Phat Hat

Phat Hat was the highlight of our New Orleans destination wedding reception! A month later, our friends and family are still buzzing about the band. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

I am from New Orleans, but we planned our wedding from out-of-state. It was really important to us to find a band with an authentic New Orleans sound who could handle destination wedding logistics. We reached out to ~10 bands, and Phat Hat stood out in particular for their extensive demo videos, exciting song list, and competitive pricing. Importantly, unlike many local New Orleans bands that rotate musicians each gig, Phat Hat is a fixed 8-piece group (male + female vocalists, guitar, bass, drums, and a three-horn section). That meant the sound we loved online is exactly what we got on our wedding day, which was crucial when planning remotely. We couldn't believe our luck in finding a band that sounded this good!

Rick (their guitarist) was our main point-of-contact and was an absolute pleasure, making the entire out-of-state planning process seamless. He coordinated directly with our venue, helped us understand every step of booking a live band, and directly managed the ceremony music. Rick even sourced a pianist from outside the city when local options were booked, finding us the perfect musician to play the songs we wanted for the ceremony. Phat Hat was also very flexible to work with the equipment available at the venue, handling sound, lighting, stage setup, and timing across both ceremony and reception (which were at the same location) without us needing to worry about anything. They were just eager to play a show!

And they absolutely crushed that show.

They began captivating our guests before the night even started. While we were taking pre-wedding photos, their saxophonist started soundcheck by warming up with the first few notes of “Careless Whisper,” and the entire room went quiet. Someone in our wedding party broke the silence, saying “Whoa, he’s incredible.” That moment set the tone for the music that night.

Every musician is outstanding. Wendell’s vocals are unreal (his smooth, powerful baritone on “What You Won’t Do for Love” stopped me in my tracks when I was supposed to go cut the wedding cake!). Guests are still sending me videos of Rick’s “Purple Rain” solo. And I think the memory of looking down at our reception from upstairs during Phat Hat's rendition of Norah Jones' jazzy, wistful "Don't Know Why" will stick with me forever. I could go on and on about these musicians.

Their setlist was the perfect mix of soul/funk and modern hits -- classy, cool, yet high-energy and infectious. It felt exactly like the New Orleans vibe I grew up loving. They also emceed the evening, interacted with the crowd, and kept the event flowing smoothly. They DJ'd recorded music for our first dance song as well as a short playlist of our selections for their break. Most importantly, they kept our dance floor packed all night. Everything felt effortless and fun. I can't wait to catch another one of their shows when we visit New Orleans next.

If you’re planning a destination wedding in New Orleans, Phat Hat is exactly the band you want: world-class musicians who will make your night unforgettable. Book them -- you will be glad you did!

Phat Hat was absolutely INCREDIBLE for my wedding! Everyone was on the dance floor for the entirety of the night! They truly made our big night as fun and memorable as it could be. Thank you Phat Hat!!!!!

Awesome Band! Rick was esy to communicate with and very accommodating. Play list is great! Our receptions was at the Old State Capital and we had a blast with the help of Phat Hat! I highly recommend them. Everyone dance and sang along all night. Perfect Energy!

Phat Hat was such a BLAST! We hired them for our wedding after seeing them play at my cousin's wedding. They were so much fun and put on a lively show!! Our friends and family loved them at the reception - we are still getting positive feedback about how great the band was. Rick was accommodating, easy to work with, and responds quickly! The band has a good variety of music - they can play something for everyone. Phat Hat was a highlight of the night!!

Phat Hat definitely delivers! Our daughter’s wedding reception was elevated by their sound, songs and stage presence. Their ability to read the crowd and get everyone to the dance floor is impressive. We went from first dances to dance party! They are so easy to work with, very reasonably priced and we gladly recommend them for any event that calls for a fun, interactive band.

Thank you, Phat Hat!!

Saw this band five years ago at my nieces wedding and was so glad when my son said he and his fiancé wanted them. Rick was very professional and thorough. You wont be disappointed if you love to dance.

Phat Hat band was remarkable! They were great to work with and communicated nicely throughout the process. I would definitely recommend them for your wedding band!

Phat Hat was the perfect wedding band in every way! Extremely communicative and talented, offering a range of song options, and being very engaging to our guests for the entire night. We received nothing but compliments from our guests about Phat Hat, many wanting to know the band’s name and how we found them! The dance floor was full most of the night — we couldn’t have asked for more!

Rick is so easy to work with when planning an event. He lays everything out so there are no last minute surprises. The band plays great music and the evening flew by!! Our second time to use them and would gladly do it again!!

Wish we could give a higher rating than 5 stars. Phat hat performed for our wedding and we couldn’t ask for a better experience. They helped everyone have a great time and were easy to work with throughout the whole process. They were communicative and responsive for everyone leading up til the big day. Thanks again so much for all y'all have done.

-Brett and Ashlee Broussard