Weddings

Beautiful music for wedding days

Allestri String quartet - wedding music ensemble
Photograph by Team Thomson Photography

The Allestri String Quartet can create a beautiful atmosphere for your wedding or civil partnership ceremony, and add elegance and sophistication to your drinks reception, and we will be delighted to discuss your musical requirements for each stage of the day.


Example Wedding Service

We can play for every part of your civil or religious wedding, including the accompaniment for hymns (please see our FAQ section for more details) or soloists. Below is a typical example of the service that we could provide :–

  1. 15 - 20 minutes of background music as your guests arrive.
  2. Bride's Entrance music
  3. Music as you sign the register
  4. Music as you walk down the aisle together and as your guests leave the venue
  5. 1  hour background music for your champagne reception.

This is only a suggestion, and we will be very happy to tailor what we provide to your specific needs.  Please contact us to discuss your requirements.  


Unique Wedding Ceremony Offers ! 

Starting in 2010 we are delighted to be able to provide a number of offers for your wedding ceremony which we believe are unique to the Allestri Ensemble and likely to prove attractive to many of our clients.  


Caroline - our violinist - also studied harp at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and so is able to play the clarsach (a traditional scottish harp) either solo or accompanying another instrument (any of flute, violin, viola or cello).  We believe that the most appropriate time to introduce the clarsach would be during the signing of the register and / or during the pre-ceremony music but it could also be used in either the entrance or recessional music.  This enchanting addition to the sound of the Allestri Ensemble could be provided at no additional cost.  
Julian - our viola player- also plays the organ competently and can therefore provide hymn accompaniments for religious ceremonies on the organ as an alternative to having them played by the ensemble. A nominal additional fee of £15 would be charged for this service.  


Finally, for clients who wish to hear classical instruments during their wedding ceremony but also want to limit the expense involved, we can offer a

string duo (violin and viola) with the optional addition of Clarsach as described above.  Violin and Viola is the most pleasing and versatile string duo combination  as they are well matched melody instruments and the Viola is also able to provide a convincing bass line.   Please contact us for further details.   


Music Arrangement Service

For a very reasonable additional fee, we can make an arrangement of one or more of your special songs or pieces to be played for the bride’s entrance, as you sign the register, as you walk down the aisle together at the end of your ceremony, or at any other suitable point in your wedding service.  (You can hear a number of our arrangements on this website, and the testimonials section includes a number of highly positive comments concerning specially commissioned arrangements).   

We are delighted to also play these arrangements at your reception, particularly if it has not been appropriate to play the complete arrangement for the bride’s entrance. 



Children's Story Teller

Our very experienced children's story teller can entertain the children during your drinks reception with stories to suit all ages.



Amplification – PA Service

We recommend a PA system for larger venues and events with more than 100 guests, and will be able to put you in touch with a sound engineer operating in your area.  The music can of course be adjusted not to be too loud so that your guests are able to enjoy it in the background.



Wedding Music Suggestions

Listed below are a few of the most popular choices of music for wedding ceremonies.

Pieces denoted by sample icon have samples available - click to listen, or right click and choose "save target as" to download. Audio format: MP3.

Processional

As you sign the register

And for religious ceremonies only

Recessional


Please visit our Repertoire page for a complete listing.

Recordings are © 2006 The Allestri String Quartet - unauthorised reproduction or distribution is prohibited.