Written Reviews
High Society was very responsive, professional, timely, and so easy to work with. The band's music and energy is phenomenal! We paid them to NOT take breaks and we had a full dance floor the entire night. They bring the fun and we all danced the night away. We had a huge storm rip through our tent and they handled it with ease. There was absolutely no stress and as soon as the storm passed they were back at it!! I could not have been happier with our choice. We have another daughter getting married in June and we booked them the moment we chose the wedding date!!
Lois S.
High Society Orchestra absolutely knocked it out of the park on our wedding day. The played piano during our cocktail hour, were great MC's during the dinner and speeches portion of our night and then they killed it one the dance floor opened up. Our dance floor was packed the entire night and the band kept everyone entertained. We had several guests compliment tell us how much they loved this band. During the planning process, the band director was always very responsive to our questions, always following up with a phone call to make sure we were all on the same page. The band is very reasonably priced and flexible with requests. My bride and I were not expecting the band to play our Father/Daughter or Mother/Son song but we've pleasantly surprised when they started playing our unique songs during those dances. I would absolutely recommend this band to anyone!
Kory K.
High Society made our wedding reception absolutely unforgettable! From the moment they started playing, they had everyone on their feet - the dance floor was packed all night long. What really stood out was how seamlessly they performed together; you could tell this was a group that had mastered their craft through countless performances together. Working with Allan and the rest of High Society was an absolute pleasure. Their genuine friendliness and professionalism made the planning process smooth and stress-free. Allan was incredibly accommodating and responsive, and the band's experience with weddings was evident throughout the entire process. Even weeks after our celebration, our guests are still raving about High Society. Multiple people have told us it was the most fun they've had at a wedding, and the music was a huge part of that. If you're looking for a band that will keep your party going while being consummate professionals behind the scenes, look no further. They exceeded our expectations in every way possible!
Carolyn D.
Outstanding! These guys are absolutely amazing. Dance floor was packed solid from the first song to the last, and the guests were chanting "one more song" at the end of the show when the lights came up and the clock struck midnight, we never wanted it to end.
Robert
Hiring High Society as our band for our wedding was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. Alan was very communicative and easy to work with. They provided a long list of songs we could choose from and offered to learn a few songs not listed if we requested them. Once the band got started, no one left the dance floor. We received so many compliments from our guests about how amazing our band was. Many said it was the best wedding band they had ever seen. I loved how they wrapped up the night with our guests surrounding us and played “All you need is love”. It was a great way to end the evening, and I will never forget that moment. I cannot recommend High Society enough!
Charlotte H.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about High Society Orchestra! The band’s energy was contagious and they sounded amazing. The dance floor was never empty and our guests continue to rave about them months later. Additionally, we are so grateful that the band learned three songs for the reception that had special meaning to us, and the ceremony pianist beautifully executed more unconventional procession (Taylor Swift) and recession tunes (Top Gun Anthem). Lastly, Allan, the band manager, was on top of communication with us and our planner leading up to the big day. I would choose HSO again and again to get the party going!
Gabriella H.
I've had the pleasure of working with the High Society Orchestra on multiple occasions, and I can confidently say that they are a stellar choice for anyone seeking to elevate their wedding celebration. As a seasoned wedding planner, I prioritize excellence in every aspect of the event, and the High Society Orchestra consistently delivers on all fronts. One of the standout qualities of this remarkable band is the sheer talent of its musicians. Each member possesses a level of skill and artistry that is truly impressive. From soulful renditions of classic ballads to high-energy performances of the latest hits, High Society Orchestra has a diverse repertoire that caters to a wide range of musical tastes. Their ability to read the room and adjust the atmosphere accordingly is a testament to their professionalism and musical expertise. What sets HSO apart is their unique talent for bringing the party to life. Weddings are joyous celebrations, and this band understands how to harness that energy and channel it into an unforgettable experience for both the couple and their guests. The dance floor is never empty when HSO is in charge, and the infectious enthusiasm they exude creates an atmosphere of pure celebration. One of the key considerations for any couple is the budget, and here is where HSO truly shines. Their pricing is remarkably reasonable, considering the level of talent and entertainment they bring to the table. In my experience, couples are often pleasantly surprised by the value they receive for their investment. HSO strikes an excellent balance between quality and affordability, making them an ideal choice for those seeking a memorable wedding without breaking the bank. From the initial consultation to the final note played at the reception, HSO exudes professionalism and a genuine passion for what they do. Their seamless collaboration with other vendors and their commitment to creating a personalized musical experience for each couple make them a dream to work with for any wedding planner. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend High Society Orchestra to couples looking to add a touch of musical magic to their special day. With their talented musicians, infectious energy, and budget-friendly pricing, they have consistently proven to be a reliable and outstanding choice for creating unforgettable moments.
Suzanne
Incredible band! Would be a mistake not to book them! They had our 300 guest wedding out on the dance floor the entire night! Allan is a pleasure to work with. My brother in law booked them and multiple of my friends right after my wedding because they were so good. Thanks for everything High Society! 100% the best.
Delaney H.
I recently had the pleasure of having High Society Band perform at my daughter's wedding, and I am beyond thrilled with the exceptional experience they provided. From start to finish, they truly elevated the celebration to a level of enchantment that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Leo A.
The Band was amazing and Alan is wonderful. Everyone danced at the wedding. High energy band. This was the 2nd family wedding that High Society played and a 3rd one upcoming in Jan 2025. They are truly awesome. The day after the wedding we received text messages from every guest praising the band.
Bridget M.
Allan and his team did an amazing job for our wedding at the Waldorf. He was responsive and polite. He instills confidence in you that everything will go perfect. He certainly was right. The band can play a wide range of songs and is great at every one of them. I highly recommend them!
Andrew C.
Alan & his team were the best to work with!!! We got married up in Lake Geneva WI & Alan took the time one day to go up and walk through our venue to make sure he had the layout. They were also above and beyond with performing!! Everybody was dancing all night. I could not recommend them enough!!
Cricket G.
THE BEST BAND EVER!! They made our wedding night one to remember. Everyone was talking about it that night and days following. The dance floor was packed all night long. A perfect mix of old and new music. I think one of the most important details of a wedding is the music. It sets the tone/vibe/ ambiance for the event and they knocked it out of the park. Allan was so easy to work with. We could not have asked for a better band. Thank you times a million!
Sydney V.
We had the privilege of hearing and dancing to the HSO at another wedding a year prior to our wedding. It was a blessing that they had our date available. Allan was wonderful and so much fun to work with. He shared advice, particularly with respect to timeline and special dances, in a friendly, not condescending way. He also was very patient, working hard to alleviate the planning stress. The Band, itself, was outstanding. We had 7 members and as soon as the music started our dance floor was packed and it remained that way throughout the evening. Our guests raved about the band and music (play list was varied and perfect for all ages). It was great to see so many of our guests dancing and having such a great time. Allan was very professional, too, responding timely to emails and calls and working with our event contact. HSO is a talented and experienced band that will take your event/wedding to the next level. We highly recommend them.
Laurene
High Society was SO great to work with. Everyone told me after our wedding how great the music was and how engaging the band was. The dance floor was packed ALL night! Thank you Alan and team!!
Shannon E.
We have hired High Society four times for our kids' weddings and have heard them at several other events. They do not disappoint and guests fill the dance floor from the first song until the end. Hate to hear the “last song” because they are so much fun.
Kathleen
Thanks Allan! Everyone loved High Society and had a great time at the wedding.
Michael S.
Thank you so much! We enjoyed working with your band, and we’re happy we could make things better for you day of! We look forward to working with your company again!
Megan T.
High Society Band was excellent and Allan was great to work with. He was very organized and helped me get organized too. The band started out strong and finished strong!! They read the audience perfectly....I don’t think there was a time that the floor was empty!! We appreciate the excellent job that High Society Band provided!!!!
Liz R.
Incredibly talented. At an event and they are great.
Natalie R.
Terrific band! They did a great job playing music that was well liked by all guests!
Rachel B.
