Frequently Asked Questions

Melanie has created Diamond Strings to specialise in performing at weddings, carefully considering everything that a wedding couple could want and need from their ceremony musicians!

This includes special features such as stylish presentation with complimentary musician chairs and outdoor umbrella. Diamond Strings also plays with beautiful vintage music stands and black leather music folders, and wear matching dresses, cardigans, coats and scarves.

Diamond Strings is also unique in offering premium quality amplification for our Solo Violin plus Guitar & Violin Duo performances, so that events may have the perfect level of background music as guests celebrate and the sound level rises. This professional, Bose sound equipment reflects an investment of cost and specialist training for the Diamond Strings musicians.

As a professional, registered wedding music business, Diamond Strings is dedicated to creating a reputation for excellent service and stellar performances.

The luxury service is perfect for couples who appreciate beautiful string music, detailed styling, and who would like to be looked after by musicians who will adore performing at their wedding!

Diamond Strings is based Norah Head, Central Coast and also performs in Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Sydney.

If you’re completely in love with Diamond Strings and your event is a little outside these areas please contact us as we also quite enjoy an occasional road trip down to the South Coast, Sutherland Shire, Macarthur and Southern Highlands.

Travel fees will be charged for venues more than 1 hour drive from Norah Head, NSW. Travel fees will be quoted at the time of enquiry, and are based on charging $1 per musician, per minute beyond a 2 hour round trip.

For example, a venue that is 1.5 hours drive away from Norah Head will attract a fee of $60 per musician.

No! If the day looks like it could sprinkle then Diamond Strings will bring along their chic white outdoor umbrella to put up. This will protect the valuable violins from getting water damage.

No, we are happy to communicate via phone and email, and have found in our experience that that works well.

If you would like to meet us and hear us play in person we would invite you to attend one of the many wedding expos and open days that we play at each year. Please contact us to ask about our next performance near you. We would love to meet you! Alternatively, you might like to view our beautiful videos on our website.

No! We generally do not charge for the time and travel between your ceremony and reception venue as we actually need that time to set up our amplification system. In fact, if there were less a one hour break, we would need to set up our amp before your ceremony to make sure the day goes very smoothly and the musicians are picture perfect for you and your guests.

We would only charge for time and travel if it was an unusually long amount. Eg: if travel exceeded 30 minutes drive away and it was over a four hour wait.

Unfortunately no, we do not offer expanding to trios and quartets. Diamond Strings specialises in duo violin, guitar & violin and solo violinist performances and have over 10 years of experience in this type of ensemble. The Diamond Strings music has been specially arranged by Melanie to perfectly compliment these ensembles. A larger ensemble requires completely new music arrangements.

Additionally, the Diamond Strings director, Melanie has specially rehearsed and trained the select Diamond Strings violinists to have the highest standard of performance, presentation and sound equipment expertise.

It comes down to wanting to offer what we do best! If you’re heart is set on a trio or quartet, we would be happy to refer you to another quality string ensemble of our acquaintance.

Diamond Strings is a boutique wedding music business created by Melanie Cuthbertson, our creative director and principal violinist. It not a booking agency, nor is it a fixed ensemble. Rather it is made up of a small group of musicians that Melanie has hand-picked to work closely with for their exceptional musicality, stylish presentation, and their complete adoration of weddings.

These talented musicians enjoy rehearsing and performing together and have been specially trained by Melanie to consistently present a sparkling Diamond Strings performance.

Diamond Strings is delighted to be able to invite up to two bookings per day. We are able to offer this as we work as a group of talented musicians to book from, and we have two sets of all our elegant styling pieces, and professional sound equipment.

If two weddings are booked on the same day, then those weddings would have two different teams of our Diamond Strings musicians performing at them. Diamond Strings promises an impeccable level of service, and as such there is no rushing from one event to the other.

This means that Melanie is not always available to perform herself, however she will choose an ensemble or soloist of exceptional quality to give a beautiful, entertaining performance at your wedding.

Melanie will also oversee every detail of each wedding booking and ensure her musicians are perfectly prepared.

Yes! Diamond Strings performs at many wedding expos and venue open days each year. These are a great opportunity to see Diamond Strings perform, and to ask questions.

Please contact us to ask about our next performance near you or head over to our ‘Wedding Fairs’ page for dates and details. We would love to meet you!

Alternatively, you might like to view our beautiful videos on our website.

Yes! We have a minimum booking of one hour but after that the other details can be tailored to suit you. We have created our packages to reflect the most popular booking lengths and to avoid making the packages and choices too complicated. However we would be delighted to speak with you about your wedding and help create your perfect Diamond Strings package.

For example, you may choose the ‘Wedding Ceremony Package,’ but want to extend it to 1.25 hours, 1.5 hours, or 2 hours if you’re having a full nuptial catholic mass.

Or you may really want the ‘Ceremony + Canapés Package,’ but you would like to have more music played prior to your ceremony, and need the total booking to be extended to be 2.5 hours.

Also, some couples really love the idea of two violins playing acoustically at their wedding, though would prefer the lively option of solo violin with backing tracks performing contemporary songs during their drinks & canapés.

We welcome you to contact us and discuss your ideal Diamond Strings package, and request your customised quote.

Yes! Diamond Strings offers one complimentary ‘special request’ song as part of your booking. Any additional songs attract a fee of $100 each. (We charge the extra fee as it can take several hours to arrange and rehearse a new song.)

To create the perfect background music level, Diamond Strings uses their professional, state-of-the-art Bose, Line Array amplification system that is designed to create an even wash of sound over 100 metres squared.

Amplification is always included for the Guitar & Violin Duo and Solo Violinist packages.

However, our Violin Duo performs acoustically, as the two violins naturally project a full, acoustic sound, and beautifully complement the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of a wedding ceremony.

Later on in the day when guests are celebrating and chatting with each other, sound levels naturally increase, particularly indoors. At this point the beautiful background music that has been specially organised goes unheard, unless the musicians are amplified.

This is why we recommend having our amplified Solo Violinist with Backing Tracks perform a sparkling set for this time of the wedding celebrations, if you have booked the Violin Duo for your ceremony.

Alternatively, the amplified Guitar & Violin Duo can take your day from quietly heart melting melodies at the ceremony, to toe tapping tunes at the canapés.

If you’re keen to have our Violin Duo perform their uptempo classical repertoire for the canapés music, and have a smaller wedding of under 50 guests, you’re very welcome to book in our Violin Duo for the entire 2 hour package.

Unfortunately, canapés/pre reception/special event bookings are often taken by string groups without the ensemble being able to guarantee a suitable level of background music throughout the booking.

Diamond Strings uniquely provides professional amplification because Melanie created Diamond Strings to be a service that authentically meets the needs of her clients.

Most string groups are formed from classically trained musicians who aren’t comfortable with amplification equipment, as they do not have the expertise required and/or they don’t wish to spend the time, money and effort needed to provide it.

The Diamond Strings Bose amp is a high grade, professional sound system and as such is not battery powered.

For this reason Diamond Strings requests being seated no more than 20 metres from a power point for our performances.

However, if your wedding or special events is going to be held outside there may not be a power point nearby. On these occasions we are delighted to offer our custom made, silent portable power supply as a complimentary addition to your package.

Yes! We can definitely come and just play one song. However, this would still be at our minimum call out price.

Diamond Strings has a minimum booking price of a one hour performance, although we are happy to play for as much or as little as you require during that time. This is because regardless of the amount of time we are actually performing, we have put in the effort to arrive, beautifully presented, at your wedding and to set aside that day for you.