Matt Stedman Band

Matt and the band were professional in all matters leading up to and during the event. Beyond that, their musicianship and performance were top notch. They were a perfect wedding band since they could do all ceremony music, emceeing, and reception music, but they are also more than "just a wedding band." They are professional quality, creative musicians with a lot of style and enthusiasm. Very much entertainers. They were even so cool to learn my favorite song (as a surprise to me - what a great moment). We got a lot of great feedback about them from our guests, and we could not have been happier. Rock on, guys.

Matt Stedman Band played at my wedding on January 7th, 2012 and were absolutely wonderful. From my initial contact with Matt, he was extremely professional and accommodating to my somewhat unconventional wedding. They provide an amazing song list to choose from and really know how to get your guests up to dance! Matt also played with his band's pianist at my wedding ceremony and were absolutely amazing. They made my wedding very memorable and guests are still commenting on how wonderful the band was! Book them for your event, you will not be disappointed!

The Matt Stedman Band played our wedding and reception over the weekend, and we could not have been happier with way everything turned out. From day 1 of planning our big day, Matt was extremely helpful and professional, and always responded to our questions promptly via email or phone. Their knowledge and experience made the entire day run smoothly. It could not have been more perfect. The piano and violin at our ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Their interpretation of Elvis and The Beatles made wonderful wedding music. Our reception could not have been more fun. They played a little of everything, and everyone was dancing, including family members we've NEVER seen dance before! We highly recommend The Matt Stedman Band for your celebration, and we can't wait to head to Chicago to see them live again!!

After seeing Matt and his band play at our friend's wedding, my husband and I knew that we wanted them to play ours as well. From the first e-mail, Matt was incredibly organized and thorough. He set great expectations for us so there were no surprises and made sure we were all on the same page. We had Matt and his keyboardist play the music for our ceremony, which was absolutely wonderful. We got many compliments from guests on our song selection and the violin and keyboard combination was perfect for our venue at the history museum. Matt did a great job Emceeing the wedding, from inviting guests to sit for dinner, to coordinating the toasts, to making sure we were in place for the first dance. We didn't have to remember (or worry about) a thing and were able to enjoy the evening, knowing that Matt was keeping us on track. The band during the reception was truly phenomenal! They played a great mix of old favorites, some newer hits, and a great celtic folk medley (loved the fiddle!). Our guests danced the night away and are still raving about the music. Overall, Matt Stedman Band was easy to work with, very professional, and truly delivered on excellent music for both the ceremony and reception. We would not hesitate to recommend them to other couples looking for something a little different than a typical wedding DJ.

The Matt Stedman Band exceeded our expectations 100 times over! If you are looking for real musicians performing real music, look no further than the Matt Stedman Band. Matt is a very detailed and organized individual to work with...from asking all the right questions to controlling the flow of the ceremony and reception. The dance floor was full all night, from the youngest of guest to the oldest of guest - with everyone fully enjoying themselves. Nothing but complements from our guests about the stellar band! We would highly recommend the Matt Stedman Band for any type of wedding ceremony and/or reception. We look forward to catching them at one of their shows in the near future. They are incredible!

Matt and his band played a big part in making our wedding day as special for us as it was for guests. From intimate acoustic sets for our ceremony, to the full five piece band playing songs WELL to a full dance floor.

Their set list is extensive and covers many styles.

At a wedding where many guests and vendors took time to tell my new wife and I this was the best wedding they had ever been to says a lot!!!


~ The band played a major part in that ~

The Matt Stedman Band played at our wedding a few weeks ago and we could not have been happier with the way things went. From the moment we spoke with Matt, his communication was extremely helpful in so many aspects. Not only did he have a ton of knowledge and obvious passion for the music, he heard our thoughts and concerns about our day, shared his honest opinion, and helped in so many areas to make it go smoothly. He is much more than just the leader of this band and that will be evident and appreciated once you speak with Matt. We took his recommendations on everything from the music, to speech order, to timing of dinner service at our wedding and everything ran perfectly because of this.

More than that, the band itself is extremely entertaining, talented, and reads a crowd of people incredibly well. Our guests were non-stop dancing our entire wedding to a variety of music styles and I cannot count the amount of compliments we received about the music. Our guests truly appreciated this fun band that got people moving and feeling good, but stood out by playing different music than a typical wedding band.

I feel very confident recommending this band for a wedding, and we can't wait to go out and see them play again at another function with our friends and family! Enjoy!

Matt Stedman Band played for our wedding, and they did not fail to impress us and all guests. This band not only played music that made everyone have a great time, but the also made an agenda that kept everone, including other vendors, prepared and on time. Working with Matt, during the planning process, was thorough and wonderful. We absolutely loved Matt Stedman Band. I will recommend them to everyone. Thank you Matt and all the guys for making our day perfect!