This Band is so AWESOME!!! From the time they started to their last song , the dance floor was full. So Professional, so accommodating, and so nice! It was a pleasure working with them! And I got nothing but compliments on how great they were!! Thank you to this band for making our event a huge success!!! The dance floor was never empty!!! The music was Great! They were very accommodating, and all so nice to deal with!!! Best Band ever!!!! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!
Brigid H.
High Society is the BEST BAND EVER. They had the most danceable playlist! I almost wish they had played more duds so I could have gotten a little rest in. All of our guests had a blast. Thank you to Al and team for keeping everyone moving on our big day!
Katie C.
Thank you all so much for making Erine and Jake's wedding so special. We are truly grateful!
Felicia & Jamie M.
I loved working with you at Gina and John's wedding! And the band was fantastic -- that dance floor was packed the entire night!
Jenny M.
Our daughter got married a month ago. The band made the reception. They could not have been more responsive to our needs and the people at the reception. They were spot on reading the crowd with their music selection. Everyone said the band made the reception. I wish I had another daughter so I could hire them again.
Ken F.
High Society MADE our wedding night! We received SO many compliments and our guests did not leave the dance floor from the moment the band took the stage until the end of the night! SO wonderful!! Thank you, High Society!
Gina M.
High Society Orchestra made my wedding the best day ever. We were a Covid couple who were really looking forward to a celebration with our family and friends and HSO and Allan made everything possible. Music was amazing, singers were great, and they were an absolute joy to work with!
Naomi D.
Your band did a wonderful job and everyone complimented us about the band. We had a great party and having a great band helped to make it possible. All of the guests sent thank you notes claiming it made their summer. Thank you for doing a super job and we will recommend your band to anyone that asks.
Don O.
I wanted to take a chance to say THANK YOU to you and your performers for making our night such a blast! We got so many compliments on the band and what a fun time they were. Ryan and I had the time of our lives at our wedding reception and can't thank you enough. I also know that my parents are so appreciative as well.
Jillian K.
It was such a delight to work with you and your team on the Stanek Wedding! Everyone had a wonderful time and the band was great!!! We all look forward to the next wedding celebration in September and I will keep you in mind for any events in the future.
Lydia
Didn't get the chance to catch you on your way out but wanted to thank you and the band again for an amazing night. I've been getting texts and calls for the last 2 days about how great you guys were. Good luck with the rest of the year and be safe.
Zach G.
High Society did a great job for us at the Plainfield Giving Gala. They are excellent musicians and singers. They relate well with the guests.
Ronald K.
Outstanding band! The dance floor was packed all night; my friends and relatives raved about them. I have recommended them to several people.
Susan C.
We had a wonderful wedding reception and people are still raving about High Society Band. These guys kept the party moving and their sound is excellent. They really morph into whomever they are covering. It was a fun show from start to finish! I have recommended them to all my friends and I would highly recommend them to anyone reading this! The band leader, Allan was very nice and very professional, and we can’t thank him enough. We will definitely book them again if we have the opportunity.”
Leo A.
My daughter Lizzie and I had heard and seen High Society at several parties, and they were terrific at every one, so we didn’t have any need to go through the tiresome process of considering many bands for her wedding. We knew what we wanted in a band, and we got it. The band was superb in every way at Lizzies beautiful wedding. Fun, professional, exciting, authentic. Tremendously talented performers: several outstanding vocalists and impressive instrumentalists all around. Also, Lizzie had asked for some rather unusual songs for the bridal dance and father/daughter dance. The band’s performance of those songs was spot-on. And Al Heiman was extraordinarily helpful throughout, down to every detail. The whole occasion was especially joyous, and High Society was a huge contributor to that special feeling on that special day.
Jack K.
We highly recommend the High Society Orchestra to you. Their talent, cooperation, and professionalism were fantastic.The dance floor was packed from beginning to end. They even learned a few new songs that we requested. Our wedding was at the Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. Their band members interacted with our guests and there were a few sing-a-longs. The singers went out into the audience and danced with the guests. We have seen them at a number of our friends' weddings and we were so happy to book them. The crowd kept clapping all night. If you are looking for an exciting band to make your wedding extra special, they are the ones.
Sharon
We were very happy with High Society Orchestra. They made our special night a dream come true. Everything they did for us was in a professional manner. They sent us their song list to pick the songs that we wanted played. The played so many up tempo songs from Motown to the current contemporary songs which we had picked. They have had the same people for many years and we cannot say enough about them. Hire them!
Becky
Thank you so much to you and the sensational High Society musicians for delivering a high energy dance party to the Koziol's wedding!! Everyone had a marvelous time and never wanted the dancing to stop! Have a wonderful holiday season!
Sarah K.
Wow! I can't stress enough what a wonderful job Allan and the High Society Orchestra did at our wedding this weekend. They kept us all dancing the entire night and we've gotten SO many compliments on our wonderful choice of band. I'd give my highest recommendation to these guys for anyone looking for a great live band for any wedding/event!
John S.
Our wedding was on the 21st of September and let me just say WOW! Allan and HSO were awesome! The dance floor was packed from start to finish, I saw family and friends dance who never dance. If they started a song and saw people start to fade off the floor they quickly transitioned to a new one. People are still taking about how great they were and how much fun they had, HSO was worth every dollar. Thanks for a great time, I wish it could have gone on all night.
Ryan I.
What a fantastic band! When we were interviewing High Society to play at our daughter's wedding, we discovered that they were the fabulous band that had played a few years earlier at our niece's wedding. Our daughter had actually ended up with a microphone that night on stage singing with the band. Somehow, it felt right! We hired them and had a blast of an evening with them. You will not be disappointed!
Eleanor D.
Hiring High Society for our daughter's wedding was the best money we spent. I first saw them two years prior and saved their card as I knew I definitely wanted them as our band. The dance floor was crowded until the end! Everyone commented on the energy they brought and the fact that they sounded like the original artist of every song they performed. Al was a very nice man and a pleasure to work with. Hire them!!
Nancy L.
We first saw High Society Orchestra at my friends wedding in St. Louis. They have a lot of energy and really sound spot on for a lot of great wedding songs. It was an amazing performance and we wanted to provide the same experience for the guests at our wedding. Luckily they were from the Chicago area and we were able to book them for our own wedding last month. They were willing to learn two new songs for us-- "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen and "Galway Girl". They knocked both songs out of the park! Having everyone on the dance floor was really important for us and we have received many compliments from our attendees at the wedding on the band. Will recommend to anyone having their wedding and thinking of a live band!
Nick P.
High Society Orchestra transformed our wedding into the night of our dreams! Our guests were complimenting them all night long and no one wanted to leave the dance floor. They made our night an absolute blast for everyone who attended, and we are so grateful!
Amanda G.
Definitely book them for your wedding. The band was punctual, professional, kept in touch up until the wedding, send us all the appropriate reminders, paperwork, questions, etc. and were very flexible working with our requests and guests. From the beginning of the wedding process, it really was a pleasure to work with Allan. We requested a very special song and the band performed it just like the record. I cannot say enough good things about them. We received so many compliments from our guests! Thank you, thank you!
Do yourself a favor and book High Society Orchestra. You will be very happy that you did. They played our daughter's wedding two years ago and we knew then that we would want them again. The musicians are so talented and the singers are always dancing on stage. And when they go into the audience the people on the dance floor all got involved! Their emcee was fantastic. We met two months before the wedding to go over the songs that we wanted played. Our party planner was hired from them for seven other events and they sure lived up to their billing.
Barbara H.
Oh my goodness, did we have a fun Saturday night! Nothing but wonderful positive comments floating around about High Society... and a lot of sore feet on Sunday! What we remember most about the evening was the packed dance floor throughout the whole night. We have hired your band for the past three years and we want HSO for the next year's gala. HSO was wonderful. All our guests commented on how good the band was and how they got involved with the guests on the dance floor. See you next year!
Krista L
Words cannot express how much we appreciated the your help in planning our wedding. Your High Society Orchestra were amazing. Everything was perfect! All of the musicians were out of this world. The singers were so friendly and personable. They danced on stage all night. Your DJ played all the right songs during your breaks. We are so glad that we picked the High Society Orchestra. They are so unbelievably talented.
Kelly L.
