Occasional Brass & Strings Reviews

Occasional Brass & Strings

Boston, MA

5.0 out of 5 rating, 127 reviews

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Fantastic

127 reviews

Recommended by 99% of couples

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Annie Sent on 10/22/2024

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Magical Trio

Everything by from start to finish with Occasional Brass was phenomenal. Bryan is incredible to work with, and the musicians we had were absolutely amazing. Talented, professional, they truly made our wedding such a fabulous event! We are so lucky we were able to get them. They made everything so special, and our memories truly include their performance. I would use them for any special event I could have for our whole lives! Amazing!
Lisa Sent on 09/07/2024

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Perfection!

WOW! From the moment they started playing, the string trio truly blew us away with their exquisite performance and remarkable selection of music. Their talent and professionalism introduced a level of sophistication that perfectly complemented our celebration.

But it was their performance of Hamilton's "The Story of Tonight" as I walked down the aisle that truly stole the show. The moment was so moving that it brought tears my eyes.

The trio’s ability to offer a diverse range of options while maintaining such a high standard of excellence is remarkable.

They elevated our wedding ceremony into a truly enchanting experience, and we couldn’t have been happier with their performance!
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Mimi Sent on 07/12/2024

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The best touch!

Occasional Brass played a significant role in making our wedding day truly special. From the moment we first reached out to them, their understanding nature and willingness to accommodate our requests stood out. Their attention to detail and ability to tailor the music to our preferences added an extra layer of magic to the atmosphere.

Leading up to the big day, we really appreciated how responsive and communicative the Occasional Brass team was. They made us feel heard and valued, addressing any concerns or questions promptly. This made the planning process much smoother and put our minds at ease.

During the event, the musicians' talent and professionalism shined through. The music they played created the perfect ambiance, enhancing every moment of our celebration. It was evident that they were well-prepared and dedicated to delivering a memorable performance.

We wholeheartedly recommend them to any couple looking to add a touch of elegance and charm to their special day. Thank you, Occasional Brass, for being a key part of our wedding story.

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Corinne Sent on 07/11/2024

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Bryan provided a viola-violin duet for our civil ceremony private dinner-A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE!

Professional and flexible! Zoia & Sara were amazingly talented! The variety of songs they played appealed to all of the generations in attendance!
We had a strange request to learn some South American songs to accommodate some of the out of town guests. Not a problem, they learned 5 requested songs for our venue!
We had a few glitches along the way which required the start time and length of service to change, both of which were accommodated seamlessly.
I unconditionally recommend them for any venue! They were a fantastic group to work with. Their flexibility de-escalated any stress we had around planning and changes that seem to inevitably happen.
Sarah Sent on 05/20/2024

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So easy to work with & sounded incredible!

We are so happy we chose to work with Occasional Brass & Strings for our wedding! They were a preferred vendor for our venue and from the first email we sent to Bryan and his team to the week before the wedding when I was confirming all of our details, they were INCREDIBLY easy to work with and super organized. They have a massive list of songs that they are capable of playing and about 2 months before the wedding, they provided me with a form to fill out to select the songs for the pre-ceremony half hour while guests were filtering in, the precessional & recessional and the cocktail hour. I loved that we got the hand select all of the song choices for this ~2 hour block or so and that the team made it so easy to do so. They were all professional, on time, and very nice and sounded so good the whole time. When the string trio arrived, they must have coordinated with the venue / our coordinator on where to set up and when to start , etc. because I didn't have to get involved at all and was just able to focus on getting ready and our first look. I would absolutely recommend this vendor to anyone else because I can't emphasize enough how truly easy they were to work with and how talented they all were. We loved having OB&S - thank you so much!!
Corey Sent on 06/25/2023

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Perfect in Every Way

We used Occasional Brass and Strings for our ceremony music and our cocktail hour at our wedding and were blown away by the musicianship they provided. They came as a recommendation from a good friend and did not disappoint. They provided the audio system for our ceremony, too! We had a flute and keyboard for our ceremony and were able to pick great songs from their selections as we and our bridal parties walked down the aisle. For the cocktail hour we had a jazz combo that was just delightful.

Bryan was a joy to work with and I would highly recommend choosing them for your wedding needs! Planning was a breeze and they had every detail lined up when the day of the wedding came! Super recommend!
S.c. Sent on 05/10/2023

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Superb music and total professionalism!

We had a lovely church service at our family wedding with the most perfect music to accompany it! One cannot go wrong choosing them!
We are so happy we chose OB! They were absolutely magnificent!
Thank you from us all!
Maria Sent on 02/05/2023

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the music was amazing!! it was perfect!!

I contacted Bryan to get some musicians for my wedding in Vermont. The process was very easy, he sent me a list of songs to choose from. The musicians were very kind and professional and the music was perfect!! I found a great value for 3 musicians. Bryan was also super responsive. It was perfect and it was the best of the night!
Victoria Sent on 02/02/2023

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Great Party Addition

We hired a string trio for my MIL’s 70th birthday party. It was great entertainment. The team had a huge song library and were open to playing a big variety at the party. Very fun! Will definitely recommend them and likely use again.
Natalia Sent on 09/28/2022

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Best addition to my church ceremony!

