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An Essential Live Wedding Music Checklist

Getting the music “right”on your wedding day demands careful planning, so we created a helpful checklist for you!

Having live musicians or a DJ playing at your wedding is a must when it comes to planning a truly memorable event.

During cocktail hour or your wedding ceremony, involving a string quartet can help to create special moments that you and your loved ones will never forget.

But, whenever you choose to have music playing during your big day, there are a few things you need to keep in mind... especially when it comes to live musicians! That is why we thought we’d create this handy wedding music checklist for you.

You’re welcome. 😉

Your Wedding Music Checklist

Before you book a live band, string quartet, or a DJ for your wedding celebration, you’ll need to clarify a couple of points with your wedding venue.

Does the venue have limitations on sound?

As part of licensing and copyright agreements, venues will sometimes have limitations put in place regarding what music you’re allowed to play. Depending on the area, there may even be limitations regarding how loud you’re allowed to play that music, to stop the sound from going over a certain level and disturbing people in nearby areas.

Depending on your venue, its location, and the types of licenses it has, you may not be able to have amplified live music at all. This wouldn’t be a problem for a string quartet such as ours, but it may be an issue if you’re planning to hire a rock band or DJ, as they may have to switch to an acoustic set for the night! (Not quite the same energy.)

Obviously, this doesn’t mean you can’t have live music at your wedding -- but it’s important to know this information beforehand so you can let your musicians know what to plan for!

Is there suitable power available?

Typically, indoor wedding venues have a designated area for live music, where they provide power and any necessary equipment or extension cables. However, if you’re celebrating in a non-traditional venue or hosting an event outside, this may not be the case. Again, this could mean that you need to switch to an acoustic performance.

You could also look into renting a generator to provide power for the live music. This is something you might need to put on your wedding checklist anyway, especially if you plan to have other vendors operating outside, such as bartenders, photo booths, and/or food trucks!

Will the band provide their own speakers & equipment?

The majority of experienced wedding bands and musicians will bring along their own PA system, but don’t expect it. Be sure to communicate with your band about this beforehand and add those details to your wedding music checklist!

If your musicians don’t have their own kit or sound system, usually the wedding venue can provide much of the sound equipment you require.

The same goes for lighting. DJs often bring their own lighting setup, and many live bands do too. However, this is not always the case, so don’t expect it! Be sure to ask and communicate about these details beforehand to ensure that everything lines up perfectly.

Do you have space for the band?

The average wedding venue will have allocated space for a dance floor, but is there enough room for a full band to perform? You’d be surprised by the amount of space they require, and how much room they need in order to perform comfortably.

Roughly 16 to 18 feet (ca. 5 m) is the typical surface area a full band will require. For string quartets, anything between 10 and 15 feet is sufficient!

Do you have plans in place to look after the musicians?

As musicians who provide live wedding music, this is very much on our checklist! All vendors deserve to have a private, clean place to leave their belongings and get set up before they start working. It is also a huge perk to be provided with regular breaks, food, and beverages to keep us fueled and performing our best!

Obviously, no vendor would expect to sit down with your loved ones and eat the same food. We have work to do! But that said, we encourage you to speak to your catering team once you know how many vendors you’ll have present on the wedding day and ask them to set aside some food for each of your hardworking vendors.

We’ll all perform a whole lot better with our bellies full!

Are there suitable chairs available for the musicians?

This one is very specific to string quartets performing at weddings, but it’s often overlooked. To use our instruments properly, we need suitable space to move, and when sitting on chairs with arms, our movement is very restricted. So, if you’re having a group such as Artiva String Quartet performing at your ceremony or venue, make sure you have appropriate chairs available!

String quartets require chairs that are a regular height (not too short or tall, like a kid's bench or a bar stool), chairs without arm rests, and chairs that stay put (nothing with wheels on the bottom)!

Are You Looking for a String Quartet to Perform at Your Wedding?

We hope you found this post useful and feel ready to bring some thrilling live music to your celebrations!

As a professional string quartet in Utah, we always aim to produce moment-making performances that’ll inspire and delight your guests. Our group offers an unparalleled standard of quality, affordability, and professionalism from the moment you get in touch, right through to the moment we pick up our bows on the big day.

If you would like to find out more about Artiva Strings, please feel free to check out our about us page or follow our social media feeds. And if you’re interested in hiring us for your wedding day, don't hesitate to reach out to us and request a personalized quote!