Which Group Should You Choose: The String Quartet or Trio?
One of the biggest questions I get asked is, "Should I book a string quartet or a trio for my wedding?" Both groups are wonderful choices! Believe it or not, I can easily help you narrow down your options with advice, 2 music videos, and just a few questions.
First, let's take a look at each group:
String Quartet
What is it?
A 4-piece ensemble, comprised of 2 violins, viola, & cello
What's it like? The fullest sound of all, the quartet is our most popular and versatile group as it has an incredible choice of music. The quartet has a rich texture and projects beautifully in both outdoor and indoor settings. This group plays 4 even parts (melody, harmony, rhythm and beat), so this is, traditionally, the most balanced sound of the acoustic ensembles.
Music Genres:
Top 100/Bridgerton Style, Classic Rock, Romantic wedding pop, Soul/Funk, R&B, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s, Disco, Motown, Pop/punk rock, Soft rock/Folk pop , Disney, TV/Movies, Broadway, Jazz/Standards, Classical/Traditional Wedding , Waltzes, Tangos, Polkas, Symphony, Opera, Baroque, Romantic, Royal Wedding, Ballet, Christmas/Holiday
Number of Songs in Library: 410
String Trio
What is it?
A 3-piece ensemble comprised of either 2 violins + cello (*Most popular*); violin, viola + cello; or flute, violin, + cello
What's it like? The trio is small, but mighty! This popular ensemble has a lighter sound, compared to the quartet, but our custom song arrangements make our trio's sound incredibly full. The first violinist carries the melody and accompanied in close harmony by the second violinist, while the cello carries the rhythm.
Music Genres:
Top 100/Bridgerton Style, Classic Rock, Romantic wedding pop, Soul/Funk, R&B, 50s, 60s, 80s, Motown, Soft rock/Folk pop , Disney, TV/Movies, Broadway, Jazz/Standards, Classical/Traditional Wedding , Waltzes, Baroque, Romantic, Royal Wedding Number of Songs in Library: 264
Here are the 5 questions I'll ask to help guide my couples to picking the perfect ensemble for their wedding day.
Question #1: Are you having us play for your ceremony only or your wedding ceremony and cocktail hour?
If Wedding Ceremony Only:
If wedding ceremony only, you can likely choose either size ensemble without worry*. Your guests will have
no trouble hearing us outdoors as our instruments carry beautifully.
*However, if you're getting married in a public noisy park, near a road, or indoors (with a ton of guests), book the quartet. You'll want the extra power!
If Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour:
How many guests are you having? If over 100, we recommend the quartet. Cocktail hour is when the party begins and you want to be sure our music is heard well and mixing with the many celebrating voices.
New for 2022: You're also welcome to add on amplification to either ensemble. We have state-of-the-art specialty pickups designed especially for strings and a fantastic Bose sound system. This ensures we'll sound true-to-life and not tinny, like other systems can be!
Question #2: What kind vibe do you want for cocktail hour?
Over the years, I've found that planning music can be overwhelming because there are SO many options. To help my couples, I've curated these set lists as a way to easily choose OR to work as a starting-off-point for a custom set list.
String Quartet
The string quartet has 5 crowd favorite set lists for a unique atmosphere that reflects your wedding day style and vision. You can also create a custom set list where you hand pick all the songs. 1. Bridgerton Modern Party Mix: 1980's through Today's Top 100, leaning more toward the 2000's (Examples: Beyonce's Halo, Justin Timberlake Can't Stop the Feeling, Sia Cheap Thrills, Billy Joel Piano Man. 2. I Love Rock N Roll: 1960s through 1980s, including favorites by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Guns n Roses, Queen, Journey, and more 3. All You Need is Love: All Love All the Time, including favorites like John Legend's All of Me, Jason Mraz's I'm Yours, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Ed Sheeran Perfect, La Vie En Rose, What a Wonderful World, The Power of Love, and more. 4. Classical Elegance: All the hits from 1645 to 1880, including Mozarts "A Little Night Music", Handel's Water Music, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and more. 5. Light Pop Mix: Favorite tunes from 1940s through today, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You", "Wouldn't it Be Nice", "Chapel of Love", "Thinking Out Loud", and more.
String Trio
Select from our 3 crowd favorite set lists for a unique atmosphere that reflects your wedding day style and vision or create a custom set list where you hand pick all the songs.
1. Party Mix: Upbeat and fun music across all genres, including The Beach Boys - Wouldn't it Be Nice, Ben E. King - Stand By Me, The Beatles - I Want to Hold Your Hand, Bruno Mars -Marry You, Journey - Don't Stop Believing, and more.
2. Romance Mix: All love songs, including favorites like John Legend - All of Me, Jason Mraz - I'm Yours, Etta James - At Last, Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered, and more.
3. Classical Mix: All the hits from 1645 to 1880, including Mozarts "A Little Night Music", Handel's Water Music, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and more.
Question #3: What kind of music do you want?
Both groups have an incredible library filled with classical music, Top 100, Disney, classic rock, you name it! There is a bit of crossover, but both are actually very different. Ultimately, the string quartet library has more offerings because it can make more authentic pop music covers.
Also, keep in mind that if you book the quartet, we can easily play any song from the trio library, so there's that added flexibility.
Question #4: What's your budget?
Ultimately, a string quartet is more expensive than a trio because it's one more musician performing with the ensemble. Both ensembles are versatile, dynamic, and fun, so you can't go wrong either way!
Now, let's compare the sound of both groups
The string quartet will have the fullest sound, as it has all the players needed to cover all the musical lines of a song (melody, harmony, rhythm, bassline). If you're looking for pop string covers of your favorite modern songs, the quartet will be the more recognizable instrumental cover.
Compare these 2 versions of Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley. They're the same arrangement, but for the trio version, there's no viola. They both speak beautifully. Which one do you like better?
This trio video was recorded at a cocktail hour at The Pond House Cafe in West Hartford, CT.
Want to learn more about our string trio and quartet? Visit the contact page today!
Happy wedding planning! -Ariana
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