A couple of weeks ago Premiere String Duo performed for a lovely wedding at Chilston Park which is near Lenham in Kent. It is a wedding venue we have performed at many times as well as playing for many wedding fairs there. Although they have several rooms for the ceremony, the most popular is the Orangery, which overlooks the lovely grounds. This room can hold around 60-70 people and is a bit small for a string quartet so we have usually performed as a string trio or string duo, as on this occasion. As people can gather in the bar next to the ceremony room it means the strings can start playing before people enter, not realising that the music is live until they come into the room to be seated for the ceremony! Pachelbel Canon in D was chosen as the entrance music for the Bride. We performed The Flower Duet for the signing of the register and Clocks by Coldplay was a lively piece for the exit of the newly married couple! We moved next door into the bar area to accompany the drinks reception where the couple had asked us to play from our light and modern selection. Many of our original string arrangements of pop covers and modern songs were appreciated by the guests. However we probably couldn’t compete with the “stags” who had learnt the words to “It Must be Love” by Madness and performed it to the gathered guests after photos on the staircase! All in all a great day to be involved in!!

The Orangery at Chilston Park, Lenham, Kent