Chris Sarlas Orchestra

We hired the Chris Sarlas Orchestra for our wedding in late 2012. They were outstanding. Chris is a pleasure to work with- very professional. His musicians are top-notch. So many of our guests were raving about the band. We had them play a couple of Greek dance songs, which everybody loved, and the rest traditional music. Chris does a great job with the MC duties, keeping the reception moving. He's very classy- no cheesy wedding band stories here.
One note: Chris posts video on youtube and on his website of actual weddings and dates that his band plays. No studio videos/recordings. You really get a good idea of how they'll sound at your wedding. This takes guts on his part, and to us, it made the difference.

We're absolutely thrilled with our choice of bands for our wedding.

Chris provided both ceremony and reception music for my wedding, both were FANTASTIC! I had several calls after my wedding asking who was that amazing band. My guests danced until 1 a.m. and would have gone longer had the venue permitted. I would not hestiate to recommend Chris' for ceremony music, band and DJ services to any perspective wedding couple. If you don't choose Chris, your missing out on a phenominal musical experience!!!

We don't have enough great things to say about the Chris Sarlas Orchestra. Our wedding guests packed the dance floor all night, and we are still receiving compliments about how wonderful our band was! Chris intently listened to the songs we hoped to hear/songs we didn't want to hear and was a pleasure to work with.

Wonderful. Fabulous. Incredible. Terrific. Outstanding. Non stop fun and dancing. They have our highest recommendation for any event. Super emcee. Very professional. Covered an enormous range of music.

could not have been more impressed with band. chris sarlas ran the wedding from introduction of bride to final dance. as father of bride I just sat back and enjoyed the party. He ran it beautifully and my daughter and wife were thrilled. never ending parade of guests all night kept telling me what a wonderful band. dance floor was filled from first dance until last dance. Chris communicated with my daughter prior to the wedding and everything was ready to go. The man is a gentleman and was great with our guests. Great experience.

Chris Sarlas Orchestra were beyond outstanding! My friends are still talking about the wedding and saying "it was the best wedding ever!" Our guests danced all night and they loved the song selection. As the bride, I did not have to worry about anything because Chris took care of the details and the night flowed perfectly. I would highly recommend Chris Sarlas Orchestra to anyone that wants to have a fantastic party and evening!

I had nine months to plan our daughter's wedding. I had heard The Chris Sarlas Band play at another event and so enjoyed his first class musicians and vocalists, noticing NO ONE WAS SITTING. My first call was to Chris in planning this wedding. He actually called a few contacts to help us find a venue. My daughter lives out of town, and her entire experience in dealing with Chris was NO STRESS. He is truly an experienced professional and cares about his clients. He played a wide range of music to please our guests. Our wedding was a happy event, and EVERYONE was on the dance floor, including the bride's 93 year old grandfather!

The Chris Sarlas Orchestra was amazing for our wedding. They were able to keep people dancing and having a great time all night. Everytime you thought the band would not be able to follow up a great song, they had another to keep the party going. Everyone at the wedding said the band was the best they have ever heard....great vocals! Thank You again Chris!

Chris Sarlas and Band DELIVERED!! We were a more mature couple looking for a band that could span the decades and keep everyone rocking. They delivered. Chris was familiar with our venue, helped us script out the reception night and all we had to do was outline 10 or so MUST have songs and let them do the rest. This was key. We had professional musicians that were guests at our wedding and they had nothing but compliments on how Chris & co transitioned the music and kept everyone on their feet. Don't overscript the music.

Very happy. They were a second choice, but did a first choice job. On time, professional,nice.... They kept the party going.

I truly can't complement Chris Sarlas and his orchestra enough for what he did for our wedding reception. To only say that they sound amazing and keep the dance floor packed (which they do!) would be selling them short. Chris is a true professional who knows how to make a wedding reception flow beautifully and it shows. He worked hard to understand what was important to us and our vision for the evening and he made it a reality. He had an especially difficult challenge with our wedding: combining Greek, Latino and American music, working in my Godmother's surprise flash mob dance routine, letting my sister sing a special song to us and even welcoming late night mariachis. Chris blended in everything beautifully! Our reception was HUGE success, a ton of fun and Chris stuck with us from cocktails to clean up making sure that we were satisfied and our night was a special one. What a night!! Thank you Chris Sarlas Orchestra we couldn’t be happier!!

