Frequently Asked Questions




Q:  How much do you charge to play a wedding?

A:  We offer two different options to brides for their weddings.  We offer a Personalized Wedding Package for $450.00 for a trio, and $575.00 for a quartet.  We also have three Bridal Special Packages that we offer for $420.00 for a trio, and $545.00 for a quartet. Please visit our Wedding Music page for more details about these packages.  In addition, a travel allowance will be charged to all weddings more than 20 miles from the business address of Sequoyah Strings.  Please see our Pricing page for more details. 

Q:  How much do you charge for receptions?

A:   Our first hour rate is $450.00 for a trio, and $575.00 for a quartet.  Our additional hour rate is $120.00 per hour for a trio, and $160.00 per hour for a quartet.  In addition, a travel allowance will be charged to all locations more than 20 miles from the business address of Sequoyah Strings.

Q:  What is the rate if you play both the wedding and the reception?

A:  If we play both the wedding and reception, your wedding will count as the first hour rate, and the reception will be charged only as additional hours. Time will be counted beginning thirty minutes before the start time of the wedding (when we begin the prelude music), and end when we finish playing the reception.  For example, If your wedding is at 6:00, we will begin prelude music at 5:30.  If we play at your reception until 8:30, you will pay the wedding rate plus 2 additional hours.  If the reception is in a location other than the wedding, travel charges may also apply.  Please see our Pricing page for more details.

Q:  Do you play outdoor weddings or parties?

A:  Yes, we play outdoors frequently.  In fact, most outdoor weddings have string musicians because it is the perfect choice when a keyboard or electricity is not available.  We also play for many outdoor parties and receptions.  The beauty of the string sound fits so perfectly in the beautiful scenic locations that weddings and parties are held.

Q:  Are there any specific requirements for playing outdoors?

A:  Because of the high quality and cost of the instruments we play on, we must be covered if we play outside.  Often a gazebo or tent is used, or we can be on a covered porch.  Also, the temperature must be above 60* F because our instruments can crack in colder temperatures.  If it is raining outside, we cannot play under any circumstaces in which we might get our instruments wet.  We must be covered and far from any possible blowing rain.  We recommend having a back-up plan in case of cold weather or rain, because we know you do not want your guests to sit in the rain while you get married!  Fortunately, most weddings have great weather and are very beautiful in the outdoor setting.

Q:  Will someone attend the wedding rehearsal?

A:  We have found over the years that it really is not necessary or helpful to be at the rehearsal.  We will get all the information we need from the bride before the wedding, and we will meet before the wedding with the wedding coordinator or a designated person to arrange cues so that we know when it is time for the processional to begin.  We have places in the music where we all know to conclude when it is time, and we are so experienced and play together so much that we all watch a designated person who will indicate when it is time to stop playing.  We have found that if we try to go to the rehearsal to practice the timing, then everything goes differently in the wedding anyway!  In addition to it not being necessary to attend the rehearsal, it would really be impossible for us with our busy schedule.  We often play two or three weddings in one day if the times are spread apart, but the rehearsals for all of them would be on Friday evening, so it would be impossible for us to attend all three rehearsals.  The other problem would be that we have Friday evening Symphony performances that would conflict with the rehearsals.  We have played hundreds of weddings and never attend the rehearsals and it always goes beautifully. The most important thing is to have musicians who are flexible and experienced.

Q:  Is there a source where I can listen to the pieces listed in the Bridal Specials to help me decide which one I would like?

A:  Yes!  Our Wedding Music page!  Just click on any of the selections that are highlighted in blue, and you will hear a short excerpt of that selection performed by the Sequoyah Strings Quartet.  Our String Quartet page also features several selections that are popular for Personalized Weddings and Receptions.  To hear additional selections that are not performed on our website, if you go to our Links page and click on WedAlert.com, It will take you to a site where you can hear wedding music.  If you have any trouble or can't find the piece you are looking for, please let us know and we will be happy to help you in any way that we can.
 
Q:  What qualities do you recommend we look for when choosing musicians?

A:  The most important thing is to check their level of training.  You want to make sure you hire musicians who have degrees in performance, preferably masters degrees.   The level of playing required to get a degree in music education is not nearly as high as the standard required to receive a degree in performance.  You are hiring musicians to perform at your wedding, so make sure that is what they are trained to do.
       The next thing I would check is their experience.  This should be a combination of professional playing experience and experience playing weddings.  Any musician who has passed the audition procedure to get a full time position in a symphony orchestra  has demonstrated that they are a very high level  player, and since their full time job is performing, you know that they will be at their peak when they play for you.  There are  also part time musicians, who have gone through a less rigorous audition process to get their job, and there are also people playing for weddings who work other full time jobs outside of music, and have not even been accepted as part time musicians in the symphony.  There are also student groups trying to earn extra money by playing weddings in the summer. 

