20 June 2026· Last updated June 2026
The complete guide to booking a string quartet for a wedding: cost, repertoire, space, timeline, and the honest question of whether a quartet is the right act for your day.
How do you book a string quartet for a wedding?
**Short answer:** To book a string quartet for a wedding, decide which ceremony moments you want music for, set your budget against the indicative market range of €600 to €1,200 for a quartet (or €300 to €600 for a solo violinist), ask for live video and a written quote, and lock the date nine to twelve months ahead. Lupa Entertainment does not keep a dedicated string quartet on its boutique roster, so for that elegant acoustic ceremony sound we book a jazz trio from €1,400, an acoustic duo from €1,000, or a soloist from €600 that also carries the drinks and dinner.
By Noam Bargil, founder of Lupa Entertainment and bandleader of Benga Band Amsterdam.
This is the complete guide to booking strings for a wedding ceremony in the Netherlands: what it costs, what the players actually do, how much space they need, the repertoire to expect, and the honest question of whether a quartet is even the right act for your day. We have booked more than three hundred weddings since 2018, for couples and for clients like Heineken, Microsoft, and Booking.com, and the same principles apply.
How much does a string quartet cost for a wedding?
A string quartet costs an indicative €600 to €1,200 for a ceremony set in the Netherlands, and a solo violinist sits around €300 to €600. These are indicative market ranges, because Lupa does not keep a dedicated string quartet. The price covers four players, a roughly 20 to 40 minute ceremony set, and travel within about 50 kilometers.
The acts Lupa actually books for the same elegant sound have real starting prices: a jazz trio from €1,400, an acoustic duo from €1,000, and a soloist from €600. Those acts carry the drinks and the dinner as well as the ceremony, which is why most couples find them better value than a quartet that does one job. For the full cost breakdown see our String Quartet for a Wedding Ceremony cost guide.
| Format | Players | Indicative cost | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo violinist | 1 | €300 to €600 (indicative market) | One ceremony moment |
| String quartet | 4 | €600 to €1,200 (indicative market) | The ceremony |
| Acoustic duo | 2 | from €1,000 | Ceremony and relaxed drinks |
| Jazz trio | 3 to 4 | from €1,400 | Ceremony, drinks, and dinner |
| Soloist or saxophonist | 1 | from €600 | One focused highlight |
What does a string quartet play at a wedding?
A string quartet plays the four ceremony moments: a prelude as guests are seated, the processional as you walk in, a quiet interlude during the signing of the register, and the recessional as you walk back out. The set is short by design, roughly 20 to 40 minutes of music spread across these moments rather than played continuously.
The repertoire ranges from classical pieces like Pachelbel and Bach to string arrangements of modern songs, which is where the magic is for most couples. The piece that matters most is the processional, the one song guests remember, so confirm the act can arrange your specific song rather than offering only standards from a list.
How many players do you need, and how much space?
A full quartet is four players, a trio is three, and a duo or solo violinist covers a smaller, more intimate moment. A quartet needs roughly a three by three meter area with four armless chairs, a power point if amplification is used, and shade if the ceremony is outdoors in summer.
Match the size to the room. Four strings fill a stone church or a stately room beautifully, while a solo violinist suits an intimate garden ceremony for fifty guests. For the wider question of lineup size across the whole day, read how many musicians you need for a wedding.
When should you book wedding ceremony strings?
Book nine to twelve months ahead for a peak-season Saturday between May and September, and earlier if your date falls in June or September, the two busiest wedding months in the Netherlands. Weekday and winter ceremonies can often be booked on shorter notice.
Ceremony music is the thing couples arrange last, which is exactly why the strongest acts for a given Saturday are already gone. Once your date and venue are set, lock the ceremony music alongside the reception act so the two are coordinated from the start.
Do you actually need a string quartet?
A string quartet is beautiful for a formal, classical ceremony, and nothing matches four strings for a grand processional in a church or a stately venue. But it does one job and does not carry the drinks, the dinner, or the dance floor, so most couples who book a quartet still book a second act for the rest of the day.
This is why Lupa does not keep a dedicated string quartet on its boutique roster. We curate acts that cover more of the day from a single, vetted booking. If a classical string sound is non-negotiable for your ceremony, we will say so honestly and point you to a specialist, then book a band or DJ for your night. For the full comparison of options, read String Quartet vs DJ vs Band for a Wedding.
What does Lupa book for an elegant ceremony?
For the warm, acoustic feel couples want from strings, with the bonus that the same act carries into the drinks and the dinner, we most often book:
For questions to ask any act before you book, read questions to ask before booking a wedding string quartet. Hear the full roster with live video on the artists page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a string quartet cost for a wedding?
An indicative €600 to €1,200 for the ceremony set in the Netherlands and Belgium, with a solo violinist around €300 to €600. These are indicative market ranges. Lupa books a jazz trio from €1,400 or an acoustic duo from €1,000 for couples who want one act across the day.
How do I hire a string quartet for a wedding in the Netherlands?
Tell an agency your date, venue, and the ceremony moments you want music for, then ask for live video and a written quote. Lupa does not keep a dedicated quartet, so we propose our ceremony acts or point you to a specialist if classical strings are essential.
What does a string quartet play at a wedding ceremony?
A prelude, processional, a signing interlude, and a recessional, roughly 20 to 40 minutes in total. The repertoire ranges from classical pieces to string arrangements of modern songs. Confirm the act can arrange your specific processional song.
How much space does a string quartet need?
Roughly a three by three meter area with four armless chairs, a power point if amplification is used, and shade for an outdoor summer ceremony.
How far in advance should I book a wedding string quartet?
Nine to twelve months for a peak-season Saturday between May and September, earlier for June and September. Weekday and winter dates can be booked later.
Is a string quartet worth it for a wedding?
It is worth it for a formal, classical ceremony where you want that grand sound and you are booking a separate reception act. If you want one act across more of the day, a jazz trio from €1,400 is usually better value.
Next step
Tell us your date, venue, and the ceremony moments you want music for, and we will send two or three acts that fit, with live video and a transparent quote. We reply within 12 hours.
Request a ceremony shortlist or browse the full Lupa roster.
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