Allan and the orchestra are fantastic professionals. The musicianship of the band is amazing and the emceeing was top notch! Allan let us choose the songs so we were able to pick exactly what we wanted. High Society brought incredible energy to the wedding and the dance floor was packed. I don't care what people say about hiring DJs, nothing can match a real live band. You won't be disappointed that you hired them.
Amanda H.
The HSO made our wedding better than we could have dreamed! They kept the party moving along all night and everyone was dancing. Allan met with us to plan out the whole event. The band learned two new songs just for our wedding! Every one of our guests said that the band was the best wedding band ever. My advice to you is to book this fabulous band for your wedding!
Vicky K.
This is the best wedding band I have ever heard. My good friend had them two years prior to my wedding and my parents were so impressed that they held onto the business card that whole time.
John J.
High Society was absolutely incredible. It was one of the best performances by a wedding band that we have ever seen. They have incredibly talented musicians and singers. Allan was so easy to work with. He was super organized and the planning was very clear and easy. If you want to wow your guests, High Society is the answer! They are very flexible and always willing to accommodate. They were very cooperative in learning a few new songs for the wedding. Their Motown medley is incredible. The dance floor was packed all night. Their selection of songs is amazing and they made our night unforgettable. Again-- amazing band!
Sam F.
Words cannot express how wonderful the High Society orchestra was at our wedding. They were absolutely unbelievable! Our guests were dancing all night and we received many compliments. Hiring them was the best decision of our wedding. We are so glad that we booked you. I would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone else.
Jessica H.
We first saw High Society at a friends of our's wedding and were absolutely amazed. We knew we had to hire them for our wedding. Once we booked our venue, we knew hiring High Society for our wedding was a must. High Society brought the house down and were absolutely wonderful. They kept the crowd dancing all night long. They played all our special dances perfectly and volunteered to learn two new songs. Their emcee was fantastic and Allan (their manager) was very cooperative and understanding. Our guests raved about the band about fabulous they were! Thank you, thank you for making our wedding night something to always remember.
Sandy K.
Definitely book High Society for your wedding! Our guests could not stop raving about the music and we could not have been more impressed. They were amazing! Even our party planner couldn’t get over how well the band performed. We were able to choose from their song list the songs that we wanted played and the band learned a few extra songs that we requested. Their professionalism was incredible and the excitement that they created on the dance floor was unbelievable. At the end of the evening our guests kept requesting “One More Song” They obliged us and we decided to keep them on for an extra hour of overtime. We must have received over 40 raves from our guests.
Judy M.
We were so pleased with the High Society band. Everything that they told us that they would do for us was true. Allan helped us prepare the timeline for the night and everything was perfect. Two months prior to the wedding, they sent us their song list and asked us to pick out the high energy songs that we wanted played. They also asked us to list any up tempo songs that we didn't want played. The night of the wedding they followed this to a tee. They also provided musicians for our ceremony. The applause from the dance floor when the night ended was incredible. If you are looking for an incredible band who will make your party a wonderful success then hire this band!
Janet W.
I highly recommend the High Society Orchestra to you! They are a phenomenal band, fantastic musicians and their singers are the best. They have played at my three sons weddings and are so cooperative and organized. Every detail is planned ahead of time. They have also played for at least 20 of my friends’ weddings. Everyone on the North Shore loves this band. We had a tent in our yard for the wedding and told them to play until midnite as this was the ordinance. At midnite everyone was still on the dance floor so I told them to just keep playing. Finally after two more hours of overtime and the dance floor packed, they had to stop because the power went out. We received so many compliments for weeks thereafter. Do yourself a favor and hire this band!
Robert D.
High Society was one of the best decisions we made in planning our wedding. Their front singers are so talented and have so much personality. They are so versatile playing everything from Motown to the current contemporary songs. At the end of the evening our guests were screaming for more. We had them play an extra hour. It was so well worth it as our guests talked about them for many weeks.
Casey B.
Thank you so much for providing a wonderful evening of music and entertainment. We met with their manager twice before the wedding and discussed how we wanted the evening to go and some of the songs that we would like played from their list. They also learned two new songs for the wedding. Do yourself a favor and book High Society for your wedding. They are amazing!
Dan W.
We can’t say enough about High Society, as they made our wedding so special. The dance floor was packed all night. Allan, their manager, was so cooperative and knowledgeable. They have played three of our friends’ weddings so we knew how good they were. All of our guests raved about them.
Samantha R.
High Society is one of the most amazing live bands. We had a pianist for cocktails, a trio for dinner and the full band for dancing. Every performer was so talented. We are so grateful for these talented musicians for making our daughter's special night a night to remember.
Dennis F.
High Society are without a doubt the BEST band for any wedding. I had seen them before and we were so excited to be able to have them at our wedding! The guests danced the entire time. It was everything I hoped it would be!
Michelle S.
We want to thank you for the amazing job you did at our wedding reception back in September. You kept everyone on the dance floor the entire night. Our guests were ecstatic about how terrific they were and their musical selection. You exceeded our expectations in every way. We thank you and your band for a wonderful, memorable, fun evening.
Kelsey Watkins
My best friend recommended the High Society Orchestra after they had played hr wedding. After reviewing their video we booked them and we were so happy with our decision. The band was punctual, professional and a lot of fun. The interaction with our guests was unbelievable. The band went on the dance floor and interacted with our guests. We received rave after rave from all of our guests about how fabulous they were. Thank you, thank you.
Barb Cole
We just wanted to thank you for yet another spectacular evening with the High Society Orchestra! The songs just kept on coming and all the special songs and dances were just perfect literally. You listened to and incorporated Ashley's ideas and visions for her wedding and it turned into a spectacularly memorable event that our friends and family are still talking about. Even the non-dancers danced all night! Thanks to all your wonderful singers and musicians. It was great to see you again!
Alexis & Richard L.
We have now had High Society play at both of our daughters' weddings with the most recent two weeks ago. Absolutely the best in every way! Professionals who have been a very big part of both our weddings and leave all in attendance raving about their performance. We highly recommend High Society!!
Bob D.
We were very happy with High Society Orchestra. Your band leader, in particular, was excellent! We would definitely use High Society again. Thank you!
Dorothy W.
High Society Orchestra played at our wedding in Chicago, IL and was phenomenal. The booking process was easy, the price was right, and the performance was A+. We can't recommend them enough. Thank you, HSO for the amazing performance and for the memories that we will cherish forever!
Julia
Oh my goodness did we have fun Saturday night!! Nothing but wonderful positive comments floating around about High Society... and a lot of sore feet on Sunday :) Thank you for all you did to help make our Grand Gala... truly Grand!
Krista
As I take time to reflect back over the highlights and relationships of 2017, my encounter with Donna Rice comes to mind. Donna was most attentive and responsive and accommodating when it came to preparing for the wedding reception... Every correspondence was personal, professional, and timely. And I felt I had a partner that would make the reception exceptional for the bride, groom, and their families. The band was sensational, the party was awesome, and I have nothing but praise! Thank you to the excellent musicians at HSO, thank you for the fun, and thank you Donna for being a great leader!
Catherine
Palais Royale
There are no words to describe how thrilled we were to have found the High Society Orchestra. they are unlike any wedding band that you have ever seen or heard before, Allan, their manager is an honest and reliable business person, that is very cooperative. Given how important music is at any wedding, it is crucial to find a band that can keep your guests on the dance floor having a blast. They have played at three of our sons weddings and we would not have had any other band. Best band ever - hands down. Every guest at our wedding raved about the music. the energy that they created was fun and exciting. If you want an absolute kick - ass wedding that your guests will remember for a long time, this band is the best. BOOK - THEM!
The Knot
High Society did not disappoint! We had over 260 guests at our wedding, and ALL of them were on the dance floor the entire night. The group allowed us to customize our songs to our liking, and they sounded amazing. I would 100% recommend High Society to anyone looking for an awesome wedding band!!
Patrick
We hired High Society Orchestra for my daughter's wedding this past July and they were amazing. Their presence, music, performers, singers, they cannot Be best. It was a great evening. We got great reviews from everyone who attended. They said the music was wonderful because it got everyone up to dance not just the young, but all. Allen Heiman was a dream to work with. I highly recommend this Orchestra for your next event!
