May 05, 2022

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at Highlands Ranch Manor

May 05, 2022/ Christen Stephens

We loved playing music for this traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, and it was the perfect way to spend a cold December afternoon and evening! Our string quartet played classical and instrumental favorites as the guests arrived, and our music carried beautifully in the big open ceremony space. The bride selected “Married Life” from Up for her recessional, and the couple even playfully danced to the song when they reached the end of the aisle. Of course, after that, I had to watch the movie again! This couple was just as sweet and in love as the couple in the movie, and it was wonderful.

For the cocktail hour, the couple requested more classical music with the addition of some Disney and show tunes. I put together a program that flowed seamlessly from one style to the next, and there was even some more impromptu dancing from the guests as we played the show tunes.

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at Highlands Ranch Manor, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

Wedding Ceremony Music:

Largo from Winter - Parents, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Flower Girls and Ringbearer
Romance in F (Beethoven) - Bride
Married Life from Up - Recessional

Wedding Prelude Music (sample selections):
To a Wild Rose, Serenade (Schubert), Salut D’Amour (Elgar), Air in D (Bach), Romance from the Eine Kline Nachtmusik (Mozart)

Cocktail Hour (sample selections):
Alleluja from Exultate Jubilate (Mozart), I See the Light from Tangled, Over the Rainbow, A Million Dreams from the Greatest Showman, Divertimento in D (Mozart)

Experience the Traditional Elegance of our String Quartet

Listen to Music Samples

April 09, 2022

Violin and Cello Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Vail Golf Club

April 09, 2022/ Christen Stephens

The fall foliage and weather could not have been more perfect for this long-awaited Vail wedding celebration. This couple had booked me back in 2019, and they sadly had to postpone their 2020 wedding to 2021. It was so exciting when the big day finally arrived!

This bride wanted to have classic wedding music for her ceremony and cocktail hour. We chose a mix of our favorite classical and romantic contemporary songs and created an elegant music program with a good flow. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the patio of the Vail Golf Club. The guests often recognized the songs that we were playing but couldn’t always place the titles, so we helped out when they asked.

From the Bride:

“We could not recommend Christen more! She was incredibly professional from the first time we spoke, and then thoughtful and understanding when we had to postpone our wedding. The ceremony and cocktail hour music was beautiful and exceeded our expectations. We were so impressed by the variety of music offered and how detailed Christen was throughout the planning process. Thank you Christen and Brightin for being a part of our special day!!”

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Ode to Joy (Beethoven) - Parents, Officiant, Maid of Honor, Best Man, Groom
Canon in D (Pachelbel) - Bride
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) - Recessional

Samples from the Prelude and Cocktail Hour Music Selections:
Butterfly Waltz from Twilight, The Sound of Music, A Day Without Rain (Enya), Can You Feel the Love Tonight from the Lion King, Si Bheag, Si Mhhor, What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong), Curious Story (Schumann), A Thousand Years from Twilight, Autumn (Vivaldi)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Vail Golf Club (Wedding Island)
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Violin and Cello Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Wedding Planner: Snapdragon Celebrations
Photographer: Nate and Jenny
Videographer: Larisa Graham Films

April 03, 2022

Flute and String Trio Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

April 03, 2022/ Christen Stephens

It was a blustery day in late summer when I played with my flute and strings trio for this very elegant wedding ceremony. We played romantic contemporary music for this modern couple as guests arrived and enjoyed drinks.

It was such a windy day that the bride’s veil blew off her head just as she started walking down the aisle! It became tangled in a twiggy tree and it took the wedding planner and another good Samaritan a good five minutes to extricate the delicate tulle. The bride ended up being married without he veil on, but that was a small detail to her. It was obvious to see that this couple was so in love and happy to be married that nothing else really mattered. The ceremony was absolutely lovely.

After the ceremony, we played upbeat contemporary music as the guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the patio. I added our drum machine to these lively tunes to add the rhythm and energy that we love in pop and rock songs.

Listen to Flute and String Trio Music Samples Recorded Live at the Wedding:

Wedding Ceremony Music:
I Get to Love You (Ruelle) - Officiant and Parents
At Last (Etta James) - Bride
Marry You (Bruno Mars) - Recessional

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings Trio (flute, viola, cello) by Christen Stephens
Wedding Planner: Bluebird Productions
Photographer: Bubble Rock
Videographer: Elysium
Flowers: Vintage Magnolia
Hair and Makeup: Liz and Brittani
Reception Entertainment: Matchmaker Band

Flute and Strings Beautifully Compliment Each Other.