This is a truly phenomenal band! I think they may be a little hidden gem right now, but I would jump on the chance to work with them. We worked with Chris on our wedding just a couple of weeks ago and it could not have been executed more perfectly. From the very beginning, he was such a pleasure to work with. I had many ideas and he walked me through countless pricing options, instrument combinations, etc. He also had great ideas for things we were unsure about and is an excellent listener. Chris is exceedingly professional - a dream to work with.

We hired Chris and his musicians for our ceremony (cello and violin performed pop instrumental songs), the jazz trio for our cocktail hour, and the 10-piece band for our reception. Chris did a great job MC-ing and he and the band's music was never cheezy wedding band- sounding, just really, really good. All our guests commented on how great they were and the dance floor was full all night!

My wife and I recently married. There were many components which had to come to the fare to make the event a great success. One of the most important was the musical performance provided by the Sarlas Music Inc. group. From the violinist, cellist, vocalist and pianist, it was professional in every way. They performed a wide variety of music which kept us and our guests happy and maintained just the right ambiance. The music that Chris Sarlas helped us choose for each stage of the wedding ceremony and reception was just perfect. We could have not been more pleased and would recommend them for any event which calls for superior musical talent. Byron & Sue Gregory

This band is off the charts! They can play everything your heart desires. The night was such a blur for me, but my guests kept saying the band was amazing, the songs sound just like they do on the radio! All I remember was my first dance which they sang perfectly.

Another plus was the fact they could play both American and Greek music for our Big Fat Greek wedding. Our dance floor was constantly full, the guests were itching to get out there and cut a rug!

Chris is a professional all the way and was great at keeping the party going for our wedding. Our guests didn't want to stop!

Thanks...

This band made our wedding spectacular! My dad passed away 6 months before the wedding and Chris Sarlas was/is such an amazing, genuine person. He really helped me through the whole process and truly cared. The singers were awesome as well as the instruments. All of our guests complimented us the entire night on how great the band was. We had some greek dancing too and the singers and musicians were incredible. The band made the room come alive! You will not be disappointed with the Chris Sarlas Orchestra!

If you can get them, pick the Chris Sarlas Orchestra for your wedding! Chris is a pleasure to work with, the singers and instrumentalists are amazing and fun, and they really know how to rock a party! People were up dancing the entire night, and everyone couldn't stop talking about how awesome the band was. They really are the best in the Midwest! Get the CSO, and your wedding will be a surefire hit!

Helped make this wedding fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the first conversation I felt that Chris had my best interest at heart. He was very informative, very flexible about what I wanted, and very helpful in providing the type of venue that I wanted. I had requested 2 violins, cello, and piano for the church. I even gave Chris an original piece that I wanted in the service. Not only did they perform extremely professional, the music was absolutely beautiful! I received many compliments from our guests. Being a musician myself I can tell you that the music was every thing that I hoped it would be. I also had Chris provide a jazz trio for the cocktail hour at the reception. That also was perfect in every way. It is also important to note that the value of the services provided was, in my opinion, well worth the cost. All in all I was very pleased with everything and will definitely use Chris in the future for the next event. Thank You

The band was outstanding. Made for a great evening !!!
I could not recommend the band more .

Before we get to the music, let me say how wonderful a job Chris himself did managing us throughout the process. From the moment we met with him he made it clear that he had our best interests at heart his main intention was that we get the service we wanted and within our budget. He never once tried to force any additional services on us in order to raise the fee, and we were able to get all of the instruments that we wanted and make it work within our budget. He always responded to all of our inquiries the same day. He was extremely professional throughout the process, especially in the final few weeks when we were finalizing our preparations. Chris was such a calming presence on the phone, ensuring us that everything would go smoothly. He couldn't have been better.

Now for the Music. Wow. People were coming to us all night and all said some variation of "Where did you guys find this band, they are INCREDIBLE," and they were. The talent of the musicians was clear, and the dance floor was rocking all night, even our 90 year old grandfather felt the need to get out there. The voices of the singers were amazing, and they really brought so many of our favorite songs to life. I seriously can't imagine how they could have done any better.

In addition to the music, they did a wonderful job of interacting with the crowd and making sure that people stayed on the dance floor. This was one of our larger concerns, as there are few things sadder than an empty dance floor at a wedding. They knew how to work the crowd wonderfully, and there was never a dull moment.

We only gave 5 stars for all criteria because we couldn't give 6. If you are considering Chris Sarlas Orchestra, do yourself a favor and sign the contract now. We promise it will be one of the best decisions you make for your special day.

