Luxury Destination Wedding with Encore Occasions: Our Loire Valley Experience
Singer Naoise Stuart Kelly and some of the Encore Occasions team travelled to the stunning Loire Valley to provide exquisite music at an exclusive French Destination Wedding.
What a stunning location to say “I do”!
When the phone rang asking us to travel to France, I knew straight away it was a wedding I wanted to make work for us and a destination I was excited to perform in. The Wedding Planner had heard our music at a church ceremony in Dublin (singer, piano and string duo), loved what we did and got our details from the original client. She booked us again shortly after for a wedding in the west of Ireland… and then the following year, she called with something even more exciting: a five-star luxury wedding in the heart of the Loire Valley. We were only too happy to say ‘oui’!
We’ve plenty of experience when it comes to travelling for destination weddings outside Ireland – organising instruments, sound, sourcing and collaborating with brilliant local musicians and all the associated logistics. Thankfully, our Musical Director speaks several European languages, so Zoom calls, planning sessions and travel logistics were all handled with charm and ease (and just the right amount of spreadsheet magic). 15 years of experience kicked-in and we set to work!
This was no ordinary wedding – it was part of a four-day extravaganza hosted in the utterly luxurious Fleur de Loire, a five-star hotel in Blois, with none other than two Michelin-starred chef Christophe Hay designing the wedding menus (no pressure!). We were brought in for the main wedding day itself, and what a day it was. The setting was flawless, and the attention to detail was next level.
We arrived the day before, checked in, scoped things out and got ourselves tucked up early – because when you’re providing the soundtrack to someone’s once-in-a-lifetime, the voice needs to be well rested. I travelled with my long-time collaborator and Musical Director David Wray, who’s been working with me since I was a teenager and he first moved over from London. We were also joined by the fantastic Paul Morrissey – an old friend from my Royal Academy of Music days, who jetted in from London. Paul’s had an incredible career in the West End and as a theatre producer, so it was a real treat to have him with us for this special occasion.
Ceremony Music
For the ceremony, I was joined by David Wray on piano and a gorgeous local string quartet from the Blois region. The quartet were absolute gems to work with – two of them had actually trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London at the same time as Paul and me, though our paths had never crossed before. It was a lovely discovery, as we were about to spend most of the day/evening together. Having plenty of stories to share & chats between rehearsals made the day all the more special, and (between giggles), they gently provided feedback on a few French lyrics I wanted to finesse. My French isn’t bad, I just wanted it to be perfect!
We travelled by hotel transport to the breathtaking Château de Chambord, arriving two hours before the ceremony was due to begin in the chapel on the grounds of the Château. Once we got set up at the back of the church, we started running through the music with our new quartet friends, making sure everything was perfectly polished.
The bride made a rather fabulous entrance – an hour later than scheduled – which meant we had three full hours in the church before the ceremony began. Thankfully, musicians are excellent at making the most of unexpected gaps. We ran the music again, took a few snaps, soaked in the surroundings and enjoyed a quick refreshment before bride-time.
🎥 Watch our reel below for a glimpse of the ceremony and a live audio recording of us performing Caccini’s Ave Maria on the day. In the video, you’ll also see a full list of the ceremony music we performed – French Wedding Inspo at its best!
Ceremony Music Song List
- PRELUDE – Classical Repertoire & Traditional Wedding Music
- ENTRÉE – Canon De Johann Pachelbel
- GLORIA – Gloria de Lourdes De John-Paul Lécot
- ALLELUIA – Allelu, Mo Ghrá’sa Mo Dhia
- CHANT – Benedictus de Karl Jenkins
- MÉDITATION – Ave Maria de Caccini
- SIGNATURE – Gabriel’s Oboe de Ennio Morricone
- TROMPETTE – Ave Maria de Schubert (played by the Groom’s Father on Trumpet with our musicians accompanying)
- ENVOI – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba de George Frideric Handel + La Primavera de Antonio Lucio Vivaldi
The preparation for this gorgeous list of music had started several weeks before our departure, where our Musical Director David Wray wrote late into the night, creating bespoke arrangements tailored to the ensemble. The music was designed to be piano-led, with layers of strings woven delicately throughout to create a rich, resonant texture – something deep enough to fully support the classical soprano sound that had been decided upon as the style for this classic French wedding.