Mary lou S.
This is not the first time we had High Society Orchestra at one of our family weddings. When my sister got married I decided that this is the only band I wanted to play at my wedding. They were incredible, Carlo was such a fun MC (and trumpet player), and the singers for the band really pulled the crowd in. I highly recommend them to anyone especially those who want people to dance at their wedding! The band and Allan were really easy to work with and very personable and the band played all of the songs that I had said I wanted played. It is clear they want everyone to have a blast, and it is not hard to when the music is on point!
Theresa A.
High Society Orchestra was absolutely incredible. It was one of the best performances by a wedding band that we had ever seen. They have incredibly talented musicians and singers. Allan was so easy to work with. He was so super organized and the planning was very clear and easy. If you want to wow your guests, High Society is the answer. They are very flexible and always willing to accommodate. They were very cooperative in learning a few new songs for the wedding. Their Motown medley is incredible. The dance floor was packed the whole night Their selection of songs was amazing and they made our night so incredible. Again – amazing band.
Susan S.
Did anyone ever tell you that the band makes the party? Well that is 100% true. The High Society Orchestra rocked the house at our wedding. The entire night, our dance floor was packed right until the very end, as they were a high energy band that kept the party rocking all night long. There was not a single moment that the dance floor was not packed. We were absolutely blown away by how terrific they were. Their day of performance was absolutely phenomenal and they are very willing to cooperate. Allan (their manager) was part owner of one of the largest independent record labels in the country. He certainly knows how to put together many of the most talented musicians and singers in Chicago. Everyone had the best time and we were ecstatic with how they performed. They got our guests singing along on many songs and having a great time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Cynthia H.
The band was the most important decision for our wedding. We had a big dancing crowd and we wanted an energetic band that would keep everyone on their feet all night long. High Society brought such professionalism, experience and fun. From start to finish, they knew exactly what to do. This comes with experience and their over ten years of playing together shows. They enjoy what they do and this reflects to the crowd. Our wedding guests left raving about the music.
Tom K
There are no words to describe how thrilled we were to have found the High Society Orchestra. They are unlike any wedding band that you have ever seen or heard before, Allan, their manager is an honest and reliable business person, that is very cooperative. Given how important music is at any wedding, it is crucial to find a band that can keep your guests on the dance floor having a blast. They have played at three of our sons weddings and we would not have had any other band. Best band ever – hands down. Every guest at our wedding raved about the music. The energy that they created was fun and exciting. If you want a absolute kick – ass wedding that your guests will remember for a long time, this band is the best. BOOK – THEM!
D. Ricero
This band was totally amazing. There were five singers on stage, they had so much personality and talent, our guests were enthralled with them. They were not only great dancers but they communicated with our guests and had everyone dancing. The band was unbelievable, the musicians were top notch professionals, we picked the music and they did a great job playing our choices. This orchestra made our event, I could not have asked for anything more. The were OUTSTANDING and our expectations were more than met. You will not be disappointed, they were truly the best.
Carole
They are without a doubt the BEST band for any wedding. I had seen them before and were so excited to be able to have them at our wedding!! People danced the entire time! It was everything I hoped it would be!
Megan
Hi Allan and Donna It was awesome working with you guys last night at the Cook Wu Wedding! You guys rocked it and had them dancing all night! I Can't wait to work together in December!
Kristin Anderson
Weddings and Events By Kristin
“My wife and I both thought that High Society put on a performance at a wedding that I have yet to see equaled. Not only was the quality of the music excellent, but the song selection kept everyone out of their seats and on the dance floor the entire time. We have received many wonderful notes from friends and family about the wedding and so many have complemented us on our band selection.”
MICHAEL P.
“We want to thank you and your outstanding orchestra, High Society. You were unbelievable… beginning with the ceremony and through the end of the reception (which lasted until 1:30 am!!!) Thank you again… and be assured that you are on the top of our list for our next party.”
EMILY D.
“We thought the music was absolutely wonderful, and our opinion certainly was not unique. We have received many comments from our wedding guests in the past few weeks noting that it was the best wedding reception that they have ever been to, and the High Society Orchestra keeps coming up as the reason why everyone had such an enjoyable evening. We would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone in need of finding musicians for their wedding ceremony – in fact, we already have.”
CLINT AND JULIE WOKER
“The High Society Orchestra was the high point of our reception. Not only were they extremely talented, but each member was friendly and polite. Many people have told me that they have never been to a wedding where the dance floor was filled until the end of the evening, as it was at our reception. All ages were out on the parquet ‘dancing the night away.’” I would gladly recommend the High Society Orchestra to anyone looking for a fabulous band!”
FLO M.
“We want you to know that the High Society Orchestra helped to make our daughter’s wedding more than she ever could have hoped for. The thirteen pieces performed with such breadth and depth that the guests are still talking about the music. The musicians even joined in the fun on the dance floor during part of the evening! The dance floor was crowded the entire night and our guests tell us that they have never been to a more fun wedding. The processional/recessional and cocktail music was exquisite. I am so glad that you recommended adding the three violins. The music during dinner was beautiful and the guests were able to carry on conversations at their tables, which was much appreciated. Thanks again for making this a night [we] will always remember.”
HELENE AND MARK RUBERT
"THANK YOU so much for all that you did to make our daughter’s wedding such a huge success! All 700 of our guests still continue to talk about how wonderful you were even though it has been over a month since the wedding. They begged us to have you play even a half-hour longer because no one could get enough. You were AMAZING!!! …We (have) had the opportunity to travel all over the country and watch many nationally recognized orchestras perform at various functions. NONE OF THEM COMPARED TO YOUR ORCHESTRA. You were such a pleasure to work with throughout the wedding preparation process. You were fair, accommodating, and friendly. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you and hope we have the delight to watch you perform again in the future.”
STEVE AD JOYCE ZAMORA
“I cannot thank you enough for helping to make [my daughter’s] wedding a dream come true. From the first moment when we pulled up to the mansion and heard the violins, to the beautiful music of the trio and finally the High Society Orchestra, it was just perfect. This band had everyone up dancing all night, even my 78-year old mother. They were fabulous. I could not recommend them highly enough. Please let them know how wonderful we all thought they were.”
VALERIE D.
“The party’s over, the band has long since packed up their instruments, but the talk in the Tower Lakes neighborhood and on the streets of Barrington continues to regale the sounds of High Society. The band members are exceptionally talented and bring so much energy, enthusiasm, and style to a party. In addition each and every member of High Society is so nice and friendly. We will definitely be booking High Society in the future.”
MICHELE G.
“Please accept our thanks and admiration for your spectacular performance at the Palmer House Empire Room. You turned the wedding into a Hot Party and brought fun and happiness to us all. You are the ‘talk of the town’ in Detroit, Canada, US States and 4 foreign countries where our guests came from. Many thanks and best wishes.”
Renee G.
“We want to thank you for the amazing job you did at our wedding reception at the Notre Dame. You were fantastic! We cannot even begin to tell how many people have told us over the past 3 weeks how amazing the band was! You had the dance floor completely packed all night long. I know that all of our guests, from our 7 yr old cousins to 83 yr old Grandma had the best time on the dance floor! Thanks again for making our reception truly spectacular.”
Brian & Clare Martin
“Thank you so much for the fabulous performance on Saturday! Your band was the best! I received SO many compliments about High Society Orchestra! Thanks again!”
Kate S.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you for making our wedding reception a huge success! The high energy music had the dance floor so packed we had to push back the tables. Even my Dad, who I have never seen dance, was on the floor all night long!! From the cocktail hour to the very last song, the playlist was perfection. You exceeded our expectations in every way and we have you to thank for a truly memorable evening. We would gladly recommend the High Society Orchestra to all our family and friends, we hope to work together again in the future!”