Listen to Flute and String Trio Music Samples

February 18, 2022

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Chapel at Beaver Creek and the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek

February 18, 2022/ Christen Stephens

Our string trio played elegant and fun music for a wedding ceremony at the charming Beaver Creek Chapel, followed by cocktail hour music at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. We played classic prelude music that the bride selected, and then played a mix of upbeat classical, pop, and rock songs for the cocktail hour.

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Chapel at Beaver Creek, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Kimi D Photography

Wedding Prelude Music (Sample Selections):
All Creatures of Our God and King, Arioso (Bach), Serenade (Schubert), Nocturne from a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mendelssohn), Come Thou Fount

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach) - Parents and Groomsmen
Anne’s Theme from Anne of Green Gables - Bridesmaid’s, Ringbearers, Flower Girls
Canon in D (Pachelbel) - Bride
Be Thou My Vision - Communion
Doxology - accompany congregation
Wedding March (Mendelssohn) - Recessional

“Best Live Wedding Music of All Time”

“We were so incredibly fortunate to have Christen and her flutist and strings trio to play for our wedding recently at the Beaver Creek Chapel.

In the weeks leading up to our big day, Christen was incredibly supportive of my wife and I's decisions in terms of tailoring our dream playlist. They could not have set a better mood in the chapel that day, and there were tears of joy a'plenty.

Thank you so much to Christen Wedding Music and co. for their amazing work! Would definitely recommend to a friend, family, or stranger.” - Harry K., Groom

Listen to Music Samples Recorded Live from the Wedding:

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Ceremony Venue: The Chapel at Beaver Creek
Wedding Reception Venue: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
Wedding Planner: A Touch of Bliss
Photographer: Kimi D Photography
Videographer: Van Buren Photography

Cocktail Hour Music (sample selections):
Romanza from Eine Kline Nachkmusik, Scheherazade Theme (Rimsky-Korsakov), Fughette in C (Handel), Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Feel Pretty from Westside Story, Alleluja from Exultate Jubilate (Mozart), I’ve Got You Under my Skin (Cole Porter), Just One of Those Things (Cole Porter), Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol), At Last (Etta James)

Enjoy Music from Our Very Popular String Trio.

Listen to String Trio Music Samples

January 21, 2022

Flute and Cello Wedding Music at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado

January 21, 2022/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Cello Wedding Ceremony Music at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado

This wedding ceremony took place on a perfect summer day in early August at the beautiful Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado. I played flute accompanied by my cellist for both the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. The bride wanted music that was fun and romantic, and she loved the Beatles and Disney music.

We played a mix of romantic classical and modern music for the prelude as guests arrived. For the cocktail hour, we played lively modern songs, and got toes tapping with background beats on my drum machine.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis) - Wedding Party
Latch (Sam Smith) - Bride
All You Need is Love (Beatles) - Recessional

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Della Terra Mountain Chateau
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Cello Duo
Photographer: Jess Leigh
DJ: Dancin’ Shoes

Experience the romance of our Flute and Cello Duo

Listen to Flute and Cello Music Samples

January 10, 2022

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at Wedgewood Brittany Hill in Thornton, Colorado

January 10, 2022/ Christen Stephens

In July, our string trio enjoyed playing for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour at Wedgewood Brittany Hill in Thornton, Colorado. The bride walked down the aisle and everything went as planned, until the bride spontaneously began kissing her soon-to-be husband! At the gentle admonition of the officiant, she fell into the groom’s arms, laughing.

It threatened to rain, and we even saw some lightning, but this turned out to be the first of 22 weddings in a row where it actually didn’t rain during, right before, or right after a ceremony.

Our string trio played a few classical pieces selected by the bride before the ceremony, and afterwards during cocktails, we played set list of romantic and upbeat pop song covers.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Make You Feel My Love (Adele) - Seating of the Parents and Wedding Party Processional
Canon in D (Pachelbel) - Bride
All You Need is Love (Beatles) - Recessional

Sample Cocktail Hour Song Selections:
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Young and Beautiful (Lana Del Ray)
Imagine (Beatles)
Such Great Heights (Iron and Wine)
Yellow (Coldplay)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

From Classical Music to Covers of Pop Songs, Our String Trio Will Bring Life and Beauty to any Celebration!

Listen to String Trio Music Samples

October 05, 2021

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Reception Music at the Lodge at Breckenridge

October 05, 2021/ Christen Stephens

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception Music at the Lodge at Breckenridge, Photo by Andrea Stark Photography

From the Groom:

“Christen and her musicians are amazing! They played recently at our July wedding in Breckenridge and the music was beautiful. She even learned a couple of specific songs that we asked for, and our guests loved the mix of contemporary songs they played during the ceremony and part of the reception. Christen was so nice and we are so thankful her and her string quartet crew were a part of our day. Highly recommend!!”

