We know from experience and client feedback what a difference live music can make to your day.
Southdene String Quartet & Duo have been performing at weddings for 20 years, giving our musicians a wealth of experience to provide you with a wonderful and personalised musical experience that you will never forget .
For civil ceremonies and civil partnerships we offer a 60 minute package: 30 minutes of music as guests arrive before the ceremony and 30 minutes of music for the ceremony itself.
If you wish to have music for drinks & the meal, we can happily move around within the venue and we can play outside under moderate weather conditions. (see T&Cs)
For a church wedding, we recommend a 90 minute booking, so you get 30 minutes of welcome music before the service and 60 minutes for the service itself. We can then travel to the reception venue and play during drinks & the meal if required. We charge this on an hourly basis from the start time in the church to the finish time at the venue.
There is no extra travel fee.
Emily & James are always available to help you choose a selection of music which will add a personal touch to your special day.
This can be added to the wedding ceremony package or you can book your chosen ensemble by the hour. This can also easily be extended to include your wedding breakfast too if you require our services all day. You will have the opportunity to make musical requests before your wedding day, but we also welcome your guests to make requests at the time too. If you are happy for us to choose the set list, we have the experience to read the room and the mood of your wedding party and create the best possible atmosphere for your reception through our performance.
We absolutely loved your service and performance on our wedding day. it really made our day so special hearing the music that means so much to us being played so beautifully. we thank you so much!
Kristy and Liam • May 2016
Many thanks for playing at my wedding on the 15th July… all our guests commented on how brilliant you both were!
Vanessa Brown • 2012
A huge huge Thankyou for making our day so special this weekend 16/7/22 . Your music was just phenomenal and everyone said how lovely it was. You were amazing and I will recommend you a 1000 times over!
Laura & Martyn • July 2022
We'd like to thank you for playing on our Wedding Day at Ringwood Hall on August 12th! You were great!! Dom spoke to you briefly but unfortunately I didn't, and before I knew it you were gone!! Everything happened so quickly but we had a fantastic day and appreciate all you did! We would definitely recommend you to our family and friends!
Gemma and Dom Oddie • 2013
Emma and I wanted to reach out to say thank you for the performance on Friday. We can’t describe how beautiful the music was, when Emma walked down the aisle to Canon, it absolutely took my breath away. I must have received compliments on your behalf from at least half of our guests within 10 minutes of the drinks reception starting, everyone wanted to tell us how incredible the strings sounded in the venue and were asking where we found you!
Jake and Emma • July 2022
Would just like to say a big thank you for playing at Holly and Danny's wedding. The excellent music contributed to a fabulous day.
Helen Gray • 2013
Thank you for helping us with our music choices for our wedding on 5th August 2010. The Greatest Day and Here There and Everywhere suited our personalities and made our wedding day very memorable. Thanks again for all your efforts beforehand and on the big day!
Kelly & Andrew Starkie, Scunthorpe • 2010
We just wanted to thank you so much for playing at our wedding on Saturday. You were totally amazing!!! Our guests loved you and we did too 🙂 Your music was the perfect accompaniment to our wedding, thank you so much.
Louise and Greg • June 2022
Thank you so much for playing at our daughters wedding on Saturday.You made my husbands dream come true and I cried when you played the brides enterence music as this was my husband dream.everyone commented on how relaxing and beautiful the music was. As my grandson so eloquently said the bride and grooms choice of madness it must love was awesome.
Susan Alexander - Mother of the Bride • August 2015
Just a note to say thank you for playing at our wedding last week. Everyone commented on how wonderful you were and sounded amazing.
Michelle and David • August 2021
Hello Ilona, We just wanted to express our gratitude for your playing on Saturday. The music was just perfect it really created a wonderful atmosphere. Walking down the aisle was amazing to my favourite song on beautiful instruments. It truly meant the world to my grandad hearing music on classical instruments as music has always played a massive role within our lives and continued into part of the big day. Thank you once again for your amazing professionalism.