“Thank you so much for providing a spectacular evening of entertainment! The orchestra and vocalists were absolutely incredible! Our guests never left the dance floor! I have had so many friends tell me they have never danced that much at a wedding! Thank you also for the wonderful job you did introducing the wedding party and announcing the special events of the evening. We received rave after rave from all of our guests about how fabulous you were! Thank you, thank you”
Patty & Greg Skirving
I thought that the band did an excellent job, but during the preparation period it was sometimes difficult to communicate with Allan and I didn't always feel like he understood what we were looking for, which made me nervous about the day-of. I thought that the band on the day did a great job keeping everyone on the dance floor and being flexible with serenades by guests, etc.
Annie
The band did an outstanding job. Since we decided to have our wedding "New York Style" (AKA dancing in between each course), the band had to be ready to get the crowd moving. They did and then some! If you look in my pictures, almost everyone was dancing. If I could have them do one thing over, I would have them call the Anniversary Dance by the name rather than "The Elimination Dance". Regardless, they were outstanding. I had several wedding guests tell me that this is the best band that they have ever seen play at a wedding. I would highly recommend.
Melissa
High Society brought the house down. They were absolutely wonderful and kept the crowd dancing all night long, everyone was a sweaty mess by the end of the night. Allan was a pleasure to work with. They played first dance and father daughter dance perfectly and worked to learn a new song my husband and I really wanted as our last song because it has special meaning for us. That last song brought everyone to the floor and created the most special moment of the night. Would definitely recommend them!
Brooke
We hired the High Society Orchestra for our June 8th wedding, and I have to say, they were pretty darn great! I planned our wedding from California, so the day of the wedding, I was a little nervous considering that I'd never actually heard the band play live. I was also nervous because the room where the band would be playing was all marble, and I was worried that they would be too loud. I needn't have worried - they were just fabulous. The music was fantastic and they got the volume just right for both the ceremony (which was outside) and reception (which was inside). They kept people dancing all night until we shut the place down, which in my book, is the sign of a good night!High Society Orchestra responded with the the following comments: Thanks Alice! We had such a great time performing for your family and friends.
Alice
We were in love with the High Society Orchestra's performance at our wedding...and so were our guests! Weeks later, people are still talking about what an awesome band we had. We had seen in other reviews of High Society that some people had experienced delays in response or had to ask questions a couple times during the pre-wedding planning process, which we experienced to some extent as well. But at the end of the day, this band clearly knows what they're doing, is made of incredibly talented musicians, and absolutely delivers. They got our guests involved, kept the dance floor packed the entire night, and made it a really special evening for my husband and I. I would definitely recommend them.
Lauren
We are so glad we booked you, you were fantastic. Our friends were texting and ringing months after the wedding saying how much they enjoyed the day. The music was professional and what a wonderful choice of music there was, even my 89 year old granddad was on the dance floor! I would not hesitate to recommend you to anybody else. Thank you again for playing at our wedding and being able to do it at such short notice.
Miranda
Our wedding was Magical and High Society helped make it so. I want to thank Allan, Vern, Tim and the whole band for making everything perfect. From the first dance to the last, we had a great time and our friends and family are still talking about how much fun the band was. They played all the songs we asked for and so many others that had our friends dancing all night. I never imagined we could have so much fun. Thanks High Society Orchestra!
Suzy
I loved High Society Orchestra! The band was excellent and all our guests raved about the music quality! A great value!
Kristin
Once the band started, no one left the dance floor....even our priest! Allan was kind enough to let two of our guests sing their signature songs. Everyone had the best time. Thanks so much!
Barb
Hugely Entertaining. High Society Orchestra rocked the dance floor. Every guest was up and dancing. I didn't know I could hire a band this good. They even managed to get my father dancing. No DJ in the world could compete with the quality and energy of their performance.
Donna
First, I just want to thank the whole High Society group for doing a great job from beginning to end. Everyone (Allan, Carlo, Donna, I don't remember everybody's name) was so nice and easy to work with. Second, if you are reading this, you are probably considering hiring a band to play your wedding. The short of it is... HIRE HIGH SOCIETY! They are professional. They played all of our requests. They we able to choose just the right songs to keep us dancing all night. We had a great time. Our family and friends commented on how great the band sounded. It just doesn't get any better than this. HIRE HIGH SOCIETY!
Natalie
The High Society Orchestra was the high point of our reception. Not only were they extremely talented, but each member was friendly and polite. Many people have told me that they have never been to a wedding where the dance floor was filled until the end of the evening, as it was at our reception. All ages were out on the parquet ‘dancing the night away.’" I would gladly recommend the High Society Orchestra to anyone looking for a fabulous band!
Glenda
The dance floor never seemed to be anything short of packed and electric. If you want a special experience at your wedding then hire this band. Lots of people not known for dancing were recorded in action; even one man who refused to dance at his own wedding! It was seriously worth every penny. They assured me that I wouldn't be disappointed and they were right, I wasn't. Thank you for making our evening such a memorable one for all of us.
Lucy
High Society was one of the highlights of our downtown Chicago wedding. Allan, Carlo and the whole band were so professional and really cared about our special day and what was important to us. The band sounded great! Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had dancing the night away.
Katy
High Society Orchestra played our wedding on August 27, 2011 and they were absolutely fabulous. Carlo was our main point of contact at the reception and he was really on top of things and was a pleasure to work with. Most importantly, the band sounded fantastic! At one point I was in the back of the room talking with guests who asked if we had a dj playing songs while the band was on break. The music sounded like the actual artists recording, but it was the band playing the whole time! The dance floor was packed all night. Our guests have been raving about how awesome the music was. High Society made our party totally awesome! Do not hesitate to book with them. We also enjoyed working with Allan Heiman to make the arrangements for the band and to make sure everything was in order the week before the wedding. We are incredibly happy that we chose High Society Orchestra, you will not be disappointed.
Molly
High Society Orchestra is a great band! Not only did our friends and family have a great time, but Allan and the entire group were very professional and easy to work with. I would highly recommend this band!
Beth
We hired High Society Orchestra for our wedding and were very pleased. The band was just fantastic. Super-talented group. We danced all night! Our contact was Allan, and he was very easy to work with. He made everything happen just as we planned. We highly recommend this band.
Beth
High Society played our wedding on April 14, 2012, and they couldn't have been better. It was amazing how many people told us it was the best band they've ever heard at a wedding. It was a pleasure working with Allan Heinman as well. We'd absolutely recommend them - they were incredible!
Marie
High Society Orchestra performed at our wedding on 6/15/2012. Allan was easy to work with as he responded to all the emails promptly! His emails are short and straight to the point (which can appear to lack some friendliness) but very professional. He sent us a worksheet he wanted us to complete for the reception about 2-3 months prior to the big wedding date. And he was very flexible making the changes I requested even a few days prior to the event. He called to confirm everything a few days prior to the big event, including directions to the venue. It was their first time performing at our venue and you could tell he wanted the event to go smoothly! My day-of coordinator told me that the band was the first to arrive and first to have everything set up. I appreciate that because everyone else was running late, including our caterer! And let's get to the point - THEY WERE AMAZING!! Great singers and performers. During their breaks, the band played music on their ipod and I thought it was great. The band was prompt to get back on stage and was really friendly to all of our guests. I got so many complements about the band during and after the event. As a bride, I wanted to make sure things ran smoothly and effortlessly, all while making sure that our guests would enjoy the night. This band made our reception a blast. It would not have been the same without them. Thanks High Society Orchestra for making our day special!!!
Joo W.
High Society is an excellent orchestra. They played all of our requests and kept the wedding alive ! There was never a dull moment and all of our guests loved their music.
kathleen
EVERYONE was on the dance floor! All musicians were extremely talented and knew how to read the audience.
Maureen
All of our guests keep telling us that our wedding was the best one they've ever been to! We absolutely feel that High Society is a HUGE reason they're saying so... EVERYONE danced the entire time (which is rare)! The band accommodated all of our "off the menu" song requests and performed them beautifully. I am so thrilled to say that I had such fun at my own wedding, especially the "Hey Ya" finale!!!! It certainly was a PARTY! Thank you SO much HSO!
Megan
We are so grateful to HSO, in particular for their ability to learn songs specifically for our wedding, their professionalism, and most of all their talent. For a memorable event I'd absolutely recommend HSO.
