Best Wedding DJs and Bands in Boston
Boston is one of the most exciting cities in the United States, with a rich history and culture that spans centuries. The city is home to Fenway Park, world-class museums like the Museum of Fine Arts and Harvard University, as well as some amazing restaurants. As if this wasn’t enough to make you want to visit Boston, it’s also got a thriving music scene which includes some genuinely great wedding DJs and bands!
Finding the perfect wedding DJ or band can be a daunting task. With so many options and variables to consider, it is often difficult to narrow down your search. This blog post will take you through some of the most important things to keep in mind when deciding on entertainment for your wedding day, as well as tips on how to get started with planning out every detail!
Things to consider before hiring a DJ or Band for your wedding
What better way to set the tone for your wedding than with music? The right song can make all of those hours spent planning worth it. But how do you choose among the DJs and bands in order to find what’s best suited for your event? It would be wise to consider some key differences before making that choice.
The Cost
A live band is an important staple of any reception, but if you don’t have the budget for it then hiring a DJ may be your best bet. If you’re really in love with that one particular type of music and want to make sure every detail reflects this without breaking your bank account, find other ways to cut back so there’s room on the card for what matters most: making memories!
The Location
Logistics can make or break your wedding. Figure out the space limitations and infrastructure of your venue before you decide if a live band is for you. Maybe that beach just won’t work with all those people, but what about indoors?
The Music
A DJ can help you keep the party going with all your favorite tunes, but if original versions are not important to you and live music is more up your alley, a band may be just what’s needed. A live band can also bring a lot of energy to your event, while a DJ can provide a good deal of variety to the songs requested.
Wilson Stevens
What’s your company story? How and why did you start your company?
Wilson Stevens was founded in the early ‘80s by a successful sales and marketing professional by the name of Kathy Wilson. When Kathy Wilson had the idea to start the company, she knew her husband Tim could make it happen. They were both fed up with how dishonest and unfair artists are treated in the live events industry. The couple combined their talents for marketing success and music production to create Wilson Stevens as we know them today! Together with Tim’s band “Beantown”, they work with a commitment to treat others the way they want to be treated.
What is something unique / extremely cool about your company?
We’re a family run business to this day; two generations of music and weddings is our life’s work. We feel that our ethical approach to entertainment service sets us apart. We also build our bands from the ground up. Our bands are quite literally, our bands. I think many people view entertainment agencies as a middle-man, but that couldn’t be further from the case with Wilson Stevens.
What advice would you give to couples about booking a band or a DJ for their wedding?
Go with your gut. There is no handbook or college course on ‘how to choose entertainment’. But like so much else in life, if it feels right, it probably is.
If a couple were to ask for a ballpark price range of what most couples spend on your services, what would you tell them?
$7,000 to $12,000
Contact Wilson Stevens through these details:
Email: justin@wilsonstevens.com
Phone: 978-256-0360
East Coast Soul
What’s your company story? How and why did you start your company?
East Coast Soul was started by a group of close friends who met on the Boston gospel and jazz music scene. We began with a passion for timeless, groove-heavy music, and ten years later, we’re still doing what we love!
What advice would you give to couples about booking a band or a DJ for their wedding?
Book someone you feel passionately about that matches your vision, rather than just a generic ‘whiz-bang’ kind of group. You’ll thank yourself later!
If a couple were to ask for a ballpark price range of what most couples spend on your services, what would you tell them?
It varies depending on day of the week, time of year, size of the ensemble, and location, but roughly $6,000 through $10,000 is most common.
Contact East Coast Soul through these details:
Email: info@eastcoastsoul.net
Phone: (617) 356-7802
Night Shift Entertainment
What’s your company story? How and why did you start your company?
Our company was started 25 years ago with one band. From one popular band with the busiest schedule in the industry we grew into five bands and multiple ensembles.
What is something unique / extremely cool about your company?
Our company is more of a high end boutique than a wedding agency. We specialize in the best musical experience while staying hip!
What advice would you give to couples about booking a band or a DJ for their wedding?
The best advice I can give to couples is to hire entertainment based on reputation. The top vendors’ names will come up over and over. Ask other vendors, they will know who is the best.
If a couple were to ask for a ballpark price range of what most couples spend on your services, what would you tell them?
Prices vary depending on month, day of week, and location.
Contact Night Shift Entertainment through these details:
Email: karen@nightshiftent.com
Phone: 6178409560
SpeechLess Music
What’s your company story? How and why did you start your company?
