Pianist for Made In Chelsea Wedding of the Year!
What a delight it was to be chosen as the pianist for what was surely the showbiz wedding of the year 2018 of Made In Chelsea stars Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor.
On Saturday 23rd June 2018 at the beautiful West Sussex location of Whithurst Park, the Ceremony took place at the main entrance of this Jacobean-style mansion and I sat to the left of a spectacular floral arch of peonies, hydrangeas, roses, wisteria, astilbe, lisianthus, delphiniums, dill, lupins and foxgloves. As it was an outside service, the couple chose my portable white baby grand piano shell to give the look of a real baby grand piano and my digital stage keyboard was placed inside it. The bride looked radiant in her wedding gown which featured a sheer overlay, a tulle-embroidered bustier, appliquéd flowers and detachable double-bubble sleeves.
Hello! Magazine was given exclusive access to this most anticipated showbiz celebration of the summer and I am proud to have been mentioned in the centre spread.
Ceremony Music Chosen by Millie & Hugo
The Ceremony itself was a religious blessing as the couple had married three days earlier at Chelsea Old Town Hall. This gave Millie and Hugo the option of having a hymn included in the proceedings which is not normally allowed for a Civil Ceremony. There was also no signing of the register either, but instead a musical interlude when I played a slow and romantic version of ‘Tenderly’, a 1946 song by Walter Gross.
I began playing about 30 minutes before the Ceremony began and as guests took their seats. I played a selection of music from the Great American Songbook including ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, Cole Porter’s ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ and ‘Cavatina’ from the film The Deer Hunter.
The Ceremony began at 4.30 pm when the congregation stood and fell silent as I played ‘I Giorni’ by Ludovico Einaudi for the Processional as the Bridal party made its way around the gravel path of the walled garden to the front of the house. At the front of the Bridal party was the 10 year old flower girl Georgina Angus (the daughter ‘Ladies of London’ star Juliet) who walked in with Millie’s family pug dog Mabel. She was followed by three Page Boys and, behind them, Millie and her father Nigel.
After the Celebrant welcomed the guests I played the British patriotic hymn ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’ – a poem by Sir Cecil Spring Rice set to music by Gustav Holst. Then followed several readings, the vows and the blessing after which I played the Rolling Stones hit ‘Start Me Up’ for the Recessional. As I played, Mille & Hugo punched the air in true rock ‘n roll style as cheers erupted from their guests who showered them in rose petals as they headed for their drinks reception.
It was an altogether wonderful day for me and I am proud to have been a part of their wedding celebrations.