When planning my wedding, I decided to add string music to perform the ceremony music at the church. It gave that extra special touch to my ceremony and was told by many guests how beautifully the music was performed.

Bryan (the founder of OBS) was so easy to communicate with through both email and phone. He answered all my questions promptly. Once the deposit was completed to secure my date, I was emailed a worksheet to fill out ahead of time and choose my song selections from their extensive list.

I went with the trio choice made up of a violin, viola, and cello. I wanted to have music playing in the church early before the ceremony, so that as guests arrived they wouldn't sit in silence.

The string trio arrived early to set up and were dressed very nicely in all black.

The music provided by OBS was beautiful. I would definitely recommend to add this special touch to your day if considering it!
Matt Sent on 08/11/2022

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Excellent musicians and a classy touch!

We hired OB&S to play at our cocktail hour for our wedding. From the first contact, they were incredibly professional and flexible. As for the service, they delivered! The musicians were talented and created a special ambiance for our cocktail hour that truly elevated it to another level. Highly highly recommended! An exceptional experience from start to finish.
Connor Sent on 07/01/2022

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Perfect addition to make a complete ceremony

Occasional Brass and Strings was very responsive, they respected our requests, and helped make for a very lovely ceremony. I would highly recommend anyone reach out to them. The musicians were dressed professionally and everything ran on cue.
Shana Sent on 06/21/2022

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created the perfect evening!

Occassional Brass & Strings helped us create the perfect ambiance for our annual gala. They were so easy to work with, responsive, and the musicians are incredibly talented. We look forward to having them at future events.
Annie Sent on 12/28/2021

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Amazing Brass Group!

We were so glad we stumbled across Bryan and the Occasional Brass group on the Knot leading up to our wedding! My (now) husband and I love music, and were really thoughtful about the music during our wedding ceremony. Once we thought of hiring a brass quintet, we knew that would be just so much fun AND incredibly ceremonial for our wedding. The list of potential songs that Occasional Brass can play is *extensive* and their list of recommended wedding songs is really helpful in thinking through music selection. They also went the extra mile and learned new songs for us, including one that my dad composed years ago and I walked down the aisle to. It was incredibly incredibly moving and special, all thanks to Bryan and team! We highly recommend Occasional Brass to any and all couples!
Jessica Sent on 12/10/2021

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Occasional Brass & Strings is incredible!

We highly recommend Occasional Brass & Strings! We had a string trio play at our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour at Saltwater Farm Vineyard in October 2021. The musicians were very talented and professional. They can literally play anything from classical to hip hop, and we had it all! It gave such a beautiful touch to our wedding and our guests were blown away. Bryan was easy to work with and coordinated everything for us. Thank you Occasional Brass & Strings for making our big day even more special!
Courtney Sent on 11/22/2021

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Occasional Brass and strings is great!

Occasional Brass and Strings was an amazing addition to our wedding day! We had a string trio for our wedding ceremony that was absolutely beautiful. The band then transitioned to a 3 person brass band + drummer for our cocktail hour, as well as our wedding parade from our ceremony to our reception venue! It was an absolute blast! We wanted a wedding parade like the New Orleans wedding parade and Bryan and his team made it happen! It was so much fun and having the live band really added to our day! Occasional brass and strings was very reasonably priced, flexible, and professional. We would highly recommend occasional brass and strings for any wedding or event and we will definitely hire them again for our future parties!
Sarah Sent on 11/12/2021

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OB&S = Perfection!

We booked OB&S for our ceremony/cocktail music and officiant sound. Everything was incredible. Our ceremony went off without a hitch. The sound for our officiant was perfect, and Zoia and Sara (on violin and cello, respectively) expertly played our processional and recessional selections. Guests raved about the music, which played throughout our cocktail hour too. Bryan was extremely responsive, flexible, fun, and easy to work with. Do not hesitate to use OB&S for your wedding or next formal event – they are truly amazing!!
Kate Sent on 09/01/2021

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fantastic job

I hired a cellist/violinist duo, and they were fantastic!! Couldn't say enough great things about them. I was given a music selection to choose from, and was able to send over my suggested song list. I also let them pic what they wanted to play for cocktail hour. No supervision needed, and they looked great together! Well dressed with a great attitude. Thank you so much and I can't wait to use you in the future.
Stephanie Sent on 08/15/2021

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Trumpet Walk & Cello

Bryan and his team are absolutely amazing! He is so responsive during the planning stage and accommodating with all wedding plans. I talked with many brass, sting and band vendors prior to Bryan. After speaking we instantly clicked and I knew that they were the best in the business. Bryan performed a phenomenal trumpet walk to escort our entire wedding from the church to the reception. It was a highlight of the day. We had strings during the cocktail hour and it made the event effortlessly beautiful. I cannot recommend Occasional Brass & Strings enough.
Betsy Sent on 07/03/2021

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Kevn Scollins - guitarist

Kevin Scollins was on time, sympathetic, flexible and talented. He gave us more than we asked for, cheerfully.
Marty Sent on 06/17/2021

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Beatrice-Ivey Wedding Newburyport, MA

Phenomenal, Exquisite, Professional Musicians. Bryan is great to work with and flexible through all this Covid stuff. I would hire Occasional Brass and Strings again and again. The church ceremony and cocktail hour was simply beautiful with their music. Thanks again for a special day OBS!
Mary Sent on 04/26/2021

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Nothing short of Amazing!

