Juhasz Music | Vendor Love
It’s not very often that we photograph weddings where a string ensemble is hired to perform during the ceremony or cocktail hour, but Arturo and I absolutely love it when our couples include these musicians for their big day! It’s an extra detail that adds so much to the ambiance and experience of their guests! I originally met Steve, the lead musician of Juhasz Music, in 2016. Last summer we finally had the chance to work with Steve and his string quartet at Meagan & Alan’s wedding at The Inn at Longshore and let me tell you, they sounded beautiful!! Steve is also a music instructor, teaching privately in his Stratford, Connecticut studio while playing professionally with Juhasz Music in the greater New England area. I’m so excited for him to join our Vendor Love series, so read on to learn more about Steve and Juhasz Music!
Tell me a bit about you and your business! How did you get started in the wedding industry?
"Juhasz Music is a classical string ensemble with over 18 years in the wedding and event industry. Classical strings are violin, viola, and cello, typically, but we will add a special instrument based on client needs. We have paired with guitar and flute players in the past, and it always sounds lovely!
As for my start in the wedding industry, my first wedding gig was my sophomore year in college, and it only took one wedding to get me hooked on the special environment of weddings. Each one is different and tailored to the couples needs, and being one of the vendors that gets to create that environment is one of my favorite things about playing at special events.”
What do you enjoy most about leading a string ensemble?
"The thing I most enjoy about leading a string ensemble is the teamwork. The Juhasz Music team is made up of a strong core group that I work with frequently, and we have been working together for several years. The communication between members of a string ensemble is very strong, and most of it is nonverbal, so the ability to know what is necessary to perform pieces at our very best represents a strong relationship, and I truly enjoy that the couples are the benefactors of those relationships. We are all working together to make the day special for the couple, and the team’s commitment to that goal is extremely rewarding.”
What should couples know about your process and about working with you?
"My process involves consulting with the couples several times and trying to get to know them to ensure that the music that is chosen represents the couple. Whether it be tunes that they choose or tunes that we choose to fill out the playlist, it’s all important. Music is an expression of the couple and our instruments are the vehicle that brings joy to the couple and all of their guests. In terms of working with me, I take what I do very seriously and will provide amazing music. I am also fluent in sarcasm, am often pretty goofy, and LOVE a good belly laugh. I bring that to all aspects of what I do. In consulting with me, clients will see that I am dedicated to making their event awesome, and when they see me on the day of the wedding, I will often be laughing and jovial with the people I work with. It’s all about having fun and making great music!”
What is your favorite part about working with couples who are planning their wedding day?
"My favorite thing about working with couples is getting to hear the tunes they want heard and making them a reality. It may sound trite, but it’s true. I get to hear the tunes they want heard and the tunes they like, and get to tailor the music to their needs. I also love the inherent happiness that comes with couples who are talking about music for their wedding. I got married five years ago to a beautiful, vibrant, and amazing woman, and remember many of the aspects of planning the wedding that were quite stressful. When chatting with couples, they will often comment on how much fun it is to choose the music because it doesn’t carry the same amount of stress. I like that we get to be that vendor, and am always excited to chat about all forms of music!”
What (or who) inspires your creativity?
"The area where we get to be most creative is in the music. We have a standard repertoire of a bunch of classical and pop tunes that we work with, but keeping things interesting is very important to me, so I edit my playlists frequently to keep the music fresh. Classical tunes are great, but mixing in some pop tunes, ragtime, or even waltzes keeps things interesting, and engages the listeners. One of my favorite things is when we are playing a tune during a wedding and someone stops as they are walking by and asks us what tune we were playing. Engaging them and seeing the joy on their face when they recognize what song we were performing is awesome!
Another source of inspiration is the couples. We have performed a lot of great tunes during ceremonies, but when couples ask for a specific piece, even one we don’t have in the repertoire, we are happy to oblige and make a custom arrangement. Tunes like A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel, and Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are all examples of tunes that we arranged for the processional. Couples who know they want a special tune played during the ceremony help us to push outside the comfort zone and we are happy to do it!”
How early should couples book you to ensure you'll be available for their wedding day?
"Typically speaking, 4-6 months gives us enough time to make sure musicians are available and to make all arrangements. Especially in cases where couples want special tunes that we need to arrange, we need 6-9 months to make sure the music is available and take time to make sure the arrangement is perfect. We book as early as couples would like, and it’s not unheard of for us to be booked 12-16 months ahead for some weddings.”
What is one tip or piece of advice you'd give a couple for their wedding day?
"The biggest tip I would give couples on their big day is to remember that the day is about them. It can sometimes seem like it’s about other people, but they are all that matter and it is THEIR big day! Also, know that music makes the moment special. Think of the last time that you watched a movie or tv show that didn’t have some sort of musical background to it to help color the moments. Music at a wedding is the same way. The sounds that compliment the moment of the wedding party processing, the bride or groom, the ring bearer, they are all very important moments that music helps to celebrate. The tone of the event can be amplified by great classical string music. We provide that compliment!”
If you don't already, be sure to follow Juhasz Music to stay up to date with their latest performances and events!
Facebook: Juhasz Music (@JuhaszMusic)
Instagram: @juhaszmusic
Twitter: @JuhaszMusic
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Steve of Juhasz Music! Will you be having a string ensemble perform on your wedding day?
