Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort

Our wedding on this last Sunday in January brought us to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort for the wedding of Christie and Mike . The Seaside String Trio provided the wedding ceremony music and cocktail hour for this local couple. The original plan was to have the ceremony in the Royal Palm Courtyard followed by the cocktail hour in the firepit area but weather forced a change in plans. The Belvedere Terrace became the ceremony site and then we moved inside in the bar area for the cocktail reception. Now this is some Plan B! Set up was done by Libby’s Flowers. Dr. Dan Lamey served as Officiate.

The couple chose a lot of fun music for us. Here is the Playlist for the prelude: No One, Alicia Keys; Marry You, Bruno Mars; Make You Feel My Love, Adele; Book of Love, Peter Gabriel; Fields of Gold, Sting; Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton; Better Together, Jack Johnson. Just as we were starting Dream a Little Dream of Me, I got the signal from the coordinator, Mike, that they were ready.

The Mothers were seated to the music Canon in D by Pachelbel. The Wedding Party entered to With a Little Help From My Friends by the Beatles. The Bride, Christie, entered to A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. The timing worked perfectly! The Recessional music was the traditional Wedding March and Unforgettable by Nat King Cole was the Postlude song.

The couple chose all popular songs for the cocktail reception: Wonderwall, Oasis; You and Me, Lifehouse; You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Stevie Wonder; Your Song, Elton John; Sugar, Maroon 5; Wake Me Up, Avicii; When a Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge; Counting Stars, OneRepublic; Everything, Michael Buble; Starlight, Muse; Happy, Pharrell Williams, Hey Soul Sister, Train; I’m Yours, Jason Mraz;  Kiss the Girl from the Little Mermaid.

It was a fabulous evening!  Best wishes to the newlyweds!

 

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

Rene planned a spectacular wedding! In the planning process she did not mention her theme of Alice in Wonderland. When I arrived on the big day and saw all the details, I knew she had made this her dream come true. It was a fantasy come to life!

The wedding of Rene and Andrew was held in the Royal Palm Courtyard of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort. This is a very private spot adjacent to the pool surrounded by a ficus hedge which helped to create a room- like feel.

White drapery completed the effect, separating the ceremony site from the reception area.

I took some pictures of the reception area too but later found out I missed the huge chess set on the other side of the tables that was going to act as the dance area. Sorry I did not  have my camera with me!

The ceremony was set to begin at 5:30. The Seaside Strings Violin and Cello duo provided the live music.  We began prelude music twenty minutes prior to the ceremony and all popular music was chosen: All of Me, John Legend; Love Me Like You Do, Ellie Goulding; Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol; Glad You Came, The Wanted; Ho Hey, Lumineers; Paradise, Coldplay.

Stephany, the coordinator at the Resort,  gave us the signal the family was ready to be seated.  The couples of Grandparents and Parents entered to the music Butterfly Waltz by Brian Crain. Dr. Steven Grant of the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs served as Officiate and led the Wedding Party in to the music, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. Last out was the flower girl, dressed as Alice in Wonderland!

Renee made her entrance to the music Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur. It was a beautiful ceremony. I loved all her choices for the wedding ceremony music. We had never worked with Pastor Grant before and I really enjoyed his service. At the presentation of the couple, the wedding party and family exited to Clocks by Coldplay. We finished our evening with Secrets by One Republic and Like I’m Gonna Lose You by Meghan Trainor.

I have a feeling I should have checked out the cocktail hour area. I wonder what other surprises I missed. What a memorable wedding! Our congratulations and best wishes to Renee and Andrew!

 

 

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort

It was  a lovely February day in Southwest Florida for Hannah and Benjamin on their wedding day! The Seaside Strings Trio performed for ceremony and cocktails at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort. We began prelude music at 10 am, ceremony was at 10:30 and we continued to play afterwards until 11:30. The ceremony was held in the Cypress Courtyard.

Hannah chose all popular music for the prelude.  On our playlist was Have I Told You Lately, Van Morrison; I’m Yours, Jason Mraz; In My Life, The Beatles; Yellow, Coldplay; Everything, Michael Buble; Bubbly, Colbie Caillat and Drops of Jupiter, Train.

When I got the signal from Stephanie, Wedding Planner from Along Came Stephanie, we began to play What a Wonderful World for the Seating of the Grandmothers and Mothers. Pachelbel Canon in D was the music for the Entrance of the Officiate, a family friend named Janelle, the Groom, Benjamin, and the 4 couples of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen. Hannah entered to the Israel K version of Over the Rainbow. The song Lucky by Mraz and Caillat was chosen as the Recessional music. What a wonderful couple- Hannah has such a smile of pure joy on her face!