Cannot recommend Occasional Brass & Strings enough. We had a string duo for our April 10th wedding and they were extremely professional and personable. Their music was absolutely wonderful and added such an awesome dynamic to the day.
Karissa Sent on 11/21/2020

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Look no further for music!!!

I contacted Bryan as both my fiancé and I were very interested in having a string band at our ceremony. Bryan was professional and responsive every time I had a question. I am so glad we decided to go with the quartet for our outdoor wedding. The musicians are so talented!!! Definitely worth the money and very affordable to boot! I will definitely recommending occasional brass and strings to friends and family! Thank you for making our pandemic wedding special!!!
Kati Sent on 04/30/2020

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Occasional Brass & Strings

A very professional and talented group. So glad we found them to help celebrate our parents 50th anniversary. I look forward to to the opportunity to recommend their services to friends and family.
Liam Sent on 01/23/2020

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Occasional Brass was wonderful

Hired them for a retirement party for our CEO, and they elevated the party and added to the ambiance. We had a piano, bass and sax. I had several people ask where I found the band, and many others said they were playing the perfect set of songs. They were set up early and broke down very quietly. I want to plan another party, just so I can hire them again.
Sully Sent on 11/09/2019

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Easy To Reserve

They are very professional and responsive when it comes to reserving and booking. We’re looking forward to having a string trio at our wedding and know exactly who will be there.
Jessica Sent on 11/01/2019

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The easiest part of our wedding planning!

We hired Bryan and three of his string musicians to play at our Wedding in Warwick, RI. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the musicians and our guests were very impressed with the variety of music played. Bryan was very well organized throughout the process. He arrived early and when we met him it seemed as if we had known him all along. His friendly and pleasant manner made him a pleasure to work with. We would definitely book them for any future events!
Charlotte Sent on 10/08/2019

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Beautiful music, custom arrangements

We hired a trumpet, violin, cello trio from Occasional Brass & Strings for my daughter's recent wedding at the Hyatt in Cambridge. The group has an extensive list of songs (more than most musicians in the area). In addition, we asked for multiple custom arrangements for lesser known songs on their list.
The director Bryan Hilliard was so helpful in making this happen. The arrangements were beautiful and made the day feel perfect and special for my daughter and her new husband. We could not be happier with the music. I definitely recommend Occasional Brass & Strings.
Hanoch Sent on 10/08/2019

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Outstanding performance

Bryan from OBS was very flexible and accommodating in setting up the music program for the wedding. He was willing to prepare arrangements for many (13) extra music pieces, based on sheet music we provided, in addition to selections from the existing repertory of OBS. The performance of the OBS trio was outstanding, and many of our guests praised it highly.
Maggie Sent on 10/07/2019

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So Easy to Work With!

Bryan was incredibly easy to work with. I knew I could count on him every step of the way. The music at our wedding was beautiful, and they even did a great job of accommodating a request. It was a wonderful experience, and I would recommend them to anyone!
Robert Sent on 09/30/2019

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Beautiful, Classy and Flexible!

They really set the tone for a beautiful and classy wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. The musicians were extremely talented and professional and played all of our requests beautifully. When it began to rain during our cocktail hour, they packed up and moved inside and continued playing without a hitch.
Bryan was incredibly easy to plan with and made a lot of good suggestions. He was responsive, professional, and made everything extremely easy on us. I am so happy with the decision to hire Occasional Brass and Strings for our ceremony and cocktail hour.
Heather Sent on 09/27/2019

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Excellent!

This strong trio was wonderful! They were the perfect touch to our Ceremony and cocktail hour. They did such a great job and has a wide variety of music to choose from.
Emma Sent on 09/08/2019

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Professional and effortless

All of my guests were so impressed with Occasional Brass and having the live music during my ceremony was a dream of mine. They executed the day perfectly and set-up nice and early so I didn't have to worry about a thing. Thank you!
Conor Sent on 07/30/2019

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Great music, massive catalog

Occasional Brass & Strings provided a string trio for our wedding ceremony, and my only regret is that I wasn’t in the audience to get to hear all the songs they played. They were super talented and brought the ceremony to life in a way that recorded music never could have. The hardest part of working with them was choosing the songs, as there were almost 1000 songs to choose from. We chose a mix of traditional songs, old hits, and modern bands that we and our friends listen to.
Michelle Sent on 01/31/2019

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Fantastic!!!

