"Duo d'Amore played as a string duo at my sons wedding......I was so proud to have given this as a wedding gift to the happy couple......and what a perfect gift it was.....I truly cannot think of the ceremony without Duo d'Amore.....

The music was exceptional....so emotional & a delight to the ears.....not a dry eye in the house! Lol! Just what I had wanted...

They were so professional and discreet.....they slipped into the venue as quietly as they slipped out......both of the musicians were so in sync with one another that during the ceremony they played music during the quiet moments that we had not previously discussed.....they just knew when to start & when to stop......
One could certainly tell that this was not their first rodeo! Lol!

Our guests are still raving over the beautiful ceremony accompanied with this amazing duo! I would highly recommend Duo d'Amore to anyone who would like to take their event from nice to spectacular!Truly, money well spent with zero regrets.......I will definitely book Duo d'Amore for any future events!" Hope, mother of the groom

It is always nice performing at a new venue, and this was Duo d’Amore’s first time performing at a wedding ceremony at Chateau des Charmes in Niagara. This wedding was very nice, and had a relaxed atmosphere about it. Everyone enjoyed themselves!

Processional: Pachelbel Cannon
Bride: Bach-Gounod: Ave Maria
Signing: Massenet Meditation from Thais, Bach Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Recessional: Handel La Rejouissance

Wedding ceremony musicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets
Wedding Venue: Chateau des Charmes, Niagara

“The trio were excellent. Set up in plenty of time and played all of the songs we requested beautifully... Couldn't have asked for more!”

The next day, Duo d’Amore was back at Ravine Vineyard, this time with a string trio of two violins and cello to perform for Mark and Nicole’s wedding. This wedding could not have been more different, though it was equally fantastic, and very dramatic. Ravine has two sites where couples can get married: the site we performed at the day before is situated just around the corner from the parking lot (this is actually much better than it sounds) and affords a beautiful uninterrupted view of greenery: vines, trees, fresh cut grass, and more an more vines. The site that we performed at for this wedding is in a way more intimate, and it is located at the bottom of the vineyard. Guests arrived here either by walking along a designated row in the vineyard, or were shuttled directly to their seats via a golf cart driven by the staff at Ravine. Then came the helicopter! The groom arrived at the upper ceremony site via a helicopter, which was certainly a dramatic and bold way to arrive at a wedding ceremony! By this time we had setup down the hill, and were expecting the first set of guests to arrive. We performed a number of musical selections and carried onto the ceremony, as soon as the wedding guests were in place. For the processional, we performed two songs the Beatles’ “Here There And Everywhere” for the 8 attendants, and the Etta James classic, At Last. During the signing, we performed Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”. As we looked over to the signing table, the bride and groom were smiling at us and gave a wide grinned nod of approval. To conclude the ceremony, the trio played “All I Want Is You” by U2. We continued to play a few pieces of music as the guests exited back to the main building. As we were exiting, we congratulated the bride and groom, who said we did a fantastic job!

Attendants Processional: Beatles’ Here There And Everywhere Bride Processional: Etta James: At Last Signing of the register: Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World Recessional: U2: All I Want Is You

Wedding Planner: Kassandra at Ravine Winery

Ceremony musicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets

Ravine vineyard is located in the heart of Niagara, and unlike many of Niagara wineries, rather than a flat landscape, Ravine Vineyards landscape is full of rolling hills and beautiful vistas, which makes for a magical location for a wedding. In speaking with Laura and Matt weeks and months prior to the wedding, they decided on having classical music played by the violin and cello prior to the wedding, and a mix of classical for the ceremony itself (see below). The ceremony was officiated by John Shore from Kettle Creek Weddings, who did a marvelous job, and was happy to work with us again. After the ceremony ended, the guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’ouevres at the stunning outdoor bar, which we performed many of the clients favorite pop songs. As usual, everything was spectacular, thanks to Ravine and especially Lis from Bliss!

Pre-ceremony: Assortment of romantic traditional songs (Massenet Meditation from Thais and additional classical)

Ceremony: Processional: Canon in D Bride Processional: Give me Love by Ed Sheeran (TBD- could extend Canon in D) Signing: Somewhere over the Rainbow in the style of Israel K Recessional: no strings required. Bagpipe to pipe recessional

Cocktail Hour: Here Comes the Sun-Beatles Here, There and Everywhere-Beatles Imagine- John Lennon/Beatles Something-Beatles Unchained Melody Unforgettable-Nat King Cole) All You Need Is Love-Beatles) Bittersweet Symphony-The Verve Moon River-Mancini What A Wonderful World-Louis Armstrong Can’t Help Falling in Love-Elvis Never Say Never-The Fray Runaway-The Corrs Secrets-One Republic Yellow-Coldplay) You Raise Me Up-Josh Groban Fix You-Coldplay In My Place-Coldplay

Venue: Ravine Vineyard Officiant: John Shore with Kettle Creek Weddings, john@kettlecreekweddings.com Wedding Planner: Lisa at Bliss Events www.blissevents.ca Wedding musicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets

Dear Matthew,

Sorry for the late response, but Chuck and I just wanted to thank you for doing such a wonderful job with your team at our wedding in Niagara Falls on November 24, 2012. The music was so beautiful I still tear up I hear it. I really appreciate all the time and effort you took in picking out the perfect songs including “Accidentally in Love” last minute. Everyone loved the music and had such a wonderful time.

