Isabelle and Tim were married at the beautiful Wendy Whitleys Secret Garden. Tucked away in Sydney’s beautiful Lavender Bay, DUKE had the honour of performing as a live trio for them on their wonderful day.
On the shores of Watsons Bay, Sydney lies a picturesque backdrop for the wedding of Sarah and Bryn. Duke Music had the privilege to accompany this couple for their magical day. From making their vows official on by the seaside with a view, to celebrating their commitment to each other at in a luxurious heritage seaside venue, Dunbar House, this was a day to remember.
Here’s a look at their special day.
The Music
The Duke Duo was provided for Sarah and Bryn’s wedding ceremony. It was an incredibly fun day to play for this gorgeous couple and felt honoured to help them celebrate with such perfect weather conditions.
The bridesmaids and Sarah walked down the aisle to the classic “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. During the signing of the register, Sarah and Bryn chose the laid back and reflective tunes of Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” and Sting’s “Fields of Gold”. We loved working alongside Melissa Soncini, the celebrant of the ceremony, of which we had the pleasure of being a part of many wedding celebrations together.
The Duke Duo concluded this sun filled ceremony with an upbeat Edward Sharpe hit, “Home”.
Josie and Tim continued with a 45 minute set to accompany the post ceremony drinks and canapes.
The Reception
Chris later joined Josie and Tim for the Duke Trio to provide the soundtrack for the reception held at Dunbar House – a venue of which we are a preferred supplier of. They accompanied the wedding party entrances with classic 80’s hit “You Make My Dreams”.
Sarah and Bryn cut the cake to the sounds of “Sweet Dreams” and had their first danced to a slow version of “500 Miles”. The trio sped things up towards the end of the dance to open up the dance floor. This was a party crowd like no other, with every single guest up on their feet for the dance floor.
Duke Music also supplied a DJ service to get guests dancing right until the end, where “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers farewelled the bride and groom.
Duke Music made an appearance at the recent Bombora Pavilion open day. Operated by Days Like These Events, this is one of Sydney’s newest wedding venues situated on the shores of the Northern Beaches of NSW on Queenscliff beach, Manly. We had the privilege to be able to connect and exhibit alongside 30 other weddings vendors. Nouvelle Glass, our partner brand offering personalised glassware, also made its first wedding open day appearance. Here are some photo highlights of this jam packed day.
Vendors
Open days would never exist without the participation of other vendors. Like what you see above? Find out more about the other vendors we appeared alongside with below (with their instagram pages).
Duke Music had the privilege to play at the wedding of Phoebe and Alistair at Mona Farm. This incredible wedding venue sits on a 124-acre property and is located in Braidwood, in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. This picturesque farm property, consists of award winning gardens, luxury accommodation, houses a diverse collection of contemporary and sculpture, guest house dining and cute farm animals. Guests can even go fly fishing! With a purpose built wedding reception venue, you can plan your bespoke wedding exactly the way you want it. Even better, the entire property is exclusively there for you and your guests, making it a one-stop shop for an unforgettable wedding weekend. Your photo locations, ceremony venue, reception venue and luxury hotel are all taken care of here, making the perfect romantic destination wedding.
Here is a picturesque look at Phoebe and Alistair’s wedding day. Natasha Marie Photography captured the special experience of their special day.
The Music
Duke Duo provided a light music atmosphere during canapés for the wedding guests. A party atmosphere was provided by the Duke 6-piece band during the reception. Highlights include the classic 80’s hit “Walking On Sunshine” for the wedding party entrance and “Little Bird” by Annie Lennox during the cutting of the cake. “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons accompanied the couple in their first dance and even the parents got their own song, “You Are So Beautiful” complete with a saxophone solo. The night ended with Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best” for the farewell song.
What does one do, when the wedding couple is surrounded by a wide network of musician friends, who all want to pitch in to provide the perfect soundtrack on their special day? Call in a professional wedding band to support them, of course! That’s exactly what Lauren and John did. Duke Music were honoured to be able to supply their usual all day wedding music package, as well as provide additional accompaniment to enhance the entire music experience.
The Ceremony
Josie and Tim, from the Duke Music Duo provided the tunes to welcome the guests pre-ceremony, whilst Tim lent his amazing guitar talent to support the guest singers throughout the ceremony. What resulted was a perfect blend of different genres and vocal qualities. St Mary’s North Sydney was brought to life by these beautiful soulful voices, fully taking advantage of the church’s natural acoustics.
