Joyful Wedding at The Bushnell: Clinton and Luke’s Broadway-inspired wedding

Some weddings feel like they’re pulled straight from a dream, and Clinton and Luke’s Bushnell wedding was no exception. Held in July, their special day was a perfect blend of theatrical flair and heartfelt moments. I got particularly attached to Clinton and Luke, as we had multiple planning calls together and I really got to know them. We bonded over our love of Broadway musicals and found ourselves gushing over every detail. I had so much fun with them and it made their day that much more special to me.

Photo credit: Carla Ten Eyck at The Bushnell

Hi, I’m Ariana - I’m a wedding violinist and the founder of Ariana Strings. I’ve performed for 725 weddings and private events over the last 15 years and love sharing our couples’ wedding stories. Here you’ll find inspiration for your wedding ceremony music, cocktail hour playlist, as well as incredible photos from our Summer 2024 wedding at The Bushnell. Let’s dive in!

Despite the summer heat, everyone stayed cool and comfortable thanks to the indoor ceremony in The Bushnell’s checkerboard lobby. From start to finish, their wedding was a masterpiece, utilizing the full venue and bringing every detail to life with a Broadway-inspired theme that captured their love story beautifully. Guests entered on a red carpet to a custom video trailer of Clinton and Luke in all their favorite musicals - it was so fun and unique!

The wedding ceremony took place in The Bushnell’s lobby, where Clinton and Luke walked down the aisle together to a song as unique and meaningful as their bond. They requested a custom string quartet arrangement of “Maybe Love” from Shucked, the new Broadway musical. Seeing their tears of joy as the music played was such a powerful moment. Knowing how much the song meant to them, my team and I poured our hearts into the arrangement, and it felt incredible to see it resonate so deeply.

We also created custom string quartet arrangements of Aerith's Theme from Final Fantasy 7 and Just a Little Lovin' by Dusty Springfield.

Their personal touches didn’t stop there. Clinton and Luke’s Playbill-inspired programs were a brilliant nod to their love of theater.  Clinton and Luke’s yellow color palette tied the entire event together, and we loved being part of it. To complement their vision, we wore vibrant yellow dresses, blending seamlessly into the cheerful and elegant atmosphere.

Among the ceremony music highlights was My Neighbor Totoro, a song from the movie that holds deep significance for the couple. I went the extra mile to make it perfect: ordering sheet music from Japan and collaborating with my colleague, the conductor of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, to translate it and make sure we didn’t miss a single detail. These moments remind me how much joy music can bring to a wedding day.

The celebration continued in the Seaverns Room for cocktail hour. As classical wedding musicians, we’re no strangers to creating ambiance, but performing in the Seaverns Room was extra special. Its elevated stage and warm wood paneling made it the perfect spot for our performance, allowing the music to shine (and it was an extra special spot for the flower girl to twirl to our string quartet performance of Taylor Swift’s Love Story). For this part of the day, we played a lively mix of pop favorites and Broadway hits—an homage to Clinton and Luke’s shared passion for musicals and a personal favorite genre of mine.

For the reception, the newlyweds took center stage—literally—on The Bushnell’s main stage. It was such a fitting conclusion to a day filled with theatrical magic.

A special shoutout goes to Carla Ten Eyck, who captured the day so beautifully. Carla is a true artist, and her photos of the day are absolutely breathtaking. Her work reflects the love and joy that filled every corner of The Bushnell that day.

“Working with Ariana was such a fantastic experience. From the moment we first met, we knew we made the right choice. Ariana immediately understood what we wanted for our wedding and made the whole process smooth and enjoyable. She was incredibly easy and fun to work with. My husband and I always looked forward to our one-on-one planning sessions!

We even asked for a special piece of music that wasn’t in her usual repertoire, and she went above and beyond by sourcing it from Japan, rearranging it, and learning it within just a few weeks! That kind of dedication blew us away. The musicians were true professionals, and the music they played set the perfect mood for both the ceremony and cocktail hour.

Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful everything sounded. If you’re looking for live musicians for your wedding or any event, stop looking and contact Ariana Strings. They truly made our day unforgettable, and we would work with them again in a heartbeat!”

Clinton and Luke, thank you for letting us be a part of your Broadway-inspired wedding. Your love for each other and for the arts shone in every detail, and it was a privilege to help bring your vision to life.

Planning Your Own Bushnell Wedding?

If you’re dreaming of a Bushnell wedding or looking for classical wedding musicians to bring your special day to life, let’s connect! Whether it’s custom arrangements or a unique playlist, we’re here to make your music as unforgettable as your love story.

Dreamy Barns at Wesleyan Hills Wedding

Just last month, we had the pleasure of being part of Samantha and Ryan’s Barns at Wesleyan Hills wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. Samantha, a sweet 2nd-grade teacher whose students adore her (wait til you see what they did for her wedding!), and Ryan, a brilliant systems engineer, are the kind of couple that makes you believe in soulmates.

The Setting: Barns at Wesleyan Hills Wedding

The Barns at Wesleyan Hills ceremony site has all the elements of a fairytale—rustic charm, lush greenery, and, of course, the unpredictable New England weather! The willow trees remind me of The Notebook every time and they’re my favorite.

Even though we had to dodge a few passing showers, we didn’t let a little rain dampen the day. Instead, we set up underneath the porch, amplified our sound, and let the music carry down the hill to the ceremony.

Our string quartet played a classical prelude as guests arrived (What’s Prelude? Find out here!), creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere despite the rain.

Ever wonder how we time your music perfectly?

