Sarlas Music Reviews
Reviews
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![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 05/07/2026Best wedding band!!!!
Hands down, one of the best decisions we made for our wedding was selecting Sarlas for our band!! From the very beginning of our planning, we knew they were the right choice for us and they absolutely over exceeded our expectations on our wedding night! The band brought SO much energy to the dance floor and kept it packed all night long!! They were so fun, vocals were amazing, strings and band absolutely crushed it! Every single one of our guests have commented on how incredible the band was. Thank you, thank you for making it the best night of our lives! -
![Rose]()
Rose Sent on 12/09/2025Wedding Band
Hiring Sarlas Band for our wedding was a no-brainer. After seeing them perform at my sister’s wedding, I knew they’d be perfect for ours. Their energy was incredible, the music kept everyone on the dance floor all night, and our guests had an absolute blast. We couldn’t recommend them more! -
![Pamela]()
Pamela Sent on 09/16/2025Chris Sarlas Orchestra rocks!!!
The Chris Sarlas Orchestra played for our daughter’s wedding on September 13, 2025. They were incredible! So talented! Such a range! They can play anything and play it perfectly. Chris is awesome to work with throughout the planning process. He is also an excellent emcee at the event! We highly recommend them. -
![Haylie]()
Haylie Sent on 06/20/2025the BEST Band Hire in Chicago
Sarlas Music was an absolute dream to work with! As the planner, I was blown away by their professionalism, seamless communication, and above all, their incredible energy on the wedding day. From the first song to the final sendoff, they kept the dance floor packed and the vibe electric. Guests of all ages — from grandparents to the bridal party — were out there dancing all night long. The band read the room perfectly and brought just the right mix of classics and crowd favorites. I can’t recommend them highly enough and they truly helped make the night unforgettable! -
![Ron]()
Ron Sent on 06/01/2025Definitely 5 stars from beginning to end.
Chris and his team absolutely nailed our wedding. COUNTLESS guests remarked how amazing the music was. Literally everyone was on the dance floor.
Obviously, reception music was a huge part of this review but Chris and team went above and beyond during our ceremony. Our ceremony was very different--it was as much of a coordinated show as it was a ceremony. With videos, walk down music for each participants and a one eyed cat (yes, one-eyed cat) processional to coordinate there were a ton of moving parts. Any mistimed music or poor pacing would've have killed the mood but Chris took the run of show and executed flawlessly.
If you're looking for a band that will get everyone up and having a good time. And one that takes the time to make your wedding personal--look no further than the Chris Sarlas Orchestra.
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![Jimmy]()
Jimmy Sent on 03/06/2025The dance floor was never empty!
The Chris Sarlas Orchestra was absolutely phenomenal at our New Year's Eve wedding! From start to finish, they kept the dance floor packed and brought incredible energy to the night. Chris was fantastic to work with because he was collaborative, thoughtful, and dedicated to making sure the music fit our vision. He helped us craft a large playlist for the band to work from, allowing them to read the room and play the perfect song every time.
One of our favorite moments was opening the dance floor with *Everybody Needs Somebody to Love* by The Blues Brothers. Chris and the band nailed the timing, seamlessly weaving it into our thank-you speech before launching into the song right on cue for my wife and me to kick off the night in style. Another highlight was when they played a family favorite, *Walk the Dinosaur.* The entire party knew the dance, and seeing everyone join in was unforgettable.
They rang in the new year with style, played until 12:30, and closed out the night with an incredible rendition of *Pink Pony Club.* Now, months later, our guests are still raving about how much fun they had and how they’ve never danced that much at a wedding before. A packed and lively dance floor was so important to us, and The Chris Sarlas Orchestra made it happen. If you want a band that knows how to throw an unforgettable party, look no further! -
![Jordyn]()
Jordyn Sent on 01/12/2025Never seen them in person? NOT a problem!!
We knew we wanted a band, but were unfamiliar with Chicagoland bands. We appreciated that they have so many examples and videos playing different types of songs at various venues. You really get an idea of the quality and versatility of the band. The band learned a special song for our first dance and we never felt like they couldn’t deviate from their lists. Our dance floor was packed all night and for months following we had guests still talking about our band! We had guests ask for the set list because it seemed like every hit was played. Chris keeps the band flowing from song to song seamlessly and we loved that the music kept going. There was never a pause when a song finished waiting for them to re-set for the next one. As someone who could only go off reviews when searching, consider your search over! -
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![Kaitlin]()
Kaitlin Sent on 10/21/2024Best Wedding Band!