The entrance song was a beautiful rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” sung in the acoustic style of Eva Cassidy, followed by the contemporary Catholic hymn of “You Are Mine for the responsorial psalm. Lauren and John signed the register to “Grow Old with Me” (James Morrison/Dione Warick). The bride and groom were suprised with a flashmob, as they left the church with an epic number from The Greatest Showman, “From Now On”.
The Reception
With a stunning location such as The Deckhouse Woolwich, and with a roomful of singing guests ready to celebrate Lauren and John’s wedding – the stage was set for another epic wedding music experience. Dance floors, panoramic views, floor to ceiling glass to enjoy the uninterrupted water views, a harbour view courtyard – add all of this into the recipe, and there you have a stunning venue for Lauren and John’s wedding reception.
Duke Music pulled out all the stops for the reception with their 5-piece band. The wedding party made a statement with their entrance with a funky live version of Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love”. This was followed by two 30 – 40 minute dinner sets. Lauren and John shared their first dance, with Duke’s Chris Gable singing “Love Someone” by Jason Mraz.
The bride even jumped up on stage to perform Whitney’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”!
They farewelled the evening with the Neil Diamond classic, “Sweet Caroline”.
Thank you Lauren and John for the privilege to be able to help you create the perfect music soundscape, unique to your celebration of love!
“Our day would not have been the same without you. It was brilliant! Everyone has been raving about you guys! Honestly. You even contributed to so many surprises that we’ll never forget. I got to bloody sing Whitney with Duke! WOW. You could feel the love in the room even when some of our most loved ones were unable to be there…Ahhhh WILD. What a time!”
Duke Music recently collaborated with Dark Horse Vineyard, in the beautiful NSW wine region of the Hunter Valley. This stunning wedding venue held a competition to win two nights luxury stay and a long lunch for five people. The lucky winner, Gaelle brought along her nearest and dearest people, for an unforgettable getaway and dining experience.
Duke Music Gives Life to the 'Dark Horse'
An immersive Hunter Valley winery experience, full of good food and wine deserves a soundscape to match. When Duke Music was asked to come onboard to be part of the experience, we of course did not hesitate to jump in to lend a helping hand. After all, how rare is it that you can help to put a smile on people’s faces, just because? Josie and Tim were absolutely honoured to play a big part in enhancing Gaelle’s experience with her guests, by providing the perfect soundtrack to accompany this unique experience.
'Dark Horse of the Hunter Valley'
Dark Horse Vineyard is an exclusive weddings and events venue located in gorgeous Lovedale, right in the heart of the Hunter Valley. It is easy to see why this property is known as ‘Dark Horse of the Hunter Valley’, with the two black caviar barns set amongst 25 acres of vines, paddocks and manicured lawns.
The Stables is where the all the action happens, suitable for wedding and events. This beautiful ceremony and reception venue seats up to 170 guests and it is tastefully decorated and styled with gorgeous inclusions.
From the Stables, we follow the crushed granite paths where The Barn House, a luxurious retreat awaits. This homestead consists of three bedrooms and can accomodate up to 6 people.
The entire property also gives you exclusive access to multiple on-sight ceremony and photograph locations.
For the perfect location for your wedding or event, with a beautiful ambience and an equestrian charm, you can’t go past The Dark Horse Vineyard.
Vendors
We were privileged to be able to collaborate with with these amazing humans, to help make this day a special one for Gaelle and her guests
The sun showed up in full swing matched with clear blue skies in the beachside location Dunbar House Watsons Bay as the backdrop for Lucie and Georgi’s wedding day. Guests came together to celebrate with style to celebrate the marriage of these two brides. Duke’s Duo, Trio and DJ provided the soundtrack for this special day.
The Ceremony
Lucie and Georgi chose an all day package with Duke Music ( + DJ and MC) to accompany their special day. Starting with the Duke Duo for the ceremony, the brides chose a mixture of acoustic versions of classic, pop and rock favourites.
CEREMONY SONG LIST Entrance song – A Thousand Years (Christina Perri) Song Mid Ceremony – I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (Aerosmith) Singing of the Register – It’s like Love (De Wayne Everettsmitt) & Walking On Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves) Recessional song – Happy Together (The Turtles)
The Reception
As the sun set over the horizon, Dunbar House Watsons Bay was brought to life with the two newly married lovebirds and their guests. Our Duke Trio provided a variety of tunes at key moments during the evening as well as 3 sets throughout the evening.
