Wedding Violinist & Pianist at The Garden City Hotel

Julie Schatz has performed at The Garden City Hotel, the historic Long Island landmark in Nassau County known for grand-ballroom receptions and an indoor chapel space. Solo violin ceremonies, jazz piano cocktail hours, and full-day soloist coverage are all part of what Julie regularly delivers at The Garden City.

What The Garden City weddings sound like

Garden City Hotel weddings tend to lean traditional and formal. Ceremony processionals in the indoor chapel or ballroom space lean classical (Canon in D, Bridal Chorus, Air on the G String) and shift to cinematic-modern at the bride's entrance (A Thousand Years, Make You Feel My Love arranged for solo violin). Cocktail hour typically moves to jazz piano in an adjacent room with standards (Fly Me to the Moon, La Vie en Rose) plus contemporary R&B reimagined for the room. Many Garden City Hotel couples then hand off to a band or DJ for the reception.

Logistics for The Garden City weddings

The Garden City Hotel is in Garden City, Nassau County, Long Island, which falls in the standard zone-pricing tier. Travel from Brooklyn is a routine same-day round trip. The hotel's wedding coordinators are seasoned; load-in is typically scheduled 60 to 90 minutes before guest arrival. The grand ballroom and chapel space rarely need amplification for acoustic violin; the portable PA is used primarily for officiant lavalier mics and for cocktail hour piano amplification when needed.

Pricing for The Garden City weddings

The Garden City Hotel falls in the standard zone-pricing tier:

• Solo violin ceremony coverage: $745
• Ceremony + cocktail hour: $1,100
• Full-day soloist (ceremony + cocktail + dinner): $1,950
• Soul Shades violin-and-piano duo for the ceremony: $2,550
• Soul Shades duo for ceremony + cocktail: $3,350

Custom song arrangements outside the standard repertoire are an add-on (+$200 per song; +$300 if you also want it as a featured violin arrangement). See full rate sheet →

Common questions about The Garden City bookings

Has Julie performed at The Garden City Hotel before?

Yes. The Garden City Hotel is on Julie's list of confirmed past venues. The full venue list across the New York tri-state is on the venues page.

Can you play outdoors at The Garden City?

The Garden City Hotel primarily offers indoor ceremony spaces. For couples who want an outdoor element, the hotel's terraces and gardens are an option; battery-powered amplification is part of standard setup for outdoor ceremonies above about 80 guests. Wireless lavalier mics for officiants and vows are included on request, and the rain plan is coordinated with the venue's coordinator ahead of the date.

Can one musician cover both the ceremony and cocktail hour at The Garden City?

That is the most-booked The Garden City configuration. Solo violin for the ceremony, then a reset to jazz piano or violin-and-keyboard for cocktail hour. One musician means one load-in, one point of contact for the venue coordinator, and one combined fee instead of two separately booked ensembles.

How far in advance should we book Julie for The Garden City?

The Garden City Hotel is one of the most-requested formal wedding venues on Long Island. For Saturday weddings in peak season (May through October), 9 to 12 months out is typical.

Can Julie learn a custom song for the ceremony or first dance?

Almost always, yes. Custom song arrangements outside the 200-song repertoire are an add-on (+$200 per song, +$300 if you also want it as a featured arrangement). Submit the song reference with your inquiry; most songs can be arranged with 4 or more weeks of notice.

Do you cover other venues in the Long Island area?

Yes. See the Long Island Weddings page for a list of other venues across the region, or send a quick inquiry with your specific venue.