They are the most amazing and energetic band I have ever heard at a wedding!!!!

The Chris Sarlas Orchestra is fantastic!! All of our wedding guests have been raving about them. Our dance floor was packed the whole night and everybody had a blast dancing the night away. All of the singers are great and they will play/sing anything you want. Chris is so great to work with...he is flexible, helpful, and extremely professional. The band has now played at both mine and my sister's weddings and a lot of our friends have been recruiting them for their own weddings. My wedding would NOT have been the same without the Chris Sarlas Orchestra!

I first heard Chris' band a couple of years ago at a church anniversary party. I was amazed that a band existed that was as versatile as his orchestra and could play both excellent Greek and American music. I am Greek and my husband is of Italian/Slavic descent. We were in search of a fun wedding band. We found it in Chris and his orchestra. Chris was able to accommodate all of our different music requests from Greek to tango. In deciding on our American music, Chris met with us and offered an impressive song list - over 6 pages long! He offered to learn new music as well if it wasn't on the list. His recommendations on what gets the crowd dancing were spot on. He was extremely professional and accommodating throughout the entire process. The band made our wedding. To this day, friends and relatives keep talking about our wedding and the band, in particular. It was memorable and unforgettable. His band gets everyone dancing on the floor and no one wants the night to end. We highly recommend this band. They were worth every penny and more.

Fabulous... absolutely fabulous!!! I wish I could give more than just 5 stars. The Chris Sarlas Orchestra played at all of our siblings wedding and my husband and I wouldn't have had anyone else. The music is current and just phenomenal. The Chris Sarlas Orchestra created the atmosphere that was the highlight of our wedding. All of our guests were blown away by the performance. Chris provided us with an extensive song list and allowed us to choose the songs that we really wanted to hear which made the night a unique experience for us and our guests. If you are considering booking the Chris Sarlas Orchestra I am sure you will not regret it.

I just wanted to thank you for making our wedding night the best night ever! You guys are absolutely amazing!! We have been getting non-stop compliments about how great you all were, and everyone had a blast dancing to your music! You made our wedding and I can't thank you enough! Please pass our thanks on to Opal, Barry, Tim and Tarita, they were awesome!!! Thank you again so much! Hope to see you again in the future!


Wish you the best!
Bethany Fenby (Yarosz)

We used them for our wedding three weeks ago.

Tons of guests came up to us during the wedding to tell us how much they loved this band - and we are still hearing it today. What sets them apart is Chris. He is no hack-job cover-band leader. He has a strong formal education in music, tons of experience and is a true lover of music. Yes, the songs are covers, but he has a very talented band and he makes sure they perform each song as though it had been written for them. Believe me, I have seen my share of cheesy wedding bands. Adam Sandler is not showing up with these guys :) they know how to work a crowd and make it a fun night.

We also used their strings, Artstrings, for the ceremony and it was beautiful. What can I say? A great string trio for a garden wedding. You can't go wrong with that.

For the reception we used the seven piece band, based on Chris' recommendation. He gave us a great price. Don't waste your money on things guests won't remember (party favors, chair covers, over-done centerpieces, whatever...) Spend the money on the things people remember - Food, venue, bar and music. And for goodness sake, don't get a DJ!

The best part about working with Chris, though, is his incredible respect and patience for the customer. Weddings can bring out the worst in you, unfortunately. As the wedding got closer and I became more and more nervous, Chris let me know over and over that I was in good hands and I could count on him for anything I needed. He gave much more of himself than you would expect from a band leader - he kept me sane. We are so grateful.

The Chris Sarlas Orchestra was AMAZING! My husband and I had the best time at our wedding! Chris was so easy going and really great to work with! We still have people from our wedding saying how great the band was and how much fun they had. They played a variety of music that everyone loved and danced to the whole night! Chris and the orchestra made it the perfect evening!

They also played the trumpet and violin at the wedding ceremony and it was absolutely beautiful!

Fantastic, fun, five stars for The Chris Sarlas Orchestra! The Chris Sarlas Orchestra played at our June 2011 wedding. The band was amazing. The compliments and rave reviews about the performance from our guests continue to pour in. We worked with many vendors during the planning process, but none were like Chris Sarlas. Chris was reliable, responsive, honest, very professional, kind, and just wanted the best for us. Chris went above and beyond to make our wedding celebration a great success, and it really showed. The final product was outstanding.

