How does booking a string quartet work?
Here is every step, from your first message to the music starting, and where each one happens.
Send your date, venue and the parts of the day you want music for, and we send a proposal. To hold the date, you sign the contract and pay a 50% deposit in your BookLive client portal. Song picks are due about two weeks before the wedding, and the balance one week before.
From first message to wedding day
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Today | You send your date, venue and whether you want ceremony music, cocktail hour or both. |
| Next | We confirm the date is open and send a proposal. |
| To hold the date | You sign the contract and pay a 50% deposit online. |
| In the months before | You choose songs, or ask us to choose, and we line up the timeline with you or your planner. |
| About two weeks before | Song picks are final. |
| One week before | The balance is due. |
| The day | The players arrive about 30 minutes before the music starts. |
What to include in your first message
- Your wedding date and the city.
- Your venue, or venues if the ceremony and reception are in different places.
- The ceremony start time, if you know it.
- Which parts of the day you want music for: ceremony, cocktail hour or both.
- Whether you have a size in mind: quartet, trio or duo.
Working with a planner? Copy them in, and we'll line up the timeline with them.
One portal for everything
After you book, you get a BookLive client portal. It holds your contract, your payments and your song picks, so nothing gets lost in an email thread.
- Payments. Pay the deposit and balance by card or by bank transfer (ACH). Bank transfer keeps the processing fee low.
- Songs. Browse the library, drag songs into order, request songs that aren't listed, or leave a note asking us to fill in the rest.
- A final call is optional. Most couples don't need one before the wedding. If you'd like one, just ask.
Milwaukee or Denver, same process
Dream City Strings has played over 300 weddings since 2018, starting in Milwaukee. In Colorado, our musicians have performed at hundreds of weddings and events, with the same planning team. Call Milwaukee at 414-253-2504 or Denver at 720-699-9773, or send your date with the quote button.
What couples say about planning with us
★★★★★“Absolutely amazing!!! Made the planning simple and the performers were incredible!! Our guests loved it!”
★★★★★“We’re so so happy we found this group and had them a part of our special day.”
Booking questions
How much is the deposit?
50% of the total, paid in your BookLive client portal to hold your date.
When is the balance due?
One week before the wedding.
What is the lowest-fee way to pay?
Bank transfer (ACH) in the client portal keeps the processing fee low.
Do we need a planning call before the wedding?
Usually not, since everything is in your portal. We're happy to have one if you'd like.