Dj during a ceremony?! or strings?

Starmusica

Ok- FH had booked our DJ to play the ceremony and until recently I was really ok with that.. now I am starting to think maybe its tacky.... is it? I love the song I chose and if we did a string quartet, that song would be out.. but still

And does anyone know of a good, affordable string trio or quartet?!

THANKS!

LoveAdopted

I don't think it's tacky at all to have the DJ play music for your ceremony.. I really, really wanted a soloist to play at ours, but I'm ok with the DJ. Although, now i'm realizing it might have cost the same and I'm having second thoughts... but I'm in the same situation you are, the music choices would be totally different.

Starmusica

Yea! I REALLY love what I am walking down the aisle to and we wouldnt be able to do it otherwise.. I always dreamed of strings though... o well.

LoveAdopted

I hear ya. We can't win!

october010bride

I don't think its tacky at all but we are having a string trio. If you want to walk down to a modern song I think a DJ is the way to go.

Our ceremony is at our temple so the string trio just fit our ceremony location better Our trio, in particular, is known for playing tradtional Jewish music with a more modern flair which was one of the main reasons why we booked them.

thedivaone

Do you have a budget if you decide to get a string quartet or quintet, etc.?  I'm a professional singer (hence, the userid) and I know plenty of string players and could put you in touch with at least one quartet that does Boston area weddings all the time.

The joke about my ceremony is that it is going to be a concert with a wedding in the middle, 3 organists, a choir of 30 or so people, 2 conductors, and possibly a string quartet.  Insanity I tell you.  But fun insanity, I can't wait.

Starmusica

I wouldnt be able to spend more than $300 on it I think. Which is why I think its now beyond us...

eouellet

I wouldn't say it's tacky, but for me personally, strings were non-negotiable.  It was one of my favorite parts of the wedding (we had a quartet).  Definitely consider putting a posting on one of the conservatories job boards - you may be able to find a trio for that price and those students are incredibly talented.

thedivaone

You've got mail.

smccart7

divaone- any chance you could forward me some names as well? I'm in the same boat as starmusic

CCBelle

I know I'm biased, but I LOVE live music.  For me, it was a non-negotiable, and we had strings for our ceremony and a band for the reception.  How large is your ceremony space?  You may be fine with a duet - that's what I used.  It was a viola/cello combo, and they were wonderful.  I paid $375 - but that included travel from Boston to Cape Cod...  I think it was an extra $75 or $100 for the travel.  Her name is Rose Wollman, and she was great to work with.

jaguarjen

I agree that it's not tacky.  It wasn't on the table for us because I'm a string player myself so definitely had to have strings, but I've never thought it was tacky when someone else did it.  And to be honest, there've been cases where the live musicians have been so clearly not a good fit, especially if the bride was walking down the aisle to a favorite song that just didn't work well as, say, a string quartet, that a recording would have been better - it sounds like that might be the case for you?

One thing to think of though is logistics if your ceremony and reception aren't exactly in the same place.  I did briefly consider whether a DJ would work for our ceremony as I was fine-tuning the budget, but our ceremony and reception are in two different buildings 500 yards apart, and it would have been more work for the DJ (and more money for us) to have to set up in both locations, or to set up in the ceremony building and then move everything to the reception area to set up again (which would also mean a gap in the music we'd have to take care of anyway).  Maybe it wouldn't have been an issue -- I didn't ask because I was pretty sure I wanted strings for the ceremony anyway -- but that is something I would definitely want to ask about if I were using the DJ for everything.  (If ceremony and reception are all in the same place, then you're golden.)

jislieb

We are having our DJ play the ceremony music.  I am walking down the aisle to an U2 song that was remixed by a quartet so it sounds very elegant.  I think it is the type of music you choose that would or would not make it tacky

jesibel14

Walking down to DJ - having all Enya music for our ceremony so kind of had no choice

Starmusica

thanks everyone- sorry I have been hiding for the last day or so studying! these tips are great.

I am pretty torn, the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to is actually piano based with strings.. and I can't hire an orchestra But then Ive always pictured strings at my wedding...