As classical wedding musicians who have performed for 650 weddings over the last 15 years, we’ve learnt what works and what doesn’t. That’s why we have added our own, special music coordinator to ensure that we bring your musical vision to life. Our rockstar coordinator, Billy, worked closely with the venue’s team to make sure the timing was flawless and sound carried beautifully down to the ceremony space.

The family processional began with the timeless "Canon in D," setting a classic and elegant tone. Ryan, along with his mom, followed by Samantha’s mom and stepmom, made their way down the aisle, and you could feel the excitement building. Then, the wedding party made their entrance to "A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman.

Fun fact: A Million Dreams is our top processional song this year!

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for—Samantha’s walk down the aisle to "A Thousand Years." It was pure magic. The love between Samantha and Ryan was so palpable, it felt like time stood still.

From Ceremony to Celebration

After the vows were exchanged and the couple made their grand exit to "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)," the party kicked off inside the barn. The cocktail hour was a blast, with a party mix that included everything from Adele’s "Rolling in the Deep" to "Love Me Like You Do." The vibe was electric, and it was clear everyone was ready to celebrate!

One guest even came up afterward to share that she’d never heard "Material Girl" on strings before and thought it was fantastic—moments like these are what make playing weddings so special.

So Happy Together

Samantha and Ryan were so happy that they gave us 5 stars on The Knot and wrote:

“Ariana and her string quartet were the BEST! She is extremely knowledgeable, talented and was very helpful throughout the planning process. The music was absolutely beautiful and elevated our wedding to a whole nother level.” - Samantha, 2024 Bride

Samantha and Ryan, it was an honor to be part of your day, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to provide the soundtrack to such a special moment in your lives. Wishing you both endless love, joy, and music.

Vendor Dream Team

Venue: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills

Florist: The Green Petal

Photographer: Katie Slater Photography

DJ & JP Powerstation

Hair & Makeup: Nadia's Beauty Spot

Ceremony and cocktail hour entertainment: Ariana Strings Quartet

A Heartfelt Farmington Gardens Wedding: Chelsea & Chris

Credit: Simply K Studios

It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since Chelsea and Chris tied the knot at Farmington Gardens! As the violinist and founder of Ariana Strings, I had the absolute pleasure of being a part of their special day, and it's a memory that still brings a smile to my face. Their Farmington Gardens wedding was not just beautiful—it was filled with personal touches and the timeless elegance of our classical wedding musicians.

The Perfect Setting: Farmington Gardens Wedding

With its lush gardens, elegant greenhouse, and inviting ballroom, Farmington Gardens set the stage for a day that was both beautiful and intimate. The love these two share was reflected in every corner of the venue, making it an ideal choice for their celebration. As a string quartet for weddings, we couldn’t have asked for a more picturesque setting to perform.

Seamless Musical Timing

One of my trickiest parts of the day is orchestrating the processional. Behind the scenes, unbeknownst to the couple, our coordinator, Madison, was working tirelessly with the venue coordinator, Katie. Together, we made sure that Chelsea and Chris' vision for their processionals came to life.

Chris and his groomsmen lined up by the bar window in the ballroom during our prelude music (What's Prelude Music?) Once the gents were in place, the bridesmaids and little Lottie, the flower girl, made their way down the aisle to "Stand By Me." Seeing everything come together so perfectly was a joy, and I was thrilled to play a role in setting the tone for their ceremony.

When Chelsea walked down the aisle to our string quartet playing "Pachelbel's Canon in D," it felt like time stopped in the best way. The love and joy in the air were palpable, and it was such a privilege to witness. The combination of traditional string quartet wedding music with a modern twist made it a day to remember.

A Ceremony Full of Heart

The ceremony was particularly special, with Chelsea’s brother-in-law, Adam, serving as the officiant. As a Justice of the Peace, he brought a personal touch that made the ceremony feel even more intimate.

To make sure every note was heard clearly, we provided amplification (of our instruments) and ceremony sound (microphones for the officiant and couple). This setup ensured that the music filled the greenhouse beautifully, without overpowering the intimate atmosphere. Providing the right ceremony sound was crucial in making sure everyone could hear Chelsea and Chris' love story perfectly.

A Special Request and Skilled Vendor Team

After the heartfelt ceremony, we kicked off the party with a brand new custom arrangement of "Paper Rings" by Taylor Swift for the recessional. It was the perfect song to capture the excitement and joy of the moment as Chelsea and Chris walked back down the aisle as husband and wife.

After the greenhouse ceremony, the space was quickly transformed into the cocktail hour venue. The team had just 8 minutes to make the transition, and they did so flawlessly. The couple chose to have a receiving line, giving them a chance to personally greet each guest out in the main gardens before the festivities continued.

Bridgerton-Inspired Music and a Joyous Recessional

Chelsea and Chris wanted their wedding to have a touch of Bridgerton-inspired elegance, so we included some of the beautiful Bridgerton songs for weddings in our repertoire.

The day continued with a fun and lively cocktail hour, where we played an eclectic mix of tunes, including an ABBA medley, "Electric Love," a Harry Potter Medley, and "Blank Space." It was so much fun to see guests enjoying the music and each other’s company, and the energy was just incredible. Our role as string quartet musicians in CT has never felt more fulfilling!

Reflecting on a Year of Wedded Bliss

Chelsea and Chris, as I think back on your wedding day, I’m filled with so much happiness and pride. It was an honor to be part of your journey, and seeing you both so happy on your anniversary reminds me of why I love what I do. Your Farmington Gardens wedding was a perfect blend of love, music, and personal touches, and I’m so grateful to have been there to share in your joy.

Here’s to many more years of love and happiness! Happy Anniversary, Chelsea and Chris!