For a recent wedding at Swancar Farm Country House in Nottinghamshire, the couple picked A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay as their recessional. It’s a great choice for the walk back up the aisle.
Why it works as exit music
The recessional is the first proper celebration of the day — the ceremony’s done, the couple are married, and the music wants to match that. A Sky Full of Stars, released by Coldplay in 2014, is upbeat and driving, built around a four-chord piano riff.
That riff is also what makes it work so well on strings. We give the rhythm to the cello and let the violin take the hook, so it keeps its energy even without the original’s electronics.
A moment in the mirror
There’s a big mirror behind where we set up, and watching the video back we spotted the couple having a little dance on their way out, caught in the reflection while we play. A nice unplanned moment, and you can see it in the clip.
About the venue
Swancar Farm Country House is a 16th-century house set in 250 acres of Nottinghamshire countryside, on the Nottinghamshire–Derbyshire border. It’s an exclusive-use venue, so the whole place is just for the couple and their guests on the day. The ceremony rooms have wooden beams and lots of natural light, and the acoustics suit live strings well.
Booking
We’re The Chapel Hill Duo, a violin and cello duo based in the UK. We play ceremonies, drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts anywhere in the country — get in touch if you’d like to chat through your day.