Shakespeare once said, “if music be the food of love, play on!” Sometimes, it can be tricky to blend a couple’s music taste. After all, how do you decide what shall play when you walk down the aisle? And furthermore, would you like yo keep it a secret? We asked Vaughan, member of one of our fantastic suppliers Manor House Music how they go about finding harmony between a couple’s tastes, his own love of music and for some tips to picking the perfect soundtrack for your big day!
Hello Vaughan, can you tell us all about your music background?
I started playing the violin at the age of eight and it was when I first heard Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ that I knew that I couldn’t possibly pursue any other path but music. My dad was a classical music lover and named me after the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. I had many teachers at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal College of Music but none influenced my playing and musicianship in the way that Kató Havas later did. She was a native of Hungary and taught right up until her death at the age of 98.
Thank you for letting us know a little bit about your musical background. What led you to start Manor House Music?
My sister Gemma got married back in 2004 and she didn’t want any classical music at her wedding (listening to me playing probably put her off!). She did however want ABBA and Queen, so I especially arranged six songs for her. It planted the idea in my head that younger couples generally wanted more up-to-date pop music and that for them, Bee Gees and The Beatles were probably ‘old’ music. I set myself the task of arranging 200 rock and pop hits for string quartet and have now exceeded 250. Each one takes about 5 to 6 hours to arrange, with more complex numbers (such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’) taking a lot longer. As a result, we have arrangements that are full of detail and really lift off when performed with energy. I’ve also arranged a similar number of pieces for the combination of the string duo, which has also proved popular for smaller gatherings.
What would you say is the most regular wedding booking for Manor House Music? Is it just down the aisle, or the aisle and drinks reception, or is it even the whole evening?
We often get asked to play during the wedding breakfast and occasionally for the evening dancing. One wedding at the Bodleian last year involved us staying until midnight, to perform waltzes and quicksteps for the couple and their guests, who were keen ballroom dancers. Most of our bookings though involve the pre-ceremony music (as guests enter Convocation House or The Divinity School), the ceremony itself and accompanying the reception drinks/canapés afterwards.
When should couples look to book Manor House Music once they are sure they would like live music at their wedding?
This is a tricky one but earlier is always better. Saturdays in June through to September tend to be the busiest dates and therefore should be booked well in advance. Occasionally though, we have had very last-minute bookings, only a month or so in advance and we have happened to be free. Our quiet months tend to be November through to February, so these are a good time for a last-minute wedding!
What advice can you give for a couple who would love classical music at their wedding, but are unsure what pieces to pick?
Often, couples opt for classical music as their guests are arriving, as it can bring a soothing atmosphere to a space and calm nerves. It’s also quite nice to surprise guests with the rock and pop numbers later on, when they’ve been lulled into thinking that the group only specifically play classical music. I have a list of classical ceremony pieces, with several options for the bridal entrance, signing of the register and recessional which I share with prospective couples. These can be a great starting point for any couple as they can go onto YouTube or Spotify and listen, getting a real sense of what has worked for many other weddings as well as the feel for music that they may have heard but wouldn’t necessarily recognise by the title.
Manor House Music can also provide classical covers of other genres of music, what would you say is the most popularly requested song (or name several if you can’t just think of one)?
Popular songs that are regularly requested include Madness ‘It Must Be Love’, The Beatles ‘All You Need Is Love’, Christina Perri ‘A Thousand Years’, Ed Sheeran ‘Perfect’ and Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’. Of the classical pieces, Pachelbel’s Canon in D is universally popular and fits the bridal entrance perfectly, as it can be tailored to any length and can sound complete at the end of any given phrase.
And on the same topic, what has been the most niche/unique song Manor House Music has been requested to play?
We’ve had a few that get played once and once only. About 15 years ago, I was asked to arrange the song ‘Beautiful Day’ by a band called 3 Colours Red. Later, the bride explained that a couple of years previously, her groom (now husband) had suffered a serious motorcycle collision, leaving him in a serious condition. She said that she was sitting next to his hospital bed and when she played him that song, he started moving his fingers for the first time. It was a very emotional song for them both.
We can see why the couple would want such a personal song for their wedding. Just so our couples are aware, can you please give a very basic run down of what the day might look like for yourself or anyone else in Manor House Music if you have been booked to play a wedding?
We would arrive early and set up, ready to play as guests enter the ceremony room. This is normally between 20 and 30 minutes prior to the bride’s entrance. We’ll then play for the various points during the ceremony. Next, there may be a short break of 10 minutes or so for group photos. We’ll often spend this time relocating to the next place, ready to start playing for the reception drinks. The wedding party then may exit the Bodleian and continue their day elsewhere. Often, they’ll return for their wedding breakfast in the Divinity School, which can also be accompanied by the string quartet.
Can you tell us about the first wedding you played? And what advice would you give yourself now if you could travel back in time?
After my sister’s wedding, our first string quartet wedding booking happened a year later and I remember arranging The Corrs’ ‘Runaway’ for the couple. The advice I would have is to be well prepared for every wedding. Set off early enough to absorb big delays and always be ready for the elements! We have stand lights for settings that are dimmer, sturdy music stands with legs that turn inwards, making them harder to blow down in stronger winds, pegs for our sheet music and all are folders are prepared for each new wedding, all in the correct order and ready to go!
And finally, do you have any tips for couples who maybe have very different music tastes and can’t decide what they would like for their wedding?
Be open to all ideas. For some, a harpist may be the perfect choice, for others it may be the bagpipes but don’t be afraid to ask, even if you think your musical requests may be a little out of the ordinary. After all, we do play Jimi Hendrix, Motorhead, Taylor Swift and of course, ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic’!
Thank you for your fantastic answers Vaughan! Hopefully these answers will guide any couples trying to decide the music they may want for their big day, and as always if you have any questions about booking the Bodleian, please do email us at weddings@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
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