String Quartet Through Whole Wedding?

I feel whatever you decide there definitely needs to be music during dinner. It creates a more comfortable social environment, people tend to feel uncomfortable during complete silence. A string quartet would definitely set the mood of a fancy dinner party. They could play solftly throughout the whole night while people mingle.

In my opinion, I think it'd be nice to have the quartet to play throughout the dinner. It gives a more classy atmosphere, if that's what you're going for

I think if you are going to a classy dinner party feel that a string quartet would be a very nice touch. Have you contacted any of them yet? They may have suggestions on how to switch up the style of music they are playing during different events of the evening.

If hiring the quartet through dinner is in your budget, for it. If not, see if the venue has a sound system for music to be played through a devise and you can create a playlist of classical or some other soft music to be played through dinner. When people go to restaurants they often don’t notice the music but definitely notice when there isn’t music.

Sounds lovely as would a jazz trio etc!

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This is a good point. You always have music in restaurants.. I just forgot.. because.. you never notice it. Lol.

I’m a professional violinist and am hired, individually or as part of a group (trio, quartet, etc), often for dinners and I think it’s a nice addition. Strings are not too loud so they’re not overpowering and people can still easily talk to one another, but some music in the background definitely makes it less awkward, in my opinion.

As a wedding musician myself, I'd find a string quartet all through dinner to be a bit odd. But you 100% need music for dinner or it will be awkward silence. I think you'd be better off playing some light jazz music through a speaker. Usually that's where a DJ would come in handy, since they have their own equipment, but I guess you could look into renting some sort of sound system.

Ugh this Is so classy! In my mind I think of the titanic movie, at dinner when there is music playing! I love the idea! Although as pp has stated, I can imagine this would be pretty expensive. If your budget allows for it go for it. If not then soft music through a speaker will work that’s what we are doing, but we have a very low budget!


Side note- what I’m imagining is a very fancy dinner where guests dress up as well, a very formal occasion, if it’s anything less than formal it could be very odd.

Relative did this for her 50 person wedding/reception is a lovely old Inn in upstate NY. The quartet began playing before the ceremony, then moved to the cocktail patio space, and finally to a corner in the dining room for dinner. The venue had chairs set up for them in each location. I wasn't paying a lot of attention, but the movement certainly didn't capture my attention/create a distraction. Honestly, except for the ceremony, I don't remember actually hearing/paying attention to anything they played, but it was a nice touch. (The couple did have "dancing" after dinner, but had a family member run music from an i-phone to a speaker.... Yeah, that didn't really work very well in my opinion.)

I like this idea. I would also recommend that you discuss various options with them to see if they play different styles of music so you can vary the selection from the ceremony, cocktail hour and then reception. I did this with the band I hired. They actually offered differing groupings and selections so that I had a solo guitarist during cocktail hour, a small 5-piece band for dinner playing Rat Pack tunes, and then a bigger 9-piece band for the dancing playing more modern songs. Perhaps your quartet could do something similar where they have a duet, soloist and then quartet play and they could vary the music from classical to more modern?

I think it's a great idea to have them play through dinner. If you find a professional group is too expensive, contact a university near you to see if any student groups would be available and willing. They usually are quite good. A professor in the music department would know exactly which students to use.