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Band? (kinda long :) )

elizabethandandrewelizabethandandrew
First Comment
in Minnesota-Minneapolis and St. Paul
I have a good friend who is a professional DJ and have him all lined up to do our reception. However, my FFIL thinks that a DJ at a wedding will be no fun at all and is insisting that we get a band. I keep thinking of scenes from "The Wedding Singer" but know that there are good bands out there. FFIL says he will pay for a band, but I just don't think the added expense is necessary.

So, in order to try to keep everyone happy, I am willing to at least look. Does anyone have any recommendations of good bands that play a variety of music? Or even where to look?
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Re: Band? (kinda long :) )

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    beka0404beka0404
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I had the same worry when we were searching for a band - I had a no "Mambo No. 5" rule. If a band had that song in their promotional video, they got crossed off the list. This meant that nearly all of the "wedding bands" that you find on The Knot and such were DQ'd from our search.

    (Wedding planning = Sometimes my Crazy comes out to play.)

    I have been to dozens of weddings with a DJ, and they've all been fun. They key isn't necessarily the fact that you have a DJ - if you have younger people on your guest list, they'll dance. Especially if they have some cocktails. The fun part of having a DJ is you can bust out "Bust a Move" and "Folsom Prison Blues" back to back... or whatever you want. That freedom is really nice... and a DJ is less expensive. We splurged on our band.

    We actually found our band via a Facebook sidebar ad, but here are some managers that I had contacted that have a variety of bands:


    I also looked at Gig Masters to check out other variety bands: http://www.gigmasters.com/Search/CoverBand-Minneapolis-MN.html (I usually looked the bands on Gig Masters up on Google to find audio samples - MySpace Music usually carries the audio samples.)
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    schmoodschmood member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I have a friend that used the band Midas Touch for her reception.   They play frequently at Mancini's on W 7th in St. Paul.   They play a little bit of everything and are pretty fun.   I know someone else who had the band Orange Whip that was also a really fun band.  
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    ef7310ef7310
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    edited December 2011
    We're having Metro jam play at our wedding. I've heard great things about them on here, and we got to see a video of them perform. They are very reasonable in price. We booked them though Macken Music. Mike has been very helpful. http://www.metrojamband.com/hbmain.html

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    ssminy79ssminy79
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Music is SUPER huge in our lives; both my FI and I are musicians.  We are actually having two bands at our ceremony.  At any rate, I would suggest contacting Scott with Reception Jazz.  (receptionjazz.com)  He can hook you up with whomever and can accomodate your needs. Good Luck!
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    debbieupperdebbieupper member
    5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We're using "Jug!" and found them from a knottie (possibly Beka?). 

    It's generally more pricey (sometimes a LOT more pricey) to get a band, but after catering weddings for 3 years, I knew that I wanted live music for sure. DJs can absolutely be a lot of fun - but a band is something people don't often experience at a wedding, so they tend to "live it up" a little more when it's real people onstage.

    Also, all bands have to break. Ours is taking three 30 minute breaks during their 4 hours of play (1 hour play, 30 min break, repeat) -- so that's when we're getting in those songs they can't play, which is our case is the Frank Sinatra (for Papa) and other hip-hop music, etc.
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    loopy82loopy82 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We are using 8 foot 4. They are pretty awesome. Great for getting the crowd involved. They play a variety of music. Plus they travel with a DJ, so you get both a band and a DJ. http://www.8foot4live.com/
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    debbieupperdebbieupper member
    5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_band-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:f315b11e-2f14-4580-ab81-2e4991e69cf8Post:585a4929-01ef-4c86-a45c-eb18b0395020">Re: Band? (kinda long :) )</a>:
    [QUOTE]We are using 8 foot 4. They are pretty awesome. Great for getting the crowd involved. They play a variety of music. Plus they travel with a DJ, so you get both a band and a DJ. <a href="http://www.8foot4live.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.8foot4live.com/</a>
    Posted by loopy82[/QUOTE]

    <div>Ha - They look fun, Loopy! Similar to Jug! Gotta get a little country if you're out in the boondocks. :)</div>
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    loopy82loopy82 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011

    They are a ton of fun! I do love  me some country. Wedding is in St. Paul, but well most of the guests will be from the boondocks....

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