Thank you again and we wish you all the best!

Vicki and Chuck

Wedding Ceremony held at the Table Rock Restaurant, Grand Hall overlooking Niagara Falls
Ceremony music: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, trios and string quartets
Reception entertainment: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, trios and string quartets

As I told the groom on the wedding day: this location is one of our favorite in all of Niagara, as it is beautiful for sure, but guests are often surprised to be sitting (or standing an this case) in the middle of a vineyard. There are no buildings in view, so despite the wide open space, it also feels wonderfully private. As well, there is also an amazing barnlike “retreat” on site with beautiful acoustics, which should not be missed when planning an indoor wedding.

We have not performed at as many Greek Orthodox weddings as Catholic, Jewish or non-denominational weddings, but we always feel honored to perform at ceremonies such as this.

The music selections were are classical for the ceremony, and following the ceremony we performed a number of Modern pop songs, including “I Think I Wanna Marry You” by Bruno Mars.

Bridesmaids: Bach Air on the G-string Bride Processional: Processional: Canon in D Signing: Bach: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring Recessional: Mendellsohn: Wedding March

Wedding Vendors:
Ensemble: Duo d’Amore-Violin and Cello duo
Venue: Cave Springs, Niagara
Wedding Planner: Grace at Inn on the Twenty
Flowers: Mimosa Flowers

We had a wonderful, and windy time performing for Felicia and Elliot's wedding outdoors at Ravine Vineyard. The site the couple chose for the ceremony was beautiful--rolling hills with vines galore. The only issue was the wind, which was strong enough to blow our music stands over when we first set them up! This was one of the windiest weddings if not the windiest wedding ceremony that we have ever performed at. Despite the weather, we were able to offer a great performance, with several guests commenting to us about the performance.

The couple's music choices worked great with the venue: Pachelbel Canon was the perfect choice for the long-ish walk from one of the main buildings to where the officiant and groom were standing at the front. Jesu Joy and Bittersweet Symphony rounded out the ceremony, and we also performed a number of other songs as the guests exited the ceremony site. Despite the weather it was a beautiful ceremony!

Music Selections:
Bridesmaids and Bride Processional: Pachelbel Canon in D
Signing: Bach: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Recessional: The Verve: Bittersweet Symphony

Vendors:
Ceremony musicians: Duo d'Amore-violin and cello duo duodamore.com
Venue: Ravine Vineyards ravinevineyard.com
Wedding Planner: Kassandra at Ravine events@ravinevineyard.com
Flowers: Mimosa Flowers mimosaflowers.com

We performed at another interesting wedding today. No matter how many ceremonies or receptions we perform at it always amazes me how different they can be and how essential everyone’s job is on the big day. Florists, the officiant, the musicians, everyone has a big impact on the outcome of the event.

Phil and Ester’s wedding was nicely tailored to fit their style, especially regarding the music. For the prelude as the guest were entering and being seated, we performed a mixture of music with a sort of French café feel to it. Selections included La Vie En Rose, made popular by Edith Piaf and the Theme from Moulin Rouge as well as other unique songs from our catalogue of custom arrangements.

As Ester walked in, we performed another special arrangement of the song Will the Night, which went over very well and switched to Pachelbel Canon for the signing. The recessional was Disney/Pixar’s Theme from Up.

Because the Church is such an intimate venue, we are able to use this to our advantage in arranging the music. We made good use of pizzicato or plucking for some of the cello parts, and explored some interesting keys (B Major in particular.) There is also something special about playing an a wooden Church, and the rich sound of B Major seemed to resonate and sound much richer with the violin and cello.

The Church pews were decorated with very attractive floral arrangement from Van Noort Florists in Niagara on the Lake, and the ceremony was officiated by Kip Philip of Enduring Promises.

Venue: Balls Falls Historical Church
Officiant: Kip Philip
Florist: Van Noort Florists
Ceremony musicians: Duo d’Amore- string duos, trios and quartets

This venue was a complete and utter surprise for Duo d’Amore—it was our first time performing here, and we can’t wait to be back. I encourage our readers to look at their website (www.bissellshideaway.com) as this venue is not only great for a wedding or event but for spending time with the family.

The music for this wedding was as varied, exciting and interesting as the beautiful outdoor wedding. Congratulations to Julie and Brent!

Processional: Top Gun Anthem

Processional: Beatles: Here Comes The Sun

Signing: U2: All I Want Is You and Cohen: Hallelujah

Recessional: Journey: Don’t Stop Believin’ and Coldplay: Viva la Vida

Wedding Ceremony Music: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets

This was an early start to the day for us, but very welcome. The wedding ceremony started at 9:30am in the beautiful Rose garden around the back of the Pillar and Post Hotel. With an early morning start at such a beautiful time of year, this gave a different feeling to the ceremony—one of calm, and peacefulness, combined of course, with celebration.

The first music heard was the famous Pachelbel Canon, and shorty after as the bride made her entrance the very appropriate and beautiful Amarantine by Enya. The signing music was Bach Air, played, unusually but very convincingly by the solo cello, and the wedding ceremony music finished with strains of Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve.

Wedding Ceremony Musicicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets