Some weddings have a detail which makes them instantly memorable. For Megan and David’s wedding at Hanbury Barns in Staffordshire, there were several: a beautiful indoor barn ceremony, live cello and piano music throughout the day, a military sword arch, a fabulous musical brief, and a hymn sung to the tune of The Dam Busters March.
As wedding musicians, we always enjoy days which have a strong sense of personality, and this wedding certainly had that. Megan and David — or Meg and Dave, as they are known — had planned a day which combined elegance, fun, family, RAF tradition and plenty of music.
JAM Duo provided live music for the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, moving between three different indoor locations across Hanbury Barns during the day. This is something we do regularly at weddings, but it always requires a bit of planning, awareness and flexibility so that each part of the day flows smoothly.
Hanbury Barns is a lovely Staffordshire wedding venue, with different spaces for each part of the celebration. For Meg and Dave’s wedding, the ceremony took place indoors in the ceremony barn, followed by drinks and photographs, and then the wedding breakfast in another part of the venue.
It was a full day of music, carefully shaped around the structure of their wedding.
A Military Wedding at Hanbury Barns
Meg and Dave’s wedding had a military connection, with Dave’s RAF background bringing some wonderful ceremonial details into the day.
One of the most striking moments came after the ceremony, when there was a military sword arch for the bride and groom. This is often referred to more generally as a guard of honour, but where swords are raised for the couple to walk beneath, the more precise term is a sword arch or arch of swords.
It created a superb moment for the couple and their guests, as Meg and Dave walked beneath the raised swords before heading outside for their confetti photograph. It is one of those traditions which brings real theatre to a wedding day — formal, celebratory, and very photogenic.
Military weddings often have a slightly different rhythm to them. There can be more formality, more ceremonial structure, and sometimes a stronger sense of occasion. But Meg and Dave’s wedding also had a wonderfully relaxed and joyful atmosphere. The RAF elements were there, but they sat naturally alongside their own personalities, their family, and their brilliant choices of music.
Wedding Ceremony Music in the Barn
For the ceremony, we were positioned towards the back of the ceremony barn. This can often work very well for live music, particularly in a barn setting, because it allows the sound to carry through the room without drawing too much attention away from the ceremony itself.
The couple had chosen a really varied set of pre-ceremony music for their guests arriving. Their choices included:
As It Was – Harry Styles
Blinded by Your Grace – Stormzy
Follow You – Bring Me The Horizon
Love of My Life – Queen
Ordinary – Alex Warren
This was a lovely mix. It immediately showed that Meg and Dave wanted music which reflected them, rather than a set of traditional wedding pieces chosen simply because they were expected.
This is something we always encourage. Wedding ceremony music does not have to be limited to classical pieces or standard bridal entrance songs. Modern pop, rock, musical theatre, film music and more contemporary songs can all work beautifully when arranged for piano and cello.
The key is in the arrangement. A song which might originally be quite rhythmic, heavily produced or guitar-led can take on a completely different character when played live on cello and piano. It becomes more elegant and more suitable for a ceremony, while still keeping the personality of the original track.
The Groom’s Entrance: Clocks by Coldplay
One of the nice details in Meg and Dave’s plan was that Dave had his own entrance music.
The groom’s entrance was Clocks by Coldplay.
Not every wedding includes a separate groom’s entrance, but when it is planned well, it can be very effective. It gives the groom a musical moment of his own and helps mark the beginning of the ceremony before the bridal party enter.
Clocks works especially well on piano because of that unmistakable opening figure. It is one of those songs which guests recognise very quickly, even when it is played instrumentally. With cello added, it gains warmth and shape without losing the rhythmic energy of the original.
For a wedding with a modern, personal music brief, this was a great choice.
Bridal Entrance Blend: Sweet Disposition and If I Ain’t Got You
For the bridal entrance, Meg and Dave chose a live blend.
The bridesmaids entered to Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap, followed by Meg’s entrance to If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys.
This is exactly the kind of musical moment where live musicians can make a real difference.
When couples choose two separate pieces for a bridal entrance, the transition between them needs to feel natural. The bridesmaids may take longer than expected. The bride may be waiting just outside. The registrar or celebrant may need a moment. The atmosphere in the room can change very quickly.
Because we play everything live, we can adapt in real time. We can extend the first song if the bridesmaids are still walking, move into the second at exactly the right moment, and make the transition feel musical rather than mechanical.
There is no awkward fade-out, no sudden cut, and no need to hope that a pre-edited track lands in the right place. It is all shaped around the actual moment.
Sweet Disposition created a warm, uplifting opening for the bridal party, while If I Ain’t Got You brought a more soulful and emotional feel for Meg’s entrance. Together, they made a really effective pairing.
God Is Our Strength and Refuge — to The Dam Busters
One of the most memorable musical moments of the ceremony was the hymn.
The guests sang God Is Our Strength and Refuge, which is famously sung to the tune of The Dam Busters March.
For this part of the ceremony, the venue played a backing track for the guests to sing along to. Jules quietly played along as well — partly to support the music, and partly because The Dam Busters March is one of his favourite pieces of music.
