WEDDINGS

Chameleon String Quartet is a popular choice for providing music at civil and church wedding ceremonies and also for the celebrations afterwards. The quartet can be booked for any combination of ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast.

A typical booking period is three hours though longer bookings are possible. In good weather the musicians can perform outdoors during the photographs and while the cocktail reception is taking place. Most weddings involve moving outdoors, to different rooms and sometimes to different venues and the quartet are used to setting up in more than one place at an event. The quartet regularly play during the wedding breakfast, providing background music to the diners. Many people like the music to continue up until the beginning of the speeches after which the evening entertainment may start with a change of style such as a jazz or pop band, disco or barn dance.

Ceremonies:
 The rules surrounding civil weddings state that music and readings must not have a religious context. This means the quartet cannot play any hymns or pieces that might have sacred words. If your wedding is to be in a church there are no musical restrictions though the nature of the setting might suggest the music is traditional. Humanist weddings have no musical restrictions.

The quartet usually plays 15 - 30 minutes before the ceremony is due to start, to entertain guests as they arrive. Some people choose to have no music at all until the entrance of the bride which can have a dramatic effect. The music played is generally of a subtle, classical nature. The quartet then play for the entrance of the bride, during the signing of the register and for the exit of the newlyweds. Most people like to choose pieces for during the ceremony and the quartet are happy to make recommendations based on their experience over the years. Some people have asked for a musical interlude during the ceremony for example to follow a reading. It is also possible for the quartet to accompany a singer for one or two pieces. A few popular choices are shown below:

Processional:
Clarke Trumpet Voluntary 
Handel Hornpipe from Water Music
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Mendelssohn Wedding March 
Pachelbel Canon
Purcell Trumpet Tune  
Wagner Bridal March
Register:
Bach 4 pieces from D major Suite (including Air)
Boccherini Minuet
Delibes Flower Duet from Lakmé (British Airways Advert)
Elgar Chanson de Matin
Salut d'amour
Fauré Pavane 
Handel Air from Water Music
Mozart Three Divertimenti
Massenet Meditation from Thais  
Pachelbel Canon
Recessional:
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
Handel Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Hornpipe from Water Music
Mozart Overture from The Marriage of Figaro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Reception:
 During the celebrations after the ceremony the quartet has a comprehensive repertoire that accommodates most tastes. The extensive list enables them to honour requests such as "only classical" or "only light". A list can be sent out for clients to indicate their requests - special arrangements of a favourite piece can also be made for a small fee and with a months notice.

Dress:
The quartet take great care in their presentation and can wear all black to be neutral or their own colours.

Space:
The average amount of space required is 2m x 2.5m (7' x 8.5') although the quartet is able to squeeze into slightly smaller spaces for a short amount of time! If you are worried about space you could check with your venue if a string quartet has played there before.

Breaks:
The quartet always plans in advance with clients the best time to take breaks to fit in with your plans. The quartet generally need a short break of approximately 10 - 15 minutes after 75 minutes performance.