Standing Room Only is named among the nation's hottest bands by Modern Bride Magazine.
Standing Room Only Orchestra is one of Chicago’s top wedding bands. With a versatile orchestra of seasoned vocalists and superb musicians, we can do it all. Almost everything about our premium live band can be customized for your special event from ensemble sizes to set lists.
Our high-energy live music performances and detailed planning have won us some of the most prestigious wedding receptions and corporate events in Chicago and around the country. Clients who demand high-quality talent and professionalism know our live music dance band delivers like no other.
Chicago's Elite Live Band Experience
We're not just another cover band, we are a group of experienced and talented musicians who have been playing together for years. Unlike other national or Chicago wedding bands, our first day meeting each other won't be on your wedding day. Our vocalists hit every note and have the best band in the industry backing them up. We love what we do and create the best live energy for your event, as a result.
Standing Room Only can perform all your favorite songs from disco and Motown to hip hop and classic rock to keep your guests on the dance floor the entire night. View our complete song library here.
Our core band package consists of six live band members and can be scaled up or down to meet your customized sound needs. All packages include:
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3 hours of high energy dance music
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Early equipment load-in
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Pre-recorded DJ music cocktail hour
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Pre-recorded DJ dinner music
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Emcee services
Overtime, late-night DJ, or longer dance sets are easily customized and negotiated based on the event.
The Best of Wedding Bands
The Knot, 2024
Top 10 Wedding Bands in Chicago
WeddingRule, 2022
Couple's Choice Award
WeddingWire, 2024
Our wedding was a few weeks ago now, and still the first thing I hear from our guests is how awesome the band was! SRO kept the dance floor completely packed all night, at some points there wasn't enough space for everybody on the dance floor.
Mark, Groom
Customize Your Chicago Wedding Band
Looking for a large dance band that offers high energy music, a variety of singers, a full horn section? Standing Room Only offers a 10 piece big band as the largest band size. 3 front vocalists, a rhythm section with vocals and a 3 piece horn section.
The Orchestra Package
10 piece big band including:
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3 Rockstar Vocalists
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Guitar /Vocals
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Keyboards/Vocals
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Bass/Vocals
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Drums
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Alto Saxophone
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Tenor Saxophone
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Trumpet
PLEASE NOTE: THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES LIVE SOLO MUSICIAN COCKTAIL MUSIC & LIVE TRIO DINNER MUSIC
The Performer Package
9 piece big band including:
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2 Rockstar Vocalists
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Guitar /Vocals
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Keyboards/Vocals
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Bass/Vocals
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Drums
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Alto Saxophone
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Tenor Saxophone
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Trumpet
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The Artist Package
7 piece band including:
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2 Rockstar Vocalists
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Guitar /Vocals
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Keyboards/Vocals
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Bass/Vocals
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Drums
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Tenor Saxophone
The Lounge Package
6 piece band including:
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2 Rockstar Vocalists
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Guitar /Vocals
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Keyboards/Vocals
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Bass/Vocals
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Drums
The Club Package
Fully customized to make a “lean & mean” ensemble to fit budget and space needs
Great Music All Day/Night Long
Ceremony Music
Want to set the tone with live music while guests are being seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin?
Need processional music as unique as the bride? You're in the right place. Whether traditional stringed classics or a touch of modern dance music, our superb musicians will make your big day unforgettable.
Cocktail & Dinner Music
Start the party off right with a jazz trio or solo pianist during your cocktail hour or during dinner hours.
Looking for something more folksy? Try a solo guitarist or acoustic trio.
Ready to party as soon as you say "I do"? The creme of Chicago's best party bands, Standing Room Only, is ready to rock out to all of your favorite songs.
Reception Music
A high-energy live band to keep your guests dancing all night and gushing about how much fun they're having is how you win 'Best Wedding Ever'.
From the seamless planning process to our intuitively curated song lists, our goal is to ensure you receive individualized attention to make your big day perfect.
Crazy crowd? We know what to do. More sophisticated? Not to worry. Our wedding band aims to please.
Event & Wedding Planner FAQs
We will guide you through the creation of your timeline, ensure all vendors are working together, and emcee your entire event. Whatever your needs, Standing Room Only welcomes your every wish. Our goal is to ensure you receive only the best for your special day. The following questions are the ones we hear most frequently.
How early do you guys book up?
We start receiving Chicago wedding band inquiries 12-18 months prior to the event. Standing Room Only prioritizes quality over quantity and doesn’t send out multiple bands on the same evening so once we are booked, we are booked.
What is the instrumental configuration of each ensemble size? Each band has a rhythm section of guitar, bass, drums, keys. Also a male and female singer. As the size of the band grows, horns are added, then lastly our 10 piece band adds an additional singer. SRO works with the client to customize the perfect band size.