Our string quartet had a wonderful time playing music for this wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception! We played a short prelude of classical and traditional music, and then switched to upbeat contemporary music for the cocktails and reception. The “Flower Boi” played his part perfectly and made us all laugh!

As we played “Forever, and Ever, Amen” during the prelude, I heard a hint of singing from the guests. During the reception, the singing was a little louder while we played “Just the Way You Are”. I couldn’t resist, and we launched into “Take Me Home, Country Roads'“, and the whole room erupted in enthusiastic, off-key singing!

We continued playing lively contemporary music and finished with a requested encore performance of “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. There was so much energy throughout the evening, and we were enjoying playing so much, that we didn’t realize how hungry we had become. The couple had arranged for us to eat food from the buffet afterwards and it was very welcome gesture.

Wedding Ceremony Music:

Bittersweet Symphony (Verve) - Wedding Party
All of the Lights (Kayne West) (slow section) - Bride
Overjoyed (Matchbox 20) - Recessional

Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony and Reception Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - String Quartet
Venue: The Lodge at Breckenridge
Photography: Andrea Stark Photography - Thank you so much for these beautiful photos!

The signage at this wedding is worth highlighting - it was delightful and nerdy!

Our String Quartet is equally comfortable playing elegant classical music and rocking out on contemporary tunes!

Listen to String Quartet Music Samples

September 25, 2021

String Trio Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the YMCA of the Rockies and the Twin Owls Steakhouse

September 25, 2021/ Christen Stephens

String Trio Wedding Ceremony Music at the Overlook Chapel at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

This July, my team and I played music for a wedding ceremony at the YMCA of the Rockies Overlook Chapel, which is at the top of Emerald Mountain. We arrived at the chapel after a drive up a winding dirt mountain road. The mountaintop felt wild and isolated, and it was completely silent except for the breeze in the trees and distant thunder.

As we warmed up and did sound check, we were swarmed by biting flies, which were enjoying the fact that we couldn’t really defend ourselves while we were playing our instruments. It was a relief when storm clouds covered the hot sun and the wind blew the worst of the flies away. When it was time to start the wedding, the mountaintop was still empty of people except for us and the officiant. The thunder rumbled louder and we saw lightning, and we hoped that everyone would arrive before the storm did!

Soon everyone arrived at once in a caravan of cars, and we played one prelude song and then launched into the bride’s song so that she could be married before the storm came. The bride walked down the aisle to a special arrangement that I made of “Precious Love” by James Morrison, a song that was meaningful to her.

The ceremony was really quick, and just as the couple was pronounced husband and wife, a few fat raindrops had begun to fall. People hurried away quickly, and we wrapped up the recessional song so that we could get to safety. We packed up under the shelter of our little canopy, during a deluge of wind, rain, flooding, and lightning.

Afterwards, we all made it safely to the Twin Owls Steakhouse, and we played lively contemporary music to entertain the guests during the cocktail reception.

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Ceremony Venue - YMCA of the Rockies - Overlook Chapel
Wedding Cocktail Hour and Reception Venue - Twin Owls Steakhouse
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - String Trio

Live Music adds Just the Right Touch to your Wedding Celebration!

Listen to String Trio Music Samples

July 11, 2021

String Trio Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at Mount Princeton Hot Springs in Nathrop, Colorado

July 11, 2021/ Christen Stephens

It was such a delight to work with this couple, and I felt privileged to be a part of their wedding celebration! The groom absolutely loves strings, and having live string music at their wedding was a very important part of this couple’s special day. They had our string trio play music with a contemporary feel for their ceremony, cocktail hour, and first dance.

String Trio Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music, Photo by Rachel Case Photography

We began by playing romantic contemporary prelude music as guests arrived before the ceremony, and we added energy with lively pop and rock tunes during cocktails. The bride also requested some special songs that her family loves, including “When I’m 64” (Beatles) , “Over the Rainbow” from Wizard of Oz, and A Whole New World.

We finished our portion of the evening playing the dreamy “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle for the couple’s very romantic first dance.

Wedding Ceremony Music:

A Thousand Years from Twilight - Wedding Party
Turning Page from Twilight - Bride
Viva La Vida (Coldplay) - Recessional
I Get to Love You (Ruelle) - First Dance

Wedding Vendors:

Venue: Mount Princeton Hot Springs
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: String Trio by Christen Stephens
Officiant and Wedding Planner: Clinton Anderson
Photographer: Rachel Case Photography - Thank you for these amazing photos!

