The short answer
For a fully music-covered wedding day — ceremony, drinks reception, dinner and party — expect €5,000–€9,000 excl. 6% VAT in Belgium. A single musical moment is possible from €900; a good rule of thumb is 10–15% of your total wedding budget.
What you can realistically expect
The question asked most often when planning wedding music is also the most honest one: what does it actually cost? The answer — "it depends" — is correct but insufficient. Below you'll find the concrete price ranges we use daily at De Muziekvitrine, including what is or isn't included in that price.
For a fully music-covered wedding day — ceremony, drinks reception, dinner and party — budget between €5,000 and €9,000 excl. VAT. For those who only want to cover one moment, prices start from €900. Details per element below.
A handy rule of thumb: reserve 10–15% of your total wedding budget for music. For an average Belgian wedding of €25,000–€35,000, that comes to €2,500–€5,000 — realistic and achievable for two to three musical moments.
How does this compare to the wider market? In Belgium and the Netherlands you typically pay €600–€1,500 for an acoustic duo or trio, €1,200–€3,000 for a professional string quartet, €2,500–€6,000 for a full five- to six-piece cover band, and €600–€1,500 for a DJ. When comparing Dutch prices, watch the VAT difference: 9% applies to performances in the Netherlands, versus the reduced 6% rate in Belgium (source: Cultuurloket). Our rates below sit deliberately on the accessible side of those market ranges — without compromising on professional standard.
Prices per element of your wedding day
The ceremony
For the wedding ceremony — processional, exchange of vows and recessional — an ensemble typically plays actively for 20 to 40 minutes. That's fundamentally different from a full 90-minute performance. The price reflects this.
A string quartet like the Desguin Kwartet offers a ceremony package from €1,650 excl. VAT. For a bespoke ensemble via Vitrine Op Maat, expect €400 per musician — so you determine the line-up yourself.
The drinks reception
Background music during the reception needs an ensemble that carries the mood without overpowering conversation. A jazz duo or acoustic duo is ideal for this.
Along Comes Mary (jazz, swing, bossa nova) plays as a duo from €900 excl. VAT, as a trio from €1,380. Belpop Acoustic (Belgian classics, acoustic) starts from €950 excl. VAT.
The dinner
Dinner music requires a different approach: subtle, warm, never too loud. A bossa nova trio like Swamba excels here.
Swamba plays a roughly 90-minute set from €1,260 excl. VAT, including sound equipment for smaller rooms. For larger venues, arrange sound equipment separately.
The party
Closing the evening with a cover band or DJ is the moment where the dance floor determines how the day is remembered. This is usually the most expensive element — and the most impactful.
The Belpopband (five musicians, own sound system) starts from €2,500 excl. VAT. DJ Stecks applies seasonal rates: €500–€750 in the low season, €1,000–€1,500 in the high season (equipment not included).
| Element | Ensemble | Price (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Desguin Kwartet | From €1,650 |
| Drinks reception | Along Comes Mary (duo) | From €900 |
| Dinner | Swamba | From €1,260 |
| Party | Belpopband | From €2,500 |
| Full day | 4 ensembles | From €6,310 |
What's included — and what isn't?
This is where most surprises occur. Be specific in your quote request and explicitly ask about:
- Sound equipment: included with some ensembles (Along Comes Mary for small rooms, Swamba, Belpop Acoustic), not with others (the Belpopband has its own sound system but this is separate from the fee).
- Travel costs: most ensembles apply a base amount for travel, with a surcharge for distant locations.
- Set-up and soundcheck time: allow at least 45 minutes for a cover band, 30 minutes for acoustic ensembles.
- VAT: all fees are excl. 6% VAT. This is the cultural VAT rate — lower than the standard 21%.
"When a couple asks me 'what does music for our wedding cost?', I always start with their programme — not with a catalogue. The cheapest option is rarely the best, but the most expensive isn't automatically either. It's about the right music at the right moment." Reinout Pauwels — music consultant at De Muziekvitrine
Budget scenarios: four weddings, four budgets
One musical moment (up to €1,500)
With a budget up to €1,500 excl. VAT, choose one moment that really matters. For the drinks reception, Along Comes Mary as a duo (from €900) or Belpop Acoustic (from €950) offer excellent quality for roughly 90 minutes. Our honest recommendation: doing one moment well beats doing two moments half-heartedly.
Small ceremony (€2,000–€3,500)
Civil wedding or intimate party with 30–50 guests. One ensemble for both ceremony and reception is enough. An acoustic duo (Belpop Acoustic or Along Comes Mary) handles both excellently. Budget: €900–€1,650 excl. VAT.
Classic wedding (€4,000–€6,500)
Church or civil wedding with 80–150 guests, full day. String quartet for the ceremony, acoustic duo for the reception, and a DJ or smaller band for the party. Budget: €3,500–€5,500 excl. VAT.
Fully music-covered day (€6,000–€9,000+)
Four ensembles, four moods, one coherent musical thread. Our most requested package for weddings with 100+ guests at a premium venue. Budget: €6,310–€8,500+ excl. VAT depending on line-up and venue.
| Scenario | Ensembles | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| One moment | 1 ensemble (acoustic duo) | From €900 |
| Two moments | Ceremony + DJ | From €2,400 |
| Three moments | Quartet + jazz duo + DJ | From €3,550 |
| Full day | 4 ensembles | From €6,310 |
See these scenarios with all ensembles on our pricing page →
When is it worth engaging a music consultant?
If you're considering more than one ensemble, if your venue has specific technical requirements, or if you simply aren't sure which music suits your day — personal advice isn't a luxury but a time-saver. At De Muziekvitrine, that conversation is free and without obligation.