Selecting The Right Ensemble For Your Ceremony Music

After you’ve locked down the musicians, the next step is to determine which ensemble you would like! Here at Got Strings you can decide between a duo, trio and quartet - so it’s up to you to decide which ensemble fits best with your day. Luckily, there are a few key factors for your special day that will lead you straight to the answer you’re looking for!

#1: Number of Guests

One of the best indicators of what size ensemble you should hire is the number of guests attending your wedding. The more guests there are, the more musicians you will need to be comfortably heard.

We recommend a String Duo for 25-50 guests, and a String Trio for a headcount of 50-100. For weddings with over 100 in attendance, a String Quartet is the best option, as it is the only ensemble that can be heard over the guests, especially during a Cocktail Hour.

#2: Venue

The next thing to think about when selecting an ensemble for your Wedding is whether or not your Ceremony is indoors or outdoors. Inside, there are better acoustics and a smaller ensemble will be able to fill the room with sound a lot easier than a Soloist or Duo.

If the Ceremony is outdoors, there is more of a chance of the wind carrying the music or the open space not causing the sound to resonate, so a Trio or Quartet would be a better option for you. Acoustics are an important aspect of music making and your enjoyment, so be sure to consider this in your ensemble selection process!

#3: Budget

Of course, your personal budget is always a consideration too. As a general rule, the larger the ensemble, the more it will cost. You can expect to pay anywhere from $100-$250 per professional musician. If you don’t know how much the rates are for a particular group, just ask and compare prices yourself.

Be conscientious when comparing prices though, and consider your headcount and the venue seriously rather than just selecting an ensemble based on budget alone. If you have 150 guests in attendance and your Wedding is being held outdoors, yet you hire a soloist anyway because it is the cheapest option, you may not be pleased with your Ceremony Music.

#4: Audio Recording

Finally, if you are researching a musical group that offers various ensembles, ask to hear audio recordings of each one. Chances are you don’t know what each ensemble sounds like in comparison to the others, and it is nice to be able to hear the difference.

Do not expect the group to have recordings of every piece in their repertoire, but a few audio samples is standard for professionals to offer and they are a great indicator of each ensemble’s sound and tonality, so you can pick your favorite sound!

Check out some of our own recordings here: gotstrings.net/audio

By considering these factors, you will be on your way to finding the perfect ensemble for your special day! As always, if you have any further questions Kristi is just a phone call away! Cheers, friends!