Celebrate Your Wedding With the Beauty of Strings.

Listen to String Trio Music Samples

June 22, 2021

Flute and String Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado

June 22, 2021/ Christen Stephens

From the Groom:

“Amazing Musical Team!”

"Christen Stephens and her musicians were incredible! My bride wanted a very specific video game song played as she walked down the aisle and Christen's team pulled it off perfectly! They also did a great job with general contemporary music played on classical instruments, and created a great, classy, yet fun, atmosphere during the pre-ceremony time, and cocktail hour! She was always professional and very easy to work with! Highly recommended!”

Flute and Strings Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado, Photo by Christen Stephens

My musicians and I loved playing beautiful music for this elegant wedding ceremony and cocktail hour! The couple chose our flute and strings quartet, with the addition of a harpist for the bridal entrance. The bride was planning to ride in on a white horse as we played the “Great Fairy Fountain” from Zelda on flute and harp. I didn’t see exactly what happened because I was playing, but one of the many wild turkeys roaming the area spooked the horse and the bride couldn’t ride in, but it was true Colorado mountain wedding experience!

We played a contemporary music program with pop, rock, and country music selections. For the prelude, we began with slower and more romantic music, and then we really lifted the tempo after the ceremony as guests enjoyed cocktails and hors-d’ourves.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
A Thousand Years (Christian Perri) - Wedding Party
Great Fairy Fountain from Zelda - Bride
Marry You - Recessional

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Della Terra Mountain Chateau
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings Quartet + Harp by Christen Stephens
Photographer: Nicolette Bardos

Our Flute and Strings Quartet is an Impressive Addition to any Wedding!

Listen to Flute and String Quartet Music Samples

May 05, 2021

Flute, Cello, and Guitar Wedding Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens

May 05, 2021/ Christen Stephens

Flute, Cello, Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver, Colorado

After many unusually cold and rainy April days, this Nebraska couple got lucky with the perfect spring day for their wedding celebration. They were married at the peaceful Woodland Mosaic Garden, one of several wedding sites at the Denver Botanic Gardens. This secluded woodland location has a charming Victorian solarium, making it my favorite wedding site in the gardens. The spring flowers and delicate new leaves sparkled with life, and the sun was warm and inviting.

The bride is an accordion player, and she was quite knowledgeable in music and made a variety of music selections from classical to traditional Irish, jazz, Beatles, and other contemporary songs. Both the classical and modern songs sounded perfect with our flute, cello, and guitar trio.

We played traditional classical music to greet guests as they arrived and mingled before the ceremony. This couple chose to officiate their own ceremony, and Colorado is one of only a few states where this is easy to do and recognized legally. I played short musical excerpts throughout the ceremony to set the mood and to provide lovely transitions.

After the ceremony, we switched from classical music to pop, rock, and jazz music. Everyone enjoyed our music along with cocktails and mingling. As we played, the solarium was set with tables and chairs for the dinner that would be soon to follow. We wrapped up the cocktail portion of the event with the couple’s first dance, which we accompanied with “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind, and Fire. Our guitarist switched from his classical guitar to his steel string guitar, and we really rocked it!

Ceremony Music:
Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach) - Groom then Bride
Simple Gifts (Traditional) - Tree Planting Ceremony
Rondeau from Abdelazer (Purcell) - Recessional
Fantasy (Earth, Wind, and Fire) - First Dance

Cocktail Hour Music (sample selections):
Make You Feel My Love ( Adele), Viva la Vida (Coldplay), Shallow (Lady Gaga), All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, All You Need Is Love (Beatles), Come Away With Me (Nora Jones)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Denver Botanic Gardens (The Woodland Mosaic Garden)
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens (Flute, Cello, Guitar Trio)
Photographer: Ryan Dearth Wedding Photography

Our Flute, Cello, and Guitar Trio can have traditional and romantic sound, or pick up the tempo for lively contemporary music.

Contact Christen

January 08, 2021

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music in Edwards, Colorado

January 08, 2021/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music in Edwards, Colorado - Music by Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

This vibrant couple didn’t let the pandemic get in the way of their 2020 wedding plans, but their plans did change many times leading up to their wedding, with the safety of their family and friends in mind. They finally ended up with an intimate wedding ceremony at a privater rental home on the top of a mountain, and the end result was stunning!

Our flute and violin duo set the mood with elegant music that the bride chose, including “Ave Maria” (Schubert), “What a Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong), and “River Flows in You” (Yiruma). The ceremony was held outside with a panoramic mountain view as the backdrop.