I cannot say enough great things about Carol Sarlas Orchestra, throughout the entire planning process they were a great resource and worked collaboratively with us on all music selections. Then day of they exceeded all expectations! From flawlessly announcing the toasts, to learning multiple special song requerts and a night of dancing we’ll never forget - everything was perfect. We cannot tell you the number of compliments we've received thus far on the band, the dance floor was packed the entire night. -
![Mick]()
Mick Sent on 10/07/2024Simply a must
Chris was so incredibly communicative and helpful throughout the whole process. He was extremely flexible to any of our asks and went above and beyond to make sure that the night went off without a hitch. The band sounded amazing, and we received tons of compliments about how much they contributed to it being an unforgettable night. -
![TerriAnn]()
Terriann Sent on 08/26/2024Best Party of our Lives!
My husband and I had the absolute pleasure of having the Chris Sarlas Orchestra perform at our wedding on June 8th, and it was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment we started planning, Chris’ long tenured experience in the wedding entertainment industry and his attention to detail were evident and clearly one of the greatest benefits of working with him and the band. The prep work leading up to the big day was phenomenal—Chris took the time to understand our vision and preferences, ensuring that every musical aspect was perfectly tailored to our celebration.
On the day of the wedding, the Chris Sarlas Orchestra delivered an unforgettable performance. The dance floor was never empty, thanks to their incredible ability to keep the energy high and the crowd engaged. The band’s diverse repertoire and flawless execution had our guests dancing all night long and talking about the music long after the event.
If you’re looking for an orchestra that combines professionalism, creativity, and exceptional talent, look no further than the Chris Sarlas Orchestra. They made our wedding truly magical, and we couldn’t have asked for a better musical experience. Thank you, Chris and the band, for making our special day so extraordinary!
The New Mr. & Mrs. Shiliga! -
![Francis]()
Francis Sent on 03/28/2024If we could give more than 5 stars, we would. Can not recommend enough.
Chris Sarlas and his group are amazing. Leading up to the wedding, we met with Chris a few times to discuss details and logistics, and he was incredibly easy to work with; generous, accommodating, flexible, but most of all, just a great, warm guy who is genuinely passionate about what he does. He loves to put in a great show.
Most of my other friends who have had weddings say their band let them pick genres, but aside from that, only a handful of "must-play" songs and a list of "do not play" songs. Chris, on the other hand, handed us a song list of hundreds of songs across every era (50s/60s/70s/80s/90s/00s, etc.) and genre (pop, funk, mo-town, jazz, etc.) of modern music and let us pick, from this list, all the songs we would want him to play. He let us make our own show. This is way above the industry standard and we were beyond excited to be able to pick every song the band would play for us. And if that weren't enough, he offered to learn one or two songs that they didn't already know. For as far as we can tell, this is far and away above the industry standard.
To cap it all off, I as the groom made a special request to join the band with my own instrument to feature on a song. I was nervous to ask because I assume most bands, being professional musicians, would be uncomfortable with a random audience member intruding on their gig. But, of course, Chris welcomed it.
The show itself brought down the house. Dozens of our guests came up to us and said they had never had more fun on the dance floor at a wedding. The musicians themselves were incredible; we had solos from the vocalists and the guitars and the horns. The energy was elite, the musicianship was elite, the audio engineering and light show was spectacular, and the smoothness at which they transitioned from song to song was as good as I've ever seen. People simply could not leave the dance floor because every next song kept them running back. When I got up there to fiddle with the band, it was one of the coolest moments I've ever had as a musician. It was the highlight of the night.
I might be going on here but I cannot rave enough about this band. These guys rock. Thank you so much for making our wedding night such an epic party. -
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![Katie]()
Katie Sent on 03/15/2024Amazing wedding band
Chris & Carol are a dynamic duo and the whole Sarlas Orchestra knocked it out of the park at our wedding. We used the full Greek American band and guests are still raving about the music and how amazing they sounded and how much it made our wedding.
