The Untapped Potential: How Guest Arrival Music Sets the Tone for Your Entire Wedding. Expert advice from our award winning string ensemble. String duos, trios and quartets performing across Canada.
Toronto/GTA string ensembles for hire Toronto/GTA string ensembles for hire. Duo d'Amore is an award winning string ensemble, made up of professional violinists, violists and cellists. Together we have versatile…
Wedding Strings Toronto: In Performance Wedding Strings Toronto: In Performance. A performance of I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. Also included in this blog are wedding ceremony music selection tips, an…
The mother of the groom contacted Duo d’Amore looking for music for her sons wedding ceremony at Casa Loma. Deciding between a violin and cello duo, string trio and a string quartet, they couple chose the string trio. The trio is midway between the duo and quartet, and it’s a slightly more full sounding ensemble than the string duo, which works well in a space like the beautiful conservatory.
For the prelude prior to the ceremony, we typically a selection of classical pieces, and this worked out well as the clients requested that we perform selections by Vivaldi, Bach and other composers whose music is light and airy. This type of music really helps to set the mood as guests take their seats, and again in such a beautiful location, the music really adds to the whole experience.
During the ceremony, we performed Pachelbel Canon in D as the bride walked up the aisle, and more modern music for the signing of the register. When there is slightly more upbeat pop music as opposed to classical, we always advise our clients to choose two songs rather than one, as signings can last as long as 8 minutes. Having two songs that work well together just provides that extra bit of insurance that there will be enough music to last for the whole signing, and keeps the guests entertained with something special that they might not expect. For the recessional we performed the very popular Marry you by Bruno Mars for a beautiful conclusion to a beautiful wedding ceremony.
Processional: Pachelbel Canon
Signing: Can't Help Falling in Love and Wonderful Tonight
Recessional: Bruno Mars: Marry You
Wedding Vendors:
Photographer and photo credit: Sandra Stephenson Photography
Venue: Casa Loma, Toronto, Ontario
Dress Designer: Garber’s Bridal – Justin Alexander
Hair Stylist: Evoke
Makeup Artist: Jennifer Evoy
Floral Designer: Peter Paul’s Flowers
Cinema and Video: Barefoot Photographer
Officiant: Ceremony Matters
Caterer: Liberty Group
Wedding ceremony music Toronto: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets
Wedding String Quartet Toronto: Sharlyn and Jonathan. Violinist and Cellist performance featuring Metallica and Van Halen Liberty Grand
“The musicians at the ceremony were fantastic yesterday. We received so many compliments! Thank you for making the day extra special.” Danielle, bride.
This ceremony combined classical elegance with modern sensibilities, to create a new hybrid that guests loved! After the guests were seated, the first music that stared the wedding off was Jesu Joy of Man’s desiring by Bach, which we performed as the mothers were escorted and seated. We then performed the romantic and rich Ave Maria, which itself is a hybrid version by both JS Bach and the French composer Charles Gounod who added the top part (played first by the cello) centuries after Bach composed his part. The classical and exceptional Pachelbel canon was played for the bride, and as I have said before—there is a reason why this is performed at so many weddings—it works so well, and guarantees a smooth and beautiful ending as the bride reaches the front of the aisle at the Church. The signing switched gears to Etta James’ At Last, with the ceremony ending to the upbeat Bittersweet Symphony.
Parents coming down the aisle: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Bridesmaids processional: Gounod Ave Maria (Bach)
Bride's processional: Pachelbel's Canon in D
Registry signing: At Last (Etta James)
Recessional: Bittersweet Symphony
Wedding ceremony musicians and event entertainment Toronto: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets
Strains of Bach Air on the G String were heard as the final bridesmaid took her place, and we received a signal that the bride was next. We placed our bows on the strings and began the first bars of the very famous Pachelbel Canon, until the bride reached the front. Both of these classical pieces set the tone for the elegant ceremony. During the signing, we performed Enya’s Only Time, and then shifted to a much more modern and quick paced, exciting version of Bittersweet Symphony.
Wedding ceremony musicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets
Wedding Venue: West River Event Centre
The gardens at Fantasy farm are beautiful! It is such a nice experience to be surrounded by lush growth, beautiful flowers on a wonderfully sunny and bright afternoon. This feeling of peace and calmness carried through into Lora and Dave’s wedding, which was a true fantasy. Throughout the planning process, and especially the music song selection process, the couple was really looking forward to hearing the music that they had spent time listening to and ultimately choosing to have played as the ceremony was taking place. As Lora’s bridesmaids entered Te Deum by Charpentier was performed. After the last bridesmaid got to the front and stood beside each other, the bride entered to Pachelbel Canon in D. From this point the couple exchanged rings and vows, and they signed the register, to perhaps one of the most beautiful and appropriate selections for the signing: Bach’s Ave Maria. It always strikes me everything we play this music, how well it is written, and how many different moods it can express. Traditional, the ceremony ended as the couple triumphantly exited amidst applause to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.
Update: A short while after the ceremony, Duo d’Amore received a wonderful notefrom the bride and groom:
“Duo d'Amore: Very professional and the cello and violinist sounded lovely! Everyone at my wedding enjoyed listening to them play, myself included. :) Thanks again! Lora G. - Toronto Wedding on June 16th, 2012.”
Flowers: Florida Flowers
Jewellery: Bob Burke Jewellery
Venue: Fantasy Farm
Photography: Pix by Max
Ceremony music: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trio and quartets
Image credit: fantasyfarm.ca
