South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island FL

When I arrived on King’s Crown Lawn at the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island FL, I could not help but be amazed by the beautiful set up for the wedding of Jennifer and John. Floral Artistry did an awesome job! I was excited to find out the two end pieces were going to be a surprise for the Bride!

Seaside Strings was there under the auspices of Thank You For the Dance Entertainment to perform the wedding ceremony music. Amy Morgan was our contact and Kehrin Hassan of Jet Set Wed was the Wedding Coordinator.

Jennifer was wonderful to work with and very organized. She knew exactly what she wanted and had obviously taken great care in choosing the music. We began prelude music at 3:45 . It was a gorgeous day and guests were arriving early to enjoy the sunshine. Here was the playlist:

Vultures, John Mayer ( special request)

Message in a Bottle, Sting ( special request)

Best Day of My Life, American Authors

I’m Yours, Jason Mraz

Island in the Sun, Weezer

Pompeii, Bastille

Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles

At 4:20, we got the signal that they were ready to begin. Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring was played for the Entrance of the Parents of the Groom and the Entrance of the Officiate, Dr. James Berger. Home by Edward Sharpe and the magnetic Zeros was chosen for the Entrance of the Groom, 3 Groomsmen, 2 Bridesmaids and the Aunt of the Bride pulling a wagon with the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer ( in the form of 2 very cute King Cavalier Spaniels!)

Jennifer chose the Pachelbel Canon in D for her Entrance. The couple performed a sand ceremony within the service and we played All of Me by John Legend as Dr. Berger explained to everyone the significance of this. When the couple were introduced for the first time, we played Better Together by Jack Johnson for the Recessional. As guests moved on to the reception area, we played Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.

Jennifer was such a happy bride. I am so glad everything went perfect for her! Congrats to the newlyweds!

Shell Seekers, Captiva Island

Future Groom, Brett, contacted me in June through the Gig Salad website to play for his wedding to be held on October 16th at a private home on Captiva Island. He and his fiancée, Ashleigh, lived in Texas so this was a destination wedding. Chef Kathy Peterson was the wedding planner and she was super to work with. Everything looked gorgeous! The sand sculpture with the couples’ names was my favorite part of the set up.

Tonya Malay was the photographer for the event and the couple also had iheART films video the event.

 

The couple chose the Seaside Strings Violin and Viola Duo to provide the wedding ceremony music. As you can see in the pictures there were some dark clouds around but they kept it cooler and we never saw any rain.

The couple chose a mix of music for us to play.  Requests for prelude included the Forest Gump Feather Theme, The Legends of the Fall, Ludlow’s Theme; Schubert’s Ave Maria;  Marry Me by Train; Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel; The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra. We filled in the remaining time with a few lively classical pieces.

When the signal was given, we began to play the Canon in D by Pachelbel for the Seating of the Grandparents and the Mothers.  During Bach’s, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, the Officiate, Groom, Groomsmen, Bridesmaids, Ring Bearer and Flower Girls made their way onto the beach. Ashleigh entered to the music, Can’t Help Falling in Love.

The Father of the Bride surprised the couple with a guitarist/vocalist named Jon who sang 2 songs during the ceremony. We ended the ceremony with the Auburn University Fight Song. As guests mingled just a bit and pictures were being taken, we finished with Signed Sealed and Delivered by Stevie Wonder.

Thank you so much to Brett and Ashleigh for having us a part of this special day! We wish you many years of happiness!

 

Coquina Cottage, Captiva Island and a birthday surprise

I got an email in late September from Philippe in Germany. He wanted to surprise his wife, Angelika, on her birthday with our live music! They were renting a house on Captiva Island for the first week in October. Arrangements were made for our Violin and Cello Duo to come on Monday, October 5th to play for her from 5:45-7:45 pm. Classical music was the type of music preferred with a few pops songs thrown into the mix. Unfortunately the weather prevented us from being on the beach for the sunset but it was a very enjoyable evening. We love surprises!

