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Sage Knows Weddings

With over 500 weddings under our belt, Sage String Quartet has become the most sought after wedding String Quartet in the DC area.

What We offer

  • Wedding Ceremony Music
  • Cocktail Hour Entertainment
  • Custom Arrangements

We are experts at:

  • Interfaith Weddings (Jewish/Christian, Buddha/Catholic, Indian/Christian, etc)
  • Catholic Mass
  • Christian services
  • Jewish Weddings
  • Non-denomination
  • Same-sex weddings
  • Intimate Weddings (for 2-8 people)
  • Surprise weddings! (yes, they exist!)

We’ll help you:

  • Choose appropriate, beautiful music for the Prelude, Processionals, and the Recessional.
  • Set up a rehearsal and work with singers, whether it’s your aunt, cousin, friend, or a professional.
  • Organize with the church organist or a family member who wants to join playing guitar, oboe, etc.
  • Contact a coordinator/officiant to get the right information and cues for the ceremony

Our Experience

Sage String Quartet specializes in providing elegant live music and executing all of the musical details for your wedding ceremony. We work tirelessly for our discriminating clients who want highly specialized and tastefully chosen music for their once-in-a-lifetime events. Impressing your guests and providing only the top quality entertainment for our clients is constantly on our mind. After all, musicians and music reflect our client’s taste and personality. Despite having been around for only five years, Sage has performed more than 100 weddings per year- that’s over 500 weddings performed by the same core group of musicians.
Your in-town guests may recognize us from other weddings, high- end events, and concerts around town. Sage is honored to have played for multiple family events and weddings. We realize no two weddings are same. Preludes are carefully selected to fit each denomination and style of wedding. Having world-class musicians perform at your event is a special treat for your guests, something they will cherish long after that special day.

Planning your wedding music

When you contact the Sage String Quartet, whether by phone or email,you will be working directly with it’s founding member, Kyung LeBlanc. All emails and phone calls will be returned promptly. She will put your mind at ease with expert musical advice and attention to detail. For musical ideas, take a look at our our sounds page or our repertoire page where we have a suggested wedding ceremony repertoire list. Answers to common questions can be found in our FAQ.

Book Sage String Quartet

Wedding events are usually booked 6 to 12 months in advance. However, we can often accommodate a shorter time line. Contact us to check availability.

Our Clients Love Us

Sage String quartet is consistently the highest rated string quartet in the DC area.

 

"Not only was the music beautiful, but they were amazing to work with when we were preparing for our wedding."

− Betsy

"All of my guests were very impressed with how classy and beautiful they sounded."

− Shelley

"Kyung was super organized, quick to respond to questions, creative in her solutions, and very helpful."

− Andrea

"I can't rave enough about Sage String Quartet...Many guests commented on how wonderful the music was. "

− Susan

"Kyung was extremely responsive and very helpful "

− Dana

"Their set up, performance, quality and sound were all seamless."

− Heather

"Take it from a bride who is also a musician-- this is the group you want."

− Jessica

"Their performance at my daughter’s wedding ceremony and the following cocktail hour was simply beautiful!"

− Kirsten

"Their presence and music added elegance and class to the ceremony."

− Brandon

Check Availability or Get a Custom Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Take a look at our FAQ to help plan your big day

General

  

How do the musicians dress?

The musicians dress in formal concert attire unless otherwise requested: men in tuxedos or dark suits and tie, and women in all black or evening gowns.

What do you require at the venue?

The quartet’s requirements are minimal. All we need to perform at our best is 4 armless chairs and ample space, about 8 by 8 feet.

Will you perform outdoors?

Yes. We have a few requirements however, to ensure the safety of our instruments and the ability to provide quality music. We require full shade, no precipitation, and temperatures about 65- 85 degrees.

What if there is a special piece of music I would like to be played, can you do that?

Yes! We have over 300 titles in our library, but if your request is not in our current repertoire, we will add it at no cost to you. If your request is not published for string quartet, we can have it professionally arranged for the quartet. Fees for this service are very reasonable and vary based on the complexity of the music.

Are the Musicians I see and hear on this Website the same ones that will play at my event?

Yes, absolutely! On rare occasions, due to illness or unavailability, one of our players may be replaced with one who has experience playing with us and knows our repertoire well.

Weddings

Do you perform at receptions as well as wedding ceremonies?

Yes, we play during cocktail, dinner, and if there is no dance band, the whole of the reception. Our repertoire allows a wide range of musical styles, from Baroque to modern pop and jazz and showtunes.

My wedding ceremony and the reception are in two different locations. How do you charge for that?

In a situation like this, which is quite common, we charge for the length of the engagement, including the time to travel between the wedding site and reception site. In other words, from the start of the prelude until the end of our playing time at the reception.

Should I have music before my wedding ceremony?

We suggest prelude music twenty minutes before the start of the wedding ceremony. This will set the mood for your guests as they arrive and wait for the wedding ceremony to begin. The style of prelude music can be tailored to your taste.

How many pieces should I choose for the processional?

For a Christian or non-denominational wedding, you will typically have two separate pieces, the wedding party processional and the main processional. For a Jewish wedding, there are typically two pieces, Entrance of the rabbi, family elders, and wedding attendants followed by the main processional entrance with parents. On occasion, the Rabbi or cantor will vocalize through their own entrance, and then the quartet will begin for the rest of the entrances. Adjustments to this are of course possible and we will guide you through these decisions.

How do I choose the music for the processional?

Please refer to our suggestions in the Repertoire section. We will help you through this selection process.

How will you know when to start the processional music?

We will need a signal from the wedding coordinator. We will seek out the pre-arranged person before the ceremony and confirm the plan.

How do we time our entrances to finish with the music?

We have become adept at ending the music at just the right time, so there is no need for you to time the entrances. The only thing we need to know is how many people are processing to each piece of music.

How many pieces do I choose for the recessional?

In most cases, a requested piece is performed during the exit of the entire wedding party, plus one or two more festive and upbeat pieces for the exit of your guests.

Planning

When should we select the music for our wedding?

Generally you should speak to us at least once before you meet with your officiant so that we may help you formulate questions to ask them about music. Often there are “dos” and “don’ts” regarding certain ceremonies. Following the meeting, we will talk again and solidify the program.

The organist is included with the church fee. Can Sage String Quartet play with organ?

Yes! There is an advantage in having both the organ and string quartet. Alternating between the two for prelude music is very effective. In addition, there are quite a few musical arrangements that we can play together during prelude, processional, Mass, and recessional, creating a beautiful large orchestral sound. Lastly, people are accustomed to singing the parts of the Mass with organ, so there might be more audience/congregation participation in singing if they are played by the organ/vocalist.

Will you perform with guest instrumentalists or singers?

Of course. We will be happy to communicate directly with them ahead of time to work out musical details. In most cases we will require a short rehearsal at the venue before the event or wedding prelude starts. A fee for the rehearsal time will apply.

Do we need to meet in person?

It is not necessary to meet in person. All details can be addressed online or over the phone. If you’d like to meet in person to discuss the music for your wedding or would like to go over the contract, you are welcome to make an appointment to come and meet me at my home/office, which is located in SE/DC. I’m available on weekday/evenings.

Will you attend the wedding rehearsal? I’m worried that my wedding party will not be timed to the music.

It is not necessary for us to attend. The Sage String Quartet members have performed for countless weddings. We are adept in timing the music to the right length. You can leave that to us. We only recommend booking us for the rehearsal if cost is no object.