What size group do I need?

Time to plan the big day musically....have the budget all set...contact musicians and now the big question..."What size group do I NEED?" Forget the budget for a second, you just want to know that no matter what you spend, you get the music you really wanted. How disappointing to save $100 and have music that you can't hear, or that sounds "thin". How much better to have spent the extra dollars and had what you wanted. But how does one know just what size group they need? Hard to answer that question without knowing the exact venue, but here are some guidelines.
1 If you are not having many people, and the venue is small, a duo may be fine. Forget Pachelbel's Canon, though, because it won't be a canon (which means a "round" like Row, Row Your Boat) without a quartet.

2 If you are having lots of guests (150+) and the venue is outdoors and you are walking down a decently long path to the front, you need a quartet.

3 If you are somewhere in between these two sizes, a trio might work.

4 A soloist if fine if the wedding is a small outdoors one, or if the venue is a church (where the sound is easier to control due to lack of traffic noise and the fact that sound evaporates in unlimited air).

What is the real answer here? Simple. Ask your person that is booking your group. They want to do a good job, and know that budgets are an issue, so if you talk to them they can get the specifics and let you know exactly what you need. Listen to what they say, and remember that if they really feel that an extra musician is needed, you are better off listening and paying the small difference in fees rather than being disappointed in the sound. This is a one time event, and there are no "do overs."