The bride walked down the aisle to a very special rendition of “A Thousand Years”, which my violinist sung while I accompanied her on flute. From our perch above the ceremony, we could see elk leaping and playing on the mountains as the ceremony was taking place.

From the Bride:

“We Could Not Recommend Someone More”

“Christen is a pleasure to work with. She is organized, timely, and professional. She helped us put together a lovely timeline, and chose music that was perfectly suited to our tastes. She is outstandingly talented and wonderful to work with! We could not recommend someone more.”

Ceremony Music:
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis) - Wedding Party
A Thousand Years (Christina Perri) - Bride
Butterfly Waltz from Twilight- After First Reading
Romanza from Eine Kline Nachtmusik (Mozart) - After Second Reading
Amazing Grace - Knot Tying Ceremony
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles) - Recessional

Samples from Cocktail Hour Music:
Canon in D (Pachelbel), You’ll Be in My Heart (Tarzan), Moon River

Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony Music - Flute and Violin Duo - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens
Photographer - Shebli Huston Photography
Videographer - Chris Rasmussen Films

Flute and Violin Make the Perfect Pair!

Listen to Music Samples

November 25, 2020

Flute and Harp Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music in Denver, Colorado

November 25, 2020/ Christen Stephens

This Denver wedding ceremony couldn’t have had better timing, with a weather system that pulled the wildfire smoke away from Colorado for just a few days. The bride and groom were graced with brilliant blue skies and perfect weather for their wedding day.

Flute and Harp Wedding Ceremony Music in Denver, Colorado by Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Laura Murray

The ceremony took place on a private elegant rooftop garden in downtown Denver. We accompanied the ceremony and cocktail hour with our romantic and joyful flute and harp music.

The ceremony was intimate with just immediate family members, and they were all such amazing and kind people. It was a joy to be a part of this special day.

From the Bride

“Christen Was Phenomenal”

“Christen and her accompanist were absolutely amazing. My husband and I can’t say enough about them! We had them for our intimate wedding in September and she was so amazing to work with. As are most things in 2020, this was always a dream of mine to have a harp at my wedding but it was a last minute decision as we were trying to be COVID conscious. Christen was phenomenal. She was flexible, she learned the songs we had our heart set on and she helped us come up with a wonderful ceremony and cocktail play list. Truly my one regret from our wedding is not sitting down for a few more minutes to just enjoy the beautiful music. I hope to work with Christen again and would 100% recommend her to any friends or family looking to add that special touch to their event. Thank you for helping to make 2020 so memorable for us!”

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Processional - Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Recessional - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder)

The bride selected her entire cocktail hour music playlist:
Shallow (Lady Gaga), Perfect (Ed Sheeren), All of Me (John Legend), Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis), Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeren), I’m Yours (Jason Mraz), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz, Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton), Someone Like You (Adele), Make You Feel My Love (Adele), The Ludlows from Legends of the Fall, And So it Goes (Billy Joel), It Had to Be You, Stand by Me (Ben King), Amazed (Lonestar), Everything I Do from Robin Hood, From this Moment On (Shania Twain), Annie’s Song (Jonh Denver), Come Away with Me (Norah Jones)

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Harp Duo
Photographer: Laura Murray Photography
Videographer: Elysium Weddings

Add the music of angels to your wedding ceremony or next event!

Listen to flute and harp music samples

November 17, 2020

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Lionsgate Event Center in Lafayette, Colorado

November 17, 2020/ Christen Stephens

Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, String Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at the Lionsgate Center in Broomfield, Colorado, Photo by Christen Stephens

My string quartet enjoyed playing wedding ceremony and cocktail hour music on this perfect autumn day in late September. We played romantic classical and contemporary music as guests arrived, and for the cocktail hour, we played a mix of lively classical and contemporary music to get the party started.

We just loved all the chandeliers hanging from the trees! These and other elegant touches gave the venue a really classy indoor/outdoor feel.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Canon in D - Wedding Party and Bride
La Rejouissance - Recessional

Timeless and traditional, our string quartet is the perfect addition to your wedding celebration.

Listen to Music Samples

August 25, 2020

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony and Reception Music in Avon, Colorado

August 25, 2020/ Christen Stephens

Solo Flute Wedding Ceremony and Reception Music in Bachelor Gulch, Avon, Colorado, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens

I played solo flute for both the ceremony and appetizers. I played classical music by Bach, Mozart, and Debussy, and also more contemporary music by the Beatles, Sinatra, and a few jazz numbers along with some fun improvisation. I varied each song with different reverb settings on my amplification, and enjoyed imitating the original performances, and adding my own flair and personality. It completely made my day when one of the guests told me that my flute playing sounded like several instruments were playing, and not just a single flute!

