New York has more wedding bands than any city in the country. That sounds like a good thing until you're 30 tabs deep comparing demo reels and they all start to blur together. We've been on the other side of this for over a decade, so here's what we think actually matters when you're making this decision.
NYC weddings come with variables you don't deal with in most places. Your venue might be a loft in Williamsburg with a freight elevator and a noise curfew, a rooftop in Manhattan with wind and no walls, or a grand ballroom in Midtown where sound bounces off marble for days.
Each of those spaces changes what a band needs to do. The size of the room, the ceiling height, the acoustics, whether there's a built-in sound system or the band brings their own. All of it affects how the music lands. A band that plays NYC regularly already knows this. One that doesn't will learn it at your wedding, and you don't want to be the test run.
Before you start comparing bands, sit down and talk about what you want the night to feel like. Not what songs to play, but what the energy should be.
Are you imagining a packed dance floor from the first song to the last call? Or more of a warm, intimate evening where the music is present but not overpowering? Do you want a party that builds slowly or one that hits hard right out of the gate?
This matters because it determines everything else: band size, genre mix, volume levels, how active the frontperson should be. Two bands can have the same setlist and deliver completely different experiences. Know what you're looking for before you start shopping.
Every band has a highlight reel. Here's how to look past it:
Skip "how many songs do you know." Here's what to ask instead:
After 10 years in the NYC wedding scene, here are the things that should make you pause:
We're not going to publish our exact pricing here, but we built a price calculator to help you get a ballpark. Here's what to expect in the NYC market so you're not blindsided.
A professional wedding band in New York is a significant investment. The cost scales with band size (a 6-piece is less than a 12-piece), duration, and add-ons like cocktail hour or ceremony music. You're paying for professional musicians, top-tier gear, a sound engineer, transportation, setup, and years of experience knowing how to make your night great.
If you find a band that's dramatically cheaper than everyone else, there's usually a reason. Either the musicians are less experienced, the gear is subpar, or the "band" is a pickup group assembled for your wedding with no chemistry. You get what you pay for.
Reach out to us directly for a custom quote based on your date, venue, and what you're looking for.
The short answer: as early as you can. The best bands book 6 to 12 months out, and peak season (May through October) fills up fast. If you're planning a Saturday wedding in September, don't wait until spring to start looking.
The process usually looks like this: you reach out and tell us about your wedding. We have a conversation about what you're looking for: the vibe, the venue, any must-play songs. We put together a proposal with options and pricing. If it feels right, a deposit holds the date. Between booking and the wedding, we stay in touch to nail down the details: timeline, special songs, coordination with your planner.
We'd love to be part of your night. Check out what we offer on our services page, read what other couples have said on our reviews page, or just drop us a message below and let's talk.