After the service, we made our way back to the hotel and were met with quite the surprise when we arrived!
A Little Rain, a Lot of Drama!
After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their photographer headed off to explore the château grounds while guests made their way back to the hotel for pre-reception drinks. The string quartet played beautifully as everyone arrived – but not before a sudden and rather theatrical downpour swept in. And when I say torrential, I mean biblical.
Just as the hotel team had finished setting up the entire outdoor space – exquisite chairs, elegant table settings, the full works – the skies opened. What followed was a scene of sheer determination: staff running at full speed to rescue everything before it was ruined. The stage where the quartet were due to perform (and where we would later sing our evening set) was exposed to the elements and as the rain pelted down, we dashed to help the sound crew lift speakers, rescue the piano and relocate the equipment into the hotel before it all got soaked. This is to be expected at an Irish wedding – but here, it was rare!
Meanwhile, the couple – blissfully unaware of the chaos – were still smiling for photos in the sunshine at Chambord. Timing, as they say, is everything.
Once the rain stopped, the hotel team reset the entire space (heroes!) and the string quartet went ahead with their set. But, with all the drama, we’d completely lost our soundcheck and rehearsal time for the evening performance – a bespoke set of music we’d never performed together before.
Enter the hotel-room rehearsal. We squeezed in a quick run-through where we could (a bit of staging by the minibar, a few harmonies near the bathroom door, a costume check by the window…) and as always, we made it work.
As the Sun Set… Round 2 of Our Music Began…
As dessert was served under the stars and the last course of this incredible feast reached the tables, that was our cue. We stepped onto the open-air stage – two singers, piano and string quartet – and performed a 25-minute concert that was met with rapturous applause. With many guests travelling from the USA and the groom’s family rooted in both French and German traditions, we curated a programme that would resonate across cultures. I performed “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, with two verses in French (J’avais Rêvé), followed by “La Vie En Rose” in all its soft, golden glory. Paul brought the drama with highlights from The Phantom of the Opera, which he starred in on the West End and together we shared classical Italian pieces and elegant crossover numbers that felt right at home in the warm French air.
It was the perfect close to a magnificent celebration. As the final notes drifted into the night, the couple were presented with the most exquisite cake – crafted by Michelin-starred chef Christophe Hay – and as darkness settled over the Loire, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the sky. It was pure magic and the joy on the couple’s faces said it all.
In the quiet moments either side of our performances, I had the chance to speak with the bride – gracious, kind and genuinely bowled over by the music. We chatted about her plans to divide time between France and the US and shared a moment over my gown, designed by the brilliant Irish designer Claire Garvey. Her words meant the world. The groom’s father, too, was incredibly complimentary – he had joined us during the ceremony to perform Ave Maria on trumpet (beautifully, I might add), and later we shared a glass of wine and stories from our musical lives. The next morning at breakfast, he handed me the sheet music of The Irish Blessing from his folder – a thoughtful, touching gift from this German man, who I met in France and chatted with about all things Ireland!
After a relaxing morning by the Loire, we made our way back to Paris for a final stroll by the Seine and a special meal (David always knows the best restaurants in Paris and had booked one of his favourites), before parting ways – Paul to London and David and I home to Dublin. It was an intense, exhilarating few days, full of logistics, rehearsals and beautiful music. I was completely exhausted, especially after the crazy preceding weeks of planning (and a hospital stay while they investigated neurological issues – but sure that’s another story… the show must go on!)… but creatively fulfilled and ready for a well-earned rest.
Dream With Us
Over the past 15 years, Encore Occasions has had the privilege of performing at weddings across the UK, Spain, France, Italy and Sardinia.
Wedding planners and couples trust us for our unrivalled experience, meticulous attention to detail, and discreet, professional approach to every event. Whether you’re planning a luxury destination wedding abroad, celebrating in Ireland, or returning home for your special day, we ensure your ceremony is filled with unforgettable music that speaks to the heart. We always aim to include an international touch – something to warmly welcome guests from all corners of the globe.
Get in touch to check availability for your dream wedding.
