This past October, I had the absolute joy of celebrating the wedding of two incredible people, Josh and Brendan, at Priam Vineyard. The couple brought an entirely unique, magical, and deeply personal touch to their big day. Picture this: a tented reception nestled amongst the vines, vibrant autumn foliage creating a kaleidoscope of colors, and a string quartet (plus drums!) setting the perfect musical backdrop. It was unforgettable and so much fun.
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, song ideas for your cocktail hour, as well as wildly fun wedding style from this real Priam Vineyard wedding. Let’s dive in!
Josh has been a close friend of our family for many years. He started as besties with my Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dorothy, who deserves full credit for introducing us. Josh was Dorothy’s groomer for years, and all of our grooming appointments are cherished catch-up sessions. These days, Josh has been trying to tame the wild beast that is our puppy intern, Penelope (Chief Paw-chestra Conductor).
When Josh and Brendan started planning their Priam Vineyard wedding, we spent hours swapping ideas, chatting about trends, and brainstorming ways to make their day as unique as their love story. And let me tell you, they absolutely nailed it.
The ceremony itself was as unique and adorable as they are. Josh and Brendan opted for a moody, gothic flair that blended seamlessly with the vineyard’s natural beauty. They DIY'ed their florals and decor, going with the flow and letting the best things find them. Instead of bouquets, their wedding party carried custom lanterns down the aisle. Brendan’s uncle officiated, Josh’s sister was the videographer, and my best friend, Sue Takes Photos, brought her whole photography team. It was a full house!
Wedding Ceremony Music
Josh and Brendan loved that we're classical wedding musicians, but wanted a special twist, so we added on drums. For prelude, they asked me to surprise them. After digging a little deeper, I got a sense that they’d like more ballads and sweet love songs mixed in with classical wedding music. I included Spring and Winter from The Four Seasons (Vivaldi), I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston), Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift) from Bridgerton, At Last (Etta James), and Stand By Me (Ben E. King).
The Wedding Party processional: Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy,” a perfect nod to their eclectic style.
The Grooms’ Grand Entrance: Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” complete with two adorable bubble boys and a flower girl, Olivia, leading the way. Oh, and let’s not forget Ramona, their rescue pup, who added an extra dose of charm.
The Recessional: Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac, which gave our drummer, Allegra, lots of fun moments!
After the ceremony, the celebration continued with a cocktail hour that blended classic throwbacks with modern flair. During our planning meetings, the couple said they love everything in our library and had a lot of trouble narrowing it down, which gave me free rein to really create something totally unique for them.
Cocktail Hour - or should we say, Wine Time?
Josh and Brendan said they wanted to include everything from classic love songs and jazz to 60s, 70s, and 80s throwbacks. Plus, they love Bridgerton, 2000s pop, upbeat classical and opera. We had a blast weaving together all their favorites and surprising their guests. We played (in no certain order):
Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Cheap Thrills - Sia
Hit Me Baby (One More time) - Britney Spears
Havana - Camila Cabello
Don’t Stop Believing - Journey
Give Me Everything Tonight - Pitbull
I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher
All You Need is Love - The Beatles
The reception was where their personalities truly came to life. The tent was adorned in jewel tones—deep teal, burgundy, black, and gold—with tablescapes that featured thrifted goblets (a thoughtful favor for each guest), deep purple linens, tall red candles, and wild greenery. Their sweetheart table had a playful mix with dark humor: a wooden “Mr. & Mr.” sign alongside a neon sign that read “Til Death.” Their table numbers? Tarot cards. It was gothic glam at its finest.
But the real showstopper? Josh and Brendan booked Summer Orlando to bring along two drag queens for a special performance that kicked off the reception. Judy Garland, Cher, and Barbra Streisand all made appearances, and it was every bit as fabulous as it sounds. The grooms thoughtfully set up two lounge areas with velvet green couches and blankets, creating cozy spots for guests to take in the performance and, later, breaks from the dance floor.
On top of it all, the newlyweds booked their favorite tattoo artist to come give all the guests mini tattoos, which is SO them! The couple celebrated by getting matching tattoos of bumble bees.
Josh and Brendan, thank you for trusting me not just as your friend but as part of the team that brought your vision to life. Your wedding was a celebration of love, creativity, and everything that makes you two so special. Here’s to many years of happiness, laughter, and of course, puppy bath time catch-ups.
