Originally published in January 2020. Updated with the latest information in January 2025.
How much should you be willing to part with for a piano player on your wedding day?
The answer to this varies somewhat from player to player and depends on a number of factors. Some of these relate to whether or not you’re hiring your pianist for your wedding ceremony, drinks reception and/or meal, how far he has to travel to, how experienced he is, time of year and so on.
I will attempt to give an answer that covers all bases on your search for a wedding musician and which gives you a ballpark figure on your hunt.
Why I Don’t Advertise Prices
I should first begin by clarifying that I do not actually advertise prices for my own services here on my website, mainly because I like to find out where and when your wedding is taking place first before committing to a quote.
Average Costs in Ireland (as of 2025)
In Ireland, in 2025, it holds that the price of a single musical service (ceremony only / reception only) rests in the region of €320 on average. Combined package deals should see a discount of applied to your quote.
Please note that this is not prescriptive, but rather based on anecdotal evidence from my peers in the field as well as on their advertising data.
Why Are the Rates Set This Way?
A professional-level piano player will have invested years mastering their craft. When you hear a pianist delivering a flawless performance that seems effortless, it’s worth remembering that thousands of hours of practice—scales, arpeggios, theory, pieces, grades, lessons, standards, workshops, and raw repetition—have gone into that moment.
Most accomplished performers never stop practicing. They are continually honing their skills, revisiting repertoire, and refining their artistry. This dedication should be adequately compensated.
The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Musician
There’s obviously the benefit to you as a client hiring a professional musician. Firstly, you’ve probably arrived at the conclusion that live music is infinitely better than recorded music, particularly on a day that celebrates coming together. A professional pianist has the responsibility of making your ceremony and reception beautiful and memorable. He will be skilled in judging the perfect moment to begin and end the music in the realtime of your ceremony, accept requests during your reception and make sure that all of the logistics run smoothly.
A well executed service looks easy and sounds beautiful to the you and your guests and so it should.
You can probably expect to pay a little more than the ballpark for a truly talented and well reputed pianist.
A talented pianist is not just playing music, they are creating a memorable and beautiful experience for you and your guests.
How Can You Tell if a Pianist Is Worth Their Asking Price?
This largely comes down to your own intuition about how praiseworthy his testimonials are, how good his music sounds via video/audio and to how professional and friendly he is in dealing with you from the start.
It’s also no harm to double check with him that this is his best offering and, naturally, you should shop around before making your final decision.