The String Quartet Experience: Amplification Considerations

Amplification for String Quartets at Weddings

Let’s start by considering the event setting: Is your wedding ceremony going to be held indoors or outdoors?

The string quartet is all about the natural acoustic vibe, originally meant for intimate spaces like concert halls. Violins, Violas, Cellos, and Basses all have hollow bodies which act as resonators to amplify the natural vibrations of the instruments. When combined with in an indoor space, that resonance is further amplified by bouncing the sound waves off the walls, creating a reverb effect that adds depth and volume to the musical experience. Even if it’s not a concert hall, when you have a string quartet performing indoors this works like a charm, and you don't usually need any amplification for the strings.

Step outdoors though, and things change. Sound waves don't have walls to bounce off, so they can dissipate much more quickly, giving you a softer ambiance. Out in the open, the quartet won't be front and center like it is indoors. This can be perfect for smaller, intimate weddings with around 80 or fewer guests.

Expecting a large crowd? Ask your DJ to set up amplification for the string quartet.

For bigger weddings with over 100 guests, or in scenarios where the quartet must perform at a significant distance from the officiant, we recommend considering adding sound reinforcement that can be adjusted by your DJ. Usually, this means using microphones – either one for the whole quartet or individual mics for each instrument.

Bigger weddings often involve amplifying the officiant's voice too, and the venue or a seasoned DJ usually takes care of that. It's best to trust their experience with balancing the quartet with the officiant's voice.

Amplification for String Quartets at Special Events

Whether you'll be featuring the string quartet indoors or outdoors, if you are expecting a large crowd at your special event or celebration, we always recommend amplification so that your guests will be sure to hear the tunes! It’s a good idea to connect your string quartet with the venue’s sound person or DJ so they can be on the same page when it comes to amplifying your string quartet.

We get it, sorting out these sound details can be a bit tricky. But not to worry! That's precisely why our Subito Strings coordinator is here to help. Just let us know the details of your expected guest size and your pick for the event spot, and we'll help you make a smart choice that'll turn your occasion into something truly special.

Top Ten String Quartet Wedding Processional Songs

The Best String Quartet Wedding Songs

The most requested songs for Wedding Processionals are timeless romantic melodies that feature the rich and resonant sounds of our string quartet.

1. Canon in D by Pachelbel

2. The Swan (‘Le Cygne’) by Camille Saint-Saëns

3. Perfect by Ed Sheeran

5. Largo from Xerxes by Handel

4. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach

6. Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley

7. All of Me by John Legend

8. Air on the G String by Bach

9. Wedding March by Wagner

10. Soave sia il vento from Cosi fan tutte by Mozart deserves special mention. Although it’s not as famous as Canon in D, our clients love this piece for it’s beautiful lyricism. Originally a vocal trio from a Mozart opera, this love song is our favorite classical choice for string quartet processional music, and was created by our in-house arranger to be exclusive to Subito Strings.

How to choose your Bridal Entrance Music

Music plays a huge role in your wedding ceremony.

Music is used during various parts of the ceremony, such as the prelude, bridal party processional, the recessional, and the postlude, but the most important part of the wedding ceremony is the moment that all eyes are on the bride as she makes her long awaited walk down the aisle. The music for this moment sets the tone for the rest of the wedding ceremony.

PACING

Consider the pace of the song. You don’t want something too fast and up-tempo since your walk should be slightly slower than you normally walk. If the piece you want to request is normally a fast song, ask us to play a slower version of it.

STYLE

You may be a more tradition couple who prefers the classic “Canon in D” by Pachelbel, or the “Here Comes The Bride,” Wedding March. Or you may want to add a personal twist to the ceremony music with a string quartet rendition of a modern song like Calum Scott’s “You Are The Reason,” or the timeless and romantic “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.

Whatever your choice, Subito Strings has you covered. Here are some of the most frequently chosen wedding string quartet songs to walk down the aisle to:

MODERN

You Are The Reason- Calum Scott

Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley

Something - George Harrison and The Beatles

She - Elvis Costello

Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland

All Of Me – John Legend

At Last – Etta James

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf

Your Song - Elton John

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Moon River - Audrey Hepburn

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

CLASSICAL

Canon in D - Pachelbel

Bridal Chorus - Wagner

Water Music Suite: Air - Handel

Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart

Soave Sia Il Vento - Mozart

Largo from Winter - Vivaldi

The Swan - Saint Saens

Clair de Lune - Debussy

Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod

Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring - Bach

Air On the G String - Bach

Head over to our Recordings page to hear many of these songs performed by Subito Strings String Quartet.

