Images: Honeydew Moments
December weddings are truly magical, offering a unique blend of festivity and romance that sets them apart from weddings in other seasons. With the crisp winter air and the warm glow of festive lights, a December wedding creates an intimate and cozy atmosphere that’s perfect for celebrating love. Recently, we had the pleasure of providing the music for a beautiful December wedding at Coed-y-Mwstwr in South Wales. Although not specifically Christmas-themed, this wedding embraced the festive spirit, creating a magical and memorable experience for everyone involved. Join us as we recount the highlights of this stunning December wedding and share the charm of celebrating love during this wonderful time of year.
A December Wedding Ceremony
Coed-y-Mwstwr is the perfect winter wedding venue. With log fires, cozy furnishings, a dark wood staircase, and alcoves that are perfect for housing Christmas trees, it’s impossible not to get into the festive spirit as soon as you step through the door. For this December wedding, I had the honor of providing piano music for both the wedding ceremony and the drinks reception.
The wedding ceremony took place in the Elliott Suite. The couple had upgraded our Gold Package by adding our Grand Piano, and the window alcove at the front of the room was the ideal spot to set up. This location gave me a great view of the aisle, allowing me to perfectly time the music for the ceremony entrance, and I could hear the registrars clearly.
As the bride was French the ceremony was bilingual, with one of the bridesmaids translating for the family and friends. It was a beautiful ceremony, filled with warmth, love, and laughter. The couple’s music choices added a personal touch, making the ceremony uniquely their own.
The bridesmaids and bride walked down the aisle to a piano arrangement of “Dear Theodosia” from Hamilton. During the signing of the register, the couple serenaded their guests with “Mirrorball” by Elbow, “Canon in D” by Pachelbel, and “Little Things Mean a Lot” by Kitty Kallen. After being announced as Mr. and Mrs., they walked out of the ceremony to “Perpetuum Mobile” by Penguin Cafe Orchestra, a piece that tested my repetitive finger technique! Accompanied by the cheers and applause of their guests, it was the perfect way to celebrate.
A Festive Drinks Reception
Following the ceremony, the drinks reception was held in the bar area. After moving the Grand Piano, I entertained the guests with a range of music. Although the wedding was not specifically Christmas-themed, the couple had requested some Christmas songs interspersed with other favorites. I love playing classic Christmas tunes such as “White Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The lights on the Christmas tree twinkled beside me, and the happy chatter of guests along with the crackling of logs in the fireplace created a warm, joyous atmosphere. Despite the heavy rain outside, the couple even managed to capture some gorgeous outdoor shots.
It truly was the perfect winter wedding! There are so many ways to incorporate the festive spirit into your December wedding without having a specifically Christmas-themed event. Live piano music is a wonderful way to subtly nod to the season, intertwining Christmas songs into the repertoire without going all out with tinsel and baubles. If you’d like to add live piano music to your December wedding, fill out our contact form today and I’ll send over all the information. I’d love to hear from you!
Hannah x