Bryan was extremely helpful and responsive during the planning process! The music was spectacular!!! The horns especially in the church were perfect!!! Thank you!!!
Naomi Sent on 12/03/2018

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Beyond all expectations

What my husband and I thought was going to be a nice little engagement brunch for our son and future daughter in law turned out to be the talk of the town! Bryan made everything so easy, but I still had no idea how beautiful and enjoyable it was going to be! They took a lovely party and brought it to a whole new level!
I can’t thank them enough!!!!!
Peter Sent on 10/17/2018

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Wonderful music

We booked a trio from OB&S to play at the 20th Anniversary Celebration for our Assisted Living Community. The musicians arrived on time and struck just the right "chord" for the event. We received many positive comments about the music from our partygoers. We will certainly book them again for large events.
Sally Sent on 09/05/2018

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My daughter was married last weekend. Occasional Brass and String performed at the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, they were perfect. Thank you for making the day even more special. True professionals.
Lexi Sent on 08/24/2018

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I would highly recommend occasional brass and strings!! Angel and Caroline did a violin and cello duo for our wedding and did a beautiful job! They did all our song selections and worked with us due to getting off to a late start. Bryan was wonderful to work with as well and very helpful through the whole process. Thanks again!!
John Sent on 08/13/2018

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Working with Bryan and Occasional Brass was fantastic, and we would highly recommend them for any event. My wife and I were looking for some live music for our wedding reception and found Bryan through an online booking site. He was very responsive and easy to work with from start to finish – taking out any stress. When we decided to switch from strings to a jazz trio, he was able to seamlessly accommodate our request. The musicians he set us up with were wonderful – friendly, fun and very professional. Most importantly their music added the perfect ambiance for the event. 5 stars all the way around.
Paul Sent on 08/02/2018

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Our wedding had a chamber group for the ceremony and jazz piano and sax for reception
Both were wonderful
They added so much and brought tears to my eyes with my favorite music
The piano singer also has a wonderful voice and sang for us so wonderfully
They were magic and contributed to a great day
Thank you so much
Cheryl Sent on 07/02/2018

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Occasional Brass played at our daughter's wedding ceremony and cocktail reception. They were perfect. Bryan coordinated with the soloist, sounded like they had performed together forever! Met every request for music suggestions by the bride. If ever there was a question, Bryan responded immediately. I can not say enough about this musical troupe! They are the Best!
Elias Sent on 06/20/2018

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These guys are outstanding and flexible musicians that made our wedding ceremony a perfect event!
S Sent on 12/01/2017

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Exceptional music and very talented. Went as perfect as we could have hoped for. Thank you!
Allie Sent on 11/13/2017

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We were extremely happy with the string quartet hired for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. They had a ton of modern hits they covered, and we picked almost all of the music, custom to us and our tastes. Bryan was so easy to communicate with from the very beginning. We got tons of compliments on them from our guests! Too bad I wasn't around for more of cocktail hour myself! :-P
Nicholas Sent on 10/11/2017

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Bryan from Occasional Brass & Strings was a pleasure to work with. He made sure to keep close contact leading up to our wedding day. He also made sure everything was stress free and placed us in very good hands, with two of his most prestigious musicians. Also the custom arrangements he did for us came out perfectly. I would definitely recommend Occasional Brass & Strings, and would book them again for another event.
Kristie Sent on 08/29/2017

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This quartet was more than excellent. They were able to play all the music that requested for the mass and choices for prelude music were not only classical but contemporary. Bryan, the coordinator, was right on top of things and helped the bride and groom organize their music choices. Sometimes choosing from the internet you may have a bit of anxiety, but I assure you this group was fantastic. We highly recommend them for your event, whether it's a wedding or cocktail party!
Janelle Sent on 07/25/2017

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Jeanne and Caroline did so wonderful at our vow renewal ceremony! The music really made our ceremony special. I am so happy we chose Occasional Brass & Strings! Thank you!
Gail Sent on 07/11/2017

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The music was beautiful and the musicians arrived on time, were professional and the guests loved the musical selections.
Kristina Sent on 07/05/2017

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Occasional Brass & Strings played beautifully during both our wedding ceremony and our cocktail hour! The string trio was truly amazing and created an elegant atmosphere for our guests. Bryan and the OB&S musicians were wonderful to work with and were very professional. I would highly recommend OB&S's string musicians for anyone's wedding or special event!
Kristyn Sent on 07/04/2017

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OBS was amazing for our wedding ceremony! Working with them before the wedding was so seamless and they were so organized, they sent me a list of their whole repertoire organized by genre and type of music, but were also open to songs not on the list. During the wedding the trio played beautifully! I highly recommend them for your wedding!!
Suzanne Sent on 06/28/2017

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I hired Occasional Brass & Strings to play at my daughter's wedding in June, 2017. We had a string trio as well as a harpist. They were great but my only disappointment was that many people indicated that they were difficult to hear. It was a breezy day near the ocean, and the tent that was required for them may have been set too far away-so I am definitely responsible for some of the blame. I guess I wish in retrospect that I had used a wireless mike system because the sound would have been so much clearer. The wedding party was all waiting to be cued by songs, but none of us could really hear the music!

Brian who arranges everything was wonderful to work with and extremely responsive to any concerns or questions. I would definitely recommend Occasional Brass & Strings, especially for a small wedding- we had over 200 people so that was another factor in not being able to hear them very well.
User2906155 Sent on 12/12/2016

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I was very happy with the musicians who were hired for a recent community choir concert! Bryan was very prompt and professional in our correspondences.
Briana Sent on 12/11/2016

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My parents found Occasional Brass and Strings and suggested them to my now husband and myself for our ceremony and cocktail hour music. I'm so glad we decided to choose them! We went with a trio. Bryan was very easy to get in contact with and sent us 3 amazing performers! We were able to choose the songs we wanted to use off their very extensive playlist and then they added in some selections as well. All our guests kept telling us how amazing the trio was! I did hear them playing a bit during cocktail hour (I was so focused on making it down the aisle that I blocked everything out!) and they sounded so amazing! I have actually already recommended them to a friend who is getting married next year! They were so good that anyone would be happy to book them!
Allison Sent on 08/05/2016

