Zelanie & Craig’s Wedding at Bach Wen Cottages, North Wales
When Two Very Different Music Tastes Come Together…
One of my favourite things about being a wedding singer is that no two couples ever really want the same thing.
Some couples have a very clear musical style from the beginning. Others have completely different tastes between them and want to somehow bring everything they love into the day. Zelanie and Craig were definitely the latter, and I absolutely loved the challenge.
Zelanie is a big Country and Pop fan and wanted those beautiful, classic wedding songs and romantic moments throughout the day. Craig, on the other hand, is much more into Alternative and Classic Rock. Rather than trying to find a middle ground, they wanted to incorporate as many of their favourite songs and genres as possible.
The result was one of my favourite and most eclectic wedding setlists to date. It jumped from Country and Pop to Rock anthems, classic love songs and big party tunes, but because every song had a reason for being there, it all felt completely personal to them.
A Calm Groom, A Slightly Delayed Bride and a Plan B
I arrived at Bach Wen Cottages with plenty of time to get everything set up and soundchecked before the ceremony. I like to have everything ready well before guests arrive, because the last thing I want to be doing is worrying about cables and speakers when the important part of the day is about to begin.
Craig was an absolute delight. Completely calm, chilled and lovely, and I always enjoy having a quick catch up with the groom before the ceremony. It is one of those small things that I think makes a difference. I can check that everything is still going to plan, run through any last minute details and make sure they know I have everything under control.
Zelanie was running a little behind schedule, which is absolutely no problem when you have planned for it.
When I prepare ceremony music, I always ask couples for a few extra songs that I can use if there is a delay. That means if the bride needs a little longer before making her entrance, I can simply carry on playing and keep the atmosphere going. The guests do not need to know that the ceremony is running five or ten minutes late, and nobody is left sitting in awkward silence wondering what is happening.
Once Zelanie was ready, it was time to get started.
Walking Down the Aisle to Lady Gaga
Zelanie chose ‘Always Remember Us This Way’ by Lady Gaga for her entrance, which was such a beautiful choice.
There is something really special about playing live music during a wedding ceremony. You are not just performing a song and moving on to the next one. You are watching the couple, watching the guests and responding to what is happening around you.
That becomes particularly important when you get to the signing of the register, because timings can vary enormously depending on what is happening on the day.
For Zelanie and Craig, there was another little musical challenge to solve.
Four Songs Instead of Three
The couple had struggled to narrow down their choices for the signing of the register. They had four songs they really wanted to hear, but realistically, there was only enough time for around two or three full songs.
I could have simply asked them to choose, but that felt like a shame when there was another option. Instead, I created bespoke shortened arrangements of all four songs so they could have every one of their favourites without making the ceremony run over.
The structures were:
• Wondering Why, The Red Clay Strays: Verse 1, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus
• Just A Dream, Nelly: Verse 1, Chorus 2, Bridge, Chorus 3
• Always, Bon Jovi: Verse 1, Chorus 1, Verse 2, Chorus 2, Outro
• The Power of Love, Huey Lewis and the News: Verse 1, Chorus 2, Bridge, Chorus 3
The important part when doing this is not simply cutting sections out of a song and hoping for the best. Each arrangement needs to feel musically complete. I chose the sections that carried the strongest lyrical and emotional moments of each song, while making sure the transitions worked naturally and the overall timing fitted the ceremony.
The end result meant Zelanie and Craig got to hear all four songs they had chosen, without their guests ever feeling like they were listening to shortened versions.
This is one of the biggest differences between having live music at your wedding and simply pressing play on a playlist. A Spotify track is the length it is. A live musician can adapt the music around the moment.
If the registrar needs another minute, I can keep playing. If a bride is running late, I can change the running order. If a couple has four songs they love and only enough time for three, I can arrange the music so we can make it work.
For me, that is a huge part of what makes live wedding music so special. The music is there to serve the moment, rather than the moment having to fit around the music.
From Emotional to Full Party Mode
After the emotional ceremony, it was time to completely change the energy.
Zelanie and Craig chose ‘Uptown Funk’ for their exit, and they genuinely danced their way back down the aisle. It was such a fun way to finish the ceremony and immediately brought the mood from emotional to celebratory.
