The Magic of Live Strings: Is a Quartet the Missing Piece of Your Wedding Ceremony?
- Sam Gardner
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Wedding Professional Spotlight - Carla Wyburn and String Quartet Solutions
Photo Credit: Aguiam Photography
One of the things I treasure most about any wedding ceremony is the music. It sets the pace, holds the emotion, and ties each moment together in a way nothing else quite can. If you’ve ever wondered whether live strings could be the missing piece of your own ceremony, the answer might be closer than you think.
As part of my Wedding Professional Spotlight series, I’m happy to introduce someone whose work I’ve come to deeply admire: Carla Wyburn, violinist and Artistic Director of String Quartet Solutions.
Carla leads a collective of professional musicians who create beautifully tailored live music for weddings across Portugal. I’ve worked with Carla and her team for many years, on numerous ceremonies, and on each occasion, their music brings a subtle, distinctive quality—those first gentle notes that hush a room, or the joyful lift in the air as a couple takes their first steps back up the aisle.
Meet Carla
Originally from the UK, Carla studied violin at Trinity College of Music in London and the Amsterdam Conservatoire before eventually settling in Portugal. In 2007, she founded String Quartet Solutions, which has since grown into a well-respected ensemble within Portugal’s wedding community.
What stands out most about Carla and her musicians is their calm, collaborative approach.
On the day, we always talk through how the music will fit with your ceremony, deciding on whether I need to provide visual cues and how long the shorter sections should be. They listen, they adapt, and they truly care about creating a musical atmosphere that feels personal to you.
Selecting the Perfect Wedding Ceremony Music
When you’re planning your ceremony, it really helps to think in terms of mood and tone rather than specific pieces.
Do you imagine something classic and timeless? Or something more modern and playful?
Live strings add a texture and warmth that pre-recorded tracks simply don’t capture.
Carla’s team works closely with you—alongside planners and celebrants—to shape a flow that feels natural: gentle music as guests settle in, a processional that lands at exactly the right moment, and a recessional that sends everyone out smiling. These are the details that stay in people’s memories long after the day is over.
The Versatility of Live Strings
Whether it’s a palace in Sintra, a sunlit terrace in Cascais, or a rustic ceremony in the Mafra countryside, live strings always seem to elevate the setting. Their repertoire is huge—spanning everything from classical favourites to contemporary songs—so you can create a soundtrack that genuinely reflects who you are.
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/yourstoryinphotos/
Why I love working with Carla
Carla has a presence that immediately puts people at ease. She’s organised, thoughtful and completely in tune with the energy of a wedding day. Her love for what she does comes through so clearly in the music she and her team create. If you’re planning a wedding in Portugal and dream of ceremony music that feels heartfelt and memorable,
Carla is always a joy to work with.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding ceremony where music feels seamlessly woven into every moment, I’d love to help you explore what’s possible. Get in touch with me to chat about your vision and how we can meld meaningful, beautifully curated music into your ceremony.
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