Sophie and Steve (The new Mr and Mrs Collins) • August 2015
Thank you so much for playing so beautifully at our wedding. The music sounded lovely and really added some extra magic to the day. Everyone commented on how lovely you sounded! I well up every time I hear Pachelbels Canon now as if brings back such great memories of walking into the ceremony!
Louisa Yates • May 2016
Thank you so much for such a fantastic performance at our wedding on 6 Dec. We and the guests thought you were all so talented and really made our day extra special.
Rob Walters & Paul Hayes, Grimsby • 2009
Several people remarked on how nice the music was- I certainly floated on it throughout!… The String Quartet really added to the atmosphere and it was everything we wanted.
Katy Davies, Sheffield • 2008
We just wanted to thank you and the rest of the Quartet for your beautiful performance at our wedding ceremony. We had lots of comments from our guests complementing your music.
Kirsty & James Betts • 2013
Thank you ever so much for playing at our wedding yesterday. The music was such a gorgeous touch. I know the date has been moved so many times and we're so grateful that you were able to play for us.
Rebekah and Arron • September 2021
Just wanted to say a great big thank you for the evening- the whole family enjoyed it & joined in – at stages- they just wanted to pass on their thanks for a perfect evening. Perhaps it wasn’t what you usually do but you did it so well and we were all up for it too. (Don’t know how you managed to keep a straight face during Bohemian Rhapsody!) Once again thank you for a very memorable birthday.
Alison Williamson • 2012
You were absolutely amazing, I cannot thank you enough xx
Michaela Jayne Walker • June 2016
Many Guests commented how lovely the music was and you played your extensive repertoire superbly. Thank you all so much for adding something extra special to our wedding day!
Anna & Darren Walton, Clitheroe • 2008
We wanted to say a huge 'Thank You' for the music played by the Southdene String Duo at our wedding, during both the ceremony and reception, it was played beautifully. We had many of our guests comment on how lovely you sounded.
Eve & Mark • 2012
I just want to say thank you for Saturday. You were all wonderful! I believe you have become the talk of Penistone! …The Vicar said that Jess & Ashley’s wedding was the nicest one he’s been to for a very long time & I’m sure the part you played in it definitely contributed to it! So thank you very much....I’m still getting phone calls & texts from guess saying how lovely you played whilst the guest were coming into the church!!! It was a pleasure to have you a part of the wonderful day!
Celine Chapman • 2014
Hi, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for playing at our wedding ceremony on Friday before we go on out family honeymoon :). Unfortunately I didn't get chance to speak in person on the day but I took in every piece of music played whilst I was in the church. I would also like to thank you for playing hallelujah additionally in the signing every piece of music was perfect! We had a wonderful, memorable day, thank you again! Love and best wishes
Katie and David (Bride and Groom) • August 2015
Thank you to you and the girls in the Southdene String Quartet for the lovely music you played for our wedding on Sunday. You sounded fantastic and it really gave our day that extra special touch we were looking for. It's wonderful to hear live musicians. Thanks girls.
Kate Threlfall, Barnsley • 2010
You and the other girls all played beautifully.. your contribution was an important part of what turned out to be a perfect day- Thank you once again.
Susan Colledge, Wakefield • 2008
Just wanted to drop you a line to say how fabulous you both were on our wedding day. Everybody loved it. Thanks once again for helping make our day unique.
Tracy Taylor, Sheffield • 2011
Thank you all for playing at our Wedding on the 19th June.. The music really added to the atmosphere of the day. All of our guests enjoyed it.
Karen & Jonathan, Sheffield • 2008
We wanted to say a huge thankyou for playing so beautifully at our wedding on the 11 December 2010 at Iscoyd Park. It all went by in a flash and we only briefly got to speak with you but we wanted to say thanks and let you know, you were the perfect addition to our wedding day!
Claire Neden, Manchester • 2010
I felt I must write to thank the girls on my wedding day, for playing so beautifully. It made the ceremony extra special. I didn't get much of a chance to speak to them or thank them personally but I just had to extend my gratitude towards you all for helping to make my day a very special one.
