String Quartet Wedding in Chesham, Buckinghamshire
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Last Sunday we played for a very local wedding at the Chartridge Conference Centre on the outskirts of Chesham in Buckinghamshire. We’ve performed here on several occasions so are familiar with the layout of the venue and always get a warm welcome from the friendly staff there.
We started by providing some gentle music as guests entered the room - this helped to create a calm atmosphere which soothed nerves in the build up to the ceremony. We then played for the various points during the ceremony itself before relocating to a different part of the venue. Our three hours of playing was spread across four hours so we took one of our breaks as all the guests went outside for photographs (the weather being just a little too cold for us to join them). We then continued during the wedding breakfast, with the music projecting perfectly in the room without being overbearing or inhibiting conversation.
Wedding at the Grove, Hertfordshire
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On a Saturday in May we played for an evening wedding breakfast at The Grove Hotel on the outskirts of Watford. As the event started at 5pm we were able to comfortably travel up from our earlier wedding in Surrey. We set up on the dance floor in front of the top table and despite the room holding over 200 guests, the string quartet had no problem projecting (it was such a large room that the majority of tables were some distance from us). The issue of projection is an important one with an acoustic group that has no amplification. It often depends on the number of guests, but the proportions of a room as well as its furnishings also has a big effect on our ability to be heard.
The 3 hour meal was interspersed with speeches and each one had a special musical introduction which the quartet supplied. The whole event had a marvellous atmosphere and we were very pleased to be part of the proceedings!
Wedding at Botleys Mansion in Surrey
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On Saturday, Nancy (viola) and myself on violin played for a wedding held at Botleys Mansion which is situated near Chertsey in Surrey. The string duo was perfectly suited to this occasion as the number of guests all but filled the ceremony room and it may have been a very tight squeeze for a string quartet as well. The acoustics of the ceremony room were particularly favourable to music and as such, we had no problem projecting above the considerable volume of conversation.
When the ceremony had concluded, we moved to a corner of the entrance hall and accompanied the drinks reception, playing a lively and varied set of music so that there was something for everyone.
Wedding at the Olde Bell, Hurley, Berkshire
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On Friday we played in the combination of a violin and cello duo for a wedding at The Olde Bell in Hurley, Berkshire. The ceremony and drinks reception took place in the barn (and surrounding buildings) opposite the main inn. We played as all the guests were seated and settled in and then performed for the entrance, signing of the register and exit, ending as the last guests made their way into the adjacent room.
The reception drinks lasted in the region of two hours and we played next to a television screen which showed a changing collage of photographs of the bridal couple. The music adding a soothing backdrop and point of interest for the many babies and young children present. We ended our 3 hour slot just as guests were lining up, ready and eager to enter the wedding breakfast.
Wedding at Great Fosters, Surrey
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Last Monday we played for a wedding at the wonderful location of Great Fosters, near Egham in Surrey. Although Monday weddings used to be a rarity, they are now slightly more common and this one was graced with the most glorious sunny weather in what has been quite a rainy month!
We performed as a violin and cello string duo, providing a musical accompaniment for the guests as they made their way into the ceremony room. We also played Pachelbel’s Canon in D for the entrance of the bride (the bride and groom coming down the aisle together), Delibes’s Flower Duet for the signing of the register and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March for the exit of the married couple.
We continued to play as guests made their way outside for formal photos and finished just before the beginning of the wedding breakfast.