While the couple headed off to enjoy the next part of their day, I packed away the ceremony setup and got ready for the drinks reception.
Thankfully, the weather was completely on our side, so everyone could enjoy the drinks reception outside.
Live Music at the Bach Wen Cottages Drinks Reception
For the first set, I kept things much more relaxed. Guests were enjoying drinks, chatting and catching up, so I chose a more chilled acoustic style that would add to the atmosphere without overpowering conversations.
As the drinks reception went on, I gradually started to lift the energy.
I think this is something that is easy to overlook when choosing wedding entertainment. A good wedding singer is not just there to work through a predetermined setlist from beginning to end. I am constantly reading the room and adapting what I am doing to the atmosphere around me.
You can tell when guests are ready for something a little more upbeat. You notice when people start singing along, when heads start turning towards the music and when the relaxed drinks reception begins to turn into the start of the party.
That was exactly what happened here.
The second set brought together even more of Zelanie and Craig's very different musical tastes, with Country favourites, Pop songs, classic love songs and some seriously good Alternative and Classic Rock anthems. It was a setlist that probably would not have made much sense on paper, but made perfect sense for them.
And that is exactly what I want from a wedding setlist.
It should feel like your music, not a generic collection of songs that happens to be labelled ‘wedding’.
Your Wedding Music Should Sound Like You
I think Zelanie and Craig's wedding is a perfect example of why I never want couples to feel restricted by a particular style of wedding music.
If one of you loves Country and the other loves Classic Rock, brilliant. If you want a romantic acoustic song during your ceremony followed by a huge party anthem as you walk back down the aisle, even better.
Your wedding does not need to have one musical identity. It just needs to have yours.
That is why I spend so much time getting to know my couples and understanding what they actually listen to. The songs you choose can say so much about you, and those little details are what turn live music from something that sounds nice into something that feels like it belongs at your wedding.
And sometimes, it is the little musical problem solving behind the scenes that makes the biggest difference.
Whether that is having extra songs ready because the ceremony is running late, creating a bespoke arrangement so you can have four register signing songs instead of three, changing the energy of a set because your guests are ready to party, or simply knowing when to sit back and let the music become part of the background, there is a lot more to performing at a wedding than simply knowing the words to a song.
Thank You, Zelanie & Craig
Zelanie and Craig, thank you for trusting me with such an important part of your wedding day and for giving me such a fun musical challenge.
I loved putting your setlist together and trying to bring both of your very different tastes into the day. From Lady Gaga during the ceremony, to four completely different songs during your register signing, to dancing your way out to Uptown Funk and then gradually getting the drinks reception moving, it was such a brilliant day.
Most importantly, I hope the music felt like you.
Thank you for having me there to be part of it.
Planning Your Own Wedding?
If you are looking for a wedding singer in North Wales, the North West or anywhere across the UK, I would love to hear what you are planning.
Whether you are looking for beautiful live music to accompany your ceremony, relaxed acoustic music during your drinks reception or something more upbeat to get your guests singing and dancing, I will build the music around you, your plans and the atmosphere you want to create.
And if you and your other half have completely different music tastes?
Even better. I love a challenge.
Suppliers:
Photographer:
Venue: Bach Wen Cottages, North Wales
Drinks Reception Setlist:
Set 1: (All acoustic/stripped back versions)
Stand By Me: Ben E King
Truly Madly Deeply: Savage Garden
If I Ain’t Got You: Alicia Keys
Bed Of Roses: Bon Jovi
Ordinary: Alex Warren
Tenessee Whiskey: Chris Stapleton
The Scientist: Coldpaly
Shape of You: Ed Sheeran
All of Me: John Legend
PIllow Talk: Zayn
Iris: Goo Goo Dolls
Something In The Orange: Zach Bryan
Set 2: (All upbeat/full arrangements)
I Just Wanna Make Love To You: Etta James
You’ve Got The Love: Florence & The Machine
Man I Need: Olivia Dean
No Scrubs: TLC
Choosin’ Texas: Ella Langley
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Queen
Let Me Entertain You: Robbie Willliams
Rockstar: Nickelback
Sex On Fire: Kings of Leon
Dirty: Christina Aguilera
Hot In Here: Nelly
So What: Pink
Bat Out Of Hell: Meatloaf (WHAT A CLOSER!!!!)