MATT STEDMAN BANDS ROCKED THE HOUSE!!!!
That should be the headline if this were a newspaper. On a serious note, the Matt Stedman Band was terrific and made our wedding very memorable. Matt personally accepted all of our calls, and was available 24/7 to answer any of our questions. So the service we received was exceptional, and the responsiveness was second to none. We thought the value for what we received was perfect. The band was so easy to talk to and had a geniune care for if we had fun. We actually stayed an extra 20 minutes after and spoke with the band about how incredible they were. We had multiple guests ask for the band's contact information. I think that proves how talented they were, and they even performed for the ceremony (violin and acoustic guitar).

If you are truly looking for an ecletic band with great attention to detail, then Matt Stedman Band is your band. We couldn't have asked for a better band.

Jerod & Taralyn 9/18/2011

Hiring this band was the best decision we ever made. First, they are surprisingly affordable. Matt was willing to work with our budget and even threw in ceremony guitar and violin for free when we couldn't afford it. They are so talented, know how to keep the party going, and are just pleasant to work with. Matt has so much experience, he knows all the right questions to ask ahead of time to ensure the event is perfect. We even had a 1.5 hour long phone call with him the week of the wedding to make sure we were all on the same page. He is extremely detailed and will take care of everything. If you don't have a DOC or wedding planner Matt can handle a lot of the "master of ceremonies" type responsibilities. Definitely a MUST if you want live music at your wedding.

PS Before hiring the band we went and heard them play at a restaurant, they are SO good. Even if you already have a wedding band go hear them play - amazing night out!

From the very first time I contacted Matt Stedman he was incredibly enthusiastic and attentive. He was easy to get a hold of and quick to respond to any questions I had. Not only was he super personable and a pleasure to work with, the band was unbelievable. I had several people tell me that they were the best wedding band that they had ever heard and I couldn't agree more. The dance floor was full from the very first song to the end of the night! They totally made the party.

My wife and I were totally unsure about looking at bands for our Michigan wedding (we live in CA), but came across the Matt Stedman Band website. We listened to every track they listed and were really impressed with their sound and fun approach to a variety of kinds of music. Matt was very professional, organized, and loaded with good advice for music selection and event flow leading up to the event. And on the big day? They were great!! The band could not have been better. They sounded fantastic for the ceremony on the beach, and even better in full arrangement under the wedding tent. They are obviously a talented group of musicians and a terrific band, but they also KNOW how to play at a wedding. They were very fun and our guests could not have been happier. Matt MC'd for us and kept the event moving along, and played just the right music at the right time for our guests. If you are planning a wedding and are looking for a professional, excellent sounding, very nice, band to play, you will not be disappointed with the Matt Stedman Band.

The wisest investment we made at our outdoor wedding was not umbrellas, citronella candles or even kegs of delicious beer.
It was hiring The Matt Stedman Band. Matt was totally professional every step of the way and his experience was particularly helpful (and greatly appreciated) when it came to preparing the small details for the ceremony.
Matt and the guys are AWESOME musicians and everyone had a blast at the reception. I know this for a fact because I had actually never seen my dad dance before and on our wedding night he was out on the floor for almost every song.
The Matt Stedman Band is worth every penny and I promise your wedding will be a fun one if you hire these guys.

Matt Stedman Band played at our wedding this summer and we could not have been more pleased with how the entire evening went. Matt really set the tone for the night, starting with introductions of the wedding party and toasts, fabulous dinner music, and entertaining tunes all night. He kept everything organized and moving which is a huge help. Our friends and family absolutely loved this band and the dance floor was full all night.

Matt was extremely professional to work with since the beginning and we felt very comfortable discussing the type of wedding and music were were looking for. Matt also performed classical music during the ceremony which we loved.

The best thing about this group is the diversity, they can play just about anything so they appeal to the entire crowd. We especially loved the blues, Matt is amazing on the harmonica. And when we heard that electric violin we knew we had our band.

Matt Stedman Band is extremely professional and highly entertaining. We can't wait to catch their next show!

Excellent, Professional Entertainment-Exceeded All Expectations

We knew we wanted a live band for our wedding and there were many options. After seeing the Matt Stedman band at a Chicago wedding in 2009 we were really impressed with the bands versatility and ability to match the style of wedding-something that would appeal to all ages. As a musician I was very particular about the songs for each part of the wedding day. I was so moved when I heard the violin and piano echoing through the church while I was in the brides room waiting to walk down the aisle. It sounded even better than a recording. I was so impressed with the number of songs to choose from. It was hard to pick songs because they were all so good. Matt did an excellent job managing the time of events and everything appeared flawless. We did not have to worry about anything, which meat we could really enjoy the night. Matt promised to keep the crowed dancing --and he did. People of all ages danced right to the very end. We received many many compliments on the band from guests who were musicians as well. We would highly recommend this band for any size wedding. We had 250 guests at our wedding.

