Post # 1
Member
27 posts
Newbee
Hey bees,
So we were really hoping for a violinist and cellist to play during our ceremony but we want them to be playing Vitamin String Quartet music. It is impossible unless I could actually afford to hire the band itself. I found a violinist how would compose two songs of my choosing then play generic wedding music the rest of the time but thats really not what I want at all. I don’t want generic wedding music. Would it really be noticable to not have the live music and just play an ipod with VSQ playing with the songs I actually want? My husband really wants live music. I’m torn because I also do but I will be sacrificing the music that I actually want.
Post # 3
Member
209 posts
Helper bee
We don’t have room in our budget for live instruments, otherwise I’d probably be going through the same problem. We are planning on playing a VSQ playlist for our ceremony. But our ceremony is going to be outside on a patio & pretty casual.
Post # 4
Member
389 posts
Helper bee
I didn’t vote because I definitely would notice it wasn’t a real musician (I would look around for the string quartet and realize it was a recording when I didn’t see any musicians).
However, I think a recording would be fine so you could have the music that you want.
Post # 5
Member
2359 posts
Buzzing bee
I would sacrifice it for the music I want. No one is gonna care if its live or not
Post # 6
Member
3339 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: April 2013 - Rhode Island
I don’t understand why you can’t have the music you want with a live musician…
Post # 7
Member
199 posts
Blushing bee
If you hire a quartet, you could buy the sheet music and give it to your musicians so you could have the actual song played by live musicians — or pay them extra to track it down for you. If you’re just having two musicians, you won’t be able to have the exact same arrangement, but they might be able to put something together for you that gives you the vibe you are looking for.
Post # 8
Member
2295 posts
Buzzing bee
I couldn’t justify the cost for live musicians for 20 minutes (max) of music when I already have a DJ set up in the same space. Yes, I love the feel of live musicians, but it was an area I was willing to cut.
You do need to have someone who knows what they are doing running the recorded music (can fade out if needed, watch the length in case the processional is taking longer than expected, deal with speaker problems, etc).
Why aren’t live musicians able to play the sheet music version of VSQ?
Post # 9
Member
1423 posts
Bumble bee
We ended up not have live musicians for the ceremony and just had the DJ do the ceremony/cocktail hour/dinner/dancing music. It was way cheaper — especially because it is so hard to find a good ceremony musician.
Post # 10
Member
776 posts
Busy bee
@rango6: I hired a violinist and cellist and he is more than happy to arrange whatever I like for the duo. Maybe you need to find different musicians?
Post # 11
Bee
1835 posts
Buzzing bee
- Wedding: November 2012 - Oak Tree Manor
@rango6: I hired college students from a local university (I just emailed the music department and asked for a list of student string quartets) and they were cheaper than paying a DJ to do the ceremony. They were really sweet and flexible, and they told me they’d play anything I could find sheet music for. I really wanted our recessional to be “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, so I found some sheet music on the Internet, and they learned it and played it beautifully! They also learned a couple other pop songs that I requested. Could you ask around and find a musician/group who can learn some of your VSQ songs if you send them sheet music?
Post # 12
Member
27 posts
Newbee
Thanks for the advice. The violinist that I had spoken to told me she searched specifically for VSQ shete music and on their website they are only selling like 9 of the hundreds of songs they have done. I did look my self and couldn’t specifically find VSQ shete music but I have found sheet music for violins for at least a couple of the songs. She would be able to compose the music herself but for an extra charge. I am leaning more towards just having my dj play VSQ music for us and save at least $300
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