One of the biggest events of your life so far is about to come up. Now that the venue and decor are decided, you’re probably trying to figure out if there should be fireworks. Or what the soundtrack of the big day should be…do you picture a DJ blaring your favourite crowd-pleasing numbers while you walk down the aisle? Or maybe, you dream of a string quartet to serenade you and your guests as the day progresses, but aren’t sure it will fit your budget?
Let’s take a closer look at the kind of entertainment you’ll need on your wedding day. This will help you plan your wedding entertainment and budget for music that you really want. And you’ll see that your concerns about the cost of a string quartet wedding may be laid to rest.
After all, your wedding, hopefully, will come only once. The music of the day will stay with your memories of the event forever!
Ideas To Entertain Wedding Guests
These days, you have options to make your wedding as engaging and as much like a festival as you like. Some of the most popular wedding entertainments include:
- Fireworks, which you can set to music
- Photo booths
- The awards ceremony, if it’s an intimate wedding
- Whiskey, cocktail or cigar bar
- DJ
- Live band
- Music request booth
Out of all these frills and fancies, your music entertainment choice is probably going to be the most important for you. Music is also the cheapest and most effective route to making both a couple of the day and the guests happy.
Most wedding venues will have some kind of music entertainment that you can hire. If you want a DJ, check with your venue to see if they have an audio-visual set up for you to use – they most likely do.
The Case For Live Music
Right off the bat, we’d have to say live music is the best entertainment you can offer yourself and your guests. There’s something about live music that charges up the ambience or makes it mellow, depending on what you want, that speakers and the best sound systems just can’t compare with. Live music brings life, energy and soul to any event. Wedding live music can be a wonderful way to start a new life.
And what’s better than a string quartet for Sydney guests to slowly segue into the mood for the event? A string quartet usually brings in soulful instruments like the violin and the cello. The sweet strains of these instruments can be arranged around almost any song you want, as long as the musicians you hire offer this customised service.
It’s not always easy to arrange pop music on the string ensemble, so the requests you can make may be limited in number. If there’s a special song that reminds a special couple of a favourite memory, then a string ensemble wedding can bring it to life for them.
When Will You Need Music?
When you’re planning the music for the day, you’ll want to have a very clear idea of how the event will pan out. That’s why it’s best to choose your music after the venue has been selected, and after you’ve spoken with your decorators about how the space will be set up.
Through the day’s events, there are a few times you’ll need music. Let’s look at these.
Prelude Music
When your guests start trickling into the venue, that’s when you’ll need to have some kind of music playing in the background. Budget for around 15 to 25 minutes’ performance as the guests arrive. Modern string quartet in Sydney may be able to provide a good mix of classics and popular pieces to create a mellow mood as the guests arrive.
Processionals & Bride Entrance Music
This is when you’re walking to the altar and back, and you’ll want to be extra attentive to the music you choose. Your wedding ceremony musicians may be able to arrange a favourite song connected with a special moment for the ceremony.
Interlude
You may want two or three songs to be played while the registers are being signed. What makes the string quartet great for interludes is they are non-intrusive but at the same time, they’re loud enough that your guests will enjoy a sophisticated ambience while you sign the registers.
Recessionals
This is where the bride, groom and guests will begin to leave the ceremony area and head towards the party. Here you’ll want music that’s energetic and a prelude to the party that’s to come.
Reception
If you’re having a reception with a DJ followed by fireworks, it can be one way of receiving all your family and friends after the wedding.
But you could also have a live band or string quartet carry on playing in the reception area. They’ll bring certain energy into the party that you may not get simply from a sound system.
How Much Will Wedding Entertainment Cost?
Now let’s take a look at costs. If you’re having the usual wedding DJ in Sydney, you may spend anywhere between $500 and $1200 for five hours. This cost will usually include the DJ table, lights, speakers, song requests and the pro DJ. You can find budget DJs at a lower cost, but in that case, you may need to use the venue’s facilities, so make sure to check with the DJ and venue.
Find out if your DJ will play requests (they usually will) and set up a photo request booth at no great cost. The same applies to a string quartet or live band.
The upper end of your entertainment budget is limitless, of course. Do you want singing waiters? A 10-minute fireworks show at the end of the night? A dance show? Trapeze, stilt walkers and LED shows? The sky’s the limit.
How Much Does A String Quartet Wedding Cost
If you prefer the elegance of a string ensemble wedding, you’ll be surprised to find it’s not as expensive as you thought it was. You can have an award-winning quartet play for the most important moments of your wedding for under $2000.
But did you know you can also book a trio, or a duo or even a solo performer? You can have an award-winning solo performer turn up at the venue fifteen minutes before guests arrive at your small intimate wedding, and play for 2 hours at a little over $1000.
You’ll need to factor in a few things, like how big the wedding party is. A bigger party will need a bigger ensemble. You’ll also need to think about how far outside of Sydney the venue is. Most string quartets in Sydney will be happy to drive 3 hours to play at your wedding but do expect to pay extra for the trouble.
The Bottomline
When you plan your wedding entertainment, start with the music. It will be easier to budget for the event if you get the essentials down first. Whether you’re going for a DJ, a live band or a string quartet wedding, make sure to clarify the musician’s technical sheet for an itemised list of services you’re hiring.
And most importantly, be sure to have fun planning. Because at the end of the day, this is your event and the start of your new life. Don’t feel you have to give in to trends or overspend on the entertainment. Do it your way!
