Ceremony musicians?

EKobrenski · August 2009

Who did the music for your ceremony? Ours is outdoors and my father has requested (and is paying for) live music. Not sure what I want, but would like someone who can do some not classical music. If you feel comfortable letting me know the price range, I would appreciate it as well. Thanks

spuccio · August 2009

I believe that most musicians will charge 150-200 plus travel for wedding ceremonies. Groups (trios, quartets, etc) may have a slightly different pricing structure.

october010bride · August 2009

Before you book any musicians I recommend checking out gigmasters.com. They are a booking site that lists almost every single duo, musician, trio and quartet in the area. You can view songs and price ranges as well. With that in mind, I am using the International String Trio, they have a duo and quartet option as well, and we are paying 590 for a trio but the duo is only 300. Their website is http://www.slavatolstoy.com/trio/Killian also used them and she raved about them to me. hth!

killian09 · August 2009

ok, well oct covered my rec (thanks october!) :)they were great though and they have a fun, diverse song list.

october010bride · August 2009

Killian- of course! After your rave and me stalking their website/itunes listening to their songs they are turning out to be my favorite vendor!

KTen09 · August 2009

I'm also using the International String Trio as well as a duo. We have them for the ceremony and cocktail hour so 2 hours total and its $550. It would have been $$800 or 850 for the trio if I remember correctly.

desistol · August 2009

We are using a string trio from Riverview Chamber Players. I don't remember the price, my dad is also paying. But it was in the mid-range of the quotes I got.http://riverviewchamberplayers.com/

foolforfood · August 2009

A quartet is generally $500-700. A trio is bit less. Whatever you do, please avoid Boston String Quartet.

EKobrenski · August 2009

thanks for the suggestions...foolforfood, what's the deal with Boston String Quartet?

foolforfood · August 2009

I find the Boston String Quartet to be a very poorly run operation. First of all, they are horrible with follow-up. I always had to the pro-active one. At around the 2 week mark, I realized that they still hadn't requested a song list from me. So I emailed them to ask if there was some form or spreadsheet I needed to fill out for them. Apparently not. So I emailed the head guy a list of 3 entrance songs. In the same email I asked him to suggest a nice song for the lighting of the unity candle. He made a great suggestion, and in the same thread, I told him to add it to the list. He confirmed in the same email thread.Fast forward to the lighting of the unity candle --- no music was played. I'm kind of glad I didn't hire a videographer, b/c I shot the quartet one of the dirtiest looks in bridezilla history. I brought this up to the head guy after my wedding. He told me that the head violinist talked with my JP before the ceremony and that the JP never told him there would be music during the unity candle lighting. WTF????? Why would my JP know about my song choices??? Why would the quartet defer to the JP when I gave them simple written instructions??? Jackasses!In the longrun, missing a 30 second song is not that critical. However, it meant a lot to me considering we only requested 4 songs in total and they performed for less than 1 hour. I paid $700 for their services and I was not pleased.This was the one vendor I regret ever hiring.

ayork13 · August 2009

I think it usually ranges from 100-200, just for a organist, etc... I have a bag piper playing 30 mins before the ceremony, then he will stop, but I would liek him to play outide the church as people leave. He said most people don't do that, thoughts?

EKobrenski · August 2009

wow foolforfood that sucks! thanks for the heads up though! The bagpiper sounds like an awesome idea, if you already have another musician in the church, why not?

foolforfood · August 2009

I would've loved to hire a bagpiper! I usually see them perform outside the steps of a church, either welcoming guests in or leading them after the ceremony. I don't know what the traditional way is, but I personally wouldn't want the bagpiper to play during the ceremony.

mmmirandi · August 2009

Hey, I am having Anima string quartet (from Music Management) this Saturday, I'll let you know how they are although I have no doubt they will be amazing, they sent me CD's of their work. They also play non-classical music- our recessional song is Coldplay Clocks and they are also playing Dirty Water as the guests exit the church.

mmmirandi · August 2009

Oh and they are $1200

erilouboston · August 2009

Kobs - we're doing a bagpiper for the processional/recessional (ceremony outside) and a piano player for cocktail hour (inside). I think both the piper and piano player are $250 maybe?

scott.heather.m · August 2009

Ayork13- I'm a bagpiper. I can assure you that almost every wedding I have ever played has been as guests arrive and depart from the church. I'm a bit shocked to hear that your piper said that people don't do that...it's very popular. The one thing (just a word of caution) if you are doing your receiving line outside the church, I would recommend having the piper stand a distance away as it would be hard to hear your guests.Good luck!! :-D

Ceremony musicians?

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