Alex
Guests at our wedding commented that The High Society Band was the best wedding band they have ever heard. The are very professional to work with and extremely professional musicians. We did not want the evening to end, thanks to this band. I highly recommend High Society Band for any event!!
Amy
High Society Orchestra made my wedding toms of fun! All of the guests- of all ages - loved them! They got everyone up and dancing! They are also very professional and accommodating. They worked with me before the event to make sure they knew exactly what I wanted and that I was comfortable with everything. I cannot say enough good things about them:).High Society Orchestra responded with the the following comments: Thanks Anne! You were a great client. We had a great time working on your wedding!
Anne
High Society was amazing! The dance floor was full the entire time and our guests are still talking about it. I was able to send my song lists to the band and they were able to accommodate every request with no questions asked. I would refer them to anyone hosting every-they were just awesome!
Kelly
We loved High Society. They were an amazing part of our wedding. The ceremony music was gorgeous, the quartet during dinner and cocktails was nice, and the band for dancing was incredible. People danced the whole time. We received lots of compliments, and I know of two friends who booked them for events after seeing them at my wedding!!! thank you so much to Alan and the whole team.
Nell
I have had the opportunity to work with High Society at several weddings and events. First thing I have to say about the band it that the musicians are all consummate pros! The band is tight and their repertoire seems limitless. They fill the dance floor from the first song to the last and the music just flows through the night endlessly! The feedback from the guests always seems to be positive. I would confidently recommend High Society Orchestra to any of my clients....they create a perfect sound track for that special day!
Ron
Allan was very professional and helped plan all aspects of the musical portion and announcing the Bridal Couple. They provided the highest quality non-stop musical entertainment, and everyone at the wedding reception was dancing all night. I had no fewer than 40 comments from friends after the reception that it was the best ever!! I would definitely use High Society again!
Barbara
We had a 100 people dinner and dancing celebration party at a country club. All of our friends raved about the band (5 musicians and 3 singers). We had young, middle age and older folks and everyone had a great time
Don
Definitely book them! Allan was super easy to work with and so flexible. The band even stayed an extra 1/2 hour! Our dance floor was constantly packed and our guests had a blast. They are amazing!
Kathleen
They are without a doubt the BEST band for any wedding. I had seen them before and were so excited to be able to have them at our wedding!! People danced the entire time! It was everything I hoped it would be!
Megan
First off, let me give props to the band...They were AMAZING! I had some many compliments on them. They played such a wide variety of music for our multi-aged crows, and they kept the floor packed all night! They had great energy and were a lot of fun. If I were rating just the band here, I would give them 5 stars without a second thought. But, I have to consider the management in this review too, which lowers the rating to 4 stars. The band manager, Alan, is pretty difficult to work with, and was even downright shady in some manners. After hearing the band in person and deciding we wanted to use them for our wedding, we discussed the contract details with Alan via email. He gave us an agreeable price, outlined the breaks the band would take, told us what else the contract included (like Emcee responsibilities and iPod streaming during breaks). When the contract finally came via email a week or so later, Alan told me that he would need another $500 for Emcee services. I sent him the original email, in which he outlined that the emcee services are included, and he finally agreed that there would be no additional charge. That experience gave me an uneasy feeling about him. He kept commenting about what a "great deal" he was giving us, and I kind of felt like he was using that as license to nickel and dime us for things that he felt he could break out as "extras". (At the wedding, he apparently told my wedding coordinator that he "does not do bride and groom introductions", even though I had outlined that weeks before as one of the Emcee responsibilities we needed. I don't know what she said to him, or how, but he announced us) Weeks before the wedding, I sent him our requested song list as well as my very detailed spreadsheet of the day's schedule, which outlined things like dances, toasts and cake cuttings and also provided the exact times that those things should happen. He acknowledged the email as received, but proceeded to call me THREE MORE TIMES before the wedding (including two days before the wedding) to tell me (brashly) that I had not told him anything about the events that were to occur or the times. In our final call, I actually had to tell him to WRITE IT DOWN, because I could not keep having the same conversation with him, over and over. Dealing with Alan was very stressful. I questioned my choice of the band, and I worried that his poor management and clear lack of organization would result in a poor event for us. However, that was DEFINITELY not the case....The band was wonderful, and I would do it all over again if I had the chance!
Michelle H.
I have to say the band MADE the night! I heard from almost all 220 people who attended my wedding that the band was amazing! People who don't usually dance couldn't help shaking a leg on the dance floor. Our dance floor was packed the whole night! High Society was reallyeasy to work with - very responsive and helpful! I highly recommend them!
Kathleen G
Tim and the band were so easy to work with, were so professional and did an amazing job! I did not want them to stop playing....such a smooth and easy process. They even took the time to learn songs that I loved. Thank you for making our day so much fun!
Leslie B
High Society Orchestra played our wedding on August 27, 2011 and they were absolutely fabulous. Carlo was our main point of contact at the reception and he was really on top of things and was a pleasure to work with. Most importantly, the band sounded fantastic! At one point I was in the back of the room talking with guests who asked if we had a dj playing songs while the band was on break. The music sounded like the actual artists recording, but it was the band playing the whole time! The dance floor was packed all night. Our guests have been raving about how awesome the music was. High Society made our party totally awesome! Do not hesitate to book with them. We also enjoyed working with Allan Heiman to make the arrangements for the band and to make sure everything was in order the week before the wedding. We are incredibly happy that we chose High Society Orchestra, you will not be disappointed
Molly N.
I have so many mixed emotions on High Society that it is really difficult to write a review. My parents, my in-laws and my husband and I received so many compliments on the quality of the band. They truly kept the dance floor rocking all night long. At one point, I actually left the dance floor because it was too crowded! How often does that happen at a wedding!?! The band is incredibly talented. They really know how to keep the crowd engaged. They also do a great job of making pop songs sound great and more "classic". My older family members didn't sit down even if Dynamite by Tao Cruz was on, which I think they would have if it was a DJ with the radio version of the song. I think the band deserves a full five stars for the performance they put on. My issue is with the management. I worked in an office with very nosy individuals, and I prefer to do all of my communication via email. Also, I find it helpful to have a record of everything. I originally asked the manager if we could communicate via email, and he said that he preferred phone. I pushed and said that I work, etc, and he basically said he had after hours so just call. I could have demanded email communication, but I didn't. Overall, I found it very odd that someone would tell a customer no AND not use email. So I spent part of my wedding planning taking the elevator downstairs in order to call the High Society manager. I also found this phone tag annoying because it caused several miscommunications. I would tell the manager one thing, and then I would receive a document (via snail mail.... So frustrating) that was incorrect. Then I would have to call him back, have him correct it, etc. This was an incredibly frustrating process that I believe never would have happened if we were communicating via email. And even if a mistake occurred, it would have been corrected in significantly less time. The final week before my wedding I was insanely busy with work and final wedding items. The manager had called me about song requests, and I wasn't able to get back to him right away. He obviously wanted an answer ASAP because HE EMAILED ME. This really frustrated me. Obviously he has email capability, and we were communicating via phone for months. I understand that he prefers phone conversations, but I definitely stated that I preferred email and it was more convenient for me. I might sound demanding, but I feel that the customer's preference should be followed. My final management frustration came on the day of my wedding. I opted for a piano player during the cocktail hour, nothing during dinner (I just had an ipod and plugged that in), and a 9 piece band for the dancing. I had a signed contract stating this, but I stupidly did not have the contract the day of the wedding. When I arrived at the cocktail hour, there was no piano player. My maid of honor found the day of band manager (different than the manager I was working with). He told her that I had not paid for a piano player. I was incredibly frustrated that there was a miscommunication. At this point, it was getting close to dinner time. So I ended up dropping it because I didn't want to get worked up on my wedding day. I should have printed the contract and had it with me; however, I'm not sure it would have matter since they didn't have piano player there. Overall, I would give the management 2 stars. I think the issues I encountered with the management are significant enough to change High Society from a 5 star band to a 4 star band.
Erin T.
As someone else said, great music, so-so management. High Society played at my son's recent wedding. Raves about the music to the point where they are getting 2 other gigs for upcoming weddings. Management is a bit harsh and stand-offish. their contract includes a misspelling, totally unprofessional. Not cheap at $5,000+. If you are prepared for an evening of great music but a bit of a hassle in dealing with their management, then go for it.
