There are some wedding venues which feel instantly welcoming the moment you arrive, and Upwaltham Barns in West Sussex is certainly one of them. Set in the South Downs countryside near Chichester, it is a beautiful barn wedding venue with everything close together, which makes the day feel wonderfully relaxed for couples and guests alike.
For Lauren and Nick’s wedding, we were delighted to provide live music throughout the daytime part of their celebration. JAM Duo played for their ceremony in the barn, continued with music for the drinks reception, and then relocated to the reception barn to play during the wedding breakfast.
The original plan had been to play outside in the courtyard for drinks, but the weather had other ideas. It rained for most of the day, so the drinks reception remained indoors in the same barn as the ceremony. In many ways, this is one of the lovely advantages of a venue like Upwaltham Barns. Even when the weather is not behaving, the day still flows beautifully because the spaces are so close together and the barns create a warm, atmospheric setting for everyone.
For this wedding we used our usual setup of Nord stage piano and Yamaha electric cello. We did not use our grand piano shell on this occasion, which suited the setting and the practicalities of moving between the barns. The Nord and electric cello combination is ideal for this sort of wedding: elegant enough for the ceremony, flexible enough for upbeat drinks reception songs, and perfectly suited to background music during the wedding breakfast.
Arriving at Upwaltham Barns
Upwaltham Barns is a venue which works extremely well from a musician’s point of view. There is free parking on site and easy access for unloading, which is always greatly appreciated when travelling with instruments, stands, speakers and everything else needed for live wedding music.
The layout is also very practical. The ceremony barn, courtyard and reception barn are all very close to one another, so relocating between parts of the day is straightforward. This is particularly useful when providing music for multiple parts of the wedding, as it allows us to keep everything calm, discreet and organised.
Lauren and Nick had chosen a sky blue and floral colour scheme, which felt beautifully fresh and suited the barn setting very well. Even though the weather was rather wet outside, the day itself had a lovely brightness to it, helped by the colours, flowers and the general warmth of the guests.
Their wedding was an intimate celebration of around 53 guests, which gave the whole day a very personal atmosphere. Smaller and medium-sized weddings often work particularly well with live music because the sound can really become part of the room without overwhelming conversation or the natural rhythm of the day.
Ceremony Music in the Barn
The ceremony took place in the ceremony barn, with us positioned towards the rear of the room on the left-hand side. This is a good position for live ceremony music, as it allows the music to fill the space while keeping the focus exactly where it should be: on the couple.
Before the ceremony, Lauren and Nick had chosen a selection of songs which included some of Nick’s favourites. These are always lovely to include, as the pre-ceremony music is one of those parts of the day that quietly sets the tone before the main moment begins.
Their pre-ceremony choices included:
- Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
- She’s The One – Robbie Williams
- I Wanna Be Yours – Arctic Monkeys
- Stand By Me – Oasis
- Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
This was a really nice mixture. It gave us the chance to create a relaxed, familiar atmosphere as guests arrived and took their seats. Songs like Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Dancing in the Moonlight work beautifully on piano and cello because they are instantly recognisable but can be softened into something elegant and suitable for the start of a wedding ceremony.
Aisle Music: Wicked and High School Musical
Lauren had chosen two separate pieces for the entrance: one for the bridesmaids and one for her own bridal entrance.
For the bridesmaids, we played For Good from Wicked. This is such a touching choice, particularly for bridesmaids or close family members, because it has a real sense of friendship, memory and connection. Played on piano and cello, it becomes very tender and emotional without feeling too dramatic.
Lauren had asked us to play up until the line “I know I’m who I am today, because I knew you”, which gave the entrance a very personal shape. One of the things we always try to do with ceremony music is to make sure it fits the walk rather than simply playing a track from beginning to end. With live music, we can adjust the pacing, extend sections, or bring the piece to a natural close at exactly the right moment.
For Lauren’s entrance, we played Right Here, Right Now from High School Musical in a slow, romantic version, going straight into the chorus. This was such a lovely and individual choice. We always enjoy arranging songs which mean something personal to the couple, and this one worked beautifully as a bridal entrance piece.
The cello carried the melody while the piano gave the harmony a gentle, flowing shape. Slowing the song down gave it a completely different character — romantic, emotional and very fitting for the moment Lauren entered the barn.