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Can't say enough good things about Occasional Brass & Strings. Because it is comprised of many many musicians it can be a little scary at first - who exactly will show up to my event? Will they be good? The answer is of course they will be good. All the musicians are clearly extremely talented and well trained. Still, it was hard to imagine that I could tell someone a vibe, musical styling, and list of instruments, and have them come back with the absolute perfect trio - and yet, that is exactly what happened. We were so pleased will all of the musicians. We had a cellist for the ceremony who beautifully played my favorite pieces from Bach's cello suite, and a latin jazz trio comprised of extremely talented and warm individuals that together, produced an amazing sound. We are a family of musicians and I think our expectations may have been quite high - and still they were exceeded. Thank you so much for being a huge part of such a special day!
Megan Sent on 08/02/2016

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Working with Bryan and Occasional Brass and Strings was a wonderful experience. We had a string trio play at our wedding ceremony in July, 2016. Bryan was very easy to work with in planning the music for the event. At first we were not exactly sure what we wanted, but given his thoughtful suggestions, very helpful website, and straightforward planning worksheet, we were able to put together the perfect music for our ceremony. On the day of the wedding, the trio was seamless. They performed everything that we had hoped for beautifully! We received several compliments about the strings, and couldn’t have asked for more! We highly recommend them!
Frederick Sent on 05/08/2016

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Occasional Brass was one of the groups included in a response from another website (GigMaster). We chose them partly from instinct and partly from the music samples on their website. It was a great choice. Bryan responded quickly, suggested we use a trio vs. the quartet we requested. It was a great choice. Also it was less costly. We wanted one piece that was not in the group's repertoire. Bryan created an arrangement for a slight additional cost. The week before the wedding we asked if it was possible to do "Truly madly deeply" expecting nothing given the short notice. Bryan made it happen. The trio arrived early, were totally professional, friendly, and brilliant. At least two music professionals among our guests commented on the quality of the music. They created beautiful music that enhanced our ceremony. We could not be happier.
Meredith Sent on 12/07/2015

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Bryan Hilliard was a pleasure to work with! He listened to what we were looking for and helped us create a unique combination of musicians that were perfect for our wedding. We wanted live Frank Sinatra-esque music for cocktails and dinner, a DJ for dancing, then a New Orleans style second line band for our grand exit -- Bryan put together a fantastic group of musicians that suited our requests perfectly! All of our guests raved about the music at the wedding! Thank you Bryan!
Tim Sent on 11/05/2015

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The band was amazing! The whole congregation is still talking about it!
User2385742 Sent on 10/23/2015

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The string quartet was amazing. They really listened to our song preferences and the guests really enjoyed the music.
User2383596 Sent on 10/22/2015

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This group of musicians was outstanding... they were excellent musicians, easy to work with and a group that I would readily recommend to anyone who wants to enhance the beauty of any celebration. They truly added to our joy in the wedding celebration.
Lauren Sent on 10/05/2015

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We worked with Occasional Brass and Strings for our ceremony music. Bryan was awesome to work with. He gave us great suggestions and promptly answered all our emails. He suggested having a trio - two string instruments and a trumpet. The combo sounded amazing. The company has a huge selection of songs to choose encompassing all genres. It was fun listening to samples and picking out our music. We both love Talking Heads and Bryan was able to come up with an arrangement of one of their songs for when we were introduced as husband and wife. It sounded incredible. Although I did not hear the music played before the ceremony, our guests raved about it. The live music definitely added a touch of fun elegance to our ceremony. I highly recommend OB&S!
Alexandra Sent on 09/30/2015

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The string trio that Bryan provided for my sister's wedding ceremony were exceptional. They added that special touch that my sister and her fiance were looking for, and the guests had nothing but compliments for them. They took the time to learn a special song my sister wanted to walk down the aisle to as well which was incredibly generous of them.
Kevin Sent on 09/30/2015

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The four musicians were absolutely amazing. Our President truly enjoyed them. I was told that the sound level was point on as well. Not too loud that people had to talk over but loud enough that people could enjoy them. They definitely enhanced our night.
User2335784 Sent on 09/26/2015

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We hired the trio violin musicians to play during the ceremony of our wedding on July 12, 2015. I last minute (ten days) before the wedding emailed a few places for our ceremony music. Brian Hilliard literally called us within minutes. He was so easy going and helpful with his suggestions. We loved it. I couldn't believe they were available. We were so excited to find out they could play contemporary music. We didn't hear all of their music obviously. But when I came down the aisle they almost brought me to tears. Guests later told us they were pleasantly surprised with the modern song selections and were playing "name that song." Halo by Beyoncé was a favorite. We had a great experience planning our music selections with Brian Hilliard. We will forever recommend them. And lastly, the price was perfect!
Bill Sent on 09/15/2015

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We had a string trio ensemble and found the music to be appropriate,
thoughtfully varied, and most enjoyable. Having classical, smooth standards, and light pop during the cocktail hour lent just the right touch
and ambiance before dinner, Kudos to OB&S for a wonderful "table setting"
to the evenings festivities,
John Sent on 09/06/2015