Bill S.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. High Society did our wedding in November and I had no problems and TONS of compliments on them. We didn't have a lot of special requests and from reading the other reviews it seems like this can be where things get a little dicey. Overall, they got all of the songs we really wanted played in, they emceed everything for us and got all the names right, working with them was great, and they were totally able to read the crowd and have a full dance floor going all night. I'd recommend them to anyone - the members of this band are just so talented and have a great presence together.
Christina D.
I heard this band at a friend's wedding, and just knew by the time I got married I NEEDED to have them. I just got married June 20th, and we had High Society, they were just as phenomenal as when we heard them. They kept the crowd going all night, I truly did not want them to end. They played music from all genre's so everyone had a great time dancing. The dance floor was never empty. Friends are still talking about how awesome the band was. I HIGHLY recommend high society, Allan is a pleasure to work with.
Kelly M.
The band did an outstanding job. Since we decided to have our wedding New York Style (AKA dancing in between each course), the band had to be ready to get the crowd moving. They did and then some! If you look in my pictures, almost everyone was dancing. If I could have them do one thing over, I would have them call the Anniversary Dance by the name rather than "The Elimination Dance". Regardless, they were outstanding. I had several wedding guests tell me that this is the best band that they have ever seen play at a wedding. I would highly recommend.
Misse D.
High Society Orchestra performed at our wedding on 6/15/2012. Allan was easy to work with as he responded to all the emails promptly! His emails are short and straight to the point (which can appear to lack some friendliness) but very professional. He sent us a worksheet he wanted us to complete for the reception about 2-3 months prior to the big wedding date. And he was very flexible making the changes I requested even a few days prior to the event. He called to confirm everything a few days prior to the big event, including directions to the venue. It was their first time performing at our venue and you could tell he wanted the event to go smoothly! My day-of coordinator told me that the band was the first to arrive and first to have everything set up. I appreciate that because everyone else was running late, including our caterer! And let's get to the point - THEY WERE AMAZING!! Great singers and performers. During their breaks, the band played music on their ipod and I thought it was great. The band was prompt to get back on stage and was really friendly to all of our guests. I got so many complements about the band during and after the event. As a bride, I wanted to make sure things ran smoothly and effortlessly, all while making sure that our guests would enjoy the night. This band made our reception a blast. It would not have been the same without them. Thanks High Society Orchestra for making our day special!!!
Jen L.
In my series of wedding-related reviews, it's now time to pull out the hate (salt) and judgment (pepper) shakers. They make life spicier. My mother-in-law saw High Society at another wedding, and she had to book them for our wedding because their performance was so stellar. She was right about the music. They read the crowd very well, and kept everyone moving on the dance floor. There were horns, there were strings, and it was awesome. One of the singers even broke the cardinal rule of Karaoke -- no Guns N' Roses, because NO ONE can do Axel Rose justice. Except this guy. Woah. They'll rock your reception, no doubt. My complaints are mostly about their management, who is surprisingly difficult to work with, and does not communicate with the band well. High Society is not cheap. In fact, they are several thousand dollars more expensive than getting some of my favorite bands to play a private show. My expectations of what kind of working relationship we should have matched the money we paid. Specific complaints: (1) For the ceremony, we had a single pianist. My only "special request" for the night (I was given up to two songs that weren't on their list) was the bridal processional. I selected Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins. Huge Pumpkins fan. And everyone I know knows it. My friends would roll their eyes, smile, and go, "Oh, here comes Laila." The dreamy melody was also perfect for the site of the ceremony before the cool blue-lit dolphin tank at the Shedd Aquarium. As the manager explained it to me, I would be the only person walking to that music. That was important for the selection because I knew it took 1:10 to walk the aisle, and the song is only 3:40. There were 3 people in the bridal party besides me. I sent the manager the sheet music by email and by fax, and I sent a Youtube link to the piece so there was no mistake about what I was asking for. This was about a month before the wedding (on August 20th for a September 18th ceremony). The Tuesday before the wedding, I call the manager to ask for the contact information for the pianist so I could talk to him about the wedding, per the manager's earlier email instructing me to do so. The manager tells me that he didn't mail the pianist the music until that day. What?! I call the pianist anyway, and after some phone tag we finally get in touch on Thursday morning. He is a super-nice guy. He still had not received the sheet music. I sent it to him by email and again the Youtube video. We go over the ceremony music and the set-up at the Shedd. At the end of the conversation, the pianist just tells me to have fun and not to worry. Totally nice guy. Day of the wedding, I'm lined up to go behind a curtain with the entire bridal party in front of me. I hear Mellon Collie suddenly start playing. My stomach flips. I'm just thinking, "Shit, this isn't right. He's going to run out of song." But the bigger issue was the song was barely recognizable because it sounded like he had only looked at the music the day before (because he had), and probably never played it before. About half my friends had no idea what song it was. Chicago wedding. Chicago band. Biggest selling double album of all time. No clue. Yikes. (2) For the ceremony's recessional, I asked the manager if he had the piano coda to Eric Clapton's Layla. You know, the beautiful, romantic piano piece where you hear how much that mad man really loved that woman. I made it explicit that I meant the outro/coda/end of the song over multiple emails. I also, again, sent a link to Youtube for the piece so there was no mistaking what I meant. He said he had the music and his pianist knew it, and it was no problem. Awesome. Only when we get to the recessional, the pianist starts playing the acoustic version of Eric Clapton's Layla. Not what I asked for. Not appropriate for a wedding recessional either. I was also embarrassed because I didn't want my guests thinking that I picked that! (3) I worked very hard to get Alex a surprise wedding present that was a recorded greeting and performance from his favorite band for our first dance. We set it up to play on a laptop and projector, and we hooked the laptop to the band's sound system, which I was told was no problem. I went over what the DVD contained and how important it was to me that it go well with the manager, the pianist, AND the president of the sound company that partners with High Society. They started to play the DVD without turning up the sound. 20 seconds of video with no audio. Sweet. After the performance, the manager cued the band without waiting for the video to end, and cut off the a parting wish. (4) My husband's only "special request" was specifically that the band does NOT play that familiar racist anthem, Sweet Home Alabama. In fact, Alex crossed out the song on their music list when we sent it to them. They played it. Bottom line: fabulous band, terrible management.
Laila L.
Everyone told me it was one of the most fun weddings they had been to. Thanks to High Society! Allan was great to work with and accommodating to everything I wanted! They were so much fun and did an excellent job! Love them and the best!
Liz P.
Top notch! I hired the High Society Orchestra for my July (2014) wedding and I could not have been more pleased. I booked the arrangement with Allan about eight months in advance. Two months before the wedding, Allan reached out to me with a list of questions so that we could come to a meeting of the minds about what I envisioned for the wedding / music. A month before the wedding, I was then put in contact with Tim, who was the band leader for my wedding. Tim and I communicated very well on all of the wedding details. He has great ideas, so be sure to listen to him! A few weeks before the wedding, I sent him my complete wedding itinerary and we brainstormed when we would schedule the mandatory band breaks. I emailed Tim our list of requested songs a few days before the wedding. On the day of the wedding, everything went perfectly with the band. They played everything we wanted. The singers danced while they sang. They were so energetic and had the whole crowd up and dancing right after dinner. I had about 20 people tell me that they were the best wedding band ever. I must agree!
Anne T.
There is no review that could accurately reflect how wonderful High Society was to have as a wedding band. Allan was a delight to work with and truly a legend in the industry. The band was talented, charismatic , and our guests absolutely loved them! The dance floor was NEVER empty. We even unexpectedly extended the amount of time the band played for by 3 hours because they were too great to put an end to. (And they were willing to do so without a problem!) The band quite literally played on and on and on....
Rikki W.