After the ceremony, we made a quick move to the adjoining Tarpon Bay Firepit area. We continued to play popular music: All You Need is Love, Beatles; Happy Together, Turtles; Best Day of My Life, American Authors; Beyond the Sea, Bobby Darin; Here Comes the Sun, Beatles; Paradise, Coldplay; and finished with Just the Way You Are Amazing by Bruno Mars.  DJ Dayve took over from there.

We certainly appreciated the compliments we received. We were honored to be a part of Hannah and Benjamin’s big day!

 

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

I love the Banyan Courtyard at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort! It is such a lovely spot at this resort to be married. On this Saturday in October, it was the venue for the wedding of Jessica and Michael. This was a destination wedding for the couple from Illinois and they chose the Seaside String Trio to provide the music for their wedding ceremony and cocktail reception.

When Jessica booked us in January, she already knew what music she wanted to walk in to. It was a new song for us, I See the Light from Disney’s Tangled. There was definitely a Disney Theme to her wedding. Selections for prelude included several selections from Disney movies: A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Once Upon a Dream, Someday My Prince Will Come and So This is Love.  She also requested A Thousand Years ( Christina Perri) and Everybody Loves Somebody ( Dean Martin).

The grandparents and mothers were seated to the music Con te Partiro.  A Tale As Old As Time (Theme from Beauty and the Beast) was chosen for the Entrance of the Wedding Party: Junior Bridesmaid and Usher, 6 Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, 2 Ring bearers and 3 Flower Girls. The Brother of the Groom, Brian, officiated the ceremony. Within the ceremony, we played Somewhere Out There for the Lighting of the Unity Candle. As the happy couple walked  down the aisle at the conclusion of the ceremony, we played A Whole New World.

We made a slight move down the sidewalk for the cocktail hour. We continued with the requests by the couple: All My Loving ( Beatles); Beyond the Sea ( Bobby Darin); Brown Eyed Girl ( Van Morrison); Come Fly With Me ( Frank Sinatra); Eight days a Week ( Beatles); Everything ( Michael Buble); God Only Knows ( Beach Boys); Here There Everywhere ( Beatles); Hey, Soul Sister ( Train); It’s Delovely (Cole Porter); Just the Way You Are ( Bruno Mars); Kiss the Girl ( from the Little Mermaid); Lucky ( Mraz and Caillat); My Girl ( Temptations); Summer wind( Sinatra) The way You Look Tonight ( Sinatra) With a Little Help from My Friends ( Beatles) and Your Song ( Elton John). Several people came up to us to tell us that we just played their favorite song! Obviously the couple knew what their guests would enjoy!

Jessica looked like a Princess and it was an honor to be a part of her fairy tale wedding!

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

As I walked through the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort on this Saturday in December, the one word that came to mind was elegance. This resort is not on the beach or on the water but it is such a beautiful venue for a wedding. The Belvedere Terrace is the location and the fountains here just provide such a romantic atmosphere. We are here for the wedding celebration of Brittany and Christopher and it is just a perfect day- sunny and close to 80 degrees. I am joined by colleague Diane Coffman on cello and I am playing violin as the Seaside String Duo provides the music for the ceremony and cocktail hour.  Dr. Dan Lamey is here to Officiate and Karl and Nanette of Luminaire Foto are the photographers for the event.

After getting a last-minute update from Krystle, the planner here at the Resort, we were ready to begin the prelude music thirty minutes prior to the ceremony and just as the guests began to arrive. Brittany loves classical music and is particularly fond of music by Bach. We performed her requests which included the Bach Air, Bach Invention in F, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze. After some selections by Handel as well, we got the signal that the Processional was ready to begin. As we began to play the Gluck Minuet ( also know as Dance of the Blessed Spirits), Dr. Dan entered through the double doors onto the terrace along with the Groom, Christopher. The Groom’s Mother and Stepmother were seated to the same music. With a quick nod from Krystle, we began to play the Clarke Trumpet Voluntary as Brittany, escorted by her mother Sandie, came down the aisle. I was really moved by the emotion displayed by both mother and daughter knowing that Brittany’s father had just passed away only a few weeks ago. But, this was definitely a happy event as laughter was mingled along with the spoken solemn vows.  As the ceremony concluded , we performed the Mouret’s Rondeau as the newly married couple exited and the guests expressed their good wishes for them with their applause.

The Cocktail Reception was held in this same location. We continued to perform light classical pieces with a mix of old standards of Frank Sinatra. It was a pleasure to met and speak with Sandie and Brittany. The many compliments we received from them and their guests certainly made our day! It was an honor to be a part of this special day and  I sincerely wish all the best for Brittany and Christopher!

Many thanks to Karl and Nanette of Luminaire Foto for the following pictures!