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I had a trio of musicians play for my wedding. A carbon fiber cello (awesome!), a viola, and the third musician had a flute, clarinet, alto sax, and soprano sax all with him. They did a great job playing fun and interesting music all evening from our specifically requested "Your Song" by Elton John to Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and even Jurassic Park. They were a great group to have there.
Deb Sent on 09/04/2015

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Amazing all the way around. Music is so important to a wedding. It sets the tone and creates the mood especially in church. I was the MOB and when I first heard the musicians play from the back of the church I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the sound. I wish I could give Bryan and the musicians who played even more stars. Rest assured that if you hire them your event will be even more special and I say this having a BA in music and a daughter in law who is a Julliard and Yale trained viola player. They were superb and Bryan was wonderful in his advice and suggestions. Their repertoire is vast and varied. And I could not believe the reasonable fee. I had five wonderful musicians.
Debbie Sent on 09/04/2015

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I wish I could give them even more stars! My daughter was married in the Greek Orthodox Church in Newport and I chose to hire five musicians and the sound was just incredible. It was rich and moving and just perfect. And....I drove Bryan crazy for weeks before with questions and he provided the guidance. He was terrific. I have a BA in Music so it was very important to me because music sets the tone and the mood. Their repertoire is vast and their talent is outstanding. Superb. And the cost was so very reasonable especially when you consider the talent these musicians possess.
Dayna Sent on 08/17/2015

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We hired two musicians to play during the ceremony of our wedding. I didn't hear too much of them, but from what I did hear, it was beautiful! I was worried about how loud they would be at our outdoor ceremony, but there was no issue. Also, I worked with Bryan Hilliard to schedule and pick the selections, and he was very accommodating and helpful, and he helped get us what we wanted in our budget. We had a great experience with them!
Emily Sent on 06/08/2015

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I used a string quartet with trumpet for my ceremony music and it was beautiful! The music sounded great and the trumpet was a really cool touch. Bryan Hilliard was awesome to work with- he had great ideas and was responded to emails very promptly. Occasional Brass & Strings' repertoire is large and there is great variety. Their prices were very reasonable- definitely an amazing value! Book them today!
Britney Sent on 11/17/2014

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Everyone at my wedding though the trio was wonderful. Thank you so much!
User1883584 Sent on 10/23/2014

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The brass trio arrived at the scheduled time but this frazzled bride was not quite ready. The trio set up on the balcony overlooking the beach. As soon as I heard the musicians warming up it calmed my nerves. They sounded fantastic. It had started to rain, but Bryan reassured me that it would be ok. Sure enough the sun came out! The horns managed to blow the wedding crowd and the clouds away. The music really provided the right spark for our outdoor ceremony, and you could hear the great brass sounds over the waves. It was perfect! There is a great song selection, a little something for everyone.
Lauren Sent on 10/14/2014

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I had Jeanne and Kristen play violin and cello during my wedding ceremony and Jeanne played the piano during cocktail hour. It was absolutely perfect. The ceremony and cocktail hour music was exactly what I had hoped for and Jeanne and Kristen were so professional. Bryan, the founder of Occasional Brass and Strings, helped me decide which instruments would be best based on the feel I was going for and also helped me to choose songs. He even customized one song that I really wanted to my bridesmaids to walk down the aisle to that wasn't on their list. He was very responsive to emails and organized, making the planning process smooth. Highly recommend using Occasional Brass and Strings!
User1858052 Sent on 10/11/2014

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This band is amazing!! I would definitely recommend them to anyone!
Deirdre Sent on 10/01/2014

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Amazing, amazing, amazing. Made the wedding ceremony so special I still am getting chills. They sounded amazing in the outdoor setting and we couldn't be happier. It definitely added exactly what we needed. I would use them again in a heartbeat. Thank you so much!
Michelle Sent on 09/15/2014

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Having the trumpet during our ceremony and the trumpet and strings during our cocktail hour could not have been more perfect! It was all we wanted and more! They were amazing!
Jill Sent on 02/03/2014

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Bryan Hilliard is the founder and he was top notch.
He came to my home to help me select music, he played his trumpet for me to hear, and he made an arrangement especially for a song I requested. Additionally, he took point on coordinating with the parish music director.
In addition to performing at my wedding, I had the trio perform at the cocktail hour. They did contemporary music and it was a big hit.
I recommend him wholeheartedly.
Maura Sent on 11/12/2013

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We had a string trio at our wedding who were terrific! They played everything from classical to contemporary and we received many compliments about them. We highly recommend Occasional Brass and Strings!
Lauren Sent on 10/16/2013

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The music provided by Occasional Brass & Strings was the perfect addition to our wedding ceremony. OB&S, and in particular Bryan Hillard, was one of the easiest vendors to work with of all that were included in our wedding as a whole. Given the complexity of planning a wedding, this was much, much appreciated.

We opted for a trio of a piano and two strings. Bryan prepared custom arrangements for two songs that I requested and brought in two singers to sing. The group met before the ceremony to practice and the songs came together beautifully.

