It’s always a pleasure to return to Coombe Lodge in Blagdon, Somerset. As well as being a lovely venue it is also just one hour from our home in the Cotswolds.
The Wedding
Eleanor and Byron
Coombe Lodge, Blagdon
Sunday 4 August 2024
Drinks Reception and Meal
Today we had been booked by the Mother of the Groom as a surprise for Eleanor and Byron. Despite not being asked to play for the ceremony we still arrived in good time as it was undcertain initially where we would be setting up and there was the possibility we might have to set up in the ceremony area and so needed to allow time to do so. We were also told to be ‘on standby’ should the booked musician for the ceremony not be able to play for whatever reason. We believe it was in fact a family friend. Anyway it turned out they did a super job for the ceremony.
What we hadn’t been told was that we were meant to be a complete surprise for the bride and groom and therefore on arrival we were not allowed to be seen prior to the drinks reception. To make this more challenging the Bride walked through the area of the drinks reception on the way to the ceremony and so therefore we were not allowed to even bring anything in until the ceremony was underway.
In the end we agreed on a compromise and hid around the corner with our gear, ready to spring into action once the bride had started walking into the ceremony which was also being held outdoors.
Music for the Drinks Reception
In terms of music for the drinks reception there were no specific requests but we were asked to include: Africa by Toto plus a few tunes by Taylor Swift, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran along with the theme to Game of Thrones.
We really enjoyed being a part of Eleanor and Byron’s wedding and we hope we were a good surprise for them! Our involvement was to play music during the outdoor drinks reception before moving inside to provide music during the wedding breakfast all at Coombe Lodge Blagdon. This remains one of our most visited wedding venues in the South West and we looked forward to returning there in the near future for another wedding.
In the meantime we wish Eleanor and Byron every happiness as they embark on their married future together.
