JAM Duo | Real Weddings | 8 October 2026
Live Cello and Piano at Elmore Court in Gloucestershire
There are some wedding venues which make an impression before a single note has been played, and Elmore Court, just outside Gloucester, is certainly one of them. A magnificent historic country house, beautiful grounds and a particularly impressive main hall make it an excellent setting for a wedding. On Thursday 8 October 2026, we were delighted to return to this lovely Gloucestershire venue to provide live cello and piano music for the wedding of Sharon Lau and Kingsley Wong.
As JAM Duo, we perform at weddings throughout England and Wales, and one of the pleasures of our work is discovering how different couples make even the most established venues their own. Sharon and Kingsley had planned a ceremony in the main hall, followed by an afternoon drinks reception, with around 75 guests joining them for the celebrations. Their choice of music was particularly individual, ranging from Schubert and Einaudi through to Japanese film soundtracks, Hans Zimmer, Muse and Linkin Park. Not necessarily the repertoire one might expect to find together at a country house wedding, but that is precisely what makes live wedding music interesting.
The weather was also on our side. October in Gloucestershire can be rather unpredictable, but there was plenty of sunshine for the afternoon reception, allowing guests to enjoy the lawns and gardens while still having the option of returning indoors for refreshments and conversation.
A Beautiful Indoor Wedding Ceremony at Elmore Court
The main hall at Elmore Court is a wonderful room for a wedding ceremony. With its historic character, decorative tapestries, generous proportions and beautiful natural light, it feels suitably grand without becoming impersonal. There is something rather special about performing live music in a room which has witnessed centuries of gatherings and celebrations.
For Sharon and Kingsley’s ceremony, the seating was arranged with elegant pale chairs, delicate white floral decorations and a central aisle leading towards the couple. The autumn sunlight came through the windows and across the wooden floor, providing a rather lovely atmosphere for the occasion.
We positioned ourselves near the decorative piano in the ceremony room, using our Nord digital piano and Yamaha electric cello. Although there is a piano at the venue, our own instrument gives us complete control over the sound, balance and musical arrangements. It also allows us to perform together without having to make assumptions about the tuning, condition or suitability of a venue instrument.
Our electric cello is particularly useful in a room of this size. It retains the expressive quality of a bowed cello while allowing us to control the volume carefully, ensuring that quieter passages can be heard without the louder moments becoming overpowering. The important thing is that the music should complement the ceremony rather than compete with it.
Guest Arrival Music: From Schubert to Einaudi
Guests began arriving from 1pm ahead of the 2pm ceremony, and we provided a selection of live instrumental music while everyone gathered and found their seats.
Sharon and Kingsley had chosen a lovely mixture of pieces, including Indaco by Ludovico Einaudi, Schubert’s Ave Maria, Sweet Disposition and Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years. Each brought something slightly different to the room, from the gentle, repetitive piano writing of Einaudi to the long, lyrical phrases of Schubert.
Pre-ceremony music is sometimes treated as little more than background entertainment, but we think it has a much more important purpose. Guests may have travelled considerable distances, spent time finding the venue or arrived with the usual concerns about parking and whether they have managed to sit in the correct place. Live music helps to change the atmosphere, establishing a sense of occasion before the formal proceedings begin.
For a venue such as Elmore Court, the combination of cello and piano works particularly well. The music can remain gentle enough to allow conversation while still bringing warmth and character to the room. By the time the ceremony is ready to begin, guests have already spent some time listening to the instruments that will accompany the most important moments of the afternoon.
A Bridal Entrance with a Difference
One of the most distinctive elements of Sharon and Kingsley’s wedding was their choice of music for the bridal party entrance.
The three bridesmaids entered to Lost Without You by Freya Ridings, arranged for our cello and piano combination. It is a beautifully expressive song, and its gentle musical character makes it particularly suitable for a wedding entrance. The cello can carry the vocal melody while the piano provides the harmonic foundation, producing something rather more intimate than simply playing the original recording.
For Sharon’s own entrance, the choice was Kataware Doki, from the Japanese animated film Your Name. Composed by RADWIMPS, this is a wonderfully atmospheric piece, with a distinctive musical character that works beautifully in an instrumental arrangement.
It was a refreshing change from the more familiar bridal entrance selections. There is certainly nothing wrong with the traditional wedding repertoire, and we still regularly perform pieces such as Pachelbel’s Canon in D and A Thousand Years. However, the most meaningful music is often something that has a personal connection for the couple, even when it might not immediately strike everyone else as an obvious wedding choice.
