How much are you paying for your ceremony musician?

$400 is a lot for one person. I have a quartet that is $400 for the entire ceremony and two hours at the reception. I added a singer to the group I wanted for like, an additional $90. I haven't decided yet how much I'm going to tip them. Depends how great they perform on the big day... (Of course, this is in the Philippines though so it's a little cheaper.)

THe standard rate at my church is 350 - and it goes right to the organist. Keep in mind, its not just your 2 hours there. Its also thier time to get there and back (because its only a couple hours that needs to be considered) plus thier meetings with you about what you want and any practise they do for songs your request.

I'm hiring a guitarist for $250 which would include the entire ceremony.. I know I've seen harpist for less than $400 though! the duos, trios & quartets run for about the same you were quoted, I haven't found any cheaper so far..

Do you plan on tipping the musicians for the ceremony? I don't so much find fault with their rates, but most groups I'm interviewing don't include a rehearsal in their fee, so we're talking an hour's service. I know it's a valuable service at that, but?????

My organist charges $125 I thought that was expensive, Thanks ladies for putting this in perspective for me

I have been getting quotes in the $400 - $600 range as well, so that deos seem to be about the going rate.

$125 is a great deal Christine!!

Paid $400.

We're having our DJ do the ceremony music. It's going to be outdoors. and it's his friend who is being our DJ so it's his gift to us.

We are in negotiations with a trio (violin, sax, cello) for $480. If we want to save, we can do the violin and sax for $400.

Edit: That is for ceremony and rehearsal attendance

275 for a duo and that's for 1 hour and 15 minutes

That sounds like a bit expensive to me. We are super lucky and my FBIL is a classically trained guitarist so he's doing the ceremony music and cocktail hour for us and my other FBIL plays bagpipes and will be playing the bagpipes as we walk down the aisle as husband and wife. I guess I didn't realize how much many money we are saving by having musicians in the family!

That sounds like a bit expensive to me. We are super lucky and my FBIL is a classically trained guitarist so he's doing the ceremony music and cocktail hour for us and my other FBIL plays bagpipes and will be playing the bagpipes as we walk down the aisle as husband and wife. I guess I didn't realize how much many money we are saving by having musicians in the family!

We paid $400 for our harpist. She is coming from another state. It's about an hour of travel time or so. There were cheaper people out there but this is what she does for a living and she has been so wonderful to work with. She even called me to play music for me over the phone.

I hired a string quartet for an hour for $486, I am a wedding planner so its my job to search around for the best prices for my brides so thats what I did for myself keeping looking Im sure you will find a much more reasonable price.

By the way for that $486 I am getting 2 Violins, a Viola and a Cello

I didn’t end up going this route but was quoted at $500 for a string quartet and $595 for a DJ in Oklahoma.

I am paying 200 for a string quartet for the whole thing. They're high schoolers, but they are all first chairs and in my younger sister's orchestra class. I am paying them, partially, to learn a song, too, so I think it's a fair price.

Thanks, ladies for the input. I have since found a group that runs $450 for duo, $600 trio & another company @ $400 duo, $575 for trio. (NY weddings cost more in every aspect it seems.. time for me to decide if I want to spend the extra $150 for a trio).

Do you count on tipping the musicians? How much apiece?

Oh, btw our acoustic guitarist at the cocktail hour runs $250 (he's also our DJ for the reception).

I paid 200 for a guy with a sax to come in with all his speakers n elec piano equipment... then a prof piano player n violinest who where friends and they did the procession music and reception for free! I loved the sax.