They made themselves available months before our wedding to map out a detailed schedule and make sure that we could not only provide input on music selection, but that all timings, pronunciations and announcements were on point.
The voices & rapport the whole band has was incredible. We trusted them to go with the flow with the balance of Greek & American music to cater to guests which went great. Would highly recommend them for either Greek only, American only or combined services when needed. -
Lizzy Sent on 01/06/2024
Professional and Incredible
Not only is Chris great to work with, his band is fantastic. They entertained the entire time they were on stage. My guests talked about the experience and couldn’t believe how much better they were than a DJ. -
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Erin Sent on 10/04/2023
10/10 Absolutely Recommend!!
Chris Sarlas and his band were amazing to work with from start to finish! From the initial conversations, Chris was really focused on how they can help make our day perfect and fitting for us as a couple. He was open to different ideas, learning new songs and perfecting the flow of the night. And they absolutely delivered at the reception! Our guests have not stopped talking about the band, music and dance floor - we had a full dance floor the entire night thanks to Chris and the band! We can't thank you enough for helping make it the best night ever! -
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![Cathy]()
Cathy Sent on 07/25/2023Chris Sarlas understood the vibe we wanted and the result was point on!
I don’t have one negative thing to say. So impressed with the caliber of musicians and professionalism of the whole group from start to finish. The transitions between live music and the DJ was seamless! Much care was taken to understand what the bride and groom wanted and it was achieved completely. All the guests had a wonderful time and danced all night and raved how fun the wedding was. Chris Sarlas bands are a must. You won’t be disappointed. He was there for my sons wedding and now my daughters. My only disappointment is that I don’t have any more children for him to play at another wedding. I’ll just have to keep recommending to friends so I can hear them again. Thank you Chris for making our wedding spectacular! -
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Matt Sent on 11/07/2022
Best wedding band in Chicago
Wow, Chirs and the Sarlas Band / Orchestra were exceptional - everyone at the wedding danced all night long! I especially enjoyed the Greek songs and dancing. Chris and Carol delivered exactly what we wanted - a first-class evening with everyone happy and dancing the night away!!! HIRE CHRIS TODAY. -
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![Megan]()
Megan Sent on 09/29/2022Amazing!
Chris and the band were incredible to work with and 100% made our wedding so special and incredible. We first heard about from a neighbor who had had Chris and Orchestra for 2 of their daughters’ weddings and had loved them. After also having Chris, we can say the same and highly recommend.
In preparation for the wedding, Chris was so helpful and always very responsive. He was consistently professional, friendly and supportive.
For cocktail hour we had their solo keyboard play and it was welcoming and beautiful, which really set the stage for the whole reception. Chris was a great MC, welcoming the wedding party and special guests into our wedding and throughout the night. During dinner we had their jazz quartet (with saxophone) perform lively background tunes. WE LOVED IT!! And then for the main event the full band and musicians really delivered. We loved how our first dance song (“How Sweet It Is”), father/daughter (“Daddy Dance with me”) and mother/son (“Ain’t No Mountain High”) all sounded and really got the party going. The dance floor was PACKED the entire night. They played everything and played it so well. SO many of our guests would mention how much they loved the band, how great they sounded and how much fun they were having.
We had the night of our lives and are so thankful to Chris!!! We would HIGHLY recommend Chris and the full orchestra. They are amazing!! -
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![Michelle]()
Michelle Sent on 10/18/2021Best Band!!
Our guests told us that our band, the Chris Sarlas Band, was the best band they have ever heard! That says it all. We danced all night and wished that the night never ended. Chris and Carol made it so easy from beginning to end and they made our event the success that it was! We all highly recommend Chris Sarlas!! -
![Clare]()
Clare Sent on 09/14/2021Wish We Could Give More Than 5 Stars!
We could not be happier with our choice to hire Sarlas Music for our wedding. Carol and Chris are fantastic people to work with and we greatly appreciated their approachability and detail during the planning process. One of our favorite memories of our wedding day was the dancing, and that is all because of The Carol Sarlas Orchestra. Our guests are still raving about the music! The Chris Sarlas Orchestra played at my sister's wedding several years ago and was just as incredible. We wish we could give more stars because the experience was above and beyond! -
![Hallie]()
Hallie Sent on 08/11/2021Perfect, Easy, Professional
Chris and his whole group were incredible. We were originally scheduled to marry in June of 2020, rescheduling to June of 2021 because of COVID was a breeze.
