7 Popular String Quartets, Musical Ensembles, Cello & Violin Players for Weddings
Discover some of Australia’s favourite string quartets, soloists and ensembles, as reviewed by the newlyweds of Australia, and our suggestions for music that sounds even more enchanting when set to string.
Music is essential to any wedding celebration, and whether you have a preference for Beethoven or Beyonce, a string quartet or soloist can prove the ideal way to imbue ambience and elevate the tone of your wedding ceremony or reception.
And, if you’re not sure where to start, when it comes to selecting string ensemble or soloist music and musicians for your wedding, keep reading.
ABIA’s thousands of real wedding couples have rated, reviewed and voted for musicians across the country and below you’ll find some of their favourites, together with suggestions for music, ranging from classical, time-honoured choices right through to on-trend, up-to-the-minute tunes.
String Sensations
Walk the aisle to Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding March’, step into your reception to the ‘Star Wars’ theme, sip cocktails to the sounds of Sinatra, or twirl onto the dancefloor to the strains of Bruno Mars or Taylor Swift — music of all persuasions takes on a certain magic when set to string.
Music with easily distinguished tones work best though, and wedding cellists, violinists, string ensembles and quartets will offer a wealth of suggestions, but here are a few tried-and-tested favourites to get you planning.
Trending Tunes
- ‘Marry You’ – Bruno Mars
- ‘Thinking Out Loud’ – Ed Sheeran
- ‘Crazy in Love’ - Beyoncé and Jay-Z
- ‘All Of Me’ – John Legend
- ‘A Thousand Years’ – Christina Perri
- ‘Viva La Vida’ – Coldplay
- ‘Love Story’ – Taylor Swift
Classical Compositions
- ‘Air On The G String’ – Johann Sebastian Bach
- ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ - George Frideric Handel
- ‘Wedding March’ – Felix Mendelssohn
- ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- ‘Canon in D’ – Johann Pachelbel
- ‘Ave Maria’ – Franz Schubert
- ‘Bridal Chorus’ – Richard Wagner
Cult Classics
- ‘All You Need Is Love’ – The Beatles
- ‘Beautiful Day’ – U2
- ‘Always On My Mind’ – Elvis Presley
- ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ – Stevie Wonder
- ‘It Had To Be You’ – Frank Sinatra
- ‘At Last’ – Etta James
- ‘Stand By Me’ – Ben E. King
- ‘What a Wonderful World’ – Louise Armstrong
Movie-Themed Masterpieces
- 'A Thousand Years' - Twilight
- 'Can't Help Falling in Love' - Crazy Rich Asians
- ‘Shallow’ – A Star Is Born
- ‘A Million Dreams’ – The Greatest Showman
- ‘Now That We Found Love’ - Hitched
- ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ – Lion King
- ‘Glasgow Love Theme’ – Love Actually
- ‘Star Wars’ theme song – Star Wars
When is the best time to include string music in your wedding day?
String quartets, ensembles and soloists can help highlight a special moment, dramatise an entrance, or play throughout the ceremony and reception on your wedding day — there really are no limits. These are times during the wedding day that may be particularly enhanced by their musical magic though.
- Wedding party’s walk down the aisle (aka The Processional)
- Signing the registry
- Newly-married couple’s walk back up the aisle (aka The Recessional)
- Mingling of guests, perhaps over cocktails, prior to the newly-weds’ arrival
- Wedding party’s entrance at the reception
- First dances
- Farewelling the couple as the celebration ends
How to choose a wedding string quartet, musical ensemble, cellist or violinist for your wedding day
Obvious perhaps, but there really is no substitute for hearing your potential wedding musicians play. Make a list of string quartets, musical ensembles and string soloists that you like, and if you can’t see them play personally, check out their websites, which will often feature links to recordings of them playing.
The reviews, ratings and recommendations of those who’ve already included your shortlisted entertainers in their own celebrations, can prove invaluable too, so look them up in the ABIA Directory to see what recently married couples are saying. Here are a few of ABIA’s most popular Australian string quartets, musical ensembles and solo violinists and cellists, to get you started.
1. Evangeline Victoria Music
Melbourne, Victoria
Image Kate Robinson Photography
During her twenty years as a violinist Evie, of Evangeline Victoria Music, has learned a few things about performing at weddings.
“Music can hold so much meaning,” she explains. “I believe that you will enjoy our day more if you choose music that you love… whether it’s Beethoven, Beyonce, or the Black Eyed Peas, I can bring your favourite song to life.”
To that end, the classically-trained musician, who graduated from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, offers couples an extensive choice of musical accompaniment — her repertoire includes pop, traditional, classical, folk, Celtic, klezmer, contemporary, jazz and theatre — to suit each moment of their wedding day.
