Any bride will tell you that their wedding day is one of the most memorable moments in their life, but for one blushing bride her day was made unforgettable thanks to a world-renowned musician

The Man with the Golden Flute – Sir James Galway – treated art student Jenny Armstrong and her husband, interior designer Tyrone Winter, to an impromptu performance at the Culloden Hotel – the venue for their wedding reception last month.

The Northern Ireland–born virtuoso flautist was staying at the hotel with his wife Jeanne and the classical trio The Singing Priests. The group of musicians were busy practising for their concert when the blushing bride walked down the stairs and caught the attention of Sir James.

“My wife and I were standing at the bottom of the stairs when Jenny started to walk down and this man next to me said ‘what a beautiful bride’,” Jenny’s father Stuart Armstrong said.

“I never knew at the time that it was Sir James Galway – I did not recognise him. Then, later on, the Culloden management told Jenny that Sir James had asked if he could play for the bride.

“Jenny had hired a string quartet – she likes that sort of thing – and he asked if he could play with them.

“It was wonderful. Afterwards Jenny asked if she could get photos taken with him and he was very obliging.”

But the impromptu performance from the world-renowned flautist did not end there.

A little while later Sir James returned to the reception and asked if he and the Singing Priests could perform again.

The musicians had been practising in the nearby drawing room.

“It was fantastic,” the proud father-of-the-bride said. “Everyone thought I had arranged for Sir James to play but I hadn’t. It was just one of those things.

“It was a wonderful wedding and it was made extra special by Sir James and the Priests.”

Besides performing for the guests, the Galways and the Priests also serenaded the bride.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Sir James recalled: “I was delighted when this lovely young bride appeared at the hotel. Jeanne and I were so pleased to play for her and so were the Priests. Pieces like She Moves Through the Fair were appropriate for the occasion.

The romantic interlude happened in the hotel where a crew from Waddell Media was making preparations to shoot a film of the Galways and The Priests.