Matt is a consummate professional when it comes to how he presents himself, and how he organizes the music for the evening. When you're worrying about all of the crazy planning you need to do pre-wedding, the last thing you want to be worrying about is the music. Matt takes care of everything, and makes the night go by smoothly, and the band is great on top of that! He has an extensive selection of songs that sound amazing. One warning, just be ready to dance most of the night. =)

The Matt Stedman band was on fire! The music was so hot I am surprised the fire department did not show up. They truly made our wedding a complete success. Our guests were blown away by their amazing talent and professional sound. Everyone at some point was shakin it out on the dance floor(even Grandma). Matt worked with us to make sure they played the music we requested to hear. Our wedding would have not been the same without the band, it was a truly memorable experience. If you can't get them booked for your wedding or event go see them live somewhere else. We will be forever fans! Thanks guys for a rockin’ good time.

Matt is very meticulous in the way he helps plan and organize the performance and logistics of the weddings he participates in. We had so many compliments on the music, my only complaint is that I wish I could have devoted my whole attention to their performance! They offer a variety of styles and have a unique sound yet maintain the integrity of the pieces they perform. Having the Matt Stedman Band perform for us was the highlight of our wedding :)

We wanted to do just one thing that was different from other weddings, and this was our one big thing! Everyone loved the band. After the wedding I had several guests email me and ask who they were and where I found them. They definately made our wedding stand out. Matt was so easy to work with and our wedding day went very smoothly. I highly recommend them!

The Matt Stedman Band was amazing. Everyone at our wedding loved them (from the 8 yr olds to the 80 yr olds)! In addition, Matt is wonderful to work with: he is extremely nice, professional, and obviously loves what he does. He is also a lot of help when it comes to organizing a wedding--no need to hire a wedding planner with Matt there! Anyways, I can't say too much without gushing b/c he and his band truly brought our wedding to another level. Thank you so much, Matt! And all the best to you and your upcoming wedding! ;)

Five stars for the Matt Stedman Band! What a talented group!! Were so elated we choose them to play at our wedding. They helped make our special day unforgettable. Not only did they rock our wedding, but they played flawless classical music at the church and elegant jazz for cocktail hour! We were blown away by their performance through the day and night! and a BIG THANK YOU to Matt Stedman for helping so much with all of the details and who is a fantastic MC. He's well organized and always available, what a life saver. LOVE THIS BAND!

Our RAVE REVIEW OF THE MATT STEDMAN BAND:

From the moment we first spoke to Matt on the phone, we knew he was our man…he immediately asked questions as to what WE wanted, and told us how he worked, and how the wedding was to be “all about us” and not the other way around. Matt invited us to hear him play, so we would know if that was the sound we wanted. We heard him at more than one venue on multiple occasions. His sound is awesome! Depending on the venue, the crowd, the lateness of the evening, we always heard different coooooool licks coming out of the musicians!

Throughout the process, Matt was regularly checking in to make sure all questions were answered, and that we had listed charts for him to play that were most important to us. We told him we had 2 things we wanted: 1) that we feed our musicians, and 2) he keeps the volume adjusted such that people can eat or have dessert without shouting at each other. Due to being musicians ourselves, we know how important it is to play at a gig and not be starving all evening, and we also have been to many weddings wherein the band never makes adjustments to the size/height/acoustics of the room, thus the evening is ruined, for guests give up conversing and go home. Matt was awesome about coming up throughout the evening and asking about sound level. We most appreciated that.

We could write a book about all the wonderful things Matt and his band did to make our Wedding day and evening just PERFECT, but that is not for this venue. Matt is professional, organized, easy to talk to and work with and also eager to please. He and his band treated the Bride and Groom as a couple, yet as unique individuals who might want different things- which often required artful juggling to please both parties. Jim and I liked how he said that all we had to do was “…just show up, for I have the music covered.” That was hugely calming for us, because we had chosen special music for the Introductions, cake cutting, dinner, special dance tunes post-dinner and throughout the evening. Matt told us he had a surprise for us…and his last tune for the evening was “an original”- based on Copland’s “Rodeo”. He and his incredible band played for a minimum of 15 minutes straight- get-down, fiddlin’, Hoe-down music that had everyone dancing on the full-length, rectangular dance floor. Jim and his brother are both violinists, and they became the main attraction, for they “air-fiddled”, facing each other, squatting on their heels, spinning, turning…it was a blast! It was AWESOME MATT! THANKS A GAZILLION for making FANTABULOUS memories! We loved that from the moment you began to play, the dance floor was always FULL! We have spread the word, and many of our guests are still raving about “our band”…we will definitely hire you again for an upcoming event…stay tuned for more!