This is one of the great advantages of having live musicians rather than relying on recorded tracks. We can arrange music specifically for the instruments, adapt the introduction and shape the performance around the bridal party’s entrance. There is no requirement for the bride to walk at precisely the speed dictated by a recording, which is just as well because wedding entrances rarely run with the precision of a military parade.
Music for the Signing and a Golden Hour Exit
Following the exchange of vows, Sharon and Kingsley had selected three further pieces for the signing of the marriage schedule.
The first was Sparkle by RADWIMPS, continuing the Japanese film music theme. This was followed by the Overturefrom the video game Stardew Valley and Married Life from the Disney Pixar film Up.
We particularly enjoy arrangements from film and video game soundtracks because they often contain some very fine musical writing that is not necessarily familiar to traditional wedding audiences. Married Life, for example, is a beautifully constructed piece with an instantly recognisable melody, while the music of Stardew Valley has a charming simplicity that translates very naturally to cello and piano.
The signing is also a good opportunity for couples to choose music which means something to them without having to worry about the precise duration of each piece. We prepare sufficient music to cover the formalities and can bring an arrangement to a natural conclusion when everything is complete.
For their exit as a married couple, Sharon and Kingsley chose Golden Hour by JVKE. After the quieter music of the ceremony, this provided a brighter and more celebratory conclusion as the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle.
Live Wedding Drinks Reception Music at Elmore Court
After the ceremony, attention turned to the drinks reception, scheduled from approximately 2.45pm until 4pm.
Elmore Court offers some beautiful outdoor spaces, and with the weather behaving itself, many of the guests naturally made their way onto the lawns to enjoy drinks, canapés and conversation. This presented a small practical consideration for our performance, because the venue has sound restrictions governing live music in certain areas.
Although Sharon and Kingsley’s original planning form had not identified any particular restrictions, the arrangement on the day required us to perform indoors rather than setting up outside. We therefore played from within the house, with the doors open so that the music could carry out towards the guests on the lawn.
It was a simple arrangement, but one that worked remarkably well.
Guests outside could enjoy the music drifting through the open doors, while those coming back into the house for drinks or visiting the bar could hear us more directly. Rather than attempting to fill the entire garden with sound, we were able to provide a pleasant musical backdrop that complemented the natural movement of guests between the different spaces.
For anyone considering live musicians at Elmore Court, this is worth bearing in mind. The venue has its own arrangements concerning amplified sound, and the precise positioning of musicians should always be discussed in advance. It certainly does not mean that live cello and piano cannot form part of an outdoor drinks reception. In our experience, a carefully planned indoor position can work extremely effectively when the adjoining outdoor spaces are being used.
Indeed, there is something quite appealing about music being heard gently through the open doors of a country house. It is rather more elegant than attempting to entertain the entire Gloucestershire countryside at considerable volume, and almost certainly more popular with the neighbours.
From Hans Zimmer to Linkin Park: A Very Personal Playlist
The music Sharon and Kingsley selected for their drinks reception was wonderfully varied. Alongside romantic favourites such as Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, Bruno Mars’ Marry You and Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King, they included a number of contemporary songs and film themes.
The music of Hans Zimmer featured prominently, with Interstellar, Cornfield Chase and Time all included in their choices. These pieces are particularly satisfying to perform on piano and cello because so much of their impact comes from gradually developing harmonies and melodic lines. They do not need an orchestra or a complicated electronic arrangement to make an impression.
There was also Howl’s Moving Castle, another example of the rather lovely music associated with Japanese animation, together with Glimpse of Us by Joji, Her by JVKE, Dandelions by Ruth B and Eternity by Alex Warren.
Then came a selection which might surprise anyone who assumes that cello and piano are restricted to gentle classical music. Toto’s Africa, Muse’s Starlight, The Cranberries’ Zombie, Alan Walker’s Faded and Linkin Park’s Numb were all on the list, alongside Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls and You’re Beautiful by James Blunt.
This is exactly the sort of variety we enjoy. A good instrumental arrangement can bring out musical details that are sometimes less obvious in the original recording. The cello takes the melody, the piano supplies the rhythm and harmony, and familiar songs acquire a rather different character.
It also means that couples do not have to choose between having elegant live musicians and hearing the music they genuinely enjoy. We would far rather work with an imaginative list of personal favourites than insist that every wedding should sound exactly the same.
