For the drinks reception, we played a wide selection of music, starting off with some pieces by J.S. Bach and other classical composers before moving on to some light music, jazz and modern pop music for strings. We spoke to many of the guests who sat and appreciated the wedding music whilst enjoying a glass of Champagne.

For this particular wedding, the bride had requested that we play Samuel Barber’s ‘Adagio’ for strings before her entrance. This we duly did, before playing Pachelbel’s ‘Canon‘ for her processional. During the signing of the register we performed Elgar’s ‘Salut d’Amour’ and Mascagni’s ‘Intermezzo’ from ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’. Finally, for the recessional of the bridal couple, we played them out to Take That’s ‘Greatest Day’.

We then transferred to the reception area of the hotel, before joining the guests on the back lawn of the venue (playing under the shade of a tree). All in all, the music added a special extra dimension to the proceedings and many guests told us how much the music was enjoyed.

We played our first set of music lasting around 50 minutes in a minstrels gallery over one of the main halls. At the request of the client, we started by performing a selection of classical music prior to the speeches, changing to a performance of modern pop music for string quartet (as well as a few pieces from films and television) later in the evening.

The music seemed to be well received by the guests with the whole event finishing at around 9.30pm.

We began by playing a selection of classical pieces as the guests arrived and took their seats in the ceremony room. As the Bride entered, we played Pachelbel’s Canon in D and two much more modern pieces for the signing of the register at the request of the couple.

After the ceremony, we continued playing during the drinks reception in the same room and although many guest made their way outside to enjoy some spring sunshine, it was just slightly too cold and windy to move the wedding string quartet outside. We performed and energetic and upbeat selection of modern pop music for string quartet which was greatly enjoyed by many of the guests.

We hope to return to the venue in the near future as it was such a welcoming place to play.

We provided a selection of popular classical music as guests entered the room and took their seats.  We then played Pachelbel’s Canon in D as the bride and her bridesmaids entered for the ceremony. During the signing of the register we performed Bach’s Air before playing Ben E King’s ‘Stand By Me’ to accompany the exit of the married couple.

We then joined the wedding party outdoors and played a varied selection of modern rock and pop covers for string duo which was enthusiastically received by guests as they enjoyed their drinks and canapes.

After the service, we drove to Newland’s Hall which was only about a mile and a half away, continuing to play throughout the drinks reception in the marquee.

It was a very enjoyable wedding and a good example of how a string duo can work just as well as a wedding string quartet for more intimate gatherings.

Moggerhanger Park is a relatively local venue to us, and although we are a Buckinghamshire string quartet, the venue is within an easy 45 minute drive.

We began by playing for an hour and a half during the drinks reception as guests entered the kitchen area of the old house which provided a very nice acoustic for stringed instruments.

The wedding breakfast took place in a large marquee at the back of the venue and we continued playing for approximately half an hour as the meal began. Whereas during the drinks reception, most of the music we performed was from our classical repertoire, when it came to the wedding breakfast, the couple had asked us to provide a more lively atmosphere with some modern arrangements of pop songs for strings. These proved very popular with guests and when we finished, we were given a hearty round of applause!

Many couples opt for classical music in their ceremony as it lends a sense of occasion and gracefulness to the proceedings. But choosing classical music for signing the register can be quite challenging, as although many couples recognize and like a lot of pieces, unless they are regular classical listeners, they can’t necessarily put a name to them. So always ask your string quartet or wedding musicians for advice and wedding music tips as they’ve often played at hundreds of weddings and have therefore can suggest pieces which work particularly well. Ask your players for a list of pieces of classical music for signing the register – they will be only too happy to offer advice and suggestions.

When it comes to your choice of music for signing the register, try and keep the mood relaxing yet uplifting. Whereas the purpose of the entrance music is to gain the attention of the guests and the exit music is more celebratory, the formalities of the signing require a slightly more subdued choice of music, so opting for a slightly slower paced style can help create interest and yet still allow the registrar to make announcements. Be aware that although signing the register music for Church ceremonies can have a religious connotation, this will not be allowed during a civil ceremony (so ‘Ave Maria’ may be off the list!).

Nowadays, many couples opt to have modern songs played by a string quartet during the signing of the register, as it means they can choose pieces which are significant to both of them, or a song they particularly enjoy (a good example would be Elbow: ‘One Day Like This,’ which has proved very popular). Many string quartets have arranged and play modern pop and rock songs, so would be only too willing to play these during the signing of the register.

Here is a list of our top ten most popular wedding pieces the string quartet is asked to play whilst couples sign the register:

Classical 

Bach Air in D

Bach ‘Sheep May Safely Graze’

Boccherini Minuet

Debussy  Clair de Lune

Delibes  Flower Duet from ‘Lakme’

Saint Saens  The Swan

Elgar  Salut D’Amour

Faure  Pavane

Handel  Water Music Air in F

Puccini  O Mio Babbino Caro

Modern Songs for Signing the Register

Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours

Ben E. King: Stand By Me

Carpenters: (They Long To Be) Close to You

Eva Cassidy: Songbird

U2: Beautiful Day

Take That: Greatest Day

Aerosmith: Don’t Want To Miss A Thing

La’s: There She Goes

Elbow: One Day Like This

Stevie Wonder: You Are the Sunshine of My Life

Also, see our article on bridal entrance music and the top ten lists for that, as many can be appropriate for signing the register as well.

During the reception, we stayed in the same location as people enjoyed drinks and canapes while listening to a selection of classical and modern pieces. Later, the party relocated to an adjacent barn for the wedding breakfast and we were able to continue entertaining them for the first half an hour of their meal.

As guests took their seats in the ceremony room, we played a few pieces of classical music to help create an elegant atmosphere. As there were approximately 60 wedding guests, a string duo was absolutely ideal and could easily be heard.

For the bridal entrance, we took a departure from classical music and at the request of the couple, accompanied the bridal procession with ‘Make You Feel My Love’, the song by Bob Dylan made popular again by Adele.  For the signing of the register, the couple had asked for a mixture of modern and classical, with ‘Stand by Me’ and Pachelbel’s Canon in D performed by the violin and viola. On a more celebratory note, we played ‘Greatest Day’ by Take That for the exit of the married couple.

After the ceremony, the wedding party relocated to another room and we entertained everyone during the drinks reception with a lively selection of modern pop music for string duo, drawing many positive remarks from the assembled guests.