The Quartet's performance at my daughter's wedding reception, held at the Shedd Aquarium was outstanding. It was a pleasure working with Matt Stedman during the entire planning process. In addition to a great playlist performed by the band, Matt also delighted us with a wonderful violin solo during the cocktail hour. The execution was flawless and our guests enjoyed a wonderful evening of music by the quartet.

Matt Stedman Band played at our wedding in Madison, WI on 10/02/10. They provided music for the whole day, including working with a trombone soloist (that I added in) to learn new processional and recessional music.

Matt was great to work with - after a few conversations he was comfortable enough with me and my tastes to make some executive decisions regarding what music would be played at the wedding...taking a lot of stress off of me. And I'm happy to say that he didn't guess wrong! Everyone - the guests, wedding party, and even the other vendors - loved these guys. They played a great mix of music that kept the dance floor full all night - the party actually didn't stop until after the band started packing up their equipment!

Overall, we were really happy that we went with this group of highly professional and talented musicians. They definitely helped to make our wedding extra special.

The Matt Stedman Band was absolutely amazing at our wedding. Matt did a wonderful job as the lead singer and also as the MC. He spent a good amount of time with me getting to know the pronunciations of everyone's name in the wedding party, finding out what style of music we liked and also getting to know both me and my now husband!! We first heard them perform at a bar in Naperville and as soon as I heard them playing when I walked in, I knew they were the band for us. All of our guests had a great time at the wedding and that was mostly due to great music provided by their band. Thanks!!

We booked the Matt Stedman Band for our wedding (both ceremony and reception) and they were fantastic! We were looking for something unique and they definitely exceeded our expectations both with their outstanding musicianship and great selection of songs. We received multiple compliments from our friends and family. They traveled quite a distance to play for us and were very accommodating and professional, which we also really appreciated :) Next time we are in Chicago, we are definitely headed to one of their shows!!!

During the wedding process, my husband was on Pacific time, I was on Eastern and Matt was on Central time. Matt Stedman really helped by openly communicating and adapting to our very chaotic schedule during the planning process. He was willing to conference call with us over skype which was extremely helpful since neither of us could meet him in person.

Matt sent me a ton of suggestions and advice but was never pushy. He wanted to do what I wanted to do. It was a breeze to plan the schedule with him. A few weeks before the wedding he contacted me to finalize everything and see if I had any questions he could answer.
The day of the wedding Matt took care of everything with regards to the schedule. He and the band easily adapted to our needs whether we were running early or running late (and we did both). Matt also took cue from the crowd as to what music to play and he gave me a list of songs that I could choose from before the wedding.

We received many compliments about the band. They really have a spark and would be well worth hiring.

Matt and the band helped make our wedding the party of a lifetime. They MC'd everything (including introductions of the wedding party with funk music), were super responsive and the band was AMAZING. We were able to choose our music -- between the band playing live, and DJ-ing during band breaks, we heard every song we wanted, and nothing we didn't.

They really kept people moving and dancing, and they looked great. So many people told us after that wedding how much they enjoyed the band. I had no idea about bands vs. dj prices when we started this whole wedding planning thing, or where my priorities should lie in terms of where we should splurge or where we should cut corners, but its clear to me now. I am SO glad we hired a band, specifically THIS band. Definitely worth it.

Having Matt Stedman Band play at our wedding was a highlight! With high level of professionalism we had one less vendor to worry about! They are very flexible, understanding, and very easy to work with.
We are very happy that we found them.

First of all - super organized! We had a good idea going in what to expect, Matt provided lots of guidance without being overbearing at all (he has after all been to many more weddings...this was our first). Still, we had a difference of opinion on some minor details and it was "bride's way" without question from Matt.
Second of all - Music for the church - OUTSTANDING! If you are looking for music that is peaceful, reverent, different...go with the Matt Stedman band. My daughter walked up the aisle to The Lover's Waltz, and it was lovely!
Thirdly - music while waiting for the bride and groom to arrive AND at dinner time (yes, they did take a break to eat a meal). Great selection of music - great musicianship. Matt and all did a wonderful job of introducing key participants in the day, very professional and again organized. One of my favorite memories is of seeing the band enjoy themselves as the toasts were made - big grins on all of their faces. It seemed as though they knew the bride and groom and were happy to be there. To me that was very special.
Lastly - the reception/dancing music. All I can say, is if people are not up and dancing at your event, then your people are duds. We are still getting feedback from friends and family about "the great band" at our daughter's wedding. The dance floor was packed all night long. They seamlessly infused music from an ipod so much so that when the band returned from a break, it was surprising to realize they had been gone. The day is all about the bridal couple - no showboating/look at me kind of antics...yet such a presence! The band is definitely more expensive than a d.j. but I think that it is money well spent. I told our daughter that choosing to have the Matt Stedman Band was the second best decision they made (the first was deciding to marry). You will be happy with your decision too!