Chris combined our unique music styles and song selections to create wonderful sets. Our guests were on the dance floor enjoying the party. Chris was also able to accommodate our unique request to have another ethnic band playing at the reception. Chris graciously shared his equipment and sound system. He really went out of his way to create and coordinate a schedule that worked for both bands, our guests, and most importantly us. Chris did all this while filling the role of master of ceremonies as well. He was sensational. We would recommend The Chris Sarlas Orchestra in a heartbeat. Chris, the singers, and band are extremely talented and you will be thrilled with this selection...we know we were.

The Chris Sarlas Orchestra was wonderful! They put on quite a performance!!We hired them for our daughter's wedding and they were outstanding. Chris was very professional and extremely helpful with song choices and details for the outdoor ceremony and indoor reception. Our family highly recommends the Chris Sarlas Orchestra.

They played at my daughters wedding with 260 guests. Weeks later every one is still talking about the band. Great music, great musicians, very responsive and considerate. Every one danced all night and had a great time. The musicians were superb and the vocalists just fantastic. Every member of the band was extremely professional including the sound technicians. Having music in my background made this even more of a wonderful experience. I highly recommend Sarlas Orchestras.

Can't say enough about our wonderful experience with Chris Sarlas and his band!!!!!!! Without a doubt, they made the party!!!!!! He provided guidance, expertise, and professionalism throughout the entire process leading up to the wedding and until the last guest left. He's the BEST!!!!!!!!!! Easy to work with!

Julie Nof (mother of the bride)

To say that the Chris Sarlas Orchestra was absolutely amazing is an understatement! We all had the BEST time and having them there played a huge part in that. Our wedding reception was held at Evanston Golf Club on August 8, 2010 in Skokie, IL. Everyone in the band was so full of energy and truly seemed happy to be there to celebrate with us. I'm pretty sure that they had every single person on the dance floor! The song choices were fantastic and after going over the evening with everyone, the band was definitely the highlight!! I can not thank them enough for the wonderful energy they brought to our day and for being so amazing to work with. From the moment I met with Chris, I knew that the music was going to be very special, and they certainly did deliver!! I can not say enough about the Chris Sarlas Orchestra. It was an absolute pleasure working with them. Look no further for your wedding entertainment.. they were truly unbelievable!

The Chris Sarlas Orchestra made my son's wedding at the InterContinental so special. They worked miracles. Like the true professional that Chris is, he handled our delays beautifully and calmly kept us all aware of any upcoming toasts, etc. Chris and his band were completely tuned in to the rhythm of the guests during the reception, and selected music that had the dance floor packed for hours and hours and hours. Everything with which they dealt was perfect: the vocalists --- there aren't enough words to express how talented they are, Carol and the strings --- they enchanted us throughout the entire wedding ceremony, and the harpist during the rehearsal dinner --- she captured the true essence of the Art Institute of Chicago function.

I've always said that the band makes the party, and Chris and his band made our party!

Chris Sarlas Orchestra was so much fun!!!!! Their music was fabulous and people wouldn't leave the dance floor! It was 1am and people would not get off the dance floor! It was packed all night long. If you want a party at your wedding be sure to book Sarlas!!!

Chris Sarlas was one of my favorite wedding vendors. Throughout the whole planning process he was quick to respond to my emails and very easy to work with. Chris provided a piano and saxophone during cocktail hour, a jazz quartet during dinner and a 10 piece orchestra for dancing. Chris served as the emcee for events that occurred throughout the evening. At the reception the orchestra sounded fantastic and there were people dancing and having a great time until the reception ended at midnight. Weeks after the wedding we continued to receive compliments from our guests regarding the band and how wonderful they performed. We definitely recommend the Chris Sarlas Orchestra to any couples looking for a band to make their wedding reception memorable!

The Chris Sarlas Orchestra's performance at our wedding reception was absolutely amazing. They were very easy to work with prior to the wedding, responding to both phone calls and emails promptly. Their contract was clear and effortless and they surpassed expectations. All the songs were executed beautifully and we had a full dance floor all night. They worked in very smooth transitions of Greek and American music, and I was very happy at their ability to perform both. We actually booked them before our reception location because it was that important for us to have them perform at our wedding (we have been to other weddings where they were the Orchestra). Overall, I would absolutely recommend them and we still (months later) get complements of how great they were!

