The Dodford Inn near Bromsgrove was the setting for Melissa and Charlotte’s fabulous summer wedding, where JAM Duo provided live cello and piano music throughout the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast.
Known to family and friends as Mel and Charlie, this was a wonderfully personal and joyful wedding day with around 50 guests, a navy and burnt orange colour scheme, and a relaxed countryside setting. The Dodford Inn is a family-run Worcestershire wedding venue set within its own gardens and woodland, with indoor and outdoor spaces that work beautifully for a wedding day with a natural flow from ceremony to drinks, photographs and meal. The venue describes itself as a countryside wedding venue with six acres of manicured gardens and woodland, with the whole premises licensed for civil ceremonies.
For us as wedding musicians at The Dodford Inn, this was exactly the kind of day where live music can make a real difference. We played as guests arrived, throughout the indoor ceremony, outside for drinks and canapés, and then back inside for the wedding breakfast until speeches.
Wedding Ceremony Music at The Dodford Inn
Mel and Charlie’s ceremony took place indoors at The Dodford Inn, with guests arriving from 1pm ahead of the 2pm ceremony. We were positioned inside near the large windows, which gave a lovely sense of light and space while keeping the music close to the heart of the ceremony.
The Dodford Inn’s main barn room opened in 2017 and can host ceremonies and wedding breakfasts, with a larger evening capacity for receptions. For live cello and piano, this kind of indoor space works particularly well. The music feels present and warm without overwhelming the ceremony, and the natural light near the windows gave the whole setting a gentle, relaxed feel.
Mel and Charlie had chosen a thoughtful selection of pre-ceremony music for their guests. As everyone arrived and took their seats, we played songs including You’re Still the One by Shania Twain, Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, Perfect by Ed Sheeran, Keep It to Myself by Cooper Alan, Speeches by James TW, Through the Barricades, Love of My Life by Dean Lewis and Yellowstone by Matt Hansen.
This gave the beginning of the day a very personal atmosphere. Some of the choices were modern and romantic, while others had a more reflective quality, which suited the emotional build-up to the ceremony.
A Moving Bridal Party Entrance
The bridal party entrance was carefully planned and full of meaning.
First, Jake entered with two memorial flowers for Mel’s sisters in heaven, placing them on their reserved seats before taking his own seat. Quinn, Mel and Charlie’s nephew, then walked down the aisle. After this, the three bridesmaids — Lara, Crystal and Shirley — entered one at a time to Better Place by Rachel Platten.
These moments are exactly where live ceremony music matters. The pace of a wedding entrance is never completely predictable, especially when there are several people entering separately and when the moment carries emotional significance. Because we perform everything live, we can follow the movement in the room, extend a phrase if needed, and make sure the music supports the moment rather than dictating it.
Charlie then walked down the aisle to The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack. This is a beautiful choice for cello and piano: intimate, expressive and timeless.
Mel followed, entering to I Get to Love You by Ruelle. This has become a very popular wedding ceremony choice, and it works especially well for a bridal entrance because it has a natural emotional lift without feeling too grand. For Mel and Charlie, the two separate entrances gave each bride her own moment while still feeling connected as part of the same ceremony.
An Owl Ring Bearer
One of the most memorable parts of the ceremony was the ring bearer: an owl.
It worked perfectly.
Animal ring bearers can sometimes be a little unpredictable, but this was beautifully handled and became a real highlight of the ceremony. The owl brought a sense of theatre, surprise and charm, while still fitting naturally into the day. It was one of those moments guests will almost certainly remember for years to come.
As musicians, we always need to be ready for the unexpected during a ceremony. Whether it is a longer aisle walk, a pause in the proceedings, a child taking their time, or in this case an owl delivering the rings, live music gives us the flexibility to stay with the moment.
Signing the Schedule
For the signing of the schedule, Mel and Charlie chose Take Forever by Cooper Alan and I Choose You by Ryann Darling.
