INSPIRATION
Choosing the Right Band Size for Your Boston Wedding
Picture the first chorus hitting and your friends rushing the dance floor. Every musician you add changes the night: a fuller sound, more energy, and a bigger moment when the sax kicks in. Here's how each size sounds and feels, so you can pick the night you want.
Watch Our Larger Bands
Everybody
Backstreet Boys
Hey Ya
Outkast
No Diggity
Blackstreet
Funky Music
Wild Cherry
Cold Water
Justin Bieber
Locked out of Heaven
Bruno Mars
How many musicians do I need for my wedding band?
As many as it takes to give you the sound you love. A Three-Piece Band is a complete band on its own: a singer on guitar, bass and drums, tight enough to keep the dance floor packed all night. Every player you add brings more color, more power and more of a show for your guests to crowd around.
You don't need to count heads first. We fit beautifully into almost any room, stage or no stage, and we never need a stage, whatever the band size. You're choosing a sound, not matching a number on your guest list.
We're Boston musicians, trained at Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory, and we've been playing live since 2009. We play weddings together every weekend, so we know exactly what each extra player brings to a room.
The easiest way to decide is to listen. Watch a Four-Piece Band and then a Six-Piece Band back to back in the Package Builder, and you'll hear the difference straight away.
What does each band size add?
Think of our bands as a ladder. Each size keeps everything from the size below and adds one new sound, so you can hear exactly what you're adding to your night.
| Band | Line-up | What it adds | From (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-Piece Band | Singer on guitar, bass, drums | A full, tight band sound | $3,400 |
| Four-Piece Band | Adds keys | A richer sound; female lead vocals available | $3,950 |
| Five-Piece Band | Adds a second singer | Two voices and duets | $4,700 |
| Six-Piece Band | Adds sax | Sax changes everything | $5,300 |
| Seven-Piece Band | Adds guitar solos or horns | Big solos or a horn line | $5,950 |
| Eight-Piece Band | More players | More energy and presence | $6,550 |
| Nine-Piece Band | On request | Completes the horn section | Ask your Band Manager |
Beautiful Background Music
With our own special twist on pop, soul and jazz, we’ll serenade you and your guests with soft background music over cocktails, appetizers and dinner.
Small Bands, Rockin’ Vibe
Perfect for intimate weddings with an upbeat and fun party to end your evening. Our Three-Piece Band is an affordable option, that includes a killer male singer and his guitar, along with bass and drums by his side. They’ll play your favorite songs, guaranteeing everyone a great time.
Party DJ & MC Packages
Get the best of both worlds with live music and a pro DJ – who’s also a trained musician in one affordable package.
Large Bands, Big Impact
Imagine this: You’ve finished your emotional first dance, and you’re ready to let loose. The lights are dim, and there’s an anticipation in the air. Your drummer counts the band in, and they kick off the night with your favorite song. Everyone packs in around you, smiling and throwing their hands in the air. It’s incredible.
The price you see in the Package Builder is the price you pay.
Have a sound in mind that isn't on the ladder? Instruments can be swapped depending on the band's make-up, so ask your Band Manager what works for the size you love.
Which band size do I need for a female lead singer?
The Four-Piece Band or bigger. Our Three-Piece Band is led by a singer on guitar, and from the Four-Piece Band up you can choose a female lead, with keys filling out the sound around her voice.
Want both? The Five-Piece Band adds a second singer, and that opens up a whole new side of the night. A duet for your first dance. Harmonies on the big singalong choruses. A song list wide enough to get your parents and your college friends on the dance floor together.
Not sure which voice suits you? Watch the singers in the Package Builder and choose the one you love. Your Band Manager confirms your singer is available before you book.
Should we add a sax or horns?
If you want the dance floor to lift off, yes. The Six-Piece Band adds sax, and sax changes everything: bigger choruses, a solo right in the middle of your guests, and a cheer every time it comes in. Couples tell us the same thing again and again: don't skip the sax. It's the moment your guests are still talking about the next morning.
Because every size keeps everything below it, every band from the Six-Piece Band up has sax. The Seven-Piece Band adds guitar solos or horns for an even bigger sound, and the Eight-Piece Band brings more energy and presence again. Want the full horn section? A Nine-Piece Band completes it, on request.
Love the sound of sax but want a DJ too? Our Two-Piece DJ Combo puts a live sax player out on the dance floor with your guests, playing over the DJ (more on that below).
The quickest way to feel it is to hear it. Play a Five-Piece Band, then a Six-Piece Band, and wait for the sax to come in.
Can we have a DJ and live music?
Yes. Our DJ combos bring live music and a DJ together in one booking, and our DJs are live musicians first. We play the big moments live, then hit the decks.
- One-Piece DJ Combo. Guitar or piano and a voice, live, through cocktail hour, dinner and your first dance. Then we hit the decks.
- Two-Piece DJ Combo. All of that, plus a live sax player or electric violinist out on the dance floor with your guests.
- Three-Piece DJ Combo. A DJ with sax and trumpet or electric violin. Ask your Band Manager.
Your first dance is played live, just for the two of you. Then the party is yours: any song you can name, in the version you know, with live sax or violin soaring over the top.