My husband and I really cannot think of one negative thing to say about the Chris Sarlas Orchestra. They were very professional throughout the entire process and were very easy to get ahold of and work with. Chris knows how stressful wedding planning can be and from our initial meeting was very down to earth and not pushy one bit. We had met with other bands that were the complete opposite. One band gave us a 20 minute spiel then stepped out of the room and expected us to make our decision on the spot. Chris was not like that at all! He presented the facts and then gave us plently of time to decide what was right for us.

The whole planning process was very smooth. I tend to be a perfectionist and freak out about everything. Chris was there to calm me down and let me know everything would be okay. We obviously have not done this before having never been married but this is what Chris does as a business. He knows the timing of everything down to a 't'. That was quite a relief. We told him the songs we wanted and didn't want to hear and he did the rest!

As for pricing Chris Sarlas Orchestra was very reasonable compared to other bands we checked out. I believe they had some packages or ideas of what people normally do but he completely tweaked everything to meet our needs. We ended up having a 3 piece ensemble playing during dinner and since we didn't need them for the full time due to speeches and a video montage, he threw in another female vocalist instead. Very reasonable and willing to compromise. That is all I can say.

On to the wedding. Our guests and my husband and I were blown away! We still catch people talking about the band to this day and I know we will continue to for years to come. We could not have asked for a better band. We had a very young, energetic crowd and I don't think the band let them stop for a minute (Check out the videos on his website from the Knickerbocker hotel 8/29/09) It was a blast and I will definitely be referring the Chris Sarlas Orchestra to all my friends and hope to hear them play again in the near future. Thanks again...sorry this review is a year and a half late Chris!

I cannot recommend Chris Sarlas Orchestra enough! He performed at our wedding at the University Club of Chicago last June and was absolutely spectacular! We contacted and interviewed a number of different bands, but it quickly became evident that Chris was exactly what we were looking for. His band has an energy that is second to none and he was a delight to work with. He accommodated all of our specific song and other requests and was always professional and responsive to us, which was particularly appreciated given that we were planning the wedding from New York City. The dance floor was packed the entire night with all our favorite tunes, and our family and friends are still raving about what a spectacular time they had at our wedding. Choosing the right band is one othe most important decisions you have to make in planning a wedding and I guarantee that Chris Sarlas is the right decision.

They were absolutely amazing! The quality of their singers were unbelievable. I met with Chris months before and was very specific about what I wanted and the feel of the wedding. He did everything I asked and learned a number of songs that I definitely wanted played. Everyone at my wedding said how amazing the band was and how much fun they had. It was great too because they provide ceremony musicians as well.

My husband and I were so lucky to have such an amazing band at our wedding. The Chris Sarlas Orchestra was amazing! We had a Greek/Jewish wedding, and the band accommodated all of our requests. We had beautiful music all night! The dance floor was packed during all the ethnic dancing as well as during the more traditional dance sets. So many people mentioned that our wedding was a lot of fun, and they ALL loved the band. What a great way to start a marriage - with a celebration filled with joy and dancing! Also, working with Chris was so easy. He returned our calls promptly and was incredibly professional during planning and at the wedding. We were so lucky to hire this band for our special day.

Absolutely fantastic band! Our dance floor was packed all night. It's more than a month after the wedding, and everyone is still talking about how great the band was. Chris was super easy to work with and very accommodating. I can't recommend them highly enough!

Worth every penny! We couldn't be happier with the choice we made with this band. Our dance floor was packed all night long. Chris is a complete professional, super nice, honest, very responsive, and the music is incredible! He even let my brother sit in and play guitar! We got a package that included the Artistrings string quartet for our ceremony.

Chris is the ultimate professional! :)

If you want a packed dance floor from beginning to end, this is the band to call. The vocalists are almost too good to be true. Chris is the most honest, hard-working, talented bandleader you will find, and he will work tirelessly to make sure that your wedding is perfect. He returns calls promptly, is the nicest guy you will ever meet, and is an incredible MC who will get your guests up and on their feet, dancing the night away. They offer literally hundreds of live video clips so you can watch them from the comfort of your own home. Look no further. This band is IT!!

Talented, Professional and All-around pleasure to work with, are the best words/phrases to describe the Chris Sarlas Orchestra. They are dedicated to each and every client, with unwavering enthusiasm for providing an exciting, fun-filled and entertaining experience for all.

Chris and his band are extrememly professional throughout the entire process and will blow your guests away with their sound!

Enjoy!