If you want your cocktail hour to feel elegant and conversational, book a string quartet. If you want it to feel like a lounge where the party has already started, book a jazz band. That is the short version. The longer version depends on your venue, your guest list, what music you had at the ceremony, and what comes after cocktails. I have been playing violin at weddings and events in New York since 2014, and SPN Events has performed at more than 5,000 events, so here is how I help couples make this call.
Quick answer
- Choose a string quartet if you want a refined, romantic atmosphere, guests who can talk easily, a smooth carryover from the ceremony, or a space with limited power and room.
- Choose a jazz band if you want more energy and swing, a crowd that skews social and lively, a bridge into a dance-heavy reception, or a big, loud room that needs more presence.
- Not sure? Keep the quartet from your ceremony for cocktails, or put strings at the ceremony and jazz at cocktails so each part of the day has its own sound.
What each option actually sounds like at cocktail hour
String quartet
A string quartet is two violins, a viola and a cello. At cocktail hour we usually play a mix of light classical pieces, jazz standards arranged for strings, and pop songs your guests will recognize a few bars in. The sound is warm and full, but it sits underneath conversation instead of on top of it. Guests lean in to talk, then notice a familiar melody and smile. That is exactly the effect most couples are after.
Strings are fully acoustic. In most indoor cocktail spaces we play without any amplification, which keeps the setup small and the volume natural.
Jazz band
A jazz band for cocktail hour is most often a trio (piano or keyboard, upright bass, and drums or guitar), with the option to add a horn. The repertoire is the Great American Songbook, bossa nova, swing, and jazz takes on modern songs. Jazz has a groove that strings do not. Even at a low volume, a walking bass line and brushes on a snare tell guests the party has begun.
Jazz bands usually need power for a keyboard and a small amplifier, and they take up a bit more floor space than a quartet.
Five questions that decide it
1. What feeling do you want when guests walk in?
Close your eyes and picture your guests holding their first drink. If the picture is candlelight, champagne and quiet elegance, that is strings. If it is cocktails, laughter and people tapping their feet, that is jazz. Neither is more “upscale” than the other. Both look and sound polished when the musicians are good. It is a question of mood, not of class.
2. What music did you have at the ceremony?
This is the most practical question on the list. If you already booked a string quartet for the ceremony, extending them through cocktail hour is the simplest plan. The musicians are already there, there is no second load-in, and the transition from recessional to cocktails is seamless. Many couples do exactly this.
Other couples deliberately switch. Strings for the ceremony, then jazz for cocktails, signals that the formal part is over and the celebration is starting. It is a great choice if your ceremony and cocktail hour are in different rooms, because the jazz band can be set up and ready while the quartet plays the recessional.
3. What does the space look like?
Room size and acoustics matter more than people expect. A quartet works beautifully in a library, a terrace, a gallery, a rooftop with a bit of shelter, or a classic ballroom foyer. It needs a modest footprint and no power indoors.
Jazz has more natural presence, so it holds its own in a large, loud room: a loft with hard floors and high ceilings, a big hotel reception area, or an open-air space where sound disappears quickly. If you are outdoors, both options can work, but plan for shade, a flat surface and, for jazz, a power source. If you are wondering about amplification, our post on whether your ceremony needs a sound system covers the same considerations.
4. Who are your guests?
Think about the people who will actually be in the room. A multigenerational crowd that wants to catch up with family usually appreciates strings, because conversation stays easy. A younger, social crowd that came ready to celebrate often responds to jazz right away. Corporate cocktail receptions split the same way: networking events tend toward strings or a quiet jazz trio, while launch parties and client celebrations lean toward jazz with a little more volume.
5. What happens after cocktail hour?
Cocktail hour is a bridge. If dinner and dancing come next with a DJ or a band, jazz can build energy toward that moment. If the reception is a seated dinner with toasts and lighter dancing, strings keep the tone consistent. Think about the whole arc of the evening, not just one hour in isolation.
Side-by-side comparison
- Mood: strings feel romantic and refined; jazz feels social and lively.
- Volume: strings are naturally soft and acoustic; jazz is a little fuller, even when played quietly.
- Setup: a quartet needs four chairs and a small area; a jazz trio needs more floor space and usually power.
- Repertoire: strings cover classical, film and arranged pop; jazz covers standards, bossa nova, swing and jazz takes on modern songs.
- Continuity: strings carry over naturally from the ceremony; jazz creates a clear change of scene.
- Requests: both can play special songs, but a string arrangement of a newer song may need to be written in advance.
Smaller and larger alternatives
You are not limited to a full quartet or a full band. For a smaller cocktail hour or a tighter space, a string trio or duo gives you the same elegant sound with a lighter footprint. We break down the differences in String Quartet vs. String Trio, which is a good read if you are weighing ensemble size. Solo violin also works well for very intimate gatherings.
On the jazz side, a duo (piano and bass, or guitar and bass) is great for quiet, upscale receptions, while a quartet or quintet with a horn brings real energy to a large crowd. The bigger the group, the more presence it has, and the more space and power it needs.
How the choice affects your quote
I get asked whether jazz or strings costs more. It depends less on the genre and more on a few practical factors: how many musicians you book, how many hours they play, whether the musicians stay from the ceremony or a second group comes in, travel to your venue, your date and season, any overtime, and whether you want a custom arrangement of a special song. Keeping one ensemble for both the ceremony and cocktail hour is often the most efficient setup, since there is a single arrival and setup. The best way to compare is to ask for a quote on both options for your date.
Where we play
We perform more than 400 events a year across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut, plus Miami and Palm Beach, where we use local musicians so there is no travel fee. Couples planning a North Shore or Hamptons celebration often look at our jazz band options on Long Island, and if you are getting married north of the city, see our string quartet for weddings in Westchester. Across the river, here is our page on a string quartet for weddings in New Jersey.
My recommendation
If you already have strings at the ceremony and your cocktail hour is in the same space or right next door, keep the quartet. It is effortless and it sounds beautiful. If your cocktail hour is in a separate, larger or louder room, or you want a clear shift in energy before dinner, bring in jazz. And if you only want to book one group for the whole day, choose the sound that matches the moment you care about most.
Frequently asked questions
Can a string quartet play jazz at cocktail hour?
Yes. Jazz standards arranged for strings are a big part of our cocktail repertoire. They sound lovely, but they will not swing the way a rhythm section does. If a true jazz feel is the priority, book a jazz band.
Is a jazz band too loud for a cocktail hour?
Not when it is set up properly. Experienced cocktail musicians play with brushes, a light touch and controlled amplification so guests can talk. In a small room, a duo or trio is the right size.
Can we have strings for the ceremony and jazz for cocktails?
Absolutely, and it is a popular combination. We coordinate both groups so the jazz band is set up and ready while the quartet plays the recessional.
Can either group play our special song?
Usually, yes. Many popular songs are already in our books. If yours is not, we can learn or arrange it, and the earlier you ask, the better.
Check your date
Still deciding between strings and jazz? Tell us about your venue and timeline and we will suggest what fits. Check your date and get a quote at spnevents.com, call (917) 791-1212, or email info@spnevents.com.