Q:  Is there a difference in the quality of music between professional players and student groups or part time musicians?

A:   Absolutely!  I would describe it like this.  You could rent a used base model economy car to take you from your wedding to the reception, or you could rent a luxurious, high quality, fully loaded limousine.  They will both get you to your destination, but the ride and the whole experience will be very different in the Limo!  The difference between student or part time musicians, and full time professional performers is quite significant.

Q:  Should we work through an agency when we choose musicians for our wedding or reception?

A:  There is absolutely no advantage or benefit to going through an agency.  In fact, you will be paying more for your musicians because in addition to paying the musicians, an agency booking fee will be added to the amount.   As far as the musicians you will get, going through an agency in no way guarantees the quality of musicians that you will get.   In fact, since you will be booking through the agent, you may not even know who you are getting to play for you.  An agency usually books for several groups, and it is quite likely that they may contain either students, or musicians who are part time or not trained as performers.
          By hiring your musicians directly, you will save the overhead costs $$$ of the booking agent, and you will know exactly who you are hiring so that you can ensure the high quality that you deserve.

Q:  What is the difference between a string quartet and a string trio?  

A: A string trio usually has a violin, a viola, and a cello, though sometimes you see a trio with two violins and a cello.  We highly recommend the trio with the viola in it because it adds a richness to the sound that you cannot get with two violins.  A string quartet has two violins, a viola, and a cello.

Q:  Do you recommend a string trio or a string quartet?

A:  It depends on the situation.  In general, we would recommend the quartet for many reasons.  The sound of the quartet is much fuller and richer than the trio.  It is amazing how much difference one musician can make, but the harmonies are much more beautiful, and the sound is much bigger with a quartet.  That said,  a trio can also be a good option in many situations.  It really depends on the size of the wedding, reception or party, and also what kind of music you want played.  For a very large wedding in a large church or outdoors, a quartet would be ideal since by adding one more instrument, you are also adding more sound.  For a smaller wedding in a small church or outdoors, a trio can also work well.  Musically, we have a wide range of music available for the trio (in particular, beautiful arrangements of all the standard wedding repertoire).  We have an even greater amount of music available for the quartet.  In general, the arrangements for quartet will have richer harmonies, and be slightly more full and complex than the music for trio.  There is a lot of beautiful music for quartet which either has not or can not be arranged for trio.  For receptions, we recommend a quartet in particular if you will want some light pop, jazz or dances played since there is not as much of this kind of music available for trio.

Q:  Do you offer any other options besides trio and quartet?

A:  Yes.  We can also provide a solo instrument, or a larger ensemble up to a small orchestra.   We can play weddings with just a solo or duet, but we highly recommend a larger ensemble because the sound of the trio or quartet is much richer than a duo, and there is much more music available to choose from.   A solo instrument is a very different sound which some people prefer.  It won't save you much money, because a soloist will charge a higher fee than an ensemble.  A small orchestra can be a great option if you are having a very large wedding, especially for the reception.  Prices for these options will vary, so please contact us if you are interested.

Q:  What if I would like a piece that is not listed on your website?

A:  First, ask us if we have it!  Though much of our music is listed throughout the website, not all of it is.  We have many selections, both classical and popular, that are not listed!  If we do not have the music, you have a few options.   We can find the music for you and invoice you the cost of the music if we have to purchase it.  If it is very time consuming for us to find it, we may also charge a finder's fee between $10.00 and $25.00 depending on how long it takes to find the music.  The other option is that you could find the music and send it to us.  If the music is not in string quartet format already, it may be possible for us to play off the piano score, but I would have to see the music before I could determine if that is possible.  If a piece needs to be arranged,  we may be able to do it for a fee, or we can recommend sources for you to have it arranged.  Arranging fees can run anywhere from $25.00 to over $100.00 depending on the length and complexity of the piece.

Q:  Do you work with any other musicians other than strings?

A:  Yes.  If you would like to add the sound of another musician to your wedding, there are many options.  We have a variety of musicians we work with including trumpets, singers, flute, piano, and organ.  Prices will vary depending on availability of musicians, and the number of selections that they would play or sing.  If you would like us to work together with a singer or musician of your choice, that is possible, but there would be an extra charge for that because we would have to arrange a rehearsal  with them. We highly recommend using musicians who are professionaly trained or are experienced performers for your wedding day,  but we will be happy to work with any other musicians of your choice.  Our primary goal is always to make your special day "unforgettable".


                                             All Rights Reserved