Why We Use a Nord Piano and Electric Cello for Weddings
For this wedding, our setup was deliberately straightforward: a Nord digital piano, Yamaha electric cello and our own professional sound equipment.
We often explain to couples that the choice of instruments is not simply a matter of appearance. It is about providing the best possible musical experience for the particular room, number of guests and format of the day.
The Nord gives us a consistent, high-quality piano sound, while our electric cello allows Anne-Marie to perform with the same musical expression she would use on an acoustic instrument, but with the added flexibility of controlled amplification. That matters particularly when moving between a formal indoor ceremony and a drinks reception where guests may be spread across several different spaces.
For Sharon and Kingsley’s wedding, it meant we could provide delicate music for the ceremony and then adapt the sound for the reception without changing the fundamental character of our performance.
Our arrangements are performed entirely live, without backing tracks or pre-recorded accompaniments. Every note comes from the two of us, and because we always work together, we can respond naturally to the pace of the occasion, adjusting the timing, dynamics and length of individual pieces as necessary.
There is a great deal to be said for keeping things simple, provided the musicians and equipment are up to the job.
Elmore Court: A Gloucestershire Wedding Venue with Character
One of the things that makes Elmore Court particularly appealing is the contrast between the historic country house and its purpose-built celebration space, The Gillyflower.
The house itself dates from around 1580 and retains a wonderful sense of history. The main hall, in particular, is an impressive location for a wedding ceremony, while the surrounding rooms and gardens offer plenty of opportunities for guests to gather throughout the day.
The Gillyflower provides a different setting for larger celebrations, dining and dancing. Designed with sound insulation in mind, it allows the venue to accommodate evening entertainment while respecting its rural surroundings.
Elmore Estate
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For couples looking for a wedding venue near Gloucester or the Cotswolds, Elmore Court therefore offers a particularly attractive combination of traditional architecture and modern facilities. It has the grandeur expected of a historic country house but still feels welcoming and relaxed.
From our perspective as wedding musicians, it is also a venue where careful planning makes all the difference. Knowing where the ceremony will take place, how guests will move between rooms and which areas are suitable for amplified music allows us to create a musical programme that feels part of the day rather than an entertainment package imposed upon it.
Sharon and Kingsley’s wedding demonstrated that rather nicely.
An Unexpected Visitor as We Packed Away
At the end of our performance, as guests continued with the celebrations and we began packing away our instruments, we encountered one final character who deserved a mention.
A magnificent, rather fluffy tabby cat appeared on the lawn and seemed quite happy to investigate proceedings. With its substantial coat, impressive tail and generally self-assured manner, we wondered whether it might have been a Maine Coon, although we certainly cannot claim any expertise in identifying cat breeds.
It was a friendly creature and clearly rather comfortable in its surroundings. We suspect it considered the estate to be entirely its own and the wedding guests merely temporary visitors.
After a day spent transporting equipment, performing music and carefully negotiating the practicalities of a historic wedding venue, meeting the resident feline was a pleasant way to finish. Fortunately, it showed no particular interest in helping us carry the piano.
Some things are apparently beneath even the most sociable cat.
Congratulations to Sharon and Kingsley
We thoroughly enjoyed providing the music for Sharon and Kingsley’s wedding at Elmore Court. Their choices brought together an unusually interesting range of styles, from classical music and Japanese soundtracks to contemporary pop and rock, all arranged for our live cello and piano duo.
The beautiful main hall provided a memorable setting for their ceremony, while the afternoon sunshine allowed guests to make the most of the gardens during the drinks reception. Despite the restrictions on where we could perform, the combination of indoor music and open doors created exactly the relaxed atmosphere we had hoped for.
We wish Sharon and Kingsley every happiness in their married life and thank them for inviting JAM Duo to be part of their special day.
Planning Your Wedding Music at Elmore Court?
If you are planning a wedding at Elmore Court, or another wedding venue in Gloucestershire or the Cotswolds, JAM Duo can provide live cello and piano music for your ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast.
We are Jules Addison on piano and Anne-Marie Humphries on cello, and we perform together at every wedding we undertake. With no backing tracks, an extensive repertoire and the flexibility to arrange music around your own choices, we aim to provide a musical experience that is both personal and beautifully suited to your venue.
Whether you are planning a traditional ceremony, looking for something a little different for your bridal entrance or would like live music to accompany drinks in the gardens, we would be delighted to hear about your plans.
