Can a string quartet play pop songs?
Pop on strings is one of the most requested things we do, from the aisle to cocktail hour.
Yes. Pop is a big part of the Dream City Strings library: Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, even Kanye West and Drake, arranged for violins, viola and cello. If your song isn't on the list, we can usually add it for $25 to $50, depending on how complicated it is.
Pop songs already in the library
- For the aisle: Taylor Swift's Lover and Love Story, A Thousand Years, Ed Sheeran's Perfect, Until I Found You, and a Canon in D and Perfect mashup.
- Feel-good cocktail hour: Viva La Vida, Sky Full of Stars, Mr. Blue Sky, Take on Me, Africa, Golden Hour.
- Throwbacks: I Want It That Way, Toxic, Poker Face, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Everlong.
- Hip-hop: All of the Lights, Flashing Lights, Headlines, Still D.R.E.
- Country: Tennessee Whiskey, Speechless, Love Story.
Pop fits anywhere in the day. Some couples slip a few into the prelude between classical pieces, some walk down the aisle to one, and many save the upbeat ones for the recessional and cocktail hour. Hearing a song you know played on cello and violin is half the fun for guests. At one private dinner, the room turned it into a game of name that tune. See everything on the song list, filtered to pop and rock.
Requesting a song that isn't listed
- Add it in your portal. Put the song into your picks in your BookLive client portal, and we get a notice.
- We check that it works on strings. Most songs do. A few just don't, and we'll tell you honestly.
- We find the music. We track down, buy or arrange the sheet music. If you want a particular version, like a live take or a cover, say so: it may need its own sheet music.
- A small fee. A song that isn't in the library is usually $25 to $50, depending on how complicated it is.
Picks are due about two weeks before the wedding, so add requests early. Our 2024 ceremony at Villa Parker in Parker, Colorado, for example, included a custom arrangement of a pop song. If you want pop with a full band behind it, read string quartet or electric violin.
Couples on their song requests
★★★★★“Everyone had a blast trying to name that tune.”
★★★★★“We were especially thankful that they allowed us to request new songs, which they performed expertly.”
Pop song questions
Can you play Taylor Swift?
Yes. Lover, Love Story, Enchanted, Wildest Dreams and other Taylor Swift songs are already in the library.
How much does a new song cost?
A song that isn't in the library is usually $25 to $50, depending on how complicated it is.
Can every song be played on strings?
Most can. We check each request first, because a few songs just don't work on strings.
When do requests need to be in?
Song picks are due about two weeks before the wedding, so request new songs early.