Do you travel outside of the Chicagoland area? How far?
We are a Chicago-based ensemble but love to take the party outside of Illinois and throughout the Midwest. Have a destination wedding or corporate event away from home? Count us in, we love to travel.
How can I see the band perform before I book them?
We keep our website videos current and take videos of the crowd at each gig. We typically do not play in clubs or restaurants; most of our events are private. Invite-only private viewing of the band is available based on the event. In the summer months, SRO books a handful of public street fairs and events that everyone can enjoy!
Can the band play the ceremony and/or cocktail hour, too? Definitely. We can provide piano music, guitar music, strings, trumpet, flute, or vocalists.
Can you help with ceremony song selections?
Check out our ceremony trio String of Sound. Listen to unique arrangements of pop, jazz, and classical music. You can also peruse the list of ceremony music to get song ideas for your processional and recessional. https://stringofsound.com
What style of music do you play?
SRO plays a wide variety of music from Classical/Pop ceremony, Jazz trio cocktails/dinner, from Motown to Shawn Mendes, Classics & Country, Disco, ’80s, and R&B to old school rap.
Can I choose the music?
Consider us similar to Pandora Radio. Give us some ideas, and let us fill in the blanks. It’s our job, and our pleasure…and frankly we are awesome at it! We kindly ask you to keep in mind that we are a band (a rockin' band!) and not a DJ service…and ask for your trust in making the night of music incredible.
My cousin is a musician; can they sit in with you?
If you want it to happen, we will make it happen... preferably with some notice before the event. ;)
Are your musicians full-time/permanent/guaranteed?
Standing Room Only musicians are loyal and are dedicated to this organization as some musicians have been with SRO for decades! In a pandemic world, it’s a more complicated time that a few years ago. Fortunately, we have many musicians in the “extended SRO family” in case someone needs a suitable replacement that evening.
Will you learn a new song for us that’s not on your list?
SRO has a huge list of songs in our library. We’d be happy to learn special dances with enough lead time for the chart writer to arrange it for the band to play during first dance, father/daughter dance, or mother/son dance. If we don’t do a specific song for the dance set, we’d be happy to play it during the 20 minute DJ break.
Does the band play during dinner?
All band packages include a pre-recorded DJ customized playlist for dinner. We’d be happy to provide live dinner music at an additional cost of $200/musician.
Does the band provide a sound system?
Yes, the band provides a fantastic sound system of two subs and two powered speakers. We use in-ear monitors so all sound goes direct without stage wedges. We provide a professional sound engineer on-site at every event to manage the balance and make sure the sound is quiet when it needs to be quiet and a rock show when it’s time to rock!
Do you have an additional PA sound system we can use for the ceremony?
We do! SRO can provide a smaller 4 channel system with a corded microphone on a mic stand. Two speakers on speaker stands and crew to set up and tear down for an additional cost of $175.
Can we use your sound equipment for speeches?
Absolutely! We have a wireless mic that we can have ready for speeches on a mic stand.
How much do I pay and when?
All Chicago wedding band packages require a $2,000 deposit with the signed contract. The remainder of the balance is due 7-14 days prior to the event.
What is your refund/cancellation policy?
Deposits are non-refundable.
But what if it is a covid-related cancellation?
In the event that Covid-related issues preclude the event from occurring and a new date cannot be agreed upon for rescheduling, a $100 per person retainer fee for each band member/sound engineer, and a $250 administrative fee is non-refundable. The remaining difference from the first payment will be refunded.
Are you insured?
Yes, we are insured and can provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for venues, if needed.
What does the band require on the night?
You will need to provide parking and a vendor meal for musicians and the sound crew.
Have you performed at our venue before?
Depends where it is! We have played at over 1,500 weddings at elite Chicago venues including: The Knickerbocker, Hotel Allegro, MCA, Field Museum, Salvatore’s, The Arboretum, The Arbory, The Cuneo Mansion, Medinah Country Club, The Drake Loewe’s, The Langham, The Marriott, The Chicago History Museum, Architectural Artifacts, Chicago Botanical Gardens, US Cellular Field, The Saddle & Cycle Club, The Morton Arboretum, and many more. We also love an outdoor barn/farm wedding and have played many venues such as regional wineries. If your venue isn't listed, just ask but know performing in a new location is never a problem. This is a required part of our job, so we are comfortable in vetting the necessary information to ensure a smooth performance.
What does the band wear?
The band looks “glamorously transparent” in black/silver suits, ties, cocktail dresses.
Do you play same-sex weddings?
Absolutely! We are always happy to bring more love to the love! We are also proud to be a part of the Illinois Gay & Lesbian Friendly wedding musicians.
Do you play corporate events?
Yes, SRO has played many corporate events for a variety of companies at McCormick Place, Field Museum, and others.