People anticipate a wedding to be particularly memorable. When it comes to weddings, this means that everything must be noteworthy and exceptional. This involves not only the decorations, clothing, and cuisine, but the music as well. Live musicians playing classical or pop music while your guests arrive or chat during cocktail hour adds an air of elegance to an event. Most people, however, are unsure where to begin in order to make their vision a reality.
This article is for you if you want to hire a string quartet for your wedding but don't know where to begin. Founder of Innocenti Strings, Pascal Innocenti, and Innocenti Strings’s National Coordinator, Anna Gillan, answered the most common questions regarding hiring a string quartet, so keep reading to learn more!
How to Google Search a String Quartet
Knowing where to go and how to look for the right string quartet for your wedding is crucial. You can hire a string quartet through Bash or GigMaster, where you can reach out to up to ten different groups. They may, however, be without credentials or a website, which is why they are using this website. You must assess who has the experience and who does not in this regard.
WeddingWire or The Knot are both wonderful places to start looking for a string quartet. If the string quartet is listed, they are most likely professional, and you can read reviews. However, existing reviews should be examined to ensure that they are current.
Look for What the String Quartet Can Offer
These are questions you should be asking:
Is the quartet able to arrange music if you have a special request that isn't in their usual repertoire?
Do they have music samples?
How long ago did they make the recording? (those musicians may not be around anymore.)
Will the group tailor to your taste, needs, and music selections?
How long do they take to answer your emails?
Can I see a live performance?
Can I talk to the coordinator on the phone?
Will they come to the rehearsal?
What ensemble choices do they offer?
The Cost of a String Quartet
Always talk about the quartet's charges and costs upfront. You don't want any unpleasant surprises on your bill. Even if it's simply an email, get it in writing.
The cost of a string quartet for a wedding is determined by a variety of factors. As a result, the pricing may vary depending on these circumstances. These factors include your location, the number of hours the band is expected to perform, and the musicians you choose. The cost of a string quartet wedding varies from one to the next and is determined by your individual event as well as your preferences.
Based on these factors, for a one-hour ceremony, you may expect to pay anywhere from $600-$1,300.
Budget
Of course, your own budget comes into play as well. The larger the ensemble, the more it will cost on average. If you aren't sure how much a certain group's charges are, simply inquire and compare pricing.
When evaluating prices, be careful to consider your headcount and the location, rather than choosing an ensemble only on the basis of price. You may not be satisfied with your ceremony music if you have 200 guests in attendance and your wedding is being held outside, but you hire a soloist anyway because it is the cheapest option. If you want to make sure the ensemble is heard everywhere, go with a trio or quartet. Sound typically carries more easily indoors than outdoors. That means having multiple instruments can help outdoor factors that might make the music harder to hear.
String Quartet Experience
Although you can hire a quartet from a music school, they will lack experience. You'll notice the difference in their playing styles, as well as how professional they appear in between pieces. Even before and after the event, setup and teardown will be easier, which is vital if they won't be playing for the entire time.
Because an experienced quartet knows how to fade a song as the bride comes, they don't need to rehearse before the wedding because they are that experienced.
Communication with a Live String Company
When interacting with your chosen string quartet, communication is crucial. It’s important that you are able to have a clear notion of what you want. Make sure the quartet is prepared to communicate the message you want to your guests through music. A well-thought-out plan from beginning to end will relieve you and your musicians of tension on the day of the event. Innocenti Strings's National Coordinator, Anna Gillan, provides excellent communication throughout the process leading up to your wedding day and is more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Keep in Mind The Repertoire List
The hiring of a string quartet, like most other aspects of a wedding, has advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantages people mention when considering hiring a quartet for their event is the limited number of songs a quartet may perform. What they may not realize is that not all string quartets are equal in terms of the repertoire list.
Some string quartets may have a limited number of songs they can play, while others have a large list. However, expect the group to not have recordings of every item in their repertoire. A few audio samples are common for string quartets to provide, and they are an excellent indicator of each ensemble's tone and intonation, allowing you to choose your favorite music!
With Innocenti Strings, we have the ability to perform a large variety of songs. You may be sure to have a large range of songs to pick from with a repertoire of over 1,000 songs. We also have current music samples to ensure we provide the best quality.
Listen to some of our groups' music samples to get a sense of the caliber of our players and the type of sound and vibe we can provide.
String Player Travel Accommodations
Some couples are concerned that hiring a string quartet will prevent them from their ideal venue or location. Depending on the string quartet, they may only be local and won’t accommodate for travel. This, however, is not the case for Innocenti Strings. We are extremely transportable! For Innocenti Strings musicians, the travel is free when the destination is less than 25 miles away from the downtown of the city listed. When the destination is more than 25 miles away, a travel fee of $1 per mile per musician is applied. We even have quartets that are able to travel for destination levels.
Finding the Right String Quartet for You
If you are looking for a string quartet for hire, consider contacting Innocenti Strings. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have!