We had high society for our wedding a few weeks ago and first and foremost, I will say the musicians and performers themselves were excellent. We got a lot of post wedding praise about our choice of band and how they were great and kept the energy going the entire time. They even learned a few more songs for us above and beyond the 2 for our dances with the parents. Any time they learn a James brown song, I'm sold. Only took two 10 minute breaks and then we're back at it. Even as the crowd got smaller at the end of the night, they were keeping things going. The order of songs was planned pretty great and there was very little down time of slow songs... Again, reiterating that the musicians and the performance were spot on. I work in the music industry with tons of studios and studio musicians and these guys are probably all the same and just perform when they aren't gigging with people in the studio... Great performers and awesome attitude. The reason for the 4 stars is solely on management and business process. Let me begin by saying that The manager of the group Allen is a very nice man. He does return emails very quickly and usually just calls immediately to have a conversation about what you emailed him. But there definitely tends to be a lack of remembering general things that are even documented in emails. For example, the amount of songs that the band will learn up to varies from when you originally talk to a few months before. Our experience had Allan saying the band would learn up to 10 songs for us which is why we were even sold on them in the first place and that shrank down to 2 about 2 months after booking them about 9 months out. We renegotiated to 5 and everything was cool. No biggie and maybe we are being picky with the amount of songs we wanted that aren't on their list but the bait and switch is a little shady. Moving on... There were 2 agreed upon set breaks with 15 mins of downloaded music he asked if we wanted any songs specifically and just to let him know and they would download them and play from their iPod. That turned into me downloading all of them and sending them to him. Still no biggie. Then it turned into using my phone during the breaks to play music because basically they didn't want to bring an iPod. Again, not a big deal but just stupid to have 8 email conversations with someone about a silly little process as to having an iPod with some songs on it available and to just not do it. The 2 big things that really got to both my wife an I were in song selection and Allen announcing. I spent a handful of days going through their list and making a very specific tailored list of songs I wanted played. Gave him a total of 45 songs of the list they knew how to play and said, "play from this list." Even went as far as to give them a handful of songs I don't want played and that was totally disregarded and a couple songs we specifically said we hate ended up getting played. I'm all for letting a band pick their own songs and feeling a crowd, but if we say we hate that song, don't play it. We even went up to him throughout the night and said, "can you guys please stop playing songs we don't like" and Allan just got into a pissing match about how the crowd loves it. I get it Allan, but if we're paying you like 10k to play some songs for 3 hrs, maybe just don't play stuff we hate and told you not to play. Again, all this can be just difference of opinion and me getting too involved in the music to just make a big deal out of. Especially when the crowd was into the music. The biggest thing and stuff that genuinely just pissed me off was any announcing which Allan decided to do himself. There was zero enthusiasm, he stood in the center of the stage at odd times just awkwardly looking into the crowd and even during the garter and bouquet toss it was painful just listening to him trying to get people to even join in. Our wedding planner had to take the mic from him and do it . A 300 plus wedding shouldn't be hard to get people to come out for that let alone even let people know it's actually going on... Again, all stuff that is really subjective I can just say may have been an off day or something. The biggest thing that really just pissed us off is the fact that when announcing the wedding party and bride and groom, you get their first and last names right. Considering you have been emailing and talking with them and accepting their money for months now, remembering how to pronounce a first and last name should be 101 type stuff for a wedding. And I or my wife don't have complicated names either. That just proved to me that there wasn't really any sort of thought put into our wedding besides cranking out the same playlist and going through the motions because it's in September and the end of wedding season. In summary, musicians are good and know how to work it. They do need someone else to manage day to day things and a different MC.
Chris W.
Planning a wedding can be stressful. High Society helped make it easy and simple! They were amazing, the guests loved them and I would recommend them to everyone!
Maria F.
Please accept our thanks and admiration for your spectacular performance at the Palmer House Empire Room. You turned the wedding into a Hot Party and brought fun and happiness to us all. You are the ‘talk of the town’ in Detroit, Canada, US States and 4 foreign countries where our guests came from. Many thanks and best wishes.”
Renee G.
Love High Society. We hired them for a corporate event and the music was perfect. Everyone complimented us on the choice. Allan Heiman was great to work with. Real professional and he has a very impressive resume. Has been in the music business forever. A real pro. Looking forward to the next opportunity to work with him and his talented musicians. THANK YOU!
Cindy K.
“THANK YOU so much for all that you did to make our daughter’s wedding such a huge success! All 700 of our guests still continue to talk about how wonderful you were even though it has been over a month since the wedding. They begged us to have you play even a half-hour longer because no one could get enough. You were AMAZING!!! …We (have) had the opportunity to travel all over the country and watch many nationally recognized orchestras perform at various functions. NONE OF THEM COMPARED TO YOUR ORCHESTRA. You were such a pleasure to work with throughout the wedding preparation process. You were fair, accommodating, and friendly. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you and hope we have the delight to watch you perform again in the future.”
Steven & Joyce Z.
“The High Society Orchestra was the high point of our reception. Not only were they extremely talented, but each member was friendly and polite. Many people have told me that they have never been to a wedding where the dance floor was filled until the end of the evening, as it was at our reception. All ages were out on the parquet ‘dancing the night away.’” I would gladly recommend the High Society Orchestra to anyone looking for a fabulous band!”
Flo M.
“We thought the music was absolutely wonderful, and our opinion certainly was not unique. We have received many comments from our wedding guests in the past few weeks noting that it was the best wedding reception that they have ever been to, and the High Society Orchestra keeps coming up as the reason why everyone had such an enjoyable evening. We would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone in need of finding musicians for their wedding ceremony – in fact, we already have.”
Clint & Julie W.
“My wife and I both thought that High Society put on a performance at a wedding that I have yet to see equaled. Not only was the quality of the music excellent, but the song selection kept everyone out of their seats and on the dance floor the entire time. We have received many wonderful notes from friends and family about the wedding and so many have complemented us on our band selection.”
Michael E.
"I wanted to write and tell you how much we enjoyed having High Society play at our wedding. The dance floor was packed the entire night with guests ranging from our wedding party (all in their 20’s) to our 80-year old grandparents. It’s hard to tell who had more fun! The band was incredibly professional, and far exceeded our expectations. The pianist during cocktails, the quartet during dinner, and the High Society Orchestra themselves, all did a terrific job in setting a mood that was just what we were hoping for. They played a wide variety of songs that got everybody to the floor at some point in the evening. Lastly, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your professionalism in fine tuning the details of that evening. Thank you for making our wedding reception a night we will relive forever!"
Emily R.
“We want to thank you and your outstanding orchestra, High Society. You were unbelievable… beginning with the ceremony and through the end of the reception (which lasted until 1:30 am!!!) Thank you again… and be assured that you are on the top of our list for our next party.”
Don and Sandi S.
I actually attended a wedding where High Society played [as a guest] and thought they were a fabulous group – very interactive. I would recommend them to anyone, especially for a wedding.
Sandra F.
It Was Such a Pleasure! It was such a pleasure working with you August 11 at the Greco Wedding. The dance floor was packed all night and i heard many Rave Reviews from the guests. I would love to work with you again.
Katie G.
You really out-did yourselves with your talent and energy! Thank you for a FOURTH great O'Rourke wedding!
Mary
We loved High Society. They were an amazing part of our wedding. The ceremony music was gorgeous, the quartet during dinner and cocktails was nice, and the band for dancing was incredible.
Nell
High Society was amazing! The dance floor was full the entire time and our guests are still talking about it.
Kelly
Top notch! I hired the High Society Orchestra for my July wedding and I could not have been more pleased.
Anne T.
The band was talented, charismatic , and our guests absolutely loved them! The dance floor was NEVER empty.
Rikki W.
I have had the opportunity to work with High Society at several weddings and events. First thing I have to say about the band it that the musicians are all consummate pros! The band is tight and their repertoire seems limitless. They fill the dance floor from the first song to the last and the music just flows through the night endlessly! The feedback from the guests always seems to be positive. I would confidently recommend High Society Orchestra to any of my clients....they create a perfect sound track for that special day!
Ron R.
They actually made the party! After the wedding, the compliments just rolled in. We were so happy! Let's get to the point - THEY WERE AMAZING!! Great singers and performers.
Jen L.
I can’t thank you enough for the fabulous wedding music – your band – orchestra – was beyond belief and YOU made it perfect It has been a true pleasure to work with you!