Music sets the mood for your memorable wedding. Whether it’s the song playing as you walk down the aisle or the joyful, energetic tune that keeps your guests grooving on the dance floor — your wedding band will play the songs that create the soundtrack to your big day, and your big love.
Yes, you want to ensure that the music fits every momentous moment, but also that your wedding runs smoothly — and much of that responsibility falls on the shoulders of your skilled band and bandleader. From introducing you for the first time as a couple to creating the mood for a bittersweet last dance, your band will work with your vendor team to ensure that every momentous moment is given the appropriate heft, on schedule, of course.
We know that it can be hard to know where to start when choosing the rightwedding entertainment, and we’re here to help. We’ve considered our own proprietarydata as well as reviews, honors, professional reputation, speaking engagements, and more to create a wedding entertainment resource you can rely on.
How Chicago Wedding Musicians Set Their Prices
What to Know: Becca Kaufman, Founder of BKO by BeatMix, says, “With star vocal talent, world class musicianship, band/DJ combinations and state-of-the-art sound systems, BKO by BeatMix Music offers an energetic, versatile live music experience! Available with an impressive variety of customizable performance elements, we ensure our clients’ events look, feel, and sound truly like them.”
What to See: Kaufman shares of this Wish Upon a Wedding fundraising gala, “The WUAW Gala is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the love and determination of their recipients and the selflessness of all who support the organization. BeatMix Music provided a stellar show which included performances from BKO, The Party Faithful, Time Chicago, and MixTape — all expertly emceed by our founder Becca Kaufman.”
What we Love: The Chicago Players will have your guests going hungry because they refuse to leave the dance floor. They play the perfect mix of a wide array of hits. We love their enthusiasm and ability to connect with the crowd
Your Dream Illinois Wedding
What to Know: Danny Chaimson, Owner & CEO of The Chicago Players, says, “These incredible musicians can pull off a wide variety of music: classic rock, standards, soul, motown, hip-hop, indie rock — and do it in a way that can only be described as “authentic.” As performers they are electrifying, effortlessly shifting through the musical landscape to take every event to a magical place.”
What to See: Chaimson shared words from the bride and groom of this detailed golden wedding: “The band was incredible, they kept the energy up, performed beautifully, and kept our guests dancing all night long. We also appreciate their seamless transitions between the Greek Music 😀 It was a night to always remember!”
What we Love: We love how Don Cagen Orchestra is dedicated to making your event truly memorable. With their unparalleled stage presence and laudable credentials, this 10-to 16-piece orchestra brings a stage presence that elevates each and every event, leaving your guests wanting more.
Wedding Ceremony Music Chicago, Wedding Musicians
What to Know: Becky Cagen, Owner of Don Cagen Orchestra, says, “Our mission statement: It is all about ‘You’, the wedding couple, and not about ‘Us’! We offer unique instrumentations for ceremony, cocktail and dinner music, and customize our dancing playlist to allow each couple to express their personal style through our music. Having performed at over 4000 weddings, no two weddings have ever been alike!”
What to See: Cagen shares of this Northerly Island tented wedding, “Incorporating our couple’s wedding vision, we created a fantastic musical experience for their guests! During the ceremony: our 8-musician chamber ensemble and a Pop-Up Recessional of Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.” Cocktails: our Roaring 20’s Jazz Band. Dinner & Dancing: the 21 performer “Don Cagen Orchestra” featuring our Choreographed Rock Violin Show.
What to Know: Ken Arlen, Founder of Arlen Music Productions, says of Entourage, “Led by American Idol finalist Leslie Hunt, this band is dripping with soul, chemistry, and contagious energy. With an unmatched timeless groove, from the rhythm section complemented by a funky and vibrant horn section, you will dance the night away. Leslie rocks out the soaring vocals while Jerome smooths it all out like butter. There is no limit to what Entourage is capable of, and the night will be forever remembered!”
Wedding Entertainment Chicago, Chicago Wedding Band
What to See: Arlen says of this grand Chicago wedding, “At a recent wedding, the groom wanted to sing their song to his bride, and we happily obliged! We prepared the arrangement in his key and let him take the stage. We even sang backup for him. The bride was so moved and told us that it was the highlight of her wedding!”
Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra has consistently been the top choice for glamorous weddings, signature events, and exuberant dance parties across the country. Whether we are performing alongside Bruno Mars at The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, at a Presidential Inaugural Ball, or for a wedding with 300 of your closest family and friends, it is our greatest joy to ignite the dance floor with custom entertainment that delivers the energy and nuances of your favorite artists!”
What to See: Arlen shares of this elegant wedding, “At this wedding, we worked closely with the bride and groom to feature all their favorite contemporary and retro artists. They wanted FUN, and we delivered big-time, bringing our performance right onto the dance floor. We featured our Sirens rock violins and rich horn section during dinner, and at the end of the evening, we morphed into an afterglow vibe featuring Triple Fret and our DJ/live musician show with lighting, staging, and wardrobe change. We kept the dance floor full, without breaks, for over five hours of high-energy dancing!”
Chicago Wedding Band
What to Know: Ken Arlen, Founder of Arlen Music Productions, says of Front of House, “Each performance is customized to reflect the unique personalities and musical preferences of our clients. We love using a sampler to integrate modern, electronic beats with our repertoire to create music that is familiar and surprising at the same time. It is not at all uncommon for a guest to come up to us at the end of the night and say that we are the best band that they have ever heard at a wedding!”
What to See: Arlen says of this upscale wedding, “If the moment takes your crowd somewhere, we are coming with you — even if that means crowd surfing around the dance floor to Sweet Caroline! And, whether we are learning and arranging a special request for a first dance, inviting family members up on stage to perform, or customizing song lyrics, we are thrilled to help create magic memories that will last a lifetime.”
What to Know: Mike Zabrin, Owner of Funktastic Productions, says, “Funktastic replaces the cookie-cutter wedding band sound with musicality and innovation. We are Chicago’s finest Black voices, and by tributing legendary artists with inclusion and diversity, we help preserve the African-American art form of Motown, soul, funk, jazz, hip hop, and more! Funktastic provides 6-15 piece bands, jazz trios, rotating quartets, strings, DJs, and more.”
Tips For Creating The Perfect Wedding Music Playlist
What to See: Zabrin shares of this charming backyard wedding, “After finding us at a local Chicago venue called The Bassment, these wedding clients turned into lifelong fans of the band and never missed a chance to see us live leading up to their wedding. During COVID-19, they postponed their wedding, moving from a Chicago venue to a backyard. We learned their song requests, ranging from Grateful Dead to the Blues Brothers for a memorable celebration.”
What we Love: We love how the uber-talented musicians that comprise The Gold Coast All Stars somehow manage to sound like the real deal on every song, in every style, while also creating a sound that’s alive with energy. They create a fun dynamic with guests at events, engaging them in the music and their performance.
What to Know: Danny Chaimson, President of Gold Coast Events, says, “The Gold Coast All Stars have spent the last decade creating blowout, jaw-dropping concert-like experiences at unforgettable weddings. Utilizing the best original artists in Chicago, GCAS revolutionized wedding music to align artists with like-minded song choices, making every song feel like an authentic musical experience — whether it’s by Queen or Jay Z.”
Classic Wedding Songs And Their History And Use In Weddings
What to See: Chaimson shares of this Chicago bash, “We opened the night with a 20-person gospel choir joining our 18-piece band on stage, for a truly epic opening dance set that set the tone for this extraordinary celebration. The band played everything from Kygo and The Beatles to Notorious B.I.G. and Sam Cooke in a mind-blowing display of versatility and musicianship.”
What to Know: Ken Arlen, Founder of Arlen Music Productions, says of Indigo, “This band has the talent, energy, and experience to provide the perfect fit for each of our unique clients. We provide an inspired soundtrack for your most special day — from personalized processional play-ons for toasts and speeches, to a fun and inclusive dance party. Having spent 12 years entertaining together on stage, we are a close family that enjoys each other greatly. and the fun we have together is contagious!”
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