RECEPTION SONG LIST Wedding Party Entrance – Crazy in Love (Beyonce) Cutting of the Cake – Watermelon Sugar (Harry Styles) First Dance – You’ve Got the Love (Florence & The Machine) Farewell Song – Rather Be (Clean Bandit)
Dancing the Night Away
Our very own Duke vocalist, Josie, stepped into DJ mode, to provide guests with a party atmosphere to dance the night away. Lucie and Georgi chose a playlist consisting of 90’s Brit Pop mixed with modern hits. It was great to see guests come onto the dance floor in full swing. We loved the added touch of the rainbow sneakers that the brides chose to switch into for pain free dancing comfort!
List of Vendors
It was a pleasure working alongside these amazing suppliers to make Lucie and Georgi’s wedding possible (with Instagram links):
It’s not often, that you can say your marriage was witnessed by the greatest artists in history. Neither can you often say that your wedding was just like out a movie. For Tyler and Ben this EXACTLY what they will say to everyone about their wedding! Duke Music had the honour of providing the soundtrack to this timeless and unforgettable wedding day. The photos in their own right deserve their own exhibition. Let’s take you on an artistic and cinematic adventure on what was a truly enchanted day!
Inspired by True Events
Tyler and Ben were inspired to recreate their first date, featuring art and cinema. They also saw their wedding day as an opportunity to have an “ultimate date night”. Their wedding was a simple yet luxurious, understated yet decadent and ignited all the 5 senses. The day started off with preparations at The Old Clare Hotel, a boutique hotel with an old world charm feel. This would set the mood for the classically romantic day that would unfold. With Ben’s suit by MJ Bale and a beautiful touch of bridal couture by J. ANDREATTA for Tyler’s bridal gown, this was certainly going to be a stylish affair and the perfect ingredients for an ultimate date night.
The Art Gallery of NSW was the backdrop for Tyler and Ben’s wedding ceremony. What a beautiful iconic building to celebrate the first moment they had together as a couple and to relive it on the first day as a married couple! There was a cheeky dash of comfort added in with Springcourt shoes. As you will see, this subtle touch of fun, will be an ongoing theme throughout this day, putting a unique spin on how a wedding can have a fresh approach.
Tyler & Ben's very own Art Exhibition
The images captured by Lei Lei Claveywere so breathtaking, that little words need to be said. Enjoy these works of Art!
The Cinematic Soundscore by Duke Music
For the reception, we take a trip down memory lane to Golden Age Cinema & Bar. Tyler and Ben decided to drop all the formalities such as grand entrances and speeches to ensure an uninterrupted party for all and that’s where DUKE Music came in. Josie, Tim and Chris from the DUKE trio provided an unforgettable motion picture soundtrack to accompany for this fine vintage affair. We provided 4 x 45 minute sets with a range of old school hits and followed it up with a DJ set with tunes ranging from Elvis Presley to Blink-182. Out came the choc tops to replace the wedding cake and the night was young!
"You guys are insane. Everyone is literally still talking about you guys and the way you handled all the old emo hits. Everyone love your mini version of 1,000 miles - so many people's favourite part... honestly we can't wait to have another excuse for an event to get you back."
- Tyler
The Final Credits
Thank you to Tyler and Ben for allowing us to be part of your special day! Of course Duke Music played a small part in bring this adventure to life. Time at the cinema wouldn’t be complete without the end credits, so here is a list of the vendors (with Instagram links) that Tyler and Ben engaged for their wedding.
Still with us? We don’t have any additional scenes for you but our friends at HELLO MAYdid an editorial on Tyler and Ben’s wedding. Find out the finer details of how they planned their wedding from the couple themselves.
A stunning 100-acre property, tucked away in lush wine country and immersed amongst expansive park-like grounds. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke – an escape from reality – your own little piece of nature. We call it a picture-perfect secluded paradise that invokes feelings of home and comfort. But whatever image and feelings you want to project onto it, it is exactly how it will be. Because The Woodhouse Wollombi is a magical blank canvas, a place where you can paint your own masterpiece – your own dream wedding, your way. As the owners like to put it – “Your Day Your Way – Let Your Imagination Run Wild”.
Here’s your invitation to the “gallery viewing” of Natalie and Sam’s masterpiece wedding.
Sitting in the middle of Red Wood Park Wollombi, is “The Woodhouse”: A rustic but refined timber building with high ceilings and large light filled windows. With this European-like aesthetics and barn-like architecture – nothing more needs to be done against this blank canvas, except to add a bride and groom!