Both songs suited the intimate and heartfelt tone of the ceremony. The signing section is often one of the quieter parts of the day, giving the couple and witnesses a chance to complete the formalities while guests take in what has just happened. Live cello and piano provides a gentle backdrop without taking attention away from the couple.
We always prepare enough music for this section so that there is no awkward silence if the signing takes longer than expected. Equally, if it moves quickly, we can bring the music to a natural close.
Walking on Sunshine for the Couple Exit
For their recessional, Mel and Charlie chose Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.
This was a perfect exit choice. After the emotion of the entrances, the memorial flowers, the owl ring bearer and the signing, Walking on Sunshine brought the ceremony to a bright and celebratory close. It gave everyone permission to smile, cheer and move outside ready for the confetti shot, drinks and canapés.
It is always lovely when a couple chooses an exit song with a real sense of joy. On cello and piano, Walking on Sunshine becomes playful and upbeat while still retaining the elegance of live instruments.
Drinks Reception Outside at The Dodford Inn
After the ceremony, guests followed Mel and Charlie outside for photographs, confetti, drinks and canapés. The Dodford Inn’s countryside setting works very well for this part of the day, with gardens and outdoor space allowing guests to relax and mingle after the ceremony. The venue is set within private countryside grounds near Bromsgrove, with gardens, woodland and views forming part of its appeal as a Worcestershire wedding venue.
We relocated outside to play for the drinks reception. There was plenty of space on the patio and in the garden areas, including shaded areas, which is always helpful when performing outdoors in summer.
Outdoor drinks reception music needs to be handled carefully. The aim is not to turn the drinks reception into a concert, but to create an atmosphere that carries through the space while guests chat, enjoy drinks, have photographs taken and move between groups. Cello and piano works beautifully for this because it gives warmth, elegance and recognisable songs without becoming intrusive.
Drinks Reception Music
Mel and Charlie chose a wonderfully varied drinks reception set, mixing feel-good classics, modern love songs and upbeat favourites.
Their selections included Still Into You, Somewhere in My Heart by Aztec Camera, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, The Winner Takes It All by ABBA, I Can’t Help Myself by The Four Tops, Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen, 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton, Ordinary by Alex Warren and Life With You by Kelsey Hart.
This was a very enjoyable set to play because it had such a good balance. Some pieces were relaxed and sunny, such as Three Little Birds, while others brought a more upbeat feel, including Don’t Stop Me Now, 9 to 5 and Sweet Caroline. The mixture suited the outside setting perfectly and helped carry the celebrations through the afternoon.
Jenni and Ice Cream
Another lovely detail during the drinks reception was the ice cream supplier, Jenni and Ice Cream.
We had previously met Jenni at a wedding at Sandon Hall in Staffordshire back in 2024, so it was a nice surprise to see her again at The Dodford Inn. It is always rather special when we cross paths with familiar suppliers at different weddings around the country.
It was also extremely kind of Jenni to give us ice creams during the drinks reception. On a summer wedding day, while playing outside, that was very much appreciated. These small supplier moments are part of what makes wedding days so enjoyable behind the scenes. Everyone is there to contribute to the couple’s day, and when suppliers look after one another, it adds to the warmth of the whole occasion.
Wedding Breakfast Music Inside
After the drinks reception, guests were invited back inside for the wedding breakfast. We relocated once again and continued playing live music during the meal, right up until the speeches.
Mel and Charlie had planned a newlywed entrance into the wedding breakfast, with More Than a Feeling by Declan J Donovan chosen for the moment they were announced into the room. This gave the start of the meal a lovely sense of celebration, helping to mark the transition from drinks reception to wedding breakfast.
For the rest of the meal, they chose a relaxed and upbeat selection of songs including The One My Heart Beats For by Greg Steinfeld, Life With You by Kelsey Hart, Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton, Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer, Somewhere Only We Know by Keane, How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding, You Are So Beautiful, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by The Tams, She Moves in Her Own Way by The Kooks and Ho Hey by The Lumineers.