Thank you Bryan, Valerie, Helena and Jordan!
Ethel Sent on 10/11/2013

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Working with Bryan from Occasional Brass & Strings was smooth and stress free. He listened to our vision for our wedding and offered great musical selections we could choose from. He also worked hard on creating sheet music for a specific song that I wanted played during our ceremony. Bryan and his band mates worked with my selected soloist the morning of the wedding to practice the arrangement. There is only one word I can think of for the final product... OUTSTANDING. The trio did such a great job with the song and my soloist Joanne had nothing but great things to say about working with them. All in all, my ceremony music and cocktail hour music was praised by all of our guests and I would definitely recommend Occasional Brass & Strings to everyone I know. Price is also affordable as well!!
Karen Sent on 08/09/2013

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Occasional Brass & Strings are absolutely amazing! We haven't stopped hearing wonderful comments about them from our guests. If you want to have a stress free music process and also have some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear, you HAVE to use them. We had the trumpet (it will blow your mind) and a string trio. We got married in a church and the music was just out of this world. Bryan Hilliard, the trumpet player and also the owner, made the music process so easy for us it was wonderful. He is great to work with and also a true professional that we were confident that he was handling everything and we had nothing to worry about. Just go to their site and you can hear for yourself how amazing they are. We got married in a church and churches are strict with music, but if you are getting married elsewhere Occasional does some pretty cool pieces with contemporary type music. I would recommend them to absolutely anyone. They are THAT fabulous! I'm trying to think of the next event that I could hire them for because I want to hear them again :)
User1262620 Sent on 07/29/2013

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Such excellent service. Speedy responses, attentive, and thoughtful. Highly recommend!
User1246850 Sent on 07/18/2013

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Absolutely wonderful! Occasional Brass and Strings provided us with the planning that freed us up to work on other aspects of the wedding. They arrived ahead of time, worked out their own logistics and demonstrated the flexibility that you have to have when playing music for an event as timing often needs some adjustments as you move through the day. We had brass and strings play, and knowing that Bryan was running the show really made this a stress free selection for us. Bryan sent us the program ahead of time, and we encouraged him to make adjustments as needed. They played through both the ceremony and reception and the music was just as wonderful as if we had laboriously made every single selection on our own. Bryan integrated what we requested, understood what we wanted, made suggestions and planned and executed the entire program. Listen to what they have to offer online, and talk with Bryan online or in person. He really can design the kind of program that works well with any event. Originally we were only going to have strings but are so very thankful that we had Bryan on the trumpet as well--perfect for wedding music. We would definitely hire them again for any future events.
Rachel Sent on 07/11/2013

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Occassional Brass & Strings was a huge success at my wedding! We had their brass quintet play covers of songs during the ceremony, and their trio played during the indoor reception. They had an amazing selection of songs--classical, alternative, religious, rock, ballads--so our music was really unique and special to us. Several of our friends and family asked about where we found them because they were so impressed. Bryan was very flexible and accommodating and super helpful in song selection. They were professional and played beautifully!
Rachel Sent on 07/11/2013

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I feel bad because I had so much going on during the wedding day that I never actually interacted with Bryan or the other musicians face to face, but they did exactly what I asked of them through email, with no added stress. Bryan was also very quick to respond to all of my emails during the planning process. Occasional Brass sounded fantastic and several people at the wedding commented on the fun music selections (theme from Up, Little Mermaid, Muppets...not all the typical corny wedding songs that you hear everywhere). Included in their package was arranging a new song for us (Top Gun Theme), which was awesome and exactly how we wanted it. I learned from planning a wedding that most wedding vendors suck, but these guys were seriously awesome. They just did what I asked, without bothering me or forgetting the details. There were also no hidden costs. I'd highly recommend them.
Stefanie Sent on 06/20/2013

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We hired Occassional Brass and Strings to play music during our wedding ceremony. They were prompt and played beautifully. Many of our guests commented on how wonderful the music was. As the bride I dealt directly with Bryan with regards to booking. He was always quick to response to emails and questions. It was a pleasure booking these musicians and an honor to have them at our ceremony.
Polly Sent on 06/15/2013

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We worked with Occasional Brass & Strings for our June 1st wedding. They did an incredible job and we can't count the number of compliments we received from our guests. They were really excited and surprised by all the contemporary selections, which we really loved as well. What a great touch to the perfect day - we feel really fortunate that we chose Occasional Brass and Strings.

From the very first email, they were extremely helpful, flexible, and incredible to work with. On the day of the wedding, we were busy with photographs when the trio arrived. By the time we got to the cocktail reception, they were already in the perfect spot and playing for our guests. We really appreciated not only their talent, but the professionalism to take charge without us having to be there. That was such a luxury at the time. We hope they enjoyed the event and that sensed our satisfaction, even though we didn't have the chance to really meet with them before or after the ceremony.

We highly recommend Occasional Brass & Strings. Several guests commented it was an element of the wedding that they most appreciated!
Carrie Sent on 01/09/2013

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Great job! Everyone commented on how wonderful the musicians were at the ceremony and cocktail hour. I will definetly refer them to all of my friends and family.
Erin Sent on 10/09/2012

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We cannot express in words how appreciative we are to Bryan and Occasional Brass and Strings. Bryan’s help from day one in helping me plan our musical selections for our wedding was superb. He was patient and kind and he coordinated the details so that everything was what I had always dreamed it would be. Bryan was instrumental in making our event such a success is an understatement.