Matt Stedman and his band were absolutely amazing! We could not have asked for a better band to play at our wedding. Not only did they play for our reception, but Matt and his guitarist played at our ceremony. BEAUTFUL!!! :) They have such a wide range of music and our guests could not say enough good things about them. No one wanted the party to end and we would do it all over again! Throughout the entire wedding planning, Matt was great to work with and I know it made us less stressed about how the music would turn out. Thanks again for making it memorable!!!

We hired Matt Stedman Band for our wedding last summer and they provided great service and music. Matt took care of business both on stage and during the planning phase of our wedding. He was very detailed about planning and working with him was a pleasure. People keep telling us how good the band was; the dance floor was consistently packed for several hours. The choice of songs they offer demonstrates their skill and breadth as musicians, and almost certainly contains a wedding's-worth of songs that you like. I recommend songs that emphasize fiddling and foot-stomping. You won't be disappointed because Matt Stedman band rocks hard.

This band was fantastic. Matt worked with us leading up to the wedding to understand our musical tastes and helped put together our timeline for the event. He was very thorough going into it but on the day of our wedding we didn't need to do a thing. He knew what to do and when and it worked out great. They're eclectic styles of music kept everybody on their feet. They knew the music that would keep people entertained and happy and it was perfect for us. I only wish I had another excuse to hire a band and throw a huge party! I highly recommend Matt Stedman & his band for your wedding or other party.

Matt Stedman and his band were truly incredible! Matt was instrumental in helping to find an incredible venue to have our wedding and reception (we live in San Diego and the wedding was in Chicago), his music is beyond what we can convey in a few short lines! Our guests were truly blown away and continue to comment on how good the band was. On June 19, 2010 Matt was our wedding MC, our wedding coordinator and our band leader (although he was only paid to be our band!) The diversity among the instruments and music he played and the level at which they performed was so far beyond our expectations we were literally left speechless. We interviewed eleven bands and are very thankful and lucky we chose Matt and he was able to accommodate our date. Thank you Matt and your incredible band! ----Lance & Mazie Tamyo June 19, 2010

Matt Stedman and the Matt Stedman Band were fantastic! They played classical music with the violin and piano for our outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour. Then they switched it up for our reception and brought in the rest of the band and played a variety of music ranging from rock to jazz. They also compose some of their own music and we loved hearing their songs on our special day!
They're all very professional and easy to work with. Their goal is to make your day perfect, and they truly made the evening.
We heard so much feedback from our guests on how well they played and they were well-worth the money! I would recommend them to anyone, and they are so much classier than a DJ.

GREAT! I cannot recommend the Matt Stedman Band enough, not only are they all very, very talented musicians, but Matt goes beyond just doing music. He helped us greatly with wedding planning, smoothing out details and organizing - he was a big help for our wedding, he offered his advice and great wedding experience. His music was incredible, I'm 25, the young crowd loved it, my parents loved him, and he got my grandparents dancing also. Our crowd was very diverse, from college age buddies to the conservative Baptist crowd to older relatives, and everyone complimented us on how they enjoyed the Matt Stedman Band’s music. Thank You Matt, you did an amazing job and we are so happy!

Matt's attention to detail helped to get us though our big day. When we first met, he gave us an generic outline with suggestions from his experience. We used this as a guide for our wedding day.
Matt's offer to provide a total music package was what sold us. We only had to work with one person to cover music at our wedding ceremony (two piece; fiddle and piano), our cocktail hour (keyboards) and our reception (5 piece band). He also acted as our MC to keep things moving along on schedule at the wedding. He was very flexible and accomodataing, working with our desire to invite special performers to our reception.
We knew Matt from his work at Irish festivals but also knew his band had the ability to play great rock and roll and get a crowd out on the dance floor. He didn't disappoint.
We had a many complimets from our guests on the great music throughout.