Music During the Signing
During the signing of the register, Lauren and Nick had chosen three songs:
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Rewrite the Stars – The Greatest Showman
- Don’t Go Away – Oasis
These were all excellent choices for the signing. This part of the ceremony usually needs around two or three pieces of music, depending on how long the paperwork and photographs take. It is a lovely chance to include songs that are meaningful, but perhaps not quite the right fit for the entrance or exit.
Make You Feel My Love is always beautiful on piano and cello. It has a timeless quality and sits very naturally as a romantic instrumental arrangement. Rewrite the Stars brings in a little more drama and movement, while Don’t Go Awayby Oasis gave the set a more personal, contemporary edge.
We always enjoy including Oasis songs in weddings because they translate surprisingly well to piano and cello. Stripped away from the band sound, the strength of the melody comes through very clearly.
Couple Exit: Accidentally in Love
For their exit as newlyweds, Lauren and Nick chose Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows in an upbeat version.
This was a brilliant choice. The couple exit is always one of the happiest moments of the ceremony, and it needs music with energy, lift and celebration. After the emotion of the vows and signing, an upbeat exit piece changes the atmosphere instantly and gives guests permission to clap, cheer and celebrate.
Accidentally in Love has exactly that joyful, slightly playful energy. On piano and electric cello it worked really well, giving the barn a bright and celebratory feel as Lauren and Nick made their way back down the aisle together.
Drinks Reception Music Indoors
The drinks reception had originally been planned for the courtyard, with us positioned on the raised area near the steps and exit of the ceremony barn. Unfortunately, with rain throughout the day, everyone stayed indoors and we continued in the barn instead.
Wet weather is always a possibility with UK weddings, even in June, and one of the key things we have learned over many years of playing for weddings is to be flexible. A good wedding venue and an experienced supplier team make all the difference when plans need to change. At Upwaltham Barns, the indoor spaces meant the drinks reception could continue without any sense of disruption.
Lauren and Nick had asked for good-vibe songs that people could sing along to, which is a perfect brief for a drinks reception. After the formality of the ceremony, guests are ready to relax, chat, have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. Live music at this point should lift the mood without dominating the room.
For the confetti throw, Lauren and Nick had chosen All You Need Is Love by The Beatles. Although the weather meant the outdoor plans were adjusted, this still made a lovely transition into the drinks reception atmosphere.
Their drinks reception music choices included:
- Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
- All the Small Things – Blink-182
- Still Into You – Paramore
- Rich Girl – Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Viva La Vida – Coldplay
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- One Less Lonely Girl – Justin Bieber
This was a really fun selection. We particularly enjoy playing songs like Unwritten, All the Small Things and Still Into Youbecause they bring a more modern, upbeat feel to the drinks reception. They are not traditional wedding background music choices, but that is exactly what makes them work so well for the right couple.
The combination of piano and cello allows these songs to become stylish instrumental versions while keeping their energy and recognisable hooks. Guests often pick up on songs gradually — a familiar chorus, a phrase in the cello, or a rhythmic figure in the piano — and it creates a lovely sense of connection in the room.
Relocating for the Wedding Breakfast
After the drinks reception, we relocated to the reception barn for the wedding breakfast. We were positioned on the right-hand side of the barn near the wide floor-length windows.
This move was very straightforward, helped by the practical layout of Upwaltham Barns. Everything is close together, which meant we could move our instruments and setup calmly without interfering with the flow of the day.
For the wedding breakfast entrance, Lauren and Nick chose DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love by Usher in the Bridgerton version. This was such a fun way to bring guests into the meal. The Bridgerton-style string arrangements have become incredibly popular for weddings, and for good reason. They take familiar pop songs and give them a more elegant, classical twist, which fits beautifully with a wedding setting.
As a piano and cello duo, this style is very natural for us. We can take contemporary songs and shape them into something that feels graceful and refined while still keeping the essence of the original track.
Bridgerton and Love Songs During the Meal
During the wedding breakfast, Lauren and Nick had asked for a mixture of Bridgerton-style music and love songs. This gave us a lovely brief for the meal: elegant, romantic, familiar and varied.
Their Bridgerton-inspired choices included:
- Enchanted
- Give Me Everything
- Wildest Dreams
- Yellow
- If I Ain’t Got You
- Nobody Gets Me
These songs all work beautifully as instrumental arrangements. Wildest Dreams and Yellow have become firm favourites for weddings, while If I Ain’t Got You gives the cello a really expressive melody. Give Me Everything is a great example of a song that becomes unexpectedly stylish when arranged for piano and cello.