Having a string quartet was the one detail I was sure of from the very beginning. I couldn't be happier with the results. We chose to have the quartet play both classical pieces as well as modern and the results were phenomenal. Jeanne, Bozena, Susan, and Valerie were professional, flexible and a joy to have at our wedding. Everyone commented on the uniqueness of having the quartet play for the cocktail hour and through dinner. They were even able to arrange our ceremony selections as well as the dances for the Mother/Groom, Father/Bride, and Bride/Groom despite not having all of our chosen songs on file. Our soloist was able to coordinate with Bryan to get the arrangements and rehearse ahead of time and without a doubt it made the whole event.

Thank you so much,

Erin Jacobs
User951672 Sent on 09/28/2012

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We had a string trio come for our ceremony and cocktail hour and I am so glad we did! It was incredibly affordable and they are very professional.. Bryan worked with me via email to make a playlist and he was so flexible and accomodating.. The only one thing I wish was different is that no one could really hear them during cocktail hour.. I'm not sure if my guests were just drowning them out or they weren't loud enough.. Other than that they were great!
Adam Sent on 09/24/2012

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The team at Occassional Brass and Strings was a pleasure to work with. Bryan was very helpfull and was able to find a musician that would work with our site conditions and even learn a few new songs. These guys are great and we wouldnt hesitate to use them again. Great job!
User940330 Sent on 09/19/2012

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Occasional Brass & Strings provided the ceremony and cocktail hour music for our September 2012 wedding. The string trio that played for our ceremony sounded even better in person than the samples provided on the website. Though the church was large, the sound was full and beautiful even in the very back. We also hired a saxophone/piano jazz duo to play our cocktail hour, and they did a wonderful job of keeping things lively. Both sets of musicians were talented, professional, and on time--they got great compliments from our guests.

Through the course of booking and setting up all the arrangements, Bryan was nothing but helpful and responsive. We always felt like we were in capable hands.
User881127 Sent on 07/30/2012

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Bryan Hilliard was so responsive & professional, and the music the entire ensemble played during the ceremony and cocktail hour was absolutely beautiful. It was the sound of their music that took my breath away just before walking down the aisle...a memory I will have forever.
User876124 Sent on 07/25/2012

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Occasional Brass & Strings was great to work with. They're professional, show up on time, provide great advice, play the songs within the range requested, and if prompted can lead a great second line.
Amanda Sent on 07/24/2012

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Very easy to book. I was planning a wedding in a short time and in a different City, so i had no time to meet people or listen to the music in person. Their website was so Helpful. They have a ton of music samples for every part of the ceremony.

For my wedding, i chose the trio of violinists. The Violinists were very professional. I really didnt even have to plan anything with them. I told them what style of music i wanted and they did the rest. I was so thrilled with what they came up with. I chose to do a nontraditional ceremony and music and they were perfect. Everyone commented at the wedding how unique and fun the ceremony music was. I was very pleased with everyone at Occasional Brass
Katherine Sent on 06/06/2012

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Bryan was so great to work with. He was very responsive, gave good suggestions and feedback, and made us feel like it was all taken care of. He gave us some fun options for processional/recessional music, and we were able to create something that was meaningful to us, as well as fitting the venue. Bryan and the other musicians were great on the wedding day, and I didn't have to think about a thing- he let me know how everything was going to go.
Michael Sent on 06/04/2012

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Occasional Brass and Band were very accomodating and excellent musicians and performers. We had Bryan arrange 2 songs for our wedding ceremony, which he did beautifully, including the theme from Love Actually for my wife to walk down the aisle to. They were very accomodating with our unorthodox wedding ceremony which we personalized for our event. They played beautifully and eveyrone in attendance really loved their performance.
Ted Sent on 03/15/2012

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Occasional Brass & Strings provided multiple options for combinations and numbers of instruments. We had a relatively small celebration with about 40 guests, and selected a trio of brass and strings for our cocktail hour followed by the ceremony and reception. Our guests told us the music was perfect, and we agree. The trio provided a mix of classical, jazz and contemporary music that reflected exactly what we had envisioned and requested. Bryan was a pleasure to work with and provided an extensive playlist from which we selected our favorites for the celebration. There were also audio and video clips available online so we could 'sample' the group's sound. Bryan was quick to respond to emails and phone calls, worked with us to add a humorous note to our ceremony, and understood exactly what we wanted without needing a lot of explanation of what that was. The trio was gracious and professional, and best of all, handled the music without our having to give it a second thought. My husband and I would definitely recommend Occasional Brass and Strings. As I wrote earlier, our guests told us the music was perfect, and we agree.
Andrea Sent on 11/17/2011

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We hired a string trio for our ceremony and they were amazing. Bryan was so easy to work with and provided us with videos, music samples, and a complete song list for us to pick from. This was super helpful when were deciding who to hire as musicians. The quality of music at our wedding was even better than the samples that were sent to us. The trio set a warm and elegant mood for our ceremony. Even our guests commented how talented they were. They even played a mix of classical and popular songs at our request which made for a great mix before and after the ceremony. The trio was amazing and was a great value as well! Our ceremony just wouldn't have been the same without them. :)

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