Matt Stedman is awesome. Like many engaged couples, we were a little nervous in all the events leading up to the wedding. We are in our late 20s and wanted a band that everyone of all ages could enjoy. Matt gave us peace of mind. He was very professional and detail-oriented, letting us know the timeline of the events for the ceremony and reception. He's played tons of weddings, and gave us some great tips and advice for the reception.
He and his band are an incredibly talented and versatile group of musicians. He played both our church procession during the day and the wedding reception at night. Matt (violin) and his pianist played classical music perfectly during the processional at our wedding, and then the five-piece band brought down the house at our reception. They played everything from rock n' roll, soul, uptempo blues, funk, classic rock, and even upbeat Irish folk music. For those who think a violin might not work with blues and rock music--trust us, it does! All these people came up to us during the reception saying "This band is great!" By the end of the night, everyone was worn out from dancing so much.
Furthermore, Matt and his whole band are genuinely nice people. VERY friendly and down-to-earth. Matt is a great guy to talk to. It's your wedding day, and Matt wants to make sure that everyone is happy and that the day goes as perfect as can be for the bride and groom. Don't break your wedding budget on a 20-piece band; Matt and his band definitely make it a great wedding. (Just be aware, he is in high demand, so contact him early.)

Absolutely wonderful. Great and diverse music selection, professional, fun, extremely detailed, organized and they even gave me a gift and tailored the entire selection/party to what I wanted as the bride. Called several times to make sure I was comfortable and that everything was on track.

We were so pleased and felt extremely lucky to have the Matt Stedman Band play at our wedding. From the moment they were hired, Matt showed a high level of professionalism as he helped me plan and concentrate on the important details which made the day run so smoothly (he's truly a "pro" when it comes to mapping out the progression). I also felt that finding a wedding band that could play not only the ceremony but the RECEPTION as well, was extremely rare. The variety of music this band can play is unbelievable- from classical to rock, pop, celtic, blues- you name it! The music at our ceremony was beautiful- we chose traditional, classical music however he had a large listing of available songs to choose from and we could have chosen more modern songs as well. The Matt Stedman Band was timely, reliable and noticeably professional and experienced (i.e. it was obvious that they've played many weddings and have been successful in doing so). I haven't even mentioned how much our guests enjoyed the music!! They really will gear the song choices to the "feel" of the wedding you are going for and because this band is truly talented (the musicians are not your typical "wedding band" musicians) the reception becomes almost concert-like as people are amazed by the skills of the band's members. They also truly look like they're having a blast while playing and it's contagious. Everyone danced, sang and really got into the music. If you're looking for a an amazing, one-of-a-kind wedding band, you've found it in the Matt Stedman Band! My wedding was made more special because of its presence and we'll be forever grateful!!

We had a fairly large wedding and the Matt Stedman Band was able to play a variety of music that met the approval of all the guests. Matt even went so far as to put the song list in order knowing that certain songs that would be enjoyed by the older guests would be played earlier in the evening knowing that they would most likely leave earliest - reserving more modern music for later into the night when the younger guests who stayed late would benefit. I have followed Matt's band for years and I was thrilled that I was able to have them play for our wedding. The balance of the live band and the recorded music meant that I was able to have the best of both worlds and even over a year later we still have people tell us how much they enjoyed our wedding!

I can't say enough about the Matt Stedman Band. Before the wedding day, Matt was thorough and detail-oriented. He asked all the right questions, made terrific suggestions, and was on the ball so we didn't have to sweat the details on our wedding day. At the reception, I can't remember a moment where the dance floor wasn't packed. This band has a huge repertoire and bases the set list on the mood of the crowd. We had several people comment that the band was a big highlight. I recommend the Matt Stedman Band highly!

We hired the Matt Stedman Band and were very happy with the band’s professionalism and energy that they brought to both the wedding ceremony and the reception. In preparing for the event, Matt Stedman worked with us to find the music that we believed fit the style of the wedding ceremony and reception that we wanted to create for the event. He also worked with us to organize the timing of the majority of the little events throughout the day. The Matt Stedman Band plays a lot of different types of music, and excels at it all. They play very well together and have great vocals. The Matt Stedman Band comes highly recommended from us and all of our guests!

Don't think I'm his cousin or something because we're giving the Matt Stedman band five stars. They were amazing, above and beyond. It's been a year and a month since the wedding, and when we see old friends, they still tell us how incredible our band was.

We were married Sept. 6, 2009 in Watervliet, Michigan -- at least a two-hour drive from Chicago, over a Labor Day weekend -- and you can get a taste of it here: http://bit.ly/aTneSE

Matt and his band started months ahead, practicing new violin arrangements over the phone to see if we liked them. That impressed us. The day of, they showed up early, played beautifully in the ceremony, and had us rollicking and dancing all night long. They learned new songs for us, made new arrangements of a couple of our old favorites to fit his violin-led style, and made a wedding like nothing we'd ever seen before. You should have seen the 15-minute crazy hora we danced, even though they'd never played one like it before.