It was a particularly fitting choice for an RAF wedding.
There are some hymn tunes which immediately create a sense of occasion, and this is certainly one of them. The combination of a strong congregation, a military connection and that unmistakable tune made it a really special moment in the ceremony.
Although JAM Duo normally provide all our music completely live with no backing tracks, this was a specific hymn moment organised by the couple and venue, and the backing track was used to support the congregational singing. Jules joining in quietly on piano added an extra live element without overpowering the track or the guests.
It was a small detail, but a lovely one.
Signing Music with a Difference
Meg and Dave were having a celebrant-led ceremony, so the signing was not a legal register signing in the traditional sense. Instead, they signed a book to mimic the signing of the certificate.
For this moment, they chose:
Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
Again, these choices showed real personality. Neither is a conventional signing piece, but both worked well in context because the ceremony itself was clearly designed around the couple rather than around a standard template.
Pink Pony Club has become a very popular song, and it is always interesting to see how newer music starts to appear in weddings. Songs become part of people’s lives quickly now, and couples often want their wedding music to reflect what they actually listen to.
Life Is a Highway brought a completely different kind of energy. It is fun, upbeat and full of movement — perfect for a couple who wanted their day to feel joyful rather than overly formal.
Couple Exit: On Top of the World
For their exit from the ceremony, Meg and Dave chose On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons.
This is a brilliant wedding exit song. It has exactly the right kind of celebratory energy, and it feels optimistic without being too predictable.
The exit music is always one of the most enjoyable parts of a wedding ceremony to play. The formal promises have been made, the couple have been announced, and everyone is ready to celebrate. The music needs to lift the room instantly.
On Top of the World did exactly that.
It also led beautifully into the next part of the day: confetti, photographs, drinks and the sword arch.
Drinks Reception Music at Hanbury Barns
After the ceremony, the plan was for the cocktail hour and drinks reception to take place outside in the courtyard, weather permitting. As with many British weddings, the weather always has the final say, and on this occasion the music remained indoors across the venue’s different spaces.
This worked perfectly well because Hanbury Barns has several distinct areas, allowing the day to move naturally from ceremony to reception and then on to the wedding breakfast.
For the drinks reception, Meg and Dave had given us a broad and really enjoyable brief. They wanted music including:
Queen
Harry Styles
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
Alex Warren
Myles Smith
Bring Me The Horizon
Bridgerton
Disney
The 1975
Hozier
Fall Out Boy
Noah Kahan
Pop-related music
This kind of brief is ideal for us. It gives us a strong sense of the couple’s taste without making the music feel too restricted. We can choose songs which suit the atmosphere in the room, respond to how guests are behaving, and move between different styles as the drinks reception unfolds.
A drinks reception is not a concert. The music needs to create atmosphere, but it should not dominate the conversation. Guests are chatting, congratulating the couple, having photographs taken, and enjoying the first relaxed part of the day after the ceremony. Live cello and piano works so well here because it gives the space warmth and energy while still allowing people to talk naturally.
Disney, Bridgerton and Music for the Family
One particularly lovely detail in Meg and Dave’s music brief was the mention of Disney songs from Moana, Tangled and Monsters, Inc. for their daughter.
That is exactly the sort of personal touch which makes wedding music feel meaningful.
Weddings are not just about the couple in isolation. They are also about family, friends and the people who matter most to them. Including music connected to their daughter brought another layer of warmth to the day.
Disney music works beautifully on cello and piano. The melodies are strong, guests often recognise them instantly, and they bring a sense of nostalgia without feeling too heavy. Alongside that, Bridgerton-style arrangements added a more elegant, modern string-led feel, which has become hugely popular for weddings.
This mixture — Disney, Bridgerton, Coldplay, Queen, Harry Styles and Imagine Dragons — gave the drinks reception a really personal and contemporary sound.
Wedding Breakfast Music
For the wedding breakfast, we moved again to another indoor location at Hanbury Barns.
Meg and Dave had chosen Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes for their entrance into the wedding breakfast.
This is always a fun choice. It has one of the most recognisable riffs in modern music, and even when played on piano and cello, it keeps that bold, punchy character. For a bride and groom entrance, it gives a sense of energy and confidence without needing anything too formal.
The wedding breakfast itself then continued with a similar musical brief to the drinks reception: Queen, Harry Styles, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Alex Warren, Myles Smith, Bring Me The Horizon, Bridgerton, Disney, The 1975, Hozier, Fall Out Boy, Noah Kahan and plenty of pop.
Playing during the wedding breakfast is quite different from playing during the drinks reception. Guests are seated, the atmosphere is more settled, and the music needs to sit underneath the meal. It should be present and enjoyable, but never intrusive.
This is where instrumental cello and piano really comes into its own. We can play recognisable music in a way that adds atmosphere without making guests feel they need to stop talking or listen in silence.
Speeches After the Meal
Meg and Dave had planned their speeches after the meal, which meant we were able to provide music throughout the wedding breakfast before the formal speaking began later in the evening.
The speeches were scheduled to begin at 6.30pm, with Dave’s father of the bride speech, followed by the best man and then the groom.