It's a great fit if you want a dance floor full of requests, with live music for the moments that matter most.
How much does each band size cost in Boston?
Every size on the ladder gives you a full night of live music, from cocktail hour to the last song. What changes as you climb is the sound: richer with keys, warmer with two voices, and the room lifts the moment the sax comes in at the Six-Piece Band. A Three-Piece Band starts from $3,400 and an Eight-Piece Band from $6,550 within the Boston base area, and every size is in the table above.
Good to know:
- Prices rise with distance across New England, and the Package Builder works it out from your venue.
- Ferries and accommodation (say, for an island wedding) are charged on top. Ferry travel time is part of the quote.
- Parking is charged unless your venue has free parking. It's added before your wedding.
- Book ceremony music too and a package discount is applied automatically.
The Package Builder gives you instant prices. It never shows availability: your Band Manager confirms we're available for your date.
How long will the band play?
All night. A reception booking is five hours, with up to 180 minutes of live music in all.
That covers the whole arc of your evening. Something warm and easy through cocktail hour while your guests find a drink and catch up. A relaxed set over dinner. Then the lights go down, we play your first dance live, and the dance floor fills and stays full until the last song.
We read the room all night, so a crowd that's on its feet gets more of what's working, and a quieter moment gets the song it needs. And we've never missed a wedding we were booked for.
What should I ask my venue?
Every venue has its own rules, and a few quick questions now save a surprise later. Knowing them early helps you choose the band size that fits the room. Check these with your venue before you lock anything in:
- Is there a sound limit or a music curfew? Some venues cap the volume or set a time when the music must stop. It's worth knowing before you plan your last song.
- Where will the band set up, and is there power within 10 feet? We bring our own sound system, so a spot near a power outlet is all we need.
- Are you over 200 guests? For a crowd that size, we'd normally recommend additional sound support. Ask us and we can help.
No stage needed, for any band size. Once you have the answers, share them with your Band Manager and we'll take it from there, so the only thing left to think about is the dance floor.
How do I book my band?
Booking your band should feel exciting, and it only takes three simple steps before your date is locked in with us.
- Build it in the Package Builder. Watch the videos, compare sizes and see your price instantly. There are over 30 hours of video in there, so you can hear every band size before you decide.
- Choose your singer. Pick the singer you love. Your Band Manager confirms your singer is available before you book, then we build your band around them with the people they play with every weekend.
- Confirm with your Band Manager. They'll lock in your date and answer every question along the way.
We're often booked up to 12 months ahead, and Saturdays and fall foliage weekends are always snapped up first. Got your date? The videos are waiting.
Questions? Call (617) 865 2929.
Boston Wedding Band Size: Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are in a typical wedding band?
Our bands run from 3 to 8 musicians, with a Nine-Piece Band on request. A Three-Piece Band is a singer on guitar, bass and drums. Each size above that adds one new sound: keys, a second singer, sax, then guitar solos or horns. Watch each size in the Package Builder to hear the difference.
Is a Four-Piece Band enough for a wedding?
Yes. A Four-Piece Band adds keys to the Three-Piece Band for a richer sound, and it lets you choose a female lead singer. It's a complete band that can keep your dance floor full all night. Go bigger if you'd love two singers for duets, or sax for that extra lift.
What's the difference between a Six-Piece Band and an Eight-Piece Band?
The Six-Piece Band adds sax to the Five-Piece Band, so you get two singers and sax. The Seven-Piece Band adds guitar solos or horns for an even bigger sound, and the Eight-Piece Band brings more energy and presence again. A Nine-Piece Band, on request, completes the horn section.
Do we need a stage for a wedding band?
No. We never need a stage, whatever the band size. We bring our own sound system and set up on the floor, right beside the dancing, with power within 10 feet. For more than 200 guests, we'd normally recommend additional sound support, and we can help with that.
Can we swap an instrument in the band?
Often, yes. Instruments can be swapped depending on the line-up you choose. Tell your Band Manager the sound you have in mind, whether that's more horns or a different lead instrument, and they'll let you know what works for the band size you love.
How much is a wedding band in Boston?
A Three-Piece Band starts from $3,400 and an Eight-Piece Band from $6,550 within about 18 miles of Boston, and DJ combos start from $2,150. The table above lists every size. For travel, packages and the whole picture, read our Boston cost guide.
Do you play weddings outside Boston?
Yes. We play right across New England: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Travel within about 18 miles of Boston is included, and beyond that the price rises with distance. Ferries and accommodation, for an island wedding say, are charged on top.
What happens during the band's breaks?
Between sets, we play our Spotify playlist, or your own playlist if you give us one, so the music keeps going. Strings and harp play unplugged, so the music pauses while we take a break.
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We come highly recommended
COUPLES SAY CHOOSING THE RIGHT BAND SIZE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
“Jeremy recommended a 5-piece band for our reception, and it made all the difference, adding a depth to the music we think would have been missing otherwise. The sax, guitars, drums and bass were all outstanding.”
Sam
Your Celebration Starts Here
Watch our musicians. Choose the music you love.
See your price as you build.