For Michael and Joanna’s wedding we stayed in the beautiful Cotswolds and our home county of Gloucestershire. The venue was Whalley Farm near Cheltenham.
Resurrected from old 18th century barns, the sensitive renovation of Anthology Farm near Cheltenham has seen it transform into a sprawling self-catering haven for up to 18 guests. An eclectic collection of furnishings present a feel of faraway travels; brass candlesticks hold tall taper candles on the banquet table and Moroccan tiles lay underfoot. Settled in 500 acres and with a heated indoor pool, this luxury wellbeing retreat was designed for creative modern travellers.
A traditional stone barn with a contemporary wing clad in siberian larch, Anthology Farm is a hinterland cattle byre turned luxury elopement wedding destination in the Cotswold countryside. Rooted on 500 acres of whimsical farmland and not far from Cheltenham — the Regency town where artists and equestrians flock in their droves — the wedding barn is a place for the wild and free to be wed against a backdrop of billowing hills and wispy skies.
This was the setting for Michael and Joanna’s beatiful outdoor wedding lead by local celebrant Olivia Coleman from Bath.
There was some lovely music during the ceremony as you can see from the order of service above and it was nice to arrange a version of Alexis Ffrench’s ‘At Last’ for Joanna’s entrance.
For the drinks reception Michael and Joanna had chosen a long list of music for us to play:
Bridgerton Theme – arranged for Cello and Piano
Come What May (Moulin Rouge) arranged for Cello and Piano
Can’t Help falling in love (Elvis Presley) arranged by The Brooklyn Duo
Hoppipolla (Sigur Ros) arranged for Cello and Piano
All You Need Is Love (The Beatles) arranged for Cello and Piano
Always Be My Baby (Mariah Carey) Arr for Cello and Piano by Brooklyn Duo
As It Was (Harry Styles) arranged for Cello and Piano
Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston) – arranged for Cello and Piano
Be My Baby (The Ronnettes) arranged for Cello and Piano
Better Together (Jack Johnson) – Cello and Piano Cover
Everything (Michael Buble) arranged for Cello and Piano (Wedding Sample)
Friday I’m In Love (The Cure) arr. Cello and Piano
Lover (Taylor Swift) – Arranged by JAM Duo (Sample Track
Signed Sealed Delivered (Stevie Wonder) arranged and Piano
Sign Of The Times (Harry Styles) from Bridgerton
Space (Biffy Clyro) – JAM Duo (Cello and Piano)
State Of Grace (Taylor Swift) Wedding Sample
Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift)- Bridgerton – arranged for Cello and Piano
Your Song (Elton John) Arranged for Cello & Piano
Accidentally In Love – Shrek (Counting Crows) – Cello and Piano
L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole) arranged for Cello and Piano
How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees) – Arranged for Cello and Piano
Lets Stay Together (Al Green) arranged for Cello and Piano
Me And My Shadow – Cello and Piano Duo
She (Elvis Costello)from Notting Hill – arranged for Cello and Piano
I Giorni ( Ludovico Einaudi) arranged for Cello and Piano
Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles) – Cello and Piano Duo
With all the music being outside it was nice to see the sun shining down on this glorious occasion. We also managed to witness a couple of Red Kite’s flying overhead as we were setting up the piano shell for the wedding ceremony.
From the ceremony area it was only a short move to have everything set up again for the drinks reception. With our own power supply it was easy enough to locate exactly where the couple had asked us to be which put us well placed to provide a backdrop of music during the wedding drinks reception.
This was a great wedding and we had some lovely comments from the guests. We wish Joanna and Michael every happiness as they embark on their married future together.