They closed with a pulsing medley of different songs -- bluesy, a little Celtic, a little Jewish, everything that had meaning for all of us -- and left us spent and breathless after dancing all night. Their price was reasonable, so we tipped them lavishly afterward because we were so blown away.

We never wanted to videotape our wedding -- we figured, who ever goes back and watches that? -- but the only reason I regret not taping it is that we can't hear them playing again. I'm serious. They were that good. I can't recommend them enough.

We had Matt Stedman and his band play for our wedding reception. They were absolutely amazing. Obviously they were professional and accommodating, but also very talented musicians. Our guests are still complimenting us on our band choice, even guests who are in the music business. The dance floor was full the entire night! We also received compliments from guests who said they usually leave with their kids shortly after dinner due to music getting raunchy, but they stayed all night because our music was fun and uplifting and their kids were having so much fun. You guys were great, and we appreciate the class and fun you added to our wedding!

When I started planning my wedding I knew it would be on the smaller side and I had a pretty tight budget. I didn't think I could afford a band, but after disappointing research for DJ's (who put in very little work and charge a buttload for it) I decided to look into some bands. I decided to take away some money from my flowers and put it into the entertainment which definitely had a bigger impact on the wedding.
The Matt Stedman band was GREAT to work with. They did our ceremony (outdoors) and reception. We had a lot of "different" songs that I wasn't sure the band would learn for us, but they did everything I asked. Everyone raved about our band long after the wedding... and they're all very good looking people so they looked nice in our pictures. WORTH IT!

The Matt Stedman band truly helped to make our wedding a wonderful event. Matt was very knowledgeable about planning a ceremony in a garden setting and helped us make sure every last detail was taken care of. We felt his involvement in planning went above and beyond what we had expected from the wedding musicians, and the whole event ran smoothly. All three band members played an impressive repertoire of celtic, classical, and pop music throughout our ceremony, cocktails, and ceremony, and they worked hard to incorporate our personal requests for the first dance and otherwise. These guys are true musicians who love what they do, and this will show in any performance- including your wedding!!

-Anjali and Aaron

Matt Stedman band played our wedding. It was a great experience. Everyone was up and dancing. The music was perfect!

At first it was a little overwhelming planning all of the small details that included choosing our music, but working with the Matt Stedman Band made it almost easy. My husband and I agreed that we wanted to have a band instead of the typical dj most people have. We had heard of the Matt Stedman band and actually had the privilege of heard them play live at a nearby venue and we were SOLD. Having the Matt Stedman band play at our wedding was one of the best decisions that we could have made. It made our day that much more special for both of us. We had our ceremony and reception all at the same location. The Matt Stedman band (portion of them) played during the actual ceremony and added the special touch that I will never forget. I will never forget the image I have walking down the aisle with my father, feeling beautiful, and hearing the live violin music in the background. It was all just perfect. When it was time for the reception, not only did the band perform the songs we approved but they were absolutely fantastic! Family and friends commented to us over the next year about how much fun it was actually listening to live music playing. The music played kept our guests involved even if they were not actually dancing; they were still able to sit back and enjoy the music as well. Some of our older guests were thrilled about the "older/traditional" songs that brought back personal memories for them. I truly believe when you have someone singing/playing instruments with emotion then it makes everything else just a tab bit more special. Matt and the band were so professional to work with and made the process painless and easy. Throughout the planning process Matt was always prompt in getting back to me when I had any questions and also gave some helpful advice for different song selections that he had noticed in the past got positive attention from guests. He was so professional to work with and even came to my house to let my husband and I hear some of the songs he played on the violin which he recommended for our ceremony. It was that special/personal touch that made us feel even more special during the planning process of our wedding. This same special/personal touch was also giving to us on our actual wedding day by the Matt Stedman band. I love going to weddings when everyone is up dancing and you can just feel the happy energy in the room. I believe that this band definitely helped to keep the energy flowing in the room on our wedding day. They were so professional, easy to work with, price reasonable and absolutely amazing musicians. I would recommend them to anyone and everyone!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jackie Nosek

Each time we saw the band before our event, they were impressive. Matt and the band took time to speak with us about how our wedding planning was going and if we needed anything from them. Matt was always available to answer questions and was VERY organized with his questions for us. He had pre-made lists for songs and went over every detail. The wedding was amazing! They were fantastic! All our guests wanted to know who the band was and where we found them. There were even a couple people who wanted to book them soon. Long story short, if you want a fun band that plays great music, really reads a crowd, and is super accommodating, these are your guys!

