WEDDING MUSIC
20 Best String Quartet & Classical Wedding Songs for Toronto Couples
Debussy, Michael Bublé, The Weeknd: the right song on strings should sound like the two of you. Here are 20 Toronto favourites in four moods, each matched to its moment and the line-up that plays it best.
Watch Our String Musicians
Ave Maria + Prelude
Bach
A Thousand Years
Christina Perri
Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley
Young and Beautiful
Lana Del Rey
Which string songs suit our style?
Pick a mood, or mix all four: timeless classical, love songs, pop and indie, and Canadian songs. Each one is matched to a moment (prelude, entrance, signing, recessional or cocktails).
| # | Song | Composer or artist | Mood | Moment | Best option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clair de Lune | Claude Debussy | Classical | Prelude | String Quartet |
| 2 | Nuvole Bianche | Ludovico Einaudi | Classical | Prelude | Violin + Cello Duo |
| 3 | Canon in D | Johann Pachelbel | Classical | Entrance | String Trio |
| 4 | Méditation (Thaïs) | Jules Massenet | Classical | Signing | String Quartet |
| 5 | Wedding March | Felix Mendelssohn | Classical | Recessional | String Quartet |
| 6 | At Last | Etta James | Love songs | Prelude or cocktails | String Trio |
| 7 | Golden Hour | JVKE | Love songs | Entrance | Violin + Cello Duo |
| 8 | Can't Help Falling in Love | Elvis Presley | Love songs | Entrance | String Quartet |
| 9 | Bloom | The Paper Kites | Love songs | Signing | String Trio |
| 10 | La Vie en Rose | Édith Piaf | Love songs | Cocktails | Violin + Cello Duo |
| 11 | Halo | Beyoncé | Pop and indie | Entrance | String Quartet |
| 12 | Thinking Out Loud | Ed Sheeran | Pop and indie | Signing | String Trio |
| 13 | Love Story | Taylor Swift | Pop and indie | Recessional | String Quartet |
| 14 | Bitter Sweet Symphony | The Verve | Pop and indie | Cocktails | String Quartet |
| 15 | I'm Yours | Jason Mraz | Pop and indie | Cocktails | String Trio |
| 16 | Hallelujah | Leonard Cohen | Canadian | Signing | String Quartet |
| 17 | Everything | Michael Bublé | Canadian | Signing | String Trio |
| 18 | Señorita | Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello | Canadian | Cocktails | String Trio |
| 19 | Hold On, We're Going Home | Drake | Canadian | Cocktails | String Quartet |
| 20 | Blinding Lights | The Weeknd | Canadian | Recessional | String Quartet |
What classical music is best for a wedding ceremony?
Calm, melodic and easy to time. These five carry you through every moment of the ceremony.
1. Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy
Published in 1905 in Debussy's Suite bergamasque, it's dreamy and soft as guests arrive, like the light changing in the room. Best played by a String Quartet, which fills in the piano's rich harmony.
2. Nuvole Bianche, Ludovico Einaudi
Einaudi's 2004 piece is modern classical: gentle, flowing and calming as guests find their seats. Best played by a Violin + Cello Duo.
3. Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel
The classic entrance, and still the one that brings goosebumps. Pachelbel wrote it for three violins over a bass line, so a String Trio plays it close to the original, building with every step toward the person waiting for you.
4. Méditation, Jules Massenet
This violin melody from Massenet's 1894 opera Thaïs is tender and reflective, ideal while you sign. Best played by a String Quartet.
5. Wedding March, Felix Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn wrote it for A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1842. The traditional exit, and still pure celebration. Best played by a String Quartet.
Which love songs sound beautiful on strings?
Some songs have been part of love stories for decades. Played by strings, they feel brand new again, and your guests will be humming along before they realize why it sounds so familiar.
6. At Last, Etta James
Slow, warm and a little bit swoony. Guests know it within two notes, and it settles a room beautifully as everyone finds their seats or raises a glass. Best played by a String Trio.
7. Golden Hour, JVKE
A modern favourite that glows from the first phrase and swells as it goes, just like your walk toward the person waiting for you. Best played by a Violin + Cello Duo.
8. Can't Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley
Simple, timeless and impossible not to love. Three generations will hum along under their breath as you walk down the aisle. Best played by a String Quartet.
9. Bloom, The Paper Kites
Gentle and dreamy, with a melody that feels like sunlight. A lovely, intimate choice while you sign. Best played by a String Trio.
10. La Vie en Rose, Édith Piaf
Pure romance with a Parisian twirl. Perfect over cocktails, when everyone's smiling and the day still feels like a dream. Best played by a Violin + Cello Duo.
Can a string quartet play pop songs at a wedding?
Yes. Pop songs with a strong melody sound gorgeous on strings, and guests love spotting them a few notes in.
11. Halo, Beyoncé
Halo starts gently and builds to a soaring chorus. A modern entrance with real lift. Best played by a String Quartet.
12. Thinking Out Loud, Ed Sheeran
This 2014 love song is slow and sincere, a natural fit while you sign. Best played by a String Trio.
13. Love Story, Taylor Swift
Love Story ends with a big key change, which makes a joyful exit. Swifties in the crowd will notice. Best played by a String Quartet.
14. Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve
This 1997 hit is built on a sweeping string riff, so it sounds huge on four instruments. Best played by a String Quartet.
15. I'm Yours, Jason Mraz
Easy and sunny. It keeps cocktails relaxed and the perfect vibe going. Best played by a String Trio.
What are the best Canadian songs for a wedding ceremony?
Canada has given the world some of its best-loved songs. These five are made for a Toronto wedding.
16. Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen
Montreal's Leonard Cohen released Hallelujah in 1984. On strings it's instrumental, so the darker verses never come up, and there's rarely a dry eye by the last chorus. Best played by a String Quartet while you sign.
17. Everything, Michael Bublé
Burnaby's own Michael Bublé released it in 2007, and it's been a wedding favourite ever since. Warm, joyful and full of heart while you sign. Best played by a String Trio.
18. Señorita, Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
Flirty and fun for cocktails, and a hometown pick: Shawn Mendes grew up in Pickering. Released with Camila Cabello in 2019. Best played by a String Trio.
19. Hold On, We're Going Home, Drake
Toronto's own Drake released it in 2013. Smooth and laid-back, perfect for cocktails. Best played by a String Quartet.
20. Blinding Lights, The Weeknd
Scarborough to the world. The Weeknd released Blinding Lights in 2019, and its driving beat makes a high-energy exit. Best played by a String Quartet.
Violin + Cello Duo, String Trio or String Quartet: which suits our wedding?
Choose by guest numbers and the sound you want. The biggest leap in sound is from a duo to a trio. With two violins, the melody and harmonies soar together over the beautiful bass notes of the cello. The quartet adds a viola, filling the middle with an even deeper, richer warmth.
| Option | Musicians | Guests | From (CAD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin + Cello Duo | Violin, cello | Up to about 50 | $830 | Intimate ceremonies and gentle, tender love songs |
| String Trio | 2 violins, cello | About 80 | $1,110 | Canon in D and pop songs with real lift |
| String Quartet | 2 violins, viola, cello | 80 to 100+ | $1,390 | Big classical pieces and the richest sound |
All prices include HST.
A singer can be added to the String Quartet on request. For bigger weddings, ask about a Double Trio (six musicians) or a Double Quartet: eight musicians, like a small orchestra framing your aisle — a spectacle your guests will talk about for years.
How many songs do we need for a Toronto ceremony?
Plan one song for your entrance, two or three for the signing and one for the recessional. We'll fill the prelude and cocktails with your favourites, so the music feels like yours from the first note.
Can strings learn a song that isn't on this list?
Yes. We play from a library of almost 1,000 arrangements of today's biggest songs, written exclusively by us. You won't hear them played this way anywhere else.
If your song isn't there yet, just ask, with at least 8 weeks' notice. Couples tell us hearing their favourite songs on strings made the ceremony that much more special. A new String Quartet arrangement may involve a small music preparation fee.
Can strings play at an outdoor ceremony?
Yes, and a garden or lakeside aisle sounds beautiful on strings. Give us shade and a roof over the instruments; the weather plan is in the FAQs below.
Who are the musicians?
We're degree-qualified Toronto string players from the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory, Humber College and Juilliard, and some of us have performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. We've been playing live since 2009, and we've never missed a wedding we were booked for.
How do we hear these songs before we choose?
Watch us perform. The Package Builder has over 30 hours of video and 100+ combinations, so you can hear a Duo, a Trio and a Quartet and picture your aisle. It shows instant prices, never availability: your Band Manager confirms we're available.
String Quartet Wedding Songs: Frequently Asked Questions
What songs do strings play during the signing?
Plan two or three reflective songs, because the signing takes longer than most couples expect. Hallelujah, Méditation, Thinking Out Loud and Bloom all work beautifully. We'll fade gently once the licence is signed, so the music never stops awkwardly mid-phrase.
Can a string quartet play pop songs?
Yes. We play from a library of almost 1,000 arrangements of today's biggest songs, written exclusively by us, alongside the classical favourites. Pop, timeless love songs and Canadian hits from Drake, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes all sound gorgeous on strings, and guests love spotting them.
How much does a string quartet cost for a wedding in Toronto?
A String Quartet starts from $1,390, and travel within 30 km of Toronto is included. A Violin + Cello Duo starts from $830 and a String Trio from $1,110. All prices include HST. You'll see your price instantly in the Package Builder as you choose your line-up.
What's the difference between a String Trio and a String Quartet?
A String Trio is two violins and a cello, and suits about 80 guests. With two violins, the melody and harmonies soar together over the cello. A String Quartet adds a viola, filling the middle with an even richer warmth, and suits 80 to 100+ guests.
Can we add a singer to the strings?
Yes. A singer can be added to the String Quartet on request, so you can hear every word of your song sung live as you walk toward the person you're about to marry. Ask your Band Manager, who will help you shape the songs and moments around your ceremony.
Do strings need power or a sound system?
No. Strings play unamplified, so we don't need power, which makes us easy to place in a garden, a gallery or on a lakeside lawn. Outdoors, a covered spot is all we need, and your Band Manager will confirm where we'll set up.
When do we need to choose our songs?
Send your song choices 8 weeks before the wedding and your timeline 14 days before. New arrangements need at least 8 weeks' notice. Your Band Manager checks everything works for your line-up, and by the final weeks the music is the part you're not thinking about.
Can strings play outdoors at a Toronto wedding?
Yes. Our instruments can't play in rain, cold or harsh summer sun, so give us a covered, shaded spot and plan an indoor backup. A tent, a covered terrace or deep shade all work well, and an outdoor aisle sounds beautiful on strings when the weather plays along.
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We come highly recommended
COUPLES LOVE CHOOSING THEIR OWN STRING SONGS FOR EVERY MOMENT OF THE CEREMONY
“They have an extremely large set of sheet music, with classical, modern and pop options to choose from. You get to choose songs for key parts of your ceremony, including the processional, the bride's walk, the license signing and the recessional.”
Julia
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Watch our musicians. Choose the music you love.
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