There’s nothing quite like a string duo turning a much-loved singalong into something unexpectedly moving. Here’s our violin and cello arrangement of The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”, performed live during the drinks reception at a wedding at Norwood Park.
The stately Georgian setting of Norwood Park is the perfect backdrop for live strings, and this crowd favourite had guests smiling (and quietly singing along) between sips of fizz. Our arrangement keeps all the joyful energy of the original while adding the warmth and depth that only violin and cello can bring.
Looking for live music for your own wedding drinks reception at Norwood Park or elsewhere in Nottinghamshire? Get in touch to chat about your day.
One of the moments we love most at any wedding is the guests arrival. It’s easy to overlook — all the focus tends to fall on the processional, the vows, the first dance — but that ten or fifteen minutes before the ceremony begins has a magic all of its own. People are finding their seats, greeting each other, taking in the room. The right music during that window doesn’t just fill silence — it tells everyone, without a word, that something meaningful is about to happen.
At this particular wedding at Bassmead Manor Barns in Cambridgeshire, the couple had chosen “I Get To Love You” by Ruelle as one of their guests arrival pieces, and it was a gorgeous choice.
Why the guests arrival matters
Think about the last wedding you attended. You probably remember walking in, looking around, soaking up the atmosphere. If there was live music playing, it shaped your entire first impression of the day. That’s what the guests arrival does — it sets the emotional tone before anything else has happened.
A song like “I Get To Love You” is ideal for this moment. It’s warm and unhurried, with a melody that rises gently without ever rushing. On violin and cello it becomes something almost hymn-like — intimate enough for a small gathering, but with enough depth to fill a larger space.
About Bassmead Manor Barns
Bassmead Manor Barns is a family-owned barn wedding venue near St Neots in Cambridgeshire, nestled within the medieval moat of an ancient manor. The ceremony space in the Rickety Barn is 300 years old, with original oak beams, wooden floors, and wrought iron chandeliers strung with fairy lights. It’s the kind of room where strings feel completely at home — the natural timber and the warm acoustics do half the work for you.
The venue also features the Bridge Barn for wedding breakfasts, landscaped gardens with a moat, and even resident peacocks. It’s one of those rare venues where rustic character and modern elegance sit comfortably side by side, and it’s a joy to play in.
Choosing your guests arrival music
If you’re not sure where to start with pre-ceremony music, here are a few things worth thinking about. The arrival set usually runs for around fifteen to twenty minutes, so you want three or four pieces that share a similar mood — gentle, reflective, building quietly towards the processional. This is the moment to use songs that mean something to you as a couple but don’t need the spotlight of the aisle walk. Save your biggest emotional hit for the entrance; let the arrival music be the slow, beautiful warm-up.
We’re always happy to help couples put together a set that flows naturally from arrival through to the ceremony itself.
Book us for your wedding
If you’re planning a wedding at Bassmead Manor Barns or anywhere in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, or the surrounding counties, we’d love to be part of your day. We tailor every set to the couple — from ceremony to drinks reception to wedding breakfast — across any genre you like.
We’ve been obsessed with this track since it dropped — Alex Warren’s Fever Dream is a huge song with a really emotional melody about love catching you completely off guard. As soon as we heard it, we knew it had to give it the violin and cello treatment.
The original is built around piano and a big drumbeat, but at its core it’s a love song with a gorgeous melody. That’s exactly the kind of thing that works so well as a string duo arrangement. We wanted to strip it right back and let the emotion of the song come through on just two instruments — no backing track, no production, just strings.
This is our studio recorded version of Fever Dream, and we’re really proud of how it turned out. Have a listen:
We’ll be releasing this cover on Spotify, Apple Music, and all the usual streaming platforms soon — so keep an ear out for that. In the meantime, you can check out our other string covers on our YouTube channel.
Why Fever Dream works as wedding music
We’re always on the lookout for fresh songs that work well at weddings and events, and Fever Dream is a brilliant one to add to the list. It’s romantic without being cheesy, it’s modern, and it has the kind of energy that works whether you’re walking down the aisle or having your first dance. The string arrangement gives it a timeless feel while still sounding contemporary — exactly what a lot of couples are looking for.
If you’re planning a wedding or event anywhere in the UK and love the idea of hearing your favourite songs performed live on violin and cello, we’d love to hear from you. The Chapel Hill Duo specialises in contemporary string covers of pop, indie, and classic tracks — everything from current chart hits to all-time favourites. Every arrangement is our own, and we’re always adding new songs to our repertoire.
Drop us a message through our enquiry form to check availability and find out more about what we can do for your big day.
We’re so happy to finally share this one. Last summer we had the pleasure of performing at the beautiful Lanwades Hall in Suffolk, and this cover of Nat King Cole’s ‘Love’ was one of those moments that just felt right from the first note.