Matt Stedman from the start was a professional and personable individual to work with. We actually booked without ever seeing a performance. We did eventually see him before our wedding, but it was the performance at the ceremony and wedding that blew us and our guests away! The ceremony music was beautiful and the reception music was appropriate, unique and extremely well performed. One wedding guest is already talking about booking the band for her Christmas party, while another wants to know if they have a CD he can buy. Tons of compliments all around! Thanks Matt Stedman and the Band for creating the PERFECT tone for our wedding!

The Matt Stedman Band played at our wedding reception. We also had violin and keyboard play at the ceremony. Matt was easy to work with and we loved their music. We are really pleased we choose them to play at our wedding. We definitely recommend the Matt Stedman Band!

My wedding was over three years ago and people are still talking about the band! We wanted a band that could keep kids from ages 5 to 75 on the dance floor all night. They did that and left our guests wanting more...begging for an encore. It was truly a highlight of our wedding day. The entire experience, from my first conversation with Matt through the wedding day, exceeded my expectations. If they are available for your wedding day, hire them now!

The Matt Stedman Band played at our wedding and it was truly a wedding to remember. They played great music that got everyone on the dance floor. From the classical ceremony music to the blues for dinner and the rock/blues for the reception, their diverse music selections were well suited for our guests. Matt was very friendly and easy to communicate with which helped make planning the wedding less stressful. Even three months after the wedding we are still hearing from guests about the great music that made such a memorable wedding night!

Very tight band and tasteful musicianship! I asked the band to tone it down a bit prior to the wedding because of my highly conservative family and they were all asking for more by the end of the night!!! I am very pleased with Matt Stedman band! As a musician the music was the most important thing (besides the bride of course) and I couldn't be more happy! Thanks a lot and hope to see you again at our next party!!

Wow! This band is amazing. The dance floor was PACKED all night long and everyone commented on how much fun they were... Matt is so organized and also helped orchestrate the timeline for the evening. He and his band do a great job of making sure you get exactly what you want, from picking all of the IPOD songs for the break to announcing people's names right- they are awesome! I would definitely definitely recommend them to my friends and family! Love these guys.

Matt and Brian performed at our 08/20/10 wedding ceremony. They played the violin and acoustic guitar. They were wonderful! So happy with their music, and extremely happy to have had them play at our wedding.

Matt and the band were amazing. The sheer variety of music they're able to play is impressive, and they're able to tackle each genre with skill. The guests at our wedding all had a great time, and asked where we found the band. We feel extremely fortunate to have had them play at our reception, and would hire them again without a second thought.

Matt was absolutely wonderful! He was great to work with during the planning phase, and even better the day of our wedding! He spent a lot of time with us to work through our playlist and song requests, and he did a great job mixing up live music with the ipod during our reception. I would highly recommend him!

The Matt Stedman Band provided the music for our daughters wedding ceremony as well as the dancing. He was extremely accommodating, learning a new ethnic song. He read the audience well. He adjusted his playlist to make sure the dance floor remained crowded. He gave good suggestions for both the ceremony and reception providing a good variety of music to satisfy everyone's musical interests. We have received glowing comments from many of our guests, some of whom are musicians and normally quite critical. Even our wedding planner thought they were very good and would recommend them to others.

Matt was great to work with. His enthusiasm and love of music is priceless. It is obvious Matt and his band have done a lot of weddings, he help guide us through the process which made the event much less stressful. He really took charge and facilitated the reception nicely. The music for our ceremony was beautiful (Violin and Pianist), and the 5-piece band played at the reception was great too. The wide range of music kept the dance floor full until the very end. I would highly recommend the Matt Stedman Band to anyone who is looking for fun and lively music for their event.

The Matt Stedman band performed at our wedding on January 21, 2012. Matt is very professional and easy to work with. We loved the violin and guitar music played for the ceremony, piano/keyboard for the cocktail hour and the live 5-piece band for the reception. Everyone was dancing and had a great time! We would recommend The Matt Stedman Band for your big day or any live music event.

The Matt Stedman Band did a fantastic job at our wedding reception, ceremony and cocktail hour. We had a duet for our ceremony and cocktail hour - violin and piano - and the full band for the reception. Matt takes charge with all his wedding experience and helps detail the timing of events. Without him we would have had to hire a planner to coordinate all the details like first dance, cake cutting, toasts and announcements. They are not your typical wedding musicians and play a variety of songs including bluegrass, jazz and rock.

Matt & his team do a great job in identifying with the couple and their guests. Their music reflects the pesonality of the couple and they along with the guests have a fantastic time. There's nothing so exciting as a really good live band.. this is one!

Matt & his team do a great job in identifying with the couple and their guests. Their music reflects the personality of the couple and they along with the guests have a fantastic time. There's nothing so exciting as a really good live band.. this is one!