Music

Wedding Articles

Hiring a String Quartet

Looking to add a touch of high culture to your wedding ceremony? Something different to the usual organ? Why not hire a group of live musicians? The most popular choice is a string quartet but you may also wish to consider a classical guitarist or harpist or two or three string players. People who wish to have a very traditional wedding may find that adding a trumpeter to the organ will make the day more special.

When you are hiring musicians for your event, it is important to have a clear idea of what style you prefer. For example, you may have difficulty finding a harpist that will play your favourite Beatles covers. That being said, many ensembles that do a large amount of wedding work are very flexible and open to suggestions and special requests.

It is worth keeping in mind that wedding musicians have been to far more weddings than you have and are a valuable resource. They can help pick your music, advise as to when they should play and where they should sit along with many other things you may be unsure about.

The fee for musicians varies from group to group and from city to city. As a general guideline, a quartet would charge between $400 and $600 for the first hour or your ceremony, whichever comes first. Some quartets require a contract to be signed in order to save your date; others just require part of the fee as a deposit.

If you would like additional music during the dinner or your ceremony is extra long, you will be charged for a second hour. Generally speaking, the rate is reduced at least 25% for additional hours. Once again, it is wise to think about what style of music you want when booking an ensemble. A string quartet might be nice at dinner but likely not appropriate for the dance.

It is not usual to actually meet the quartet before the big day. Wedding ensembles are very experienced and a 10-minute chat with an usher before the ceremony is usually sufficient. Repertoire can be sorted out over the telephone.

The best way to find a quartet is word of mouth. This way you can have some idea as to the quality of the ensemble. Alternatively, you may find listings in the telephone book or online. If you are on a budget, a good way to save a little bit of money is to call the university near to where you live and request a student quartet. Many students do wedding gigs to fund their studies for the upcoming year.