Cellist Hire

The cello has long been one of the world’s most favourite instruments. It is hugely popular for wedding ceremonies and proposals. With its sonorous and mellow tone, hiring a cellist is a great choice to enhance a romantic setting!

At String Musicians London, we only work with the most experienced cellists. Our cellists are seasoned performers who regularly play in concert halls all over the UK and the world! They also play for hundreds of weddings and events every year. Like any solo string instrument, the cello performs best with a piano accompanist. However, hiring a solo cellist is absolutely a good choice in situations including wedding ceremonies or romantic marriage proposals.

The cello can perform all pop songs, but some of the best ones are classical faves like Bach’s G major Prelude, The Swan, Ave Maria and Salut d’Amour. Favorite pop songs for cello include Can’t Help Falling in Love and Hallelujah. They sound even better on the cello compared to the violin!

Of course, other pop songs work well too. Fields of Gold, Careless Whisper, Mamma Mia, Skyfall, and even the Eye of the Tiger are a few! Let’s talk – we’re excited to curate the perfect solo cello playlist for your event 🙂

Can’t wait to hear from you and work with you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire a cellist to perform internationally for my destination wedding?

If you’re having a luxurious international event or wedding and would like our cellist to play for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We travel often for work and can help you make all the arrangements! Some of our recent performances as a quartet have been in France, Italy and Spain. We will be able to advise you on the best travel logistics for traveling with instruments. Bear in mind that the cello will need its own seat on the plane! We also will give you a quote that includes per diems, so that our food and travel costs are covered. It’s a good idea to book early so that you keep costs down. We can also travel at the last minute, dependent on availability!

We’ve been told that it’s usually better to book with us, reliable and experienced musicians, rather than hiring local musicians. It is best to not compromise when it comes to communication, professionalism, talent and expertise when it comes to celebrating one of the most important days of your life.

What does the cellist wear?

We always ensure we are well-presented and dressed elegantly and professionally. We will take care of the musical arrangements for you, leaving you stress-free and enjoying the beautiful music on your special day. If you have a specific colour scheme, let us know and we’ll see what we have in our wardrobes! The men usually wear all black dress trousers and shirt, and a tuxedo if requested.

What cello music do I need to choose for my wedding?

For the wedding ceremony itself, you should choose a wedding party/bridal entrance song (ideally a song or piece of music that has a special meaning for you), one or two songs for the signing of the registry, and an upbeat song for your ceremony exit.

If you need any advice on what has worked well for others, we’re happy to offer suggestions! Some examples of popular bridal entrance music, which is also great for the signing of the registry – Pachelbel ‘Canon’, Elvis ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, Lana Del Rey ‘Young and Beautiful’, Ed Sheeran ‘Perfect’ and Cristina Perry ‘A Thousand Years’. The theme from Gladiator is also in demand at the moment! You can hear our recording of it on YouTube. Again, if you have a specific choice that you can’t find on our list please let us know. We will do our best to source the music for free!

We also recommend hiring the cellist or string ensemble to play some romantic music to set the mood as the guests are entering the ceremony room and taking their seats.

If you’ve booked us for your cocktail reception, you may wish to choose all the music you’d like to hear. O,r give us a general idea and we’ll choose our most popular selections for you. Yes, Bridgerton arrangements are a big hit with clients and that’s our speciality!

Can I hire a cellist to play outdoors?

We can indeed! We just ask that a shelter is provided for us to play under. A large umbrella per musician, or a secure gazebo will prevent sunlight, rain and bird droppings damaging our instruments.

How much do you charge?

String Musicians London offers competitive rates and upon inquiring, we will respond with a quote that clearly states the different options and costs for each ensemble and length of time, as well as the travel fee per musician. There are no extra costs and we do not currently charge VAT. Please contact us directly for our price list.

How can I hire a cellist?

Once we’ve confirmed all your booking details including location, time and ensemble, we will send you our contract and an invoice for the 25% deposit. When we have received the payment via bank transfer or card payment (an extra fee applies), then all is confirmed and booked in! If your event is a bit more last minute, no worries – we just require the full fee upfront for events that are happening less than 4 weeks away.