I accompanied the cake cutting with "This is All I Ask” by Frank Sinatra. This was a song that the bride requested in memory of her grandfather, who used to sing it a lot.

From the Mother of the Bride:

“Christen was very easy to work with from start to finish! The flute sounded amazing on the mountain during our outdoor wedding and we would highly recommend using Christen for any and every event indoor or outdoor!!!”

Wedding Ceremony Songs:
Blackbird (Beatles) - Groom and Parents
Scarborough Fair (Traditional) - Bride
All my Loving (Beatles) - Recessional
This is All I Ask (Sinatra) - Cake Cutting

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Shane Macomber
Rabbi: Rabbi Joel D. Newman
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Solo Flute

This August, it was such a privilege to have the opportunity to play solo flute for this traditional Jewish wedding ceremony in the Colorado mountains. This New York couple had originally planned to have a large wedding celebration with all the trimmings, but due to the pandemic, they sadly had to cancel the celebration as originally planned. The re-imagined intimate ceremony that they ended up with may have been completely different than their first plan, but it was so full of love, joy, and meaning.

The couple was married on an empty lot with a beautiful view of Bachelor Gulch. The hot sun disappeared behind cooling, dramatic clouds just in time for the ceremony. Afterwards, everyone continued to celebrate with appetizers and cake at their vacation home in the village. The bride is a pianist, so she chose some lovely music selections that I was very excited to learn.

My Solo Flute Signature Package is my most versatile wedding music package, and I love playing everything from traditional classical music to pop and rock music.

Listen to Music Samples

August 13, 2020

Violin and Cello Duo Wedding Music at Piney River Ranch in Vail, Colorado

August 13, 2020/ Christen Stephens

There was so much energy leading up to the ceremony with singing, hugging, ululating and just an atmosphere of good cheer. Everyone was dressed to the nines and I enjoyed seeing so many elegant gowns.

The celebration was filled with so much music from start to finish. There was continual singing before the ceremony began, and the main ceremony was mostly singing as well. Then our violin and cello duo took over for cocktails followed by the DJ for dinner and dancing.

It was such a privilege to be a musical part of this exciting traditional Jewish wedding celebration at Piney River Ranch. The setting is remote and beautiful, and all the more appreciated because you have to work to get there. My car is just not built for rough dirt mountain roads, so I drove slowly and carefully so that I wouldn’t bounce too much and hit the bottom of my car. The trip took me 1 1/2 hours from downtown Vail, but it was worth it. The scenery along the way was so peaceful and I love nothing more than being out in nature, so I enjoyed both the journey and the destination.

For our portion of the music, we played a set of contemporary music including music from the Beatles, the “Butterfly Waltz” from Twilight, and “Sweet Child O’Mine” (Guns ‘N Roses"). We also played a number of Disney songs, as requested by the bride (and my personal favorite as well!).

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Piney River Ranch
Wedding Planner: Eventique Productions
Cocktail Hour Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Violin and Cello Duo
DJ - Vail DJs
Florist: Petals of Provence

January 13, 2020

Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Ritz-Carlton in Bachelor Gulch

January 13, 2020/ Ritz Carlton/ Christen Stephens

Flute and strings by christen stephens, flute and violin Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail hour music in beaver creek, colorado, Photo by preston utley

It’s hard to know what to expect from the Colorado mountains in October, and just two days prior, we had a huge snow storm and frigid temperatures. However, this day the sun shone brightly and the temperatures warmed into the afternoon. The autumn foliage was just finishing up, and the snow was melting quickly, a celebration of both autumn and winter.

The couple chose an elegant mix of classical and contemporary songs, and I supplemented their list to fill out the prelude time. I also made a special arrangement of “Over the Rainbow” to accompany their children as they walked down the aisle, and and arrangement of “Yellow” for the bride’s walk.

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue: Ritz Carlton - Bachelor Gulch
Officiant: Scott Beebe
Photographer: Preston Utley
Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo

I want to give Preston Utley a special shout out and thank you for these lovely photos!

Enjoy the elegance and joy of the flute and violin for your wedding ceremony. Listen to flute and violin music samples.

In mid-October, my flute and violin duo was hired to play beautiful music for a Colorado mountain wedding ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Bachelor Gulch, Colorado. The bride and groom had traveled all the way from Georgia to have their destination wedding ceremony in the stunning autumn Colorado mountains.

