Do we need a string quartet, a trio or a duo?
Dream City Strings plays in three sizes. Here is what changes from one to the next, so you can pick the one that fits your day.
A quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello) gives the fullest sound, and it is what most of our couples book. A trio is usually two violins and cello, or violin, viola and cello. A duo is violin and cello. Any of the three can play your ceremony and cocktail hour.
How the three sizes compare
| Size | Players | What you hear | Chairs per spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartet | Two violins, viola, cello | The full sound most people picture: melody, harmony, a warm middle and a low bass line | 4 |
| Trio | Two violins and cello, or violin, viola and cello | Still a complete sound, with the cello keeping the low end | 3 |
| Duo | Violin and cello | The lightest, most intimate option | 2 |
Most Dream City Strings bookings are quartets, and plenty are trios; duos are less common. Fewer players also means fewer chairs to fit in, two for a duo instead of four, which can help in a small chapel or a busy corner of a cocktail room.
Whatever size you choose, the rest stays the same:
- Songs picked in your BookLive client portal, due about two weeks before the wedding.
- Players arriving about 30 minutes before the music starts, dressed formally.
- A chair for each player in every spot, and shade if you're outside.
- A 50% deposit to hold the date, with the balance due a week before.
Ways couples and planners mix sizes
- Quartet for the ceremony, trio for cocktail hour. Some couples do this when the ceremony is where they want the biggest sound.
- Players in two places at once. At one gala, one violinist greeted guests in the lobby while three played in the main room.
- A duo in a church. A string duo played a 2021 church wedding in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Read more about church weddings.
Hosting a gala or company event instead of a wedding? The same sizes apply. See corporate events and galas.
Not sure which to choose? When you ask for a quote, tell us your venue, the parts of the day you want music for and roughly how many guests are coming, and ask to see more than one size side by side.
What clients say about every size
★★★★★“It was helpful to have one violinist in the lobby and three in the main area of the event.”
★★★★★“Best performance of a trio that I ever heard.”
★★★★★“Everyone RAVED about how good the quartet was!!! They did an amazing job!! Thank you!”
Ensemble size questions
What instruments are in a string trio?
Usually two violins and a cello, or a violin, viola and cello.
What is a string duo?
A violin and a cello.
Can we have different sizes for different parts of the day?
Yes. Some couples book a quartet for the ceremony and a trio for cocktail hour.
Do you play the same way in Denver?
Yes. Our Colorado musicians have played hundreds of weddings and events across the state, and we offer the same three sizes there.