The Finer Details
A masterpiece isn’t complete without an element of still life. Natalie and Sam took inspiration from the native Australian landscape and enlisted the help of Print 35 for their invitations, floral designs by Little Wrens (just look at that bouquet and boutonnieres!), a subtle addition of Australian flora on the wedding cake by Messina and a splash of greenery on the dining tables also by Little Wrens.
Special Captured Moments
There is nothing quite like the the sights and sounds of people bringing a blank canvas to life. The gathering and celebration of love, life and culture of the special bond between Natalie and Sam were beautifully captured by Studio Something. Here are some highlights!
The Accompanying Soundtrack
Duke helped to curate an experience with Natalie and Sam, so they, along with their guests could immerse themselves in a celebration for their love. Our Duke Duo provided a pre-Ceremony music soundtrack for Natalie and Sam to set the tone for a beautiful Ceremony. Tim (from Duke) was also honoured to accompany traditional Vocalist, Isser, on Guitar, whilst he provided his talent as their traditional Jewish singer throughout the Ceremony. Working alongside Isser, we were able to provide a perfectly balanced music experience that incorporated Natalie and Sam’s traditional choices with the romantic atmosphere they wanted to achieve.
One of our favourite aspects of performing at The Woodhouse Wollombi is the stunning location they offer for Wedding Ceremonies and Canapes hour. It’s a short stroll down the hill from the Reception location to a serene and elegant spot. Chris Gable from our Duke team performed as a soloist during Canapes hour, providing a Sax and Vocal performance to accompanying backing tracks. It was the perfect afternoon to enjoy a beverage or two to the delightful tunes and sociable atmosphere provided by Chris Gable.
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As sunset hit, out came the dancing shoes with the Duke Band kicking off the festivities with the Hora. It was thrilling and exciting to say the least, we’re in awe of how Brides and Grooms survive such an epic experience!
Guests moved inside to enjoy Dinner service, during which our Duke Band provided some light and delicious dinner music for everyone’s tastes. Once dinner and the formalities concluded, Natalie and Sam shared their first dance to Lover of the Light by Mumford & Sons. Our Duke Quintet continued the evening with a full dance floor featuring bangers by The Chilli Peppers, Kings Of Leon, Stevie Wonder, and Queen. Check out for yourself just how much fun we had in these fabulous pics by Studio Something.
Thank you Natalie and Sam for having us be a part of your wonderful wedding day at The Woodhouse.
Natalie and Sam's Wedding used the following suppliers to create their masterpiece!
Duke Music Trio recently had the honor of performing live at Bebeah Love Fest 2020 at Bebeah Farm. It was a wonderful day to be performing live for a handful of VIP guests and wedding vendors. The cool air was loaded with the aroma of good food, delicious wine, and soulful music.
We saw several of our fellow Wedding Industry Folk come together for a styled shoot, followed by a delicious long lunch. Each vendor showcased their unique talent for weddings. Not just that, it was joy to celebrate the return of weddings with other small businesses during these difficult times. We ended the day together on a high!
Captured and Cherished forever
Thanks to the Days Like These Photography and Velvet Sea Production for capturing unforgettable moments throughout the event. It was picture-perfect.
The Duke Trio
Our Duke Trio comprising of Josephine Ison, Tim Wilson, and Chris Gable, had the privilege of performing for an intimate group of guests. We were showered with warmth and hospitality from all the vendors, too. It was indeed a wonderful day and an unforgettable experience with so much talent under one roof. We also enjoyed an overnight stay at Bebeah Farm. Thanks to the Wow Tents for keeping us warm throughout the night! Their Glamping tent made the night simply magic for us.
Booking Duke Music – Where there is Music, there is Duke!
The Duke Music Band is a group of Wedding Musicians based in Sydney. It comprises of Josephine Ison and guest artists, including; Chris Gable, Tim Wilson, Linden Furnell, Andy Horvath, Ryan Mooney, and James Bernauer. Our band is ready to perform for any event, with weddings being our specialty.
We also offer packages that aim to make your event zestful and lively. If you would like us to perform at your wedding or any event then do email or call us! We provide exceptional live music from the Ceremony to the Dancefloor. You can contact us via info@dukemusic.com.au.
If you are looking for an event organiser, do check out the team at Days Like These Eventsfor wonderful event planning and fun, friendly service.
Here are the talented wedding vendors behind this event;