Francine and Mark Scott • March 2016
It was absolutely beautiful and all our guests found the music so lovely. We are thrilled you were there and thank you for making it so perfect for us...
Janette and Neil • April 2016
A little delayed, but, we just wanted to thank you again for your recital at our wedding. We loved the arrangement of our chosen piece, and all the other pieces were great too, it all made our day even more special. My only regret is that I didn't get chance to listen to you play more!!
Tom & Kay Harris • 2013
Just a quick note to say a huge thank-you for the wonderful job the Southdene string Quartet did for us on Saturday! You really helped make our day special and lots of guests said how much they enjoyed listening to you play.
Nicola & Danny Holloyd, Huddersfield • 2008
Thanks you for playing at the GA Conference Dinner. It was lovely for everyone to arrive to the sounds of music.
Margaret Bradley, Sheffield • 2010
Thank you for providing the music for our wedding at Whitely Hall on 10th September. The two players were fantastic and all our guests loved the music.. Thank you all for helping to make our day so special.
Ruth & Matthew, Fareham • 2011
I'm just getting around to thanking everyone for making our wedding day so special. Having the string duo made our ceremony really beautiful
Louise & Dave Coldwell • 2013
You were both excellent & everyone enjoyed the music- especially the Killers! I know it was short notice, but you were truly professional.
Michael, Manchester • 2009
Myself and Cressida booked the southdene duo for our wedding at Ringwood Hall on the 20th August 2015. We would just like to say a massive Thank you. The correspondence we recieved from booking to the big day was very prompt and friendly, helping with any questions or requests. The music played on the day was absolutely fantastic, all our guests commented on how great you were. Sorry I never got to thank you properly on the day it went so fast but thank you once again.
Danielle and Cressida • August 2015
You played at my wedding on 16th June this year at Breadsall Priory. I just wanted to say a big thank you for helping bring together our perfect day. The music was excellent and my guests commented on how wonderful it was. Thank you so much.
Sarah Joel • 2013
Ben and I just wanted to thank the ladies who we had playing at our wedding for our ceremony! We didn’t get a chance to say thank you, but we thought they were fantastic and made out ceremony so special.
Ben and Louise • September 2022
I just wanted to thank you both for your beautiful music at Emma and Robert's wedding at Waterton Park on Thursday 12th September. We all had a perfect day and your music helped make it very special.
Susan & Philip Scott • 2013
The Quality of your playing was really outstanding and the special requests sounded BRILLIANT! We loved watching people recognize the music they were listening to ‘is this Nirvana?’ etc. It was really fun and also sounded so beautiful too… It was such a happy talking point of the wedding (and since..) that we are truly grateful to you for all the hard work involved.
Jane & Charlie Hamilton, London • 2008
I wanted to take this opportunity of thanking you… for the performance by The Southdene String Quartet at our Charity Ball… It lent an air of calm and sophistication and was the perfect introduction to the evening.
Karen Layfield, Harrogate • 2008
The background music you played at the reception was top quality and there were numerous complimentary comments made about you by guests. We thank you for helping to make our day so special.
Andrew & Jane, Wakefield • 2008
It was lovely to meet you ladies on Saturday. I want to thank you for making our daughter’s wedding day extra special. The music was brilliant- everything you did went well and was appreciated. All our guests commented on the performance & how it fitted so well into the day. Your warmth and professionalism was appreciated by all.
Margaret Maguire, Goole • 2008
James and I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the string duo who played at our wedding yesterday. They helped to make our day perfect.
Rachel & James Clarke • 2013
I am writing to say a big thank you for playing at my birthday celebrations last Saturday. It was really lovely to have you there playing a wide repertoire - just pitched at the right level for the company present. It made a great atmosphere. Thank you.
Dianne Bollom • 2012
Thank you for the fantastic performance you gave us yesterday!! It was absolutely wonderful and made our day so special, it exceeded all our expectations and we cannot thank you enough! So many people commented on how wonderful you all were.
Lucy Cantrill, Derby • 2011