JACQUIE & JOHN
A personal ceremony and a sax-filled party at the Royal Toby Hotel
Royal Toby Hotel · Rochdale, Greater Manchester
Jacquie and John’s wedding at the Royal Toby Hotel in Rochdale brought together two very different sides of live sax: a deeply personal ceremony entrance and an evening full of dancing, singing and air saxophone.
They had originally booked me for the evening, but our plans grew into a bespoke ceremony-and-party package. Working with Jacquie on the music beforehand made it a particularly special day to be part of.
A ceremony with a personal connection
Jacquie’s father, who sadly passed away last year, had always loved the saxophone. He had encouraged her to add live sax for her walk down the aisle as well as the evening entertainment. I’m so glad she did. Knowing what the instrument meant to her family made preparing that music feel especially important.
“Your Latest Trick” by Dire Straits was a special song for Jacquie and John. We spent plenty of time talking through how it could work for the ceremony, and I created a bespoke backing track with violins and harp to give it a softer, more ceremonial feel.
The recognisable saxophone hook stayed at the heart of the arrangement. I also played the vocal melody live on sax, so the song could tell its story instrumentally as the bridal party made their entrance.
Timing Jacquie’s entrance to “Your Latest Trick”
Jacquie’s sister and daughter came down the aisle as her two bridesmaids, before Jacquie made her own entrance. She timed it beautifully to the big crescendo around three minutes into the arrangement, when the saxophone melody returned.
It was a dramatic, emotional moment. Photographer Julianne Noon Photography told me afterwards that it had given her goosebumps. Being able to shape a song around an entrance like that is one of the things I love most about playing live for a wedding ceremony.
For Jacquie and John’s exit together, I played the crescendo of “You Raise Me Up”. It was another beautiful moment, and a lovely way to bring their ceremony to a close.
Three evening sets and plenty of air sax
Later, the mood changed completely. I played three 30-minute evening party sets using my own speakers, with a real mix of music across the night.
Guests were dancing, singing along and giving me their best air-saxophone impressions. After the emotion of the ceremony, it was brilliant to see everyone letting go and enjoying the party together.
A huge thank you to Jacquie and John for inviting me into such a personal part of their wedding, and to Julianne for capturing the dance-floor photograph featured here.
WEDDING CREDITS
- Venue: Royal Toby Hotel, Rochdale
- Dance-floor photograph: Julianne Noon Photography
- Ceremony room photographs: Spencer Moran
- Live ceremony and evening sax: Spencer Sax