We hope Angelika enjoyed celebrating her birthday on Captiva! Thanks so much for having us, Philippe!

South Seas Plantation, Captiva Island

It was hard to believe it was a July evening when we arrived at South Seas Plantation. Allie and Robert were getting married on the Sunset Cove and the weather was just spectacular. The Seaside String Trio was there to provide the ceremony music on this Monday evening under the auspices of  Thank You for the Dance Entertainment. We met Amy Morgan at King’s Crown and she drove us over to the ceremony site which was on the beach adjacent to the golf course. What a lovely spot and private too. Sebrie Images Photography was on hand to photograph the event.

We began prelude music at 6:15 when the bus brought the guests over to the beach. Allie had requested popular songs and she was a big fan of Journey, the Beatles and Frank Sinatra.  On our playlist were Can’t Help Falling in Love; The Way You Look Tonight; All You Need is Love; Don’t Stop Believin’; Here Comes the Sun, Come Fly With Me and Open Arms.

It was all traditional music for the ceremony. A Grandmother and 2 Mothers were seated to Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; Dr Dan Lamey, Officiate, led the wedding party,which consisted of 3 Bridesmaids and Groomsmen and a Ring bearer and Flower Girl, to the Canon in D by Pachelbel. Our Bride was escorted by her Dad to the Bridal Chorus. During the ceremony,the couple had the Tying of the Knot and we played the Israel K version of Over the Rainbow. As the guests cheered on the newlyweds, we played the Wedding March for the recessional.

As the guests boarded the bus to take them to the reception, we finished with I’ll Follow the Sun. Darn, we did not have time to play another Journey song that I had arranged for them: Faithfully!

Allie looked absolutely radiant. We wish all the best for this wonderful couple!

 

Chapel By The Sea, Captiva Island, FL

Chapel By the Sea is so charming. Just steps away from the beach on Captiva Island, this is a great venue for small intimate weddings. Reverend Morris is the current officiate and caretaker and performs regular church services as well as performs weddings.

Kristin and Michael chose this for their destination wedding on the second Sunday in April and ceremony music was provided by the Seaside Strings Violin and Cello Duo. I was joined by Julie Cornwall, cellist. The ceremony was set for 5:00 pm. Stacey Gerhart of Isabella’s Island Style Weddings and Events was the coordinator for this wedding celebration. Frank Simonetti was there to photograph the event and flowers were done by Floral Artistry.

Kristin was so organized and wonderful to work with. She booked us in January and sent her music choices along with her performance agreement( I usually discuss these a month prior to the date). She chose all popular music for us to play. Her selections for prelude music were Marry Me, At Last, Way You Look Tonight, Can’t Help Falling in Love, Only Time, Forest Gump Feather Theme, The Prayer, and Con te Partiro. We were scheduled to start music 20 minutes before the ceremony but guests began to arrive early so we began to play. Some people chose to come inside and others mingled outside the Chapel. It was a warm day and the building is not air-conditioned. Having the windows open to let in the breeze and the ceiling fans helped but it was definitely warm.

With the signal from Stacey, we began to play Can You Feel the Love Tonight. Reverend Morris entered followed by the Groom, Michael. The two mothers were seated. The Bride’s brother escorted Kristin into the chapel to the music,  All I Ask of You.

During the ceremony, there were tears, much laughter and many memorable moments. The couple did a very interesting thing that they called a unity painting. They had a small canvas on an easel. After the exchange of vows and rings, the couple painted a red heart onto the canvas. They had penciled it in prior so it would be symmetrical.

During this we played, Have I Told You Lately. When I looked up I saw they had added a smiley face in the center! Flowers were also presented to the mothers as we played.

When Reverend Morris presented the newlyweds to the guests, we played Just the Way You Are Amazing as the couple exited the chapel. We ended the ceremony with I’m Yours as the guests joined them outside.

It was a pleasure to be a part of their special day! Thank you and congratulations, Kristin and Michael!