Mitton Hall Wedding Pianist | Craig Smith Music

Mitton Hall is one of the most popular Lancashire wedding venues in the Ribble Valley, known for its characterful interiors, riverside setting and lively, sociable wedding atmosphere. Live piano music works especially well here, adding energy as the day builds from ceremony through to drinks reception and wedding breakfast.

Wedding pianist Craig Smith regularly performs at Mitton Hall, providing music for ceremonies, drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts. His performances are shaped around each part of the day, from welcoming guests as they arrive through to creating a more interactive and upbeat feel later in the celebration.

Mitton Hall weddings often build in energy as the day goes on, and live piano is a great way to keep guests engaged, particularly during drinks receptions and the wedding breakfasts, where they can get interractive mby making requests.

With multiple spaces used throughout the day, including indoor rooms and outdoor areas overlooking the river, piano music change location as the celebrations move from space to space, maintaining atmosphere and keeping guests engaged from start to finish.

Experience of Mitton Hall Weddings

Craig has been playing at Mitton Hall for around 20 years and is a familiar face to the James’ Places team, who regularly recommend him for weddings and events. That long-standing relationship means couples benefit from Craig's clear understanding of how the venue works in practice, from timing music around the day’s schedule to choosing the right setup for each space.

At Mitton Hall, the music often becomes more interactive as the day goes on, with guests making requests and getting involved, helping create a more social and upbeat atmosphere. Craig's unique Electronic Requests System allows them to send those requests direct from the table, and one of the reasons Mitton Hall is amongst Craig's favourite venues is just how much guests there like to get involved in the music.

He is also one of the few pianists trusted to perform on the venue’s own grand piano, something only permitted for a small number of musicians due to the standard required for both weddings and restaurant service.

Alongside this, Craig’s portable baby grand pianos — available in white or gloss black — are used throughout the venue, from the main function suite to the terrace and outdoor ceremony garden, allowing music to continue effortlessly between each part of the celebration.

Live Piano That Builds the Atmosphere at Mitton Hall

At Mitton Hall, piano music often becomes part of the atmosphere rather than just background, helping bring guests together and keep the energy building throughout the day. Couples marrying at Mitton Hall usually choose music as follows to shape their day:

• Guests’ arrivals on the Great Hall piano^*
• Wedding ceremony
• Drinks reception in the Great Hall^*, function suite or on the terrace
• Wedding breakfast
• Room turnaround / early evening on the Great Hall piano^*

^*may require exclusivity; check with the Mitton Hall team

Most wedding music at Mitton Hall begins as guests take their seats for the ceremony, though it can start earlier in the Great Hall using the venue’s grand piano with permission from the team (or when the venue is booked for exclusive use). The terrace then provides the perfect setting for an alfresco drinks reception in the sun accompanied by live piano music.