They worked with our budget, the music was incredible, they were fun, they knew exactly what we wanted, and everyone had a blast. I am so thankful we hired them to make our day perfect. -
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![Kelsey]()
Kelsey Sent on 07/15/2021Sarlas Music is the best decision you will make
I cannot say enough positive things about Sarlas Music. My parents have hired them for my sister's wedding in 2014 and now my wedding in 2021. We had Artist Strings for the ceremony and Chris Sarlas Band for the reception. Chris and Carol are amazing to work with and they will ease your anxieties about everything. They are professional, prompt, and fun!! If you want beautiful wedding ceremony music AND music to dance to then look no farther than Chris and Carol at Sarlas Music. We received so many compliments on music and entertainment! The best to work with!!! We got married in July 2021 and spent 1 year wondering if we were going to be able to have the wedding of our dreams and Sarlas Music stuck by our side and ensured we'd have a beautiful wedding. The musicians in Chris Sarlas Band and Artist Strings are soo talented you will forget that it is not that the original artist singing. Best vendor choice we made! -
![Clare]()
Clare Sent on 06/07/2021Highly recommend!
We had a great experience with Sarlas Music (Chris & Carol) for our 5/29/21 wedding. We had to make several changes due to COVID and they were flexible and helpful throughout the planning process.
When it came time for the wedding, they made sure it was a blast from beginning to end! The dance floor was packed the entire night, which is exactly what we were hoping for. They have a huge range in their music selection and were willing to learn/perfectly execute special songs we asked of them. We’ve received so many compliments on the band and are thrilled we chose Sarlas for our big day!
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![Nick]()
Nick Sent on 11/08/2019Great Experience!
My wife and I used the Sarlas Five band for our wedding on 10/26 and were blown away by the entertainment. Not only was the lead singer Mike and his guys professional and helpful, they did a great job keeping the party going and knew the right songs to play at the right time.
Planning a wedding is stressful and difficult, but utilizing this band made everything from an entertainment perspective easy for us. The band helped guide us and answer all of our questions from the very beginning of the wedding process through the very end of it. Countless phone calls, emails back and forth and even video conferencing to get to know one another, made the process seamless for us and we greatly appreciated it.
We highly recommend using the Sarlas Five band for your wedding or next big event. They were fantastic! -
![Lauren]()
Lauren Sent on 01/09/2019Incredible Band!
We cannot say enough about the Chris Sarlas Band. They made our wedding reception absolutely amazing! Chris and Carol worked with us from the start and spent hours making sure we had the vision we wanted. On the night of the wedding, the band brought so much energy and excitement to the dance floor. We had multiple guests asking "who is this band and where did you find them?!" Every musician in the group is so talented. The most incredible part of the Chris Sarlas Band is that they seemed genuinely happy and excited to be celebrating with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the most grateful bride and groom! Our wedding would not have been the same without the Chris Sarlas Band- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! -
Kristina Sent on 10/27/2018
Sarlas Music exceeded all expectations!
Working with Sarlas Music was one of my favorite experiences from the entire wedding planning process. From our very first meeting, we were confident we made the right decision. It was important for us to maintain a dance party from beginning to end, which is exactly what we had. Chris and Carol listened to all of our ideas and requests, and provided wonderful suggestions, too - proving that they're truly experts at what they do. We received numerous compliments from our guests, and kept the dance floor packed all night long. Best. Band. Ever! -
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![anastasia]()
Anastasia Sent on 10/25/2017Using the Chris Sarlas Orchestra has become one of our family's BEST wedding traditions! From my cousins' weddings to my own, this group ROCKS it from Stevie Wonder to Lady Gaga (and of course, the Greek dance music is amazing). We had compliments all night (and still get them now) on how fun they were and how amazing they sounded (coming from a wedding full of musicians, that's a big deal!). Thank you Chris & Carol for being so fantastic to work with and helping with special song requests. I'm sure we'll be dancing with you again at future family weddings!
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