Alongside the Bridgerton-style pieces, Lauren and Nick also asked for love songs by artists including Elvis, Goo Goo Dolls, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.
This sort of broad musical brief is something we particularly enjoy. It allows us to respond to the atmosphere in the room, moving between romantic ballads, modern pop, classic love songs and more upbeat instrumental covers as the meal progresses.
Wedding breakfast music is quite different from ceremony or drinks reception music. It needs to sit underneath conversation, support the atmosphere and avoid becoming too intrusive. At the same time, it should not feel dull or generic. Live piano and cello can bring a lovely warmth to the meal, adding atmosphere without taking over.
Why Live Music Works So Well at Upwaltham Barns
Barn venues are often wonderful spaces for live music. They usually have warmth, character and a natural acoustic that suits instruments like piano and cello. Upwaltham Barns is no exception.
The ceremony barn gave Lauren and Nick’s entrance music a real sense of intimacy, while the reception barn worked beautifully for the wedding breakfast. Even with the rain outside, the barns created a cosy and atmospheric setting for the day.
One of the advantages of live music is its flexibility. For Lauren and Nick’s wedding, the weather changed the drinks reception plan, but the music simply moved with the day. There was no need for anything to feel interrupted or compromised.
This is one of the reasons we always say that live musicians are not just there to play notes. We are also there to read the room, adapt to timings, work with the venue team and keep the musical side of the day flowing naturally.
Piano and Cello for Ceremony, Drinks and Wedding Breakfast
Lauren and Nick booked JAM Duo for three key parts of their day:
- Ceremony music
- Drinks reception music
- Wedding breakfast music
This is one of our favourite combinations because it allows music to become a thread running through the whole daytime celebration.
For the ceremony, the music is emotional and carefully timed. For the drinks reception, it becomes relaxed and upbeat. For the wedding breakfast, it settles into something elegant and atmospheric.
Using the same duo across all three parts of the day also creates consistency. Guests hear the music as they arrive, during the ceremony, while they enjoy drinks, and then again during the meal. It helps shape the mood of the day without the couple having to think about it once everything is underway.
For this wedding, our Nord piano and Yamaha electric cello setup gave us everything we needed. It was compact, flexible and ideal for moving between the barns. The Yamaha electric cello also works particularly well in a venue setting because it gives a clear, beautiful sound while allowing us to balance the volume carefully for each part of the day.
A Personal and Musical Wedding Day
Lauren and Nick’s music choices were full of personality. From For Good from Wicked and a romantic version of Right Here, Right Now from High School Musical, through to Oasis, Paramore, Coldplay, Bridgerton-style pop and classic love songs, the whole day felt very much like their own.
That is always what we love most about weddings. There is no single correct playlist and no need to follow a traditional formula. The best wedding music is the music that means something to the couple.
For Lauren and Nick, that meant musical theatre, pop, indie, classic love songs, upbeat singalong favourites and elegant Bridgerton-style arrangements. It was a wonderfully varied brief and a real pleasure to bring it all together on piano and cello.
Despite the rain, this was a warm, joyful and very personal wedding day at Upwaltham Barns. The weather may have kept everyone indoors, but it certainly did not dampen the atmosphere.
Congratulations to Lauren and Nick, and thank you for asking JAM Duo to be part of your wedding day at Upwaltham Barns.
Wedding Music at Upwaltham Barns
If you are planning a wedding at Upwaltham Barns and looking for live music for your ceremony, drinks reception or wedding breakfast, JAM Duo would be delighted to help.
As a piano and cello duo, we provide live wedding music throughout the UK, with music tailored to each couple. Whether you would like classical ceremony music, Bridgerton-style arrangements, modern pop, film music, musical theatre, indie songs or something completely personal, we can help create the right soundtrack for your day.
Our music is always performed live by the two of us, with no backing tracks and no dep musicians. We regularly provide music for barn weddings, country house weddings, outdoor ceremonies and full daytime wedding celebrations across England, Wales and Scotland.
For Lauren and Nick’s wedding at Upwaltham Barns, live music brought atmosphere to the ceremony, energy to the drinks reception and elegance to the wedding breakfast — all shaped around their own song choices and the natural flow of the day.