Evangeline Victoria Music is based in Melbourne, Victoria, but the talented solo violinist will travel for special occasions, and regularly services Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Adelaide
Read Evangeline Victoria Music ABIA reviews
2. Adorn Strings
Melbourne, Victoria
Image Collections Photography
With an extraordinary repertoire of 21st and 20th Century, classical, instrumental, religious and folk music offerings, in addition to evocative sounds from the screen and stage, Adorn Strings is perfectly prepared to play for any musical taste and occasion, and weddings are their speciality.
“Whether it be a romantic ballad to accompany you down the aisle, or a joyous tune to announce you as a newly married couple, we have the perfect song to celebrate each moment,” the Quartet states.
Indeed, the Adorn Strings website proffers an extensive list of suggestions, and the talented musicians will happily accommodate special requests with advance notice.
Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the quartet caters to wedding ceremonies, cocktails and elopements with a selection of packages, and can accommodate every musical desire with bespoke arrangements.
3. Cadena Strings
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Image @bforbeatrix
Cadena Strings started with two Australian string players studying at the Royal College of Music in the United Kingdom. They returned home to offer their musical expertise for wedding entertainment, firstly in Sydney and Melbourne, but success has since seen them expand to Brisbane and Adelaide.
Providing traditional string quartets, string trios, string duos and, more recently, a harp trio, Cadena Strings also combine talents with guitarists and vocalists, when required, to create just the right ambiance for wedding celebrations.
“We have many years experience working alongside couples to select the most suitable repertoire of music, customised to suit their occasion,” the gifted musicians explain. “We love to perform, we love to present well and we will never compromise on these values.”
Read Cadena Strings ABIA Reviews
4. Les Trois Amies
Perth, Western Australia
Image James Burton Photography
Having claimed the title of Most ABIA Awarded Wedding Musicians in Western Australia, Les Trois Amies put their success and popularity down to a combination of exquisite music and exceptional service.
“Our playlist of both classical and modern music is extensive and eclectic, with something for everyone,” Les Trois Amies explain. “We have a variety of ensembles to choose from, including solos, duos, trios and quartets, and we can add in a harp and vocals if desired.”
A flute, violin and cello make up the core trio, but these highly-adaptable performers will happily tailor an ensemble and musical playlist to suit every wedding, musical taste and entertainment style, and they'll travel beyond Perth, if a special occasion calls for it.
Read Les Trois Amies ABIA Reviews
5. Tahnaya Wynne Violinist
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Image courtesy Tahnaya Wynne Violinist
Tahnaya Wynne has been playing violin since she was just seven, and her childhood passion has become her profession. Based in the Mornington Peninsula, she also plays at weddings, proposals and other occasions around Melbourne and the Yarra Valley, and prides herself on bringing a blend of elegance, emotion and sophistication to any event she attends.
“A versatile violinist who has an extensive repertoire and is also flexible enough to perform your choice of song,” is how she describes herself.
Indeed, in addition to being classically trained, Tahnaya’s musical abilities extend from popular hits to Latin and Middle Eastern melodies, and energetic Irish fiddle music.
Tahnaya suggests an assortment of packages for proposals, wedding ceremonies and receptions, but can easily adapt her musical services to suit the style and circumstance of any celebration.
Read Tahnaya Wynne Violinist ABIA Reviews
6. Vicello Strings
Sydney, New South Wales
Image @inlightenphotography
Four talented siblings playing together was how Vicello Strings first came into being. Now it’s a collaboration of talented violinists, violists, cellists, guitar players, vocalists, pianists, and percussionists offering an assortment of musical duos, trios, quartets, and a band, for Sydney-based wedding ceremonies and receptions.
“A lot of memories take place where there is live music and people,” the musical team state. And they make it their mission to make those memories unforgettable, working together with each couple to choose just the right combination of music and musicians to suit the style and feel of their personal celebration.
Vicello Strings pride themselves on this flexibility and on being able to provide stand-out talent that can entertain any crowd.
7. Darioviolin & Double Show Entertainment
Melbourne, Victoria
Dario and Gary of Darioviolin & Double Show Entertainment were busking on the street when they first began being approached to play at weddings, and before long they were making their mark on the wedding entertainment scene with their unique blend of classical and electric instrumental offerings.
Image courtesy Darioviolin & Double Show Entertainment
What began with the violin and cello has grown into a wedding entertainment business, servicing Victoria and the rest of Australia, that now encompasses the spectrum of musical offerings, from electric and classical string instruments to vocals, bands and deejays.
“With our creative flair and exceptional skills, we ‘wow’ and entertain guests from the ceremony and canapes through to the reception,” Gary explains. “For ceremonies we usually perform as a violin and cello duo, or as a trio with the addition of a piano. For receptions we usually replace the piano with a deejay. And a saxophone can be a fun addition, for couples after something a little ‘extra’.
Read Darioviolin & Double Show Entertainment ABIA Reviews
Visit ABIA for more wedding inspiration and to read further reviews, recommendations and ratings for ceremony music and wedding entertainers of all types, including live musicians and bands, from right across Australia.
