Sea views, a carefully chosen ceremony soundtrack and the first outing for our new Yamaha electric cello made Jemima and Ross’s wedding at the Roslin Beach Hotel a particularly memorable one for JAM Duo.
We travelled to Southend-on-Sea on 11 July 2026 to provide live cello and piano music for their ceremony and drinks reception. With the ceremony room looking out across the water towards Southend Pier, it was a wonderful setting for an afternoon of live music.
A Seaside Ceremony at the Roslin Beach Hotel
The ceremony took place inside the hotel, with around 80 guests joining Jemima and Ross for the occasion. Their pastel colour palette of blues, pinks and lilacs was perfectly suited to the light and airy seaside setting.
We were positioned at the back of the ceremony room, close to the doors leading onto the terrace. From here, our music could accompany the ceremony while guests continued to enjoy the views across the Southend coastline.
Music began at 1.30pm as guests arrived and found their seats. Jemima and Ross had selected a lovely mixture of contemporary love songs and familiar classics for this part of the afternoon:
- “Lover” – Taylor Swift
- “The Vow” – RuthAnne
- “Unchained Melody” – The Righteous Brothers
- “Songbird” – Fleetwood Mac
Pre-ceremony music can make an enormous difference to the atmosphere in the room. Rather than guests arriving to silence or recorded background music, live cello and piano created a warm sense of anticipation from the moment they entered.
Music for the Bridal Entrance
At 2pm, the ceremony began with the entrance of Jemima’s five bridesmaids and page boy.
They walked into the room accompanied by our arrangement of “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. Its bright, optimistic melody was a natural choice for a summer wedding overlooking the sea.
For Jemima’s entrance, the music changed to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”. The flowing cello line and gentle piano accompaniment gave the bridal entrance a more traditional and ceremonial feel, while providing a beautiful contrast with the first entrance song.
Using separate pieces for the bridal party and the bride allows each entrance to have its own character. It also creates a clear musical moment before the bride appears, adding to the sense of anticipation for everyone waiting inside the ceremony room.
Signing the Register
Jemima and Ross chose three songs for the signing of the register:
- “Married Life” – Michael Giacchino
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder
“Married Life”, from the film Up, brought a playful and affectionate quality to this part of the ceremony. It was followed by the timeless romance of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
The couple had asked whether “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” could be performed in a slower style. Reinterpreting the song for cello and piano allowed us to retain its instantly recognisable melody while giving it a softer character that felt more appropriate for the signing.
With the formalities complete, Jemima and Ross made their exit to “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen. It was joyful, personal and a perfect way to begin the celebrations.
Drinks on the Terrace
Following the ceremony, the doors at the back of the room were opened onto the terrace and courtyard for the drinks reception.
Because of our position in the ceremony room, we did not need to dismantle and move our setup. We could remain where we were and continue performing through the open doors as guests stepped outside.
This created a particularly smooth transition between the two parts of the afternoon. There was no interruption to the music and no lengthy pause while instruments and equipment were relocated. The atmosphere simply shifted from an intimate indoor ceremony to a relaxed outdoor reception overlooking the sea.
Jemima and Ross had given us plenty of inspiration for their drinks-reception repertoire. Their requests included music by Olivia Dean, alongside:
- “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”
- “Where Is My Husband!” – RAYE
- “Wildest Dreams” – Taylor Swift
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman
They also asked for music with a Bridgerton-style feel. Modern songs arranged for cello and piano are ideal for creating this atmosphere: elegant enough for a wedding reception, but still filled with melodies guests know and enjoy.
The result was a varied soundtrack that moved comfortably between contemporary pop, film music, romantic favourites and the occasional unexpected request.
The Debut of Our Yamaha Electric Cello
This wedding also marked the first outing for JAM Duo’s new Yamaha electric cello.
A new instrument always brings an extra sense of occasion, and the Roslin Beach Hotel was a fitting place for its debut. We used it throughout the ceremony and drinks reception, pairing its contemporary appearance and distinctive sound with piano.
Its first performance included everything from Pachelbel and Elvis Presley to Queen, Taylor Swift and RAYE—an excellent demonstration of the variety of music that a cello and piano duo can bring to a wedding day.
We are looking forward to using the Yamaha electric cello at many more weddings and events.
Roslin Beach Hotel Wedding Music by JAM Duo
Jemima and Ross created a wedding soundtrack that felt personal from beginning to end. Their choices brought together traditional ceremony music, modern love songs, film themes and upbeat music for the celebrations afterwards.
The layout of the Roslin Beach Hotel also worked beautifully for live music. Being able to perform inside while the doors opened directly onto the terrace meant that the music connected the ceremony and drinks reception without breaking the flow of the afternoon.
We loved being part of Jemima and Ross’s celebration, from the anticipation before the ceremony to the relaxed drinks reception overlooking the Southend seafront.
Congratulations to you both, and thank you for choosing JAM Duo to accompany your wedding day.
