has its own orchestral charm and sense of adventure.
When arranged for cello and piano, these pieces can become beautiful wedding music. They do not need to be presented as novelty choices. They can be elegant, emotional and completely appropriate for a ceremony, drinks reception or wedding breakfast.
This is something we love about modern weddings. Couples are no longer limited to a narrow idea of what wedding music “should” be. The best wedding music is music that means something to the couple.
The 1975 on Cello and Piano
Alongside the gaming and film-inspired music, Liz and Shane also mentioned The 1975.
This added another strand to the musical brief. The 1975 have a very distinctive sound, but many of their songs work surprisingly well when stripped back and arranged instrumentally. Their music often has strong harmonic movement, memorable melodic fragments and a particular emotional colour which can translate effectively to piano and cello.
Including The 1975 alongside Studio Ghibli and gaming music gave the set a more contemporary edge. It also helped balance the soundtrack so that the music did not sit entirely in one world.
That kind of contrast is useful across a long wedding day. It gives the music variety while still keeping everything personal.
A One-Room Wedding Flow
One of the defining features of Liz and Shane’s wedding was that ceremony, drinks and meal all happened in one space.
This is not always the case at hotel weddings. Sometimes the ceremony is in one room, drinks are in another, and the wedding breakfast is elsewhere. But when everything happens in a single well-designed room, it can create a lovely sense of continuity.
At Waterfront Southport Hotel, the panoramic windows helped prevent the room from ever feeling static. Even though guests remained in the same general space, the light, views and changing layout gave each part of the day its own feel.
For us, it meant the music could become part of the whole experience rather than being tied to one short section. We could welcome guests, play the ceremony, continue into drinks and then provide music for the meal without interruption.
That is ideal for couples who want live music to be a consistent presence throughout the daytime celebration.
Supplier Meal and Wedding Day Practicalities
Liz and Shane had very kindly arranged supplier meals for us: one chicken and one gnocchi.
It may sound like a small detail, but on a long wedding day, practical planning matters. When musicians are providing music for ceremony, drinks and meal, they are often on site for several hours. Having time and space for a supplier meal helps the day run smoothly and allows us to stay focused on providing the best possible music.
It is also one of those details which shows thoughtfulness from the couple and venue. Weddings depend on many people working together behind the scenes, and the practical things — access, parking, lifts, set-up space, timings and meals — all make a difference.
At Waterfront Southport Hotel, the room was upstairs, but there were lifts as well as stairs, which helped with access. The hotel also had free on-site parking, with vehicle registrations needing to be entered at reception.
These details may not be glamorous, but they are important. Smooth access and good planning allow the music to happen without stress.
Congratulations Liz and Shane
A huge congratulations to Liz and Shane on their wedding at Waterfront Southport Hotel.
It was a real pleasure to provide live music for their ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, and to be part of a day with such a distinctive and personal musical identity.
Their choice of gaming music, Studio Ghibli, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts and The 1975 made the day feel truly their own. Combined with the panoramic views, pastel colour scheme, intimate guest list and the presence of their dog in the bridal party, it was a wedding full of character and warmth.
We wish Liz and Shane every happiness for their future together.
Live Wedding Music at Waterfront Southport Hotel
JAM Duo provide live cello and piano music for weddings at Waterfront Southport Hotel, across Merseyside, Lancashire, the North West and throughout the UK.
We regularly perform for ceremony music, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours, first dances and full-day wedding celebrations. Every piece is performed live by Jules on piano and Anne-Marie on cello.
For couples getting married at Waterfront Southport Hotel, cello and piano can work beautifully in the panoramic wedding room, creating atmosphere from guest arrival through to the wedding breakfast.
Whether you are planning a traditional wedding soundtrack, a modern pop set, gaming music, Studio Ghibli pieces, anime-inspired music or something entirely personal, we can help create live wedding music which reflects your day.
