The duo consists of Scott Cunningham (guitar) and Erdem Akca (cello), and they offer services for ceremonies, evening meals, and afternoon receptions. Their musical style blends classic and modern covers, including classical, pop, film scores, and classic swing, aiming for a relaxed and sophisticated ambiance covering contemporary hits, timeless classics, and traditional Scottish tunes.
What inspired you to perform as a duo?
Erdem got in touch with me purely by chance as he needed an accompanist for a wedding in 2023, prior to this he had performed solo at many weddings and I had exclusively been performing as a guitarist in evening party bands. When we performed at our first ceremony together I immediately thought it was amazing. Being a part of the evening celebration is great but to share in such an intimate part of the couples wedding was truly beautiful. It was after that first ceremony that I decided I wanted to do a lot more of this and we should start working together more as a duo, thus Heartstrings Wedding Duo was created.
Which areas do you cover?
Most of our weddings take place in the Scottish central belt but we are happy to travel anywhere within mainland Britain. We once had a couple that were getting married in Sicily and we would have loved to have performed there, unfortunately their budget didn’t stretch enough to cover the additional travel.
Can you provide examples of the different genres or eras you cover?
We try to cover a broad mix of repertoire so that there’s something for everyone within our set. Right now Bridgerton is a very popular show and a lot of couples want the Bridgerton sound at their wedding. So we’ve started including a lot more pop music in the setlist. You can expect to hear Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Coldplay and Shenia Twain to name a few. But we also make sure to include some old jazz standards, Fly Me to the Moon, What A Wonderful World etc, and of course some film score music. A personal favourite of mine that we’ve recently included is Gabriel’s Oboe from the soundtrack of The Mission.
Can you offer custom music pieces for example a remix of a classical song?
The beauty of our ensemble is that every piece of music we play has our own spin on it. Because we are a slightly more unorthodox combination of instruments, any arrangement has a unique quality to it. When performing at ceremonies we are always happy to tailor the repertoire to the couples. In the past we have arranged a medley of a couple’s favourite pieces which included Can’t Help Falling In Love, Hallelujah and Memories from the musical Cats.
Given your experience performing across Scotland, have you played at any unique or particularly memorable venues?
Scotland is such an amazing place to get married because there are so many stunning and unique venues. Personally I’m a lover of history and feel that we’re very lucky to have so many castles that are available for weddings. Getting to walk around Edinburgh Castle late at night with no else around was a special moment for me. I’m also a big fan of Borthwick Castle.
How do you adapt your performance to different settings?
We’re very lucky as a duo because a guitar is so versatile and a Cello is so powerful. I didn’t initially realise how loud a Cello can be and how far it can travel. We haven’t encountered a space that the Cello couldn’t fill. For the guitar all it takes is a small battery powered amp and we’re able to be heard in any setting inside or outside.
Do you have any recommendations to help create the perfect ceremony?
I believe that the perfect wedding ceremony is one that is unapologetically yours. If there is something you want featured in your wedding then don’t be shy to go out and get it. Regardless of how unusual or what you think others will think of it. It’s your day and you shouldn’t compromise on what you want to make your day special.