This was exactly the right kind of music for a wedding breakfast: recognisable, warm and relaxed, but still stylish enough to sit comfortably in the background while guests enjoyed their meal.
Live Music Through to Speeches
Mel and Charlie had booked us to play through the daytime parts of the wedding, from guest arrival at 1pm until the DJ took over for the evening.
This meant we provided a continuous live music thread through the main parts of the day: guest arrival, ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast and the build-up to speeches. The speeches took place after the meal, with bubbly poured for the toast beforehand.
Having live music across these parts of the day helps the wedding feel joined up. Rather than having silence between sections or relying on recorded playlists, cello and piano can follow the movement of the day naturally. As guests move from ceremony to drinks, and then from drinks to meal, the music changes with them.
At The Dodford Inn, this worked particularly well because the venue has a good indoor-outdoor flow. We could play inside for the ceremony, move outside for drinks, and then return inside for the wedding breakfast.
Music Choices and “Do Not Play” Requests
Mel and Charlie had also given clear guidance on music they did not want played, including certain artists and styles. This is always helpful.
As wedding musicians, our role is not simply to play a generic set of popular wedding songs. It is to create music that feels right for each couple. Sometimes that means including favourite songs; sometimes it also means avoiding music that would not suit the couple or has personal associations they do not want on their wedding day.
We are always happy to follow these instructions carefully. For Mel and Charlie, this meant shaping the music around their chosen style while respecting their “do not play” list throughout the day.
Wedding Musicians at The Dodford Inn
For couples looking for wedding musicians at The Dodford Inn, the venue offers several very good options for live music.
The indoor ceremony space works well for cello and piano, especially near the large windows where the music can sit naturally within the room. The outdoor patio and garden areas are ideal for drinks reception music, with enough space for guests to mingle while still being able to hear the music. The wedding breakfast room also suits live background music, allowing the atmosphere to continue into the meal.
The Dodford Inn combines a rustic countryside feel with practical wedding spaces, which makes it a very good venue for live daytime wedding music. The venue’s own information describes it as a family-owned countryside wedding venue with manicured gardens, woodland and panoramic views, and its wedding offering includes exclusive use and dedicated coordinators as part of its packages.
From our point of view, access was straightforward, with multiple entry points at the front, side and back of the venue. This makes a real difference for musicians, especially when moving between ceremony, drinks and wedding breakfast locations with instruments, piano, amplification and stands.
Why Cello and Piano Works So Well for This Kind of Wedding
Mel and Charlie’s wedding is a lovely example of why cello and piano works so well for a full daytime wedding.
For the ceremony, live music gives flexibility and emotion. We can time entrances carefully, support meaningful moments and respond naturally to what is happening in the room. For the drinks reception, cello and piano creates atmosphere while guests relax, talk and enjoy the setting. For the wedding breakfast, it brings warmth and continuity without overpowering conversation.
At JAM Duo, all our music is performed live by the two of us on cello and piano. We do not use backing tracks, and we are always the same two musicians at every wedding. This means couples can rely on a consistent sound, a responsive approach and a setup that works across different parts of the day.
For Mel and Charlie, this included emotional ceremony music, an upbeat exit, relaxed outdoor drinks reception music and a full wedding breakfast set through to speeches.
A Fabulous Wedding Day at The Dodford Inn
Mel and Charlie’s wedding at The Dodford Inn was a fabulous day from start to finish.
The ceremony was full of personal detail, from the memorial flowers to the two bridal entrances and the unforgettable owl ring bearer. The drinks reception outside had a relaxed summer feel, with guests enjoying canapés, photographs and ice cream. The wedding breakfast then brought everyone back inside for more live music before the speeches and evening celebrations.
It was a real pleasure to provide live music for such a warm and memorable wedding. Thank you so much to Mel and Charlie for choosing JAM Duo to be part of your day.
Our thanks also go to The Dodford Inn team for making everything run smoothly, and to Jenni and Ice Cream for the very welcome ice creams during the drinks reception. It was a joy to be part of such a happy and distinctive wedding celebration near Bromsgrove.
