Come and visit us and our wonderful suppliers at our Wedding Fayre on Sunday 17th September. You will get a chance to speak to our expert coordinators and preferred suppliers about your wedding dreams! To get you all excited, we will be putting out a couple of blogs each week to give you some information about the suppliers who will be joining us. First, we hear from the amazing Ian Towers Pianist, a wedding pianist (and singer) at The Manor at Old Down Estate. Here’s what he has to say: 

Ian Towers: Wedding Piano and singing!

It’s always exciting to be asked to play for a wedding at Old Down. The venue and its staff are wonderful, and the piano is one of the nicest I have played, and sounds magnificent in the Atrium or Bernays Room at The Manor. The beauty of a piano is its versatility; It can be turned to almost any style of music, and has a huge range of expression, from the gentlest romantic piece to a full-on rock number, and everything in between.

One of the most popular packages I offer is to have me play (and sometimes sing) for a ceremony, followed by the drinks reception/canapés/photos; I start by playing some suitable background music as the guests assemble, and then I’ll play for the Bridal entrance, usually something evocative or romantic. This will be followed by two or three songs or pieces as the newly-weds sign the register, then by something joyful and triumphant as they lead their guests on to the further celebrations.

When I am to play for the ceremony, I always invite the Bride and Groom to meet with me at my home in North Bristol to plan the music. It is always a pleasure to hear the ideas the couple may have, and then to demonstrate them on my own grand piano. Some couples are undecided on their music, in which case I have many ideas I can put forward.

During the photo/drinks reception, I see it as my job to keep people smiling and entertained, and I have a wide repertoire suited to all ages from small children, to their great-grandparents. If this takes place outside, we wheel the Old Down piano into the bay in the Bernays room, where the full length windows fully open, and the sound wafts out beautifully across the lawns. If it is winter-time, the sound of the piano fills the Manor’s Atrium, and is comfortably audible in the surrounding areas.

I also love to play and sing for the wedding breakfast in the Orangerie; Once people are seated, I can engage with them on a different level and begin to really promote the party atmosphere and it has been known for the whole room to be singing along by the end of the meal. I can entertain for the wedding breakfast as an addition to other parts of the day, or as a stand alone event, it’s your choice. I use my own excellent digital piano (at no extra cost) in the Orangerie, as the grand piano will not wheel into there.

Please ask me more about how I can enhance your wedding day and please see my reviews at facebook.com/pg/iantowerspianist/reviews You may also listen to numerous clips of my playing and singing at www.dreamweddingpianist.co.uk/  I look forward to playing for you. Thank you, Ian 07811 366865