We’ve always loved this song — there’s a reason it’s been a wedding staple for decades. For our arrangement, we leaned into the warmth of the cello and let the violin carry that familiar melody, keeping things intimate and romantic without losing any of the magic of the original.
Lanwades Hall is a genuinely stunning venue and if you’re considering it for your wedding, we can tell you firsthand that it’s an absolute dream to perform in. The acoustics, the light, the whole atmosphere — it all just works.
If you’re in the early stages of planning your wedding music and you’d love a live string duo to be part of your day, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re based in Suffolk, Lincolnshire, or anywhere in between, we travel to venues across the UK.
We couldn’t resist arranging this one. Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso has such a natural swing to it — that slow-burn groove translates surprisingly well to strings, and we had a lot of fun finding the right balance between playful and polished.
This one was filmed at Wootton Hall, a stunning Georgian country estate in North Lincolnshire. With its double-fronted manor house, walled garden and 27 acres of parkland, it’s the kind of venue that sets a really special tone for a wedding day — elegant but not stuffy, with a genuinely warm atmosphere. Exactly the kind of setting where a song like Espresso feels completely at home.
This is the kind of song we love bringing into a wedding set. It’s current, it’s fun, and it works beautifully as a cocktail hour track — especially for couples who want their day to feel more like a party than a ceremony.
We had so much fun performing this one! The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love” arranged for violin and cello, live at a summer wedding at Pangdean Old Barn.
This track is always a crowd-pleaser—it’s got such infectious energy and optimism that translates brilliantly to strings. We loved reimagining it for this beautiful wedding, keeping all that joyful spirit while giving it a fresh instrumental twist.
Pangdean Old Barn is an absolutely gorgeous venue to play at. The rustic barn and luscious gardens make for such a special atmosphere, and the summer vibes were perfect.
We’re The Chapel Hill Duo, and we specialise in bringing contemporary songs to life with violin and cello for weddings and events. There’s something magical about taking songs people love and reimagining them with strings.
🎻 Cheap Thrills – Sia | Violin & Cello Cover | The Chapel Hill Duo LIVE at Harlaxton Manor
We’re so excited to share this one with you! Here’s our live violin and cello arrangement of Sia’s “Cheap Thrills,” filmed in the stunning Orangery at Harlaxton Manor. If this backdrop looks like it belongs in a period drama, that’s because it practically could — and that’s exactly the vibe we were going for. 🏛️✨
With the new season of Bridgerton upon us, we couldn’t resist revisiting this track after it was featured in the last season. There’s something magical about hearing a modern pop hit reimagined with strings, and Bridgerton has done so much to bring that concept to a massive audience. We wanted to put our own spin on it and bring that Bridgerton energy to life in a real-world setting that feels straight out of the Ton.
Harlaxton Manor’s Orangery was the perfect location — all golden light, grand architecture, and old-world elegance. We hope you enjoy watching this as much as we enjoyed performing it!
🎵 Original song by Sia
🎻 Violin & Cello arrangement by The Chapel Hill Duo
📍 Filmed live in the Orangery at Harlaxton Manor
💛 If you loved this cover, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more string covers of your favourite songs.
Our violin and cello cover of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, played at St James’ Church, Norton last year.
We performed this while guests were getting seated before the ceremony, which is always one of our favourite parts of the day — calm, unhurried, and full of anticipation. “Dreams” felt like a lovely fit for that quiet build-up before everyone headed off to the wedding reception at Hodsock Priory later on.
We absolutely loved playing in such a beautiful church and being part of such a special day.
Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed this, feel free to like, comment, or subscribe for more string covers and wedding performances. And if you’re planning a wedding or event and fancy live violin and cello, we’d love to chat.
🎻 Violin & Cello
📍 St James’ Church, Norton
💍 Wedding performance before the reception at Hodsock Priory
We had so much fun putting our own spin on “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by the legendary Mariah Carey! 🎄✨
Just two instruments, a cozy Chapel Hill vibe, and one of the most iconic holiday songs ever. We hope this violin + cello cover brings a little extra sparkle to your season.
If you enjoy it, hit like, drop a comment, or share it with someone who’s already blasting Christmas music way too early (we see you 👀).
Thanks for listening and celebrating the holidays with us! ❤️🎻🎶
✨ An emotional violin & cello take on Lewis Capaldi’s “Something in the Heavens” — raw, powerful, and straight from the soul. 🎻
We poured our hearts into this one! Our violin and cello version of Lewis Capaldi’s “Something in the Heavens” feels like it came straight from the stars. Every note hit us right in the feels — it’s emotional, powerful, and just a little bit otherworldly. 🌌💫
We wanted to capture that raw, soaring energy of Capaldi’s song and let the strings do the talking. From the quiet moments that make you hold your breath to the huge waves of sound that lift you up — this one’s a ride.
🎧 Pop in your headphones, crank the volume, and float away with us. If you love big emotions and bold string energy, you’re in for a treat.
👇 Hit follow for more of our violin and cello takes on songs that give you all the feels!