Soloist, duo, strings, live band, or DJ? Choosing the right wedding entertainment
Now you know that you’d like live music in your wedding…
But choosing your wedding music can quickly turn into a lot of questions. Is one musician enough? What's the difference between a duo and trio? Do you need a live band and if you have live music, do you still need a DJ?
The good news is, bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. Either if you’re comparing a solo, duo, trio, and live band wedding musicians in Melbourne, the right line-up comes down to how you want your celebration to feel, where the music sits within your day, and your budget.
Here's a simple guide to finding the right fit
Soloist — beautifully simple and intimate
One musician can create an incredibly personal atmosphere. Think solo piano and vocals or violin, perfect when you want the music to be meaningful and complement the atmosphere without taking over
Best for: ceremonies, canapés and intimate celebrations.
Acoustic Duo — intimate, with a fuller sound & versatility
A duo brings two musicians together, giving you more depth and versatility while keeping the warmth of an intimate live performance. Think about our solo piano/vocals, paired with a violinist or guitarist. The addition of a second musician creates more layers and versatility of playing different types of music, while retaining that intimate acoustic feel.
It's a particularly flexible choice for couples wanting the same line-up to move from ceremony into canapés or a relaxed reception.
Best for: ceremonies, canapés and relaxed receptions.
Strings & Instrumentalists — elegant & timeless
From a string duo to a full quartet, strings bring an elegant and expressive quality to a celebration. Strings are particularly beautiful if you love instrumental music or want familiar songs reimagined in a different way.
Best for: ceremonies, church weddings, canapés and elegant celebrations.
Live band and trios— soulful & more energy
For when you want live music to become a central part of the celebration. From soulful background sets to an energetic dancefloor, our trios and live bands bring a richer sound and atmosphere to your reception.
And energetic doesn't necessarily mean you need a huge party. A trio or band can just as easily provide soulful, jazzy background music over dinner and create a warm, social atmosphere throughout the evening.
Best for: canapés, dinner and receptions.
DJ — variety & flexibility
A DJ gives you the flexibility of a huge repertoire and can adapt the music to your guests as the evening unfolds.
Whether you're dreaming of a packed dancefloor or simply want a great soundtrack for a relaxed evening of drinks and conversation, a DJ can shape the music around the room.
Best for: receptions and later in the evening.
Do you have to choose just one?
Not at all.
Different line-ups can give each part of your wedding its own sound and character. For example:
Ceremony → Strings
Canapés → Acoustic duo
Reception → Trio or band
Later in the evening → DJ
Or you might keep things beautifully simple with an acoustic duo across the earlier parts of your day followed by a DJ at night.
There is no formula — the music should evolve in a way that feels right for your celebration.
What about budget?
It is tempting to start with: “How many musicians can we afford?”
While the size of your line-up will influence the cost, don’t choose based on the number of musicians alone. Choose by imagining the kind of atmosphere you want to create
You may prefer to invest in a beautiful duo for longer coverage, or have a larger band for a shorter feature set. You can also do a combination of live music during ceremony and canape, then DJ for the rest of reception.
Your venue, coverage time, sound requirements, multiple setups and whether you're adding DJ or MC services can also affect the overall cost.
How do you choose?
Rather than starting with “Do we need a duo or trio?”, ask:
How do we want our ceremony to feel?
What atmosphere do we want while our guests mingle?
Do we want live music to be background or a feature?
Do we want dancing, or something more relaxed?
Once you know the feeling you're trying to create, choosing the right line-up becomes much easier.
Find your sound
From the beautiful simplicity of one musician to strings, soulful duos and trios, live bands and DJs, explore the different ways LÀVELY can bring your celebration to life.
