Somebody pinch me: Did a journalist from THE Connecticut Magazine just request an interview with me? Did I just give a full interview as an expert in the wedding music industry?
Hi, I’m Ariana, the founder of Ariana Strings. I’ve been performing for weddings and events for over 15 years. What started as just little ol’ me has become a full company and, together, we have performed for over 650 couples and clients, including Lancôme, The Queen of England, and The Prince of Ethiopia.
When I started Ariana Strings, I never dreamt that I would become an expert on anything - I was so clueless! When I was 15 years old, I performed for my first wedding. It as a violin duet with my friend from music camp and I was a bundle of nerves. Fast forward to conservatory, when I played a handful of weddings for the student gig service and it was an absolute disaster (When you see posts on Facebook asking for musicians and someone says, "Ask a local music school!" That was me.)
I had no idea what I was doing and felt awful! I knew how to play my instrument, but knew nothing about weddings.
After the last chaotic wedding ceremony, I said enough is enough. I was determined to make sure my next experience was a good one. I insisted on connecting with the couple upon booking, meeting them, and learning all about their wedding, so I would be fully versed and ready. Guess what: It worked and I loved it.
The bride told me how much my performance meant to her and said she had tears in her eyes as she walked down the aisle. She wrote me the kindest thank you note, which I've kept to this day.
I decided to steer clear of the student gig world and book my own weddings. I researched wedding customs, traditions, and asked knowledgeable friends for advice. I performed as a soloist for a few years and a few local music groups asked me to play with them. It was there that I learned what NOT to do.
Spilling the Tea: The Chaotic Norms of the Wedding Music Industry
I had been booked by someone who'd gotten my name from a reference: presumably a company owner or contractor who gave me little information about the wedding at all. I only had the date, time, and venue. I didn't know what to play, who I'd be performing with, who was getting married, or even who hired me!
I arrived to meet fellow clueless musicians who scrambled in late (I remember one time, a player ran down the aisle between the wedding party and the bride - Yes, read that again. The wedding party had walked down the aisle and THEN the violinist, huffing and puffing with her case and bags, ran down the aisle. It's THAT wild!). Before the ceremony, I suggested to the players I’d just met, "Hey, do you guys want to play through this stuff before everyone gets here?" Apparently, it was the first time they'd heard that suggestion, but they were on board.
We opened the massive, tattered binders to find that two of the players (of the four) didn't have the music. The binders were disorganized, missing parts (a.k.a. the pages we needed to read from), and they were so heavy they were falling off the music stand. (One fell off an old wire music stand during cocktail hour and practically exploded.)
Another time, we were missing the music for the recessional that the couple had chosen. The players and I were understandably dumbfounded, but we played a similar piece in hopes that the couple would still be happy. I never did find out if they were
We were all sight-reading, which means none of us had ever seen the music before. When playing as a chamber ensemble (a.k.a. string trio or quartet), that spells disaster. Your attention isn't meant to be in learning the music, but presenting it and communicating with your fellow players to put on a unified performance. I would play alongside strangers (or people I'd met in passing from symphony) and we would crash and burn.
A String Quartet is a Chamber Music Group
In chamber music, you play without a conductor. That means each player is independent and leads at different times. You have to read one another's body language, understand their phrasing, and match them. In symphony gigs, you can get away with a lot: The conductor and your stand partner (who is playing the same part as you) is there to save you if you get lost. In string quartets, you're on your own.
Over the years, I stopped accepting those gigs from the faceless contractors and took careful notes about what went wrong and why.
Imposter Syndrome? Nah! My Interview with Connecticut Magazine
Now, I’m here: Being interviewed as an expert in the wedding industry. What once would have made me jump at the thought (Imposter Syndrome), has long passed. I’ve been performing as Ariana Strings for over a decade and each year I push to make things better and better.
Every time we play a wedding, you’ll see me posting happily on social media and my blog. Behind the scenes, I take note of every thing that could have gone better and my plans for upping my game. Sometimes, it’s something as simple as double-confirming a detail or bringing bug spray. Other times, it’s learning that we need extra help and bringing on our very own coordinators to guide our musicians.
I won’t say I have all the answers (I’m confident, not arrogant!), but I do know how to guide my couples and run my company to ensure that every wedding is unforgettable - for all the right reasons.
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