What a hoot, the Chicago Groove Collective was so great that our guests left their phones tucked away and danced the night away... hope our photographer got the shots. One thing we really wanted was a live band and knew the Stitely group form a wedding we attended two years ago. Started off with a nice call with Jeff Stitely going over the basics and getting some numbers together. From the first call to the abundant follow up and care to ensure that we did not miss anything their attention to detail was most appreciated. It was one big piece of the puzzle that we did not need to worry about. One nice part was the list of songs on line to get you started to give them a feel for what you do and do not like, followed by a page to drop in suggestions and ideas that you may like. We sneakily asked our bridal party what their "songs" were before the wedding and added them to the play list even though they were not in the C.G.C. repertoire. It was fun to see the members of our party notice their song, smile then grab a dance. Big thank you to the group at Stitely for being a big part of our big day! read more

I cannot recommend this band enough! They played the house down (seriously some people said they didn't even make it to the photo booth because they were too busy dancing) and offered a fully customizable experience. 10 stars! All the stars! read more

The Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra played at our June 2009 wedding at Cafe Brauer and I cannot imagine a more perfect band in a more perfect venue. They weren't annoying or talky. They did what they did best: played some kickin' music. They are so talented and Stitely was great to work with. We requested a special song that they learned it just for us. Every song they played was a treat. Stitely and the Gresik band were awesome and we recommend them wholeheartedly. read more

We chose The Stitely Orchestra to play at our wedding at the Chicago Symphony Center last weekend, and I just can't say enough positive things about them. Jeff Stitely and his orchestra were truly the highlights of our night! My now-husband, Charlie, is a musician, and we are both huge music lovers, so our wedding band was a really important decision. We had a solo pianist during the ceremony and cocktail hour, followed by a quartet during dinner and an 8-piece band for dancing. During dinner, the quartet played a long list of amazing indie rock songs - but in a very lovely way, very appropriate for those who are grandparents or not total music nerds. We had people walking up to us amazed at the music, and I've literally had friends email me asking for our dinner playlist! Our first dance was Harvest Moon by Neil Young, which made me nervous, since Neil Young's voice is so unique - but they nailed it. Our Father/Daughter dance was Loudon Wainwright's Daughter - another totally different one, but perfect. They really made those moments special memories for us. As a whole, they just sounded fantastic. We had rave reviews the entire evening, and we had quite a discerning - read, music snob - crowd. Jeff and all of the band members were also gracious, friendly, and flexible, allowing Charlie's band to step in and play a few songs during their break. Also of note, Carly took care of all the pre-wedding business details (website/song picking/etc.), and she was great. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. read more

Jeff Stitely is a true professional. We hired The Stitely Orchestra for our wedding this July. There was not one moment the entire night that the dance floor wasn't packed - even when the band took breaks and played a CD. The music was so well thought out - they really work hard to make sure everything is perfect. There are no songs they can't do - and they will learn songs if you give them notice. They had everything we wanted (and some we forgot about!!) on their set list. They recently got a new lead female vocalist - she's AMAZING. We have been getting non-stop questions about....everybody wants to know who they were. I can't wait to see our video because even people in my family that never dance at weddings were tearing up the floor that night!! Start to finish Jeff was awesome to work with - he helped me choose my "special" dance songs when we were having trouble, and was always available for questions/help. He called me a few days before the wedding to ease any worries and run the set list down with me. One of the best decisions we made for our wedding! read more

YES YES YES! We booked our DJ Kyle M. through Stitely and was the best decision we could have made! Not only did Kyle DJ our wedding, his 3 piece band played our cocktail hour (gave us the perfect mix of live music and DJ) We worked with Jeff and Emily at Stitley to get everything booked and couldn't have been an easier/more enjoyable process. Working with good vendors make the entire wedding experience so much easier and I couldn't recommend this team more! read more

We hired Stitely to play at our wedding two weeks ago. We could not be happier. they were such a pleasure to work with during the planning process. They learned some news songs for us as well! We even enjoyed the selecting the songs that were important to be played at our wedding and hit them all. Everything from the flow of the music, the selection and their ability to get every guest on the dance floor was superb! The Beatles songs they did for our ceremony music made that moment very special to me. Thanks Jeff and your team for a wonderful night! read more

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The Stitely Orchestra was amazing !!! Jeff and