It was another gorgeous day for a wedding on this Saturday in mid October. The Seaside String Quartet arrived at the Miromar Lakes Beach Club to provide wedding ceremony and cocktail reception for the wedding of Sara and Joshua. The wedding was on the beach just behind the clubhouse and it was really a resort atmosphere here in this community.
The ceremony was set for 5 pm and we began prelude music at 4:30. Sarah requested classical music for the ceremony. Her favorites were Handel’s Hornpipe and La Rejouissance and we added additional lively pieces such as Entrance to the Queen of Sheba, Rondeau by Mouret and the Bach Brandenburg Concerto. We contrasted that with some romantic pieces, Delibes Flower Duet and Elgar’s Salut d’amour. As we began to play some music from Handel’s Water Music Suite, the Groom’s Father Ed, who was serving as Officiant, came over to tell us they were ready to send the family to be seated.
As w played Debussy’s Clair de Lune, the Grandmother, Great Aunt and the two Mothers were seated. The Groom led his 10 Groomsmen onto the beach to a song I think was his choice, Lose Yourself by Eminem. Next came the Bridesmaids entering to Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary along with 3 ring bearers . The precious baby flowergirl arrived in a wagon pulled by a Junior Groomsman.
Sara entered to the traditional Bridal Chorus. The ceremony was filled with joy and laughter and serious committments and we played the traditional Wedding March as the wedding party exited. As the guests moved on to the cocktail reception area, which was poolside, we played All You Need is Love.
Sara had requested contemporary music for the reception and really left the specific selections to me. So I chose what was most popular, what we liked to play and what I know are fun arrangements. On the playlist was All of Me (by John Legend); Clocks (Coldplay); I’m Yours (Jason Mraz); In My Life (Beatles); I Say a Little Prayer (Bacharach); Just the Way You Are Amazing (Bruno Mars) ; Kiss the Girl (Disney); Love and Marriage (Sinatra); Over the Rainbow (Israel K version); Sway/ Cherry Pink (cha-cha-cha!) , That’s Amore (Dean Martin); A Wink and a Smile (Harry Connick, Jr.) and Wouldn’t it Be Nice (Beach Boys).
As the couple left to do pictures elsewhere they first stopped to tell us how much they enjoyed our music. The Groom was especially impressed that strings could play a song like Lose Yourself! We certainly appreciated the warm response we received from them and the rest of the family! Best wishes, everyone!
seasidestrings 