Having music before the speeches can be very effective. It helps keep the atmosphere warm and relaxed during the meal, and then the room naturally shifts focus when the speeches begin.
This is one of the reasons we always pay attention to timings on a wedding day. The music is not separate from the structure of the day — it helps support it. The transition from ceremony to drinks, from drinks to meal, and from meal to speeches should all feel natural.
Moving Between Three Locations
For this wedding, we provided music in three different indoor locations across Hanbury Barns.
That meant setting up for the ceremony, then moving for the drinks reception, and then moving again for the wedding breakfast.
This is something couples do not always think about when planning live music, but it is an important part of what we do. Moving instruments and sound equipment around a venue takes time, care and awareness of the wedding schedule. We need to be discreet, efficient and ready to play when the next part of the day begins.
Because we do this so often, we are used to working around venue teams, photographers, videographers, registrars, celebrants and caterers. Our aim is always to make the music feel seamless from the couple’s point of view.
At Hanbury Barns, the different spaces worked well for this. The venue has a natural flow, and each part of the day had its own setting. That helped the wedding feel as though it had distinct chapters, rather than everything happening in one room.
Hanbury Barns as a Wedding Venue
Hanbury Barns is a stylish barn wedding venue in Staffordshire, set at Parson Brake Farm near Burton Road in Hanbury. It is known for its combination of restored barns, countryside surroundings and flexible spaces for different parts of a wedding day.
For couples planning a wedding where ceremony, drinks, wedding breakfast and evening celebrations all happen in one venue, that flexibility is a real advantage. It allows the day to move naturally from one part to the next while still keeping everything close and convenient for guests.
The ceremony barn, courtyard and wedding breakfast spaces all give couples different options depending on the weather, guest numbers and the feel they want for the day.
For Meg and Dave, having three indoor locations worked very well. It allowed the ceremony to feel focused and formal, the drinks reception to feel more relaxed, and the wedding breakfast to have its own sense of arrival.
RAF Wedding Music and Live Ceremony Music
Military weddings often have a strong visual identity, but the music matters just as much.
For Meg and Dave, the RAF connection was reflected not only in the sword arch but also in the hymn choice. God Is Our Strength and Refuge, sung to the tune of The Dam Busters March, was a wonderful way to bring that element of the day into the ceremony.
At the same time, the rest of the music was very much their own: Coldplay, Alicia Keys, The Temper Trap, Chappell Roan, Rascal Flatts, Imagine Dragons, Queen, Disney, Bring Me The Horizon and more.
That combination made the day feel both ceremonial and personal.
This is one of the best things about modern wedding music. Couples no longer have to choose between tradition and personality. They can have both. A wedding can include a hymn, a sword arch, a celebrant ceremony, a Coldplay groom entrance, a live bridal entrance blend and Disney music for a child — and it can all make perfect sense when planned carefully.
Why Live Music Works So Well for Barn Weddings
Barn weddings are particularly well suited to live music.
The spaces are usually warm, characterful and full of texture. Exposed brick, timber frames, high ceilings and rustic details all help create atmosphere, but music brings that atmosphere to life.
Cello and piano are especially effective in barn venues because they provide enough presence to fill the space without feeling too loud or too formal. The sound is elegant but flexible, which means it can suit a ceremony, a drinks reception and a meal.
For Meg and Dave’s wedding, the music had to do several different jobs. It needed to welcome guests, support the ceremony, accompany a live bridal entrance blend, sit alongside a hymn and backing track, create atmosphere during drinks, mark the couple’s entrance into the wedding breakfast, and then continue through the meal.
That variety is exactly why we enjoy playing full-day weddings. Each part of the day has a different energy, and the music helps shape that progression.
Congratulations Meg and Dave
A huge congratulations to Meg and Dave on their wedding at Hanbury Barns.
It was a real pleasure to provide live music for their ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, and to be part of a day which combined RAF tradition, family warmth and a wonderfully personal music brief.
From Dave’s entrance to Clocks, to the bridal blend of Sweet Disposition and If I Ain’t Got You, the hymn sung to The Dam Busters March, and the celebratory exit to On Top of the World, the ceremony was full of memorable musical moments.
The sword arch after the ceremony was a fantastic sight, and the rest of the day carried on with exactly the kind of relaxed, joyful atmosphere that makes a wedding so special.
We wish Meg and Dave every happiness for the future.
Live Wedding Music at Hanbury Barns
JAM Duo provide live cello and piano music for weddings at Hanbury Barns and across Staffordshire, Derbyshire, the Midlands and the rest of the UK.
We regularly perform for ceremony music, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours and evening celebrations. Every piece is played live by Jules on piano and Anne-Marie on cello, with no backing tracks, no deps and no pre-recorded shortcuts.
Whether you are planning a barn wedding, a military wedding, a celebrant ceremony or a full day of music across several parts of your venue, we can help create a soundtrack which feels personal, elegant and completely suited to your day.
For couples getting married at Hanbury Barns, live cello and piano is a beautiful way to bring atmosphere to each part of the celebration — from guest arrival to the wedding breakfast and beyond.