Ceremony Music: Should You Hire a Wedding String Quartet or a DJ?

Ultimately, the choice between a string quartet and a DJ for a wedding ceremony comes down to personal preference and the overall tone and atmosphere that the couple wants to create. Both options can be beautiful and memorable in their own way, so it's important to carefully consider all the factors before making a decision.

A String Quartet adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to a wedding ceremony, and the live music can create a beautiful and romantic atmosphere. However, a string quartet may not be suitable for everyone, as some couples may prefer to hear the original recorded music for their ceremony instead of a specially arranged string rendition.

Additionally, a DJ can help keep the flow moving along smoothly by providing announcements and transitions between different parts of the event.

There are many reasons why you should consider hiring live music for the wedding ceremony. Live music can add a level of energy and excitement that recorded music simply cannot match. It can also help to create a more personal and intimate atmosphere, allowing guests to connect with the music and the musicians in a way that is not possible with recorded music. In addition, live music can be tailored to the specific mood and theme of your event, making it a highly customizable and versatile entertainment option.

Overall, having live music can help to make your wedding more memorable and enjoyable for both you and your guests.

Why not have both?

Although a string quartet can perform bold vibrant music throughout a dinner reception, many couples hire a string quartet for their ceremony and cocktail hour, and opt to hire a DJ for their reception to encourage their guests to hit the dance floor and make announcements throughout the celebration.

Wedding Ceremony Recessional: The Perfect Exit Song!

the perfect wedding send off song

You hear the words "You may now kiss the bride." It’s the magical moment you’ve been waiting for! You lean in for a first kiss and the music bursts into celebration, right on cue.

The two top requested songs for exit music are the classic “Wedding March” by Mendelssohn, and the triumphant fanfare from “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles, popularized in the film Love Actually.

Here are some exciting, upbeat songs that sound wonderful on string quartet and make for a joyous recessional:

• Marry You - Bruno Mars

• Best Day of My Life - American Authors

• Signed Sealed Delivered - Stevie Wonder

• Viva la Vida - Coldplay

• This Will Be An Everlasting Love - Natalie Cole

• Happy - Pharrell Williams

• Wedding March - Mendelssohn

• Ode to Joy - Beethoven

• Hornpipe from Water Music - Handel

• La Rejouissance - Handel

• Spring from The Four Seasons - Vivaldi

• Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 - Bach

Enlisting Professional Coordination

When it comes to your wedding ceremony send off music, timing is everything. It’s important to entrust the flow of events to a professional like a wedding coordinator or venue coordinator. Our string quartet arrives early to setup and confirm details with the person that knows precisely when to cue recessional music. This is usually right when you kiss, or at the moment your officiant announces you as a newly married couple, but whatever the plan is, we handle these details so this moment is perfectly planned and executed. We continue playing celebratory songs as your guests start exiting the ceremony area.

Why hire a String Quartet?

A string quartet brings an incredibly versatile musical experience that breathes life and emotion to your wedding or event, evoking the perfect atmosphere for a momentous occasion. The sound of a string quartet can be delicate and subtle, or bold and dramatic, depending on the music being played and the individual musicians in the group:

Classical music calls forth a relaxed and dignified atmosphere, featuring beautiful interweaving lines of melodies and countermelodies, and lush resonant harmonies.

Pop songs performed by a string quartet create a fun and unexpected dynamism, engaging guests in the experience to keep guessing what song the string quartet is playing.

Los Angeles Based Subito Strings String Quartet

What is a string quartet?

Comprised of two violins, one viola, and one cello, the string quartet is nearly synonymous with an atmosphere of artistic grace, luxury, and a distinguished ambiance. The combination of these instruments creates a rich, complex, and harmonically interesting sound.

Some of the finest music ever composed over the course of the past three centuries was written for the string quartet.

Stringed instruments are a family of instruments unlike any other.

Considered the most expressive and nearest to the qualities of the human voice, the infinite flexibility of the violin, the viola, and the cello has made the string quartet the supreme ensemble of choice for composers and arrangers, as well as the aristocratic patrons who commissioned their works to be performed for exclusive private performances. It’s no wonder that the string quartet has become a symbol of refined elegance.

A skillful string quartet is able to perform innumerable textures: everything form a sublime whisper to a powerful growl, with a resonant lyricism in between brought forth through sensitive vibrato. Virtuosic agility can achieve a remarkable range of sonorities no other group of instruments can access.

Although each player is capable of producing a beautiful melody on their own, the synergistic magic of a string quartet is the way that they combine to play as a single large instrument. Well trained players constantly listen to each other and understand how to blend, synchronize, and perform musically as one.