String Quartet or live music at ceremony... who had it?

I think live music is absolutely lovely and very elegant. It sounds like it would go with your overall style too! I insisted on live music of some kind, but we couldn't swing a quartet or harpist.. so we're actually doing a guitarist for less than $300! Our wedding isn't as traditional as yours sounds, which is why I'm okay with it still! But I definitely feel like it is worth it! It definitely has a different sound than recorded music..

We're having a string trio + piano at the ceremony. About 500 altogether so I think that $650's reasonable. I'm hoping it will be worth it.

We had a harpist, and it really did add a very nice, elegant air to the ceremony. If you want a quartet and can afford it, go for it.

A lot of my friends are musicians, so of course I had live music! I loved it

I could not have imagined my wedding without live music, as a musician myself. You could try contacting local universities. Wedding music is generally not that complicated to play, so if you're looking for something beautiful and common, you may have good luck that way. I would definitely plan on spending $500 for a string quartet for the ceremony, though.

You could cut the cost by hiring fewer musicians. A duet can be gorgeous as well and I've actually played weddings by myself before. The sound it not quite as luscious, but it can be more affordable without sacrificing live music.

One really nice thing about live music down the aisle is that good live musicians can tailor their musical selections to end at ABOUT the time you get to the end of the aisle no matter how long or short it takes you. It's not like a recording that is a certain length or must fade out awkwardly.

One of my best friends and his wife will be playing guitar and clarinet, respectively.

If you think you will remember the music, go for it. That is one of the things I have learned in the last month...if no one will remember it, don't go the extra mile. If you will remember, then go for it! If you're getting married in a Catholic Church, and you don't want the organ or piano to walk to you down the aisle, then other instruments would probably work nicely since it will be a long ceremony. If you only plan on having them play music for 15 minutes total, and the priest talks the rest of the time, reevaluate and consider using the church's organist or find one of your own and use the piano or organ (most churches have both). If you think you will regret not having strings get them, if not, $650 is a new mattress, two car payments, etc. Good luck!

My cousin had strings at her wedding, and it was quite nice. I will also be having a string trio at my wedding and couldn't imagine anything but live music for the ceremony.

We are having a quartet, I cannot wait!

Nice input ladies! Anyone else?

That's seems to be a reasonable price. Have you heard any samples from them?

If you can fit it in I would recommend doing it, with good musicians you won't regret it.

I have a guitar player booked for my wedding ceremony and I'm so super excited to walk down the aisle to an acoustic guitar! Our wedding is outdoors and not traditional.

I am planning on having a string quartet as well!

A quartet was not in the budget for my ceremony so I went with a guitarist. He did a wonderful job - it it was less then $225.00. He played for 20 min before the ceremony, the marches, two (or 3) music interludes during the ceremony and a 1/2 hour into the cocktail hour before we switched over to DJ.

I received many nice compliments about his talent!

I think that would be a decent price for a professional string quartet. We are having an organist/pianist, vocalist and violinist. It's only going to run us $200, but this wedding is in a small rural town, and they are all parish members who do this as a hobby, not a job. If I hired a professional group, I would expect to pay at least $500.

Live music (good live music) is 100% worth it.

I agree. Great live music is a wonderful, classy touch.