SpeechLess began in 2011 as an original jazz/funk instrumental band, formed with the idea to play music that needs no words, that sings without vocals. 10 years later we perform all over the USA, in a multitude of configurations that also incorporate strings, singers, and DJs. To this day, our core approach to performance stems from applying a jazz-informed improvisational style to pop music, infusing cover songs with the creativity of an original artist.
What is something unique / extremely cool about your company?
SpeechLess began as an original project and this creative/artistic approach is infused into our performance of cover songs.
What advice would you give to couples about booking a band or a DJ for their wedding?
Most wedding song lists are pretty much the same, and therefore what makes a band or DJ special is not what they play, it’s HOW they play. Similarly, you’re always better off with a world-class string trio than an out-of-tune quartet — more musicians on stage, more photo booths, and more uplighting are usually gimmicks to try to distract from a lack of quality by offering you quantity. If the core talent of the band or DJ doesn’t immediately jump out, keep searching!
If a couple were to ask for a ballpark price range of what most couples spend on your services, what would you tell them?
$1,500 – $15,000. We have string duos and 11-piece bands so it’s quite a wide range.
Contact SpeechLess Music through these details:
Email: booking@speechlessmusic.com
Phone: (774) 231-8583
Murray Hill Talent
What’s your company story? How and why did you start your company?
Murray Hill Talent is a top provider of Bands, Musicians, DJs & Specialty artists throughout New England and has quickly become a top live entertainment resource for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, summer outings, day cruises, conventions, in-store events, restaurant entertainment, fashion shows and trade shows. Our impeccable reputation has earned us the honor of being the choice entertainment providers for some of the most discerning clients, venues, event planners, destination management firms, catering companies and event producers in New England. Apart from private parties, Murray Hill Talent is the exclusive talent supplier for various restaurants, nightclubs, casinos and the largest day cruise ships operating daily out of Boston Harbor.
We consistently rank as one of the top vendors on sites such as The Knot, Weddingwire & Yelp Our company and events are featured in many of the most popular publications and blogs such as Boston Globe, Huffington Post, Style Me Pretty, Carats & Cake, Brides, Destination Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Borrowed & Blue, Maharani Weddings, LulaWed, WeddingBee, Offbeat Bride, and more.
Our company and staff are active members of Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, International Live Events Association, Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), North Shore Wedding Professionals and the Berklee College of Music Alumni Association. Murray Hill Talent is licensed and bonded by the State of Massachusetts, holds a Mass Gaming Association license and carries liability insurance.
What is something unique / extremely cool about your company?
Murray Hill Talent was formed by 3 close friends. All childhood friends and bandmates. The roots are deep and the relationships have remained intact for many many years.
What advice would you give to couples about booking a band or a DJ for their wedding?
Either book a great band/ DJ or nothing at all! Don’t waste your hard earned money on bad quality artists. Not worth it.
If a couple were to ask for a ballpark price range of what most couples spend on your services, what would you tell them?
Our DJs are in the $1,000 to $2,000 range and our Dance Bands are in the $5000 through $8000 range.
Contact Murray Hill Talent through these details:
Email: Contact@murrayhilltalent.com
Phone: 800-843-2263
Business Time
What’s your company story? How and why did you start your company?
We’ve been kicking out epic jams to create the most fun weddings since 2010. The band was formed by a few best friends with the goal of being the exact opposite of your stereotypical wedding band, and it’s become more fun than we possibly could have imagined.
What is something unique / extremely cool about your company?
Business Time is focused on one thing: playing great music to create the most epic and fun weddings ever. We work closely with our clients every step of the way to customize their wedding exactly the way they want it, to ultimately throw the most fun party imaginable.
What advice would you give to couples about booking a band or a DJ for their wedding?
Find a band or DJ that fits with your personality and music tastes! Some bands focus on funk and jazz, others on pop and rock, find one that does what YOU love!
If a couple were to ask for a ballpark price range of what most couples spend on your services, what would you tell them?
$6,000 to $8,000
Contact Business Time through these details:
Email: businesstimerock@gmail.com
Phone: 978-857-2797
What do these 6 DJ/Bands have in common? They all know what it takes to keep their crowds engaged and dancing all night long. With so many DJs and bands to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out who you want at your wedding. That’s why we did the hard work for you. If you need some help deciding which one will be perfect for your big day, send me an email! Our team would love to chat with you about how we can make this decision easier on you!
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