Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a song for my wedding that’s not on your list?
Yes! All of our wedding/proposal packages come with 1 custom arrangement included in the price. If you want more than that an extra cost will be added for our arranger’s work on your custom piece. For more questions, please email us.
What type of venues do you play at?
We perform at all types of venues including all denominations of religious churches/temples, hotels, indoor/outdoor event spaces. Check out our full list of venues we’ve played at here and see if we’ve played at your dream venue!
What’s the booking process?
Once we verify the package you have chosen, a contract will be sent within 2-3 business days. The contract will be due within 1 week of receiving it. The contract will provide details of when/how to pay the deposit & balance, as well as any other specifics discussed during the initial booking process. You can either arrange online payment or pay in person on the day of the event before we perform. Signing the contract and returning it will secure your date in our calendar.
What parts of my wedding ceremony do I need music for?
You need to pick music for:
The Wedding Party - this can be 1 song or multiple depending on how you want to organize your wedding party, talk with your coordinator about their suggestions for processional flow
Processional - pick the song for your big moment as you walk down the aisle!
Any music during the ceremony
Recessional - what do you and your partner want to walk back up the aisle to now that you’re married!
Do you play outside?
Yes! Radiant Strings can play outside! Because we play string instruments, here are a few specific accommodations that must be complied with:
Provide us with coverage - a tent, or something structurally sound that will protect us and our instruments from any sudden rain or direct sunlight
It cannot be BELOW 52 or ABOVE 95 degrees (F) outside - it will be too cold or too hot for our instruments. If the weather is unexpectedly chilly or hot that day, of course we’ll still play! We provide a work-around by cutting the prelude to 5-10min and playing the processional and recessional music only.
Can your musicians accompany vocalists/pianists/organists?
If your wedding is taking place in a church, we can work with the music director to play alongside the piano, organ, and church provided vocalist. However, we DO NOT collaborate with amateur musicians like friends/family members. If a loved one is providing music for your event, they can perform their piece, and we will take care of the rest.
Do you have other instruments that can play with strings?
Yes for an additional cost added to your package choice we can include trumpet, piano, flute, voice, or bass. The addition of these instruments can really enhance your ceremony or cocktail hour! Ask us about adding musicians during the booking process so that the additional fee can be included in your contract!
How long will you play?
A typical wedding is about a 1.5 hour timeframe including:
30min arrival prior to the start of prelude music for last minute detail coordination & setup
20min of prelude music
Your entire ceremony (ranging in length from 15min-1hr)
10min of recessional music
For dinner parties, cocktail hours, or other events a fixed time will be discussed during the planning process and will be agreed upon in our contract. Typically if we play for 1hr, a 15min break is expected before we’d start the next hour.
What has been your response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
All of the Radiant Strings musicians value and prioritize our clients’ health and safety, as well as that of our musicians. Our COVID-19 response includes:
All musicians who perform with Radiant Strings are Vaccinated and/or COVID-19 free
Any musician who becomes positive with COVID-19 will not perform - a replacement musician will be found
We provide a guarantee that for all events that are rescheduled due to a COVID-19 related circumstance, paid deposits will be credited towards the new date
More considerations for our clients are broken down in our contract. If you have any questions/concerns please let us know!
What style of music do you play?
Our musicians can play classical, pop, rock & jazz music! We play all of our music on acoustic instruments without amplification. If you want to see specific songs, check out our Music List here.
Do you travel outside of Pittsburgh for weddings and events?
Yes! We travel up to 3hrs from Downtown Pittsburgh for weddings and events. There will be an additional charge for weddings that fall within this range due to the distance. This will be discussed prior to signing the contract with the client.
Are you an LGBTQIA+ friendly vendor?
Yes! We absolutely are. We promise to always be inclusive and welcoming to every client. Some of us are members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and all of the members of Radiant Strings are allies and safe people for all love to be celebrated.
Do you play for religious wedding ceremonies?
Yes! We can play for ceremonies celebrated in any religion (Christian, Jewish, Orthodix, Hindu, etc.). As long as your place of worship allows outside musicians, we are happy to be there! We can also provide work arounds for you to allow live string music to be performed, even if it can’t be during the ceremony! Here are some work arounds to stricter rules for different religious celebrations:
We play for just the prelude, processional & recessional NO music during the ceremony
We play only religious/sacred/classical or requested pieces that are okay to be played in the house of worship
We have played outside the ceremony site as guests entered/exited, and played for the couple’s grand exit of the ceremony
As long as there’s open communication between your venue, officiant, and us, we are able to find a way to provide music for you!
Are there any hidden fees or taxes associated with your pricing?
Nope! All of our pricing is the exact amount that our clients pay. We discuss any additional fees with you prior to signing the contract (travel fees, music arranging fees, extra musicians, additional services requested, etc.) so that you can prepare and budget accordingly.