After the ceremony, we moved to the outdoor patio where we continued playing a mix of lively classical and contemporary music for the cocktail hour. The sun was setting by now and it was becoming chilly, and we were glad that cocktails finished just in time for everyone to move indoors by the warm fire.

Sample Songs from the Prelude:
Simple Gifts (traditional), Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach), Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Ode to Joy (Beethoven)

Wedding Processional Music:
Wedding Party - Over the Rainbow
Bride - Yellow (Coldplay)
Recessional - Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)

Sample Songs from the Cocktail Hour:
Air from Water Music (Handel), On Wings of Song (Mendelssohn), All of Me (John Legend), All My Loving (Beatles), Flower Duet (Delibes), River Flows in You (Yiruma)

December 17, 2019

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Lodge at Breckenridge in Colorado

December 17, 2019/ Christen Stephens

Flute and strings by christen stephens, string quartet wedding ceremony music at the lodge at breckenridge in breckenridge, Colorado

From the Bride:

“Christen and her quartet played for our wedding on 11/10/19. She was so easy to work with and incredibly detail oriented. She was also very responsive and answered my questions and requests usually within the hour. The group sounded fantastic and all the guests enjoyed the wide selection of music. The best part was that I knew I didn't have to worry about a thing on the big day. Thanks, Christen!” - Laurel R.

Our beautiful string quartet is a traditional ensemble, but don’t let that fool you, because we can play just about any kind of music from classical to pop, rock, and jazz.

Learn more >

In mid-November, I had the honor of playing my cello along with my string quartet for my friend Laurel’s wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. I was so happy to have the opportunity to participate in her wedding celebration in such a meaningful way.

It’s hard to know what kind of weather to expect in the mountains in the middle of November, but the day turned out to be absolutely perfect with bright sun and temperatures in the 50’s.

Laurel is a vocalist and former music teacher, so since she knows and loves music, she chose a wonderful and varied music set list for her ceremony and cocktail hour. For her ceremony, she chose a set of mostly Baroque and classical music, and then during cocktails, she chose pop music, romantic songs, jazz, and country songs.

Sample Selections from Prelude Music:
Selections from the “Four Seasons” (Vivaldi), Salut d’Amour (Elgar), La Vie En Rose (Luis Guglielmi), Suite #3 (J.S. Bach)

Wedding Processional Music:
Bride - The Wedding from Legends of the Fall
Recessional - Hornpipe from Water Music (Handel)

Samples from Cocktail Hour Music:
Don’t Stop Belivin’ (Coldplay), Sweet Child O Mine (Guns ‘N Roses), And So it Goes (Billy Joel), All of Me (John Legend), What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong), Take Five (Dave Brubeck), Here Comes the Sun (Beatles), Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis)

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Ceremony Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - String Quartet
Venue: The Lodge at Breckenridge
Photographer: ELD Photography
Officiant: Adorkable Weddings

November 21, 2019

Flute and Harp Wedding Ceremony Music in Aspen, Colorado

November 21, 2019/ Christen Stephens

From the Mother of the Bride:

“Christen played along with a harp at my daughters destination wedding. They were just amazing. Due to some circumstances beyond our control we had to do a last minute change of venue. She didn't bobble at all. She made it so easy and was so accommodating. I received so many compliments and her professionalism was outstanding. She loves what she does and you can tell in every song she/they played. She made sure everything was perfect and it was. I highly recommend her for any and all occasions. She made my daughters wedding very memorable. Thank you again Christen!” - Brenda S.

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Musicians: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Harp Duo
Wedding Planner: Blue Sky Elopements

It’s hard to surpass the elegance of the flute and harp, and with the flute playing the melody like vocals and the harp providing a romantic background, we can play just about any style of music. Listen to our flute and harp music samples.

It was almost the last day of summer when my harpist and I traveled up to Aspen, Colorado to play elegant flute and harp music for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. We expected it to be cool in Aspen, but it turned out to be a beautiful warm day with a hot sun. The wedding ceremony was held at an elegant mountain home that had a backyard with stunning mountain views and hints of autumn foliage.

The bride loved our large song list, and she selected her entire wedding music program by herself, from the ceremony through the cocktails. Her music choices were varied and included sacred, classical, pop, country, rap, Disney, and jazz music. The guests loved the variety of music that we played, and they particularly enjoyed hearing some of the rap and pop pieces played on flute and harp.

Samples from Wedding Prelude and Postlude Music:
In the Garden (hymn), Jesu of Man's Desiring (Bach), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Crazy (Willie Nelson), A Whole New World from Aladdin, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban), Fairest Lord Jesus, When You Wish Upon a Star, The Ludlows,Someday My Prince Will Come

Wedding Processional and Recessional Music:
The Lord’s Prayer - Seating of the Parents
Beauty and the Beast - Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girl, Ringbearer
Shallow (Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga) - Bride
Ave Maria (Schubert) - Sand Pouring Ceremony
Hey Ya (OutKast) - Recessional

Samples from Cocktail Hour Music:
Isn’t It Romantic (Ella Fitzgerald), Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars), Dream a Little Dream of Me (Louis Armstrong), Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Try to Remember (Jerry Orbach), Amazed (Lonestar), From This Moment, (Shania Twain), Love Me Tender (Elvis), The Wedding from Legends of the Fall, Hey Ya (OutKast)

October 09, 2019

Flute and Violin Duo Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music at the Arrabelle in Vail

October 09, 2019/ Christen Stephens

I knew from the moment that I spoke to this bride that she was a lovely person, and she was indeed such a delight to work with! This couple in their 50’s hired my flute and violin duo to accompany their wedding ceremony and cocktail hour with classical and popular music to give a mood of understated and classy elegance.

We played classical music selections as guests arrived and to set the mood for the ceremony to follow. For the processional of the wedding party and the bride, we played “Don’t Stop Belivin’” by Coldplay, a special music arrangement for flute and violin that I made specially for the couple. The bride said that the moment she heard us play, she just knew that our music was the most perfect choice for her wedding, and it brought happy tears to her eyes. The happy tears continued as the couple was joyfully united in marriage.

Imagine my surprise when I recognized the bride’s sister when she walked up to do a reading! She was the mom of one of my former flute students. My student and her mom were equally surprised to recognize me as the one playing the flute, and we had a brief and happy reunion.

Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Flute and Violin Wedding Ceremony Music at the Arrabelle at Vail Square in Vail, Colorado

Wedding Processional Music:
Wedding Party and Bride’s Processional: Don’t Stop Belivin’ (Coldplay)
Recessional: All You Need is Love (Beatles)

Sample from Wedding Prelude Music:
Air from Suite No. 3 (Bach), Flower Duet from Lakme (Delibes), Allegro from Spring (Vivaldi), Arioso (Bach), River Flows in You (Yiruma)

After the ceremony was over, we continued to play for cocktails out on the patio of the Arrabelle.

Sample from Cocktail Hour Music:
Rigaudon from Water Music (Handel), Blackbird (Beatles), Minuets I & II (Devienne), I Will (Beatles), Intermezzo (Mascagni)

From the Bride:

“One week post-wedding and we and our guests are still singing the praises of Flute and Strings by Christen. Christen was the only musician I spoke with, unlike the myriad of vendors I spoke with virtually every other aspect of her wedding, instinctively I felt she was exactly what we were looking for. Boy was I correct. She is first and foremost an exceptionally talented musician, which you can hear from her music samples. She also offered a wide variety of music to choose from for both the ceremony and reception, and were flexible and accommodating to my own processional selection. She was quick to respond to my questions, highly organized and professional and showed up early on the big day. And then they played. It was WONDERFUL!!! Having beautiful live music during the ceremony was important to us and to have it played so well really made the day extra perfect. I can't say enough about Christen.” Bobbi B.

Add a touch of class and elegance to your wedding ceremony with the lovely combination of flute and violin. You can listen to music samples here.

Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens - Flute and Violin Duo
Planner: Glitter and Bliss Weddings
Venue: The Arrabelle at Vail Square
Photography: Daniel Alfonzo Photography
Flowers: Petals and Pours

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Experience the Traditional Elegance of our String Quartet

Listen to Flute and String Trio Music Samples Recorded Live at the Wedding:

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Listen to Music Samples Recorded Live from the Wedding:

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Our String Quartet is equally comfortable playing elegant classical music and rocking out on contemporary tunes!

Live Music adds Just the Right Touch to your Wedding Celebration!

Celebrate Your Wedding With the Beauty of Strings.

From the Groom:

“Amazing Musical Team!”

Our Flute and Strings Quartet is an Impressive Addition to any Wedding!

Our Flute, Cello, and Guitar Trio can have traditional and romantic sound, or pick up the tempo for lively contemporary music.

From the Bride:

“We Could Not Recommend Someone More”

Flute and Violin Make the Perfect Pair!

From the Bride

“Christen Was Phenomenal”

Add the music of angels to your wedding ceremony or next event!

Timeless and traditional, our string quartet is the perfect addition to your wedding celebration.

From the Mother of the Bride:

From the Bride:

From the Mother of the Bride:

From the Bride: