Vivian Kuang Piano

TLDR: LATE, unprepared, & brought a friend pet

Sorry for the rambling! Just trying to include it all. The pianist I hired injured her hand within a month of my wedding and graciously found me a replacement: Vivian. Vivian’s website was polished and gave the impression of an experienced musician. Unfortunately, hotel lobby performances do not prepare you to accompany a wedding ceremony. Vivian earned 2 stars because she has enough talent to grow in this industry— but she has a lot to learn. Though she disagreed with me in an email, she did not learn my very basic material. Despite a lengthy Google doc AND assuring call ahead of time, the songs were clearly not rehearsed. I had to pull up recordings on my own phone mid-rehearsal to explain to her (again) my vision for each piece. During the wedding itself (I have the whole thing on video), music had odd, abrupt pauses. I had hoped rehearsal would prompt her to practice a bit more. An even bigger grievance: she was late, missing half of her contracted performance. She Ubered to rehearsal the day prior and learned that she did not have reliable transport back home afterwards. I trusted that she would find alternate transportation for the wedding day or request help from me— I would have been more than happy to coordinate rides! On the wedding day, Vivian was contracted to arrive by 3:30 and play a prelude for guests at 4:00 before the 4:30 ceremony. Vivian did not arrive until 4:05 and did not start playing until 4:20. My guests missed a majority of the music and I was panicking less than 30 minutes before I was supposed to walk down the aisle. Because she was so late, MY GUESTS scrambled to set up her keyboard and equipment (she left everything on site overnight) in hopes that she would show up. After the ceremony, I chose to not address her in an attempt to be nothing but positive on such an important day. But Vivian interrupted my private dinner to ask for a selfie— not to apologize or offer a refund for missing half of her performance… but for a selfie. She actually did not apologize until I sent complaints over email a week later. Additionally, she brought a “friend for moral support,” whom I saw in my photographer’s album enjoying food meant for my guests and vendors. This friend also brought a dog, which is a 500 fine per venue contract. Vivian, her guest, and the illicit dog used my Photo Booth, so I have physical proof. Vivian later tried to say that this friend was actually an assistant. Assistant was not in the contract (nor even mentioned), not at rehearsal, and did not assist during the wedding day. I should also note that Vivian offered to cover the cost of the venue fine but did not offer any partial refund for breaching contract/missing a large chunk of her performance. If Vivian applies herself with more effort and responds with higher levels of professionalism, I think she will do well in the future. But it would be a disservice to brides to not leave this review. If you are considering booking Vivian… I would advise only picking music from her list, confirming her transportation plans day-of, and either be VERY clear about cues or decide you don’t care much about them. Type A brides steer clear!

Amazing Piano Performance!

Vivian Kuang was a breeze to work with from start to finish. She brought such a personable energy to our wedding day (ceremonydinner banquet) and made every guest feel welcomed by her warm presence. What really impressed us was how she tailored every song to match our vision—she's an incredible sight reader and even took some of our favorite pop songs and gave them an elegant piano twist that felt totally fresh. She was so accommodating with our requests and never made anything feel like a hassle. Vivian added a special touch to our celebration that we'll never forget, and we'd recommend her in a heartbeat to any couple looking for an incredible live music performance.

Wedding Pianist

We hired Vivian to play for our wedding ceremony and cocktail party, and we couldn't be happier with our decision. From the very beginning, she was incredibly easy to work with and made the planning process seamless. She stayed in touch through texts, emails, and FaceTime calls, ensuring every detail was covered leading up to our big day. One of the things that impressed us most was her willingness to learn any sheet music we requested, as well as a bridal processional we found on Spotify that she learned by ear. On the wedding day, her performance was absolutely beautiful. Her playing style is elegant, heartfelt, and flawlessly executed, creating the perfect atmosphere for our wedding. We received so many compliments from our guests about the music, and we're so grateful she was part of such an important day. If you're looking for a talented, professional, and reliable wedding pianist, we highly recommend Vivian Kuang without hesitation.

Vivian was very accommodating and responsive and came to Santa Cruz from SF to perform at my event. She’s a great pianist.

Vivian was absolutely amazing. Her music made my special day memorable!