The short answer
Choose a string quartet (from €1,650) for a timeless, solemn mood; choose a jazz band (duo from €900) for a warm, light and informal ceremony. The most popular package combines both: quartet for the ceremony, jazz duo for the drinks reception.
The choice starts with the mood, not the instrument
Those weighing which music best suits a wedding ceremony make the mistake of starting with instruments. Start instead with the question: what mood do you want your guests to feel in the minutes before you enter?
A string quartet creates a timeless, almost ceremonial tension. The sound is warm and full, even in a large space. Jazz and swing — the style in which Along Comes Mary excels — gives your ceremony a different charge: more elegant, lighter, with a nod to refinement without stiffness.
String quartet: pros and cons
Strengths
- Timeless, universally recognisable sound — nobody finds it too much or too little
- Plays fully acoustically — no PA needed, no technical risks
- Broad repertoire: classical, contemporary, film music, even pop song arrangements
- Fits any space: church, castle, outdoor venue, small hall
- Two packages: ceremony fee (shorter) and full performance (roughly 90 min.)
Limitations
- Sounds less good in very large, dry rooms without reverberation
- Strictly classical repertoire doesn't suit a relaxed, informal wedding
- No vocals — those wanting a sung song at the processional need an addition
Jazz band (Along Comes Mary): pros and cons
Strengths
- Warm, human sound with improvisational energy
- Excellent for an informal, modern wedding
- Flexible line-up: duo through quintet, depending on space and budget
- Plays jazz, swing, bossa nova — many touchpoints with contemporary taste
- Vocals optionally possible with certain line-ups
Limitations
- PA needed for larger spaces (included up to 50 people, not beyond)
- The jazz style suits a strictly religious ceremony less well
- Repertoire overlap with the drinks reception programme if you also choose jazz for that moment
| Criterion | String quartet (Desguin) | Jazz band (Along Comes Mary) |
|---|---|---|
| Mood | Classical, timeless, solemn | Elegant, warm, light |
| Repertoire | Classical, film, contemporary | Jazz, swing, bossa nova |
| PA needed? | No — fully acoustic | For >50 people |
| Ceremony price | From €1,650 | Duo from €900 |
| Vocals possible? | No | Yes (depending on line-up) |
| Playing outdoors | Limited (temperature/humidity) | Yes (with PA) |
"If I can ask just one question to help you choose: 'What do you want your guests to feel when you walk in?' If the answer is 'moved and overwhelmed', choose the quartet. If it's 'surprised and smiling', choose the jazz band." Reinout Pauwels — music consultant at De Muziekvitrine
Combining: the best of both worlds
Those who don't have to choose, don't. A combination where the string quartet accompanies the ceremony and Along Comes Mary takes care of the drinks reception is one of our most popular packages. The transition from solemn gravity to light elegance is musically perfect to accompany — and a surprise for guests that stays with them.
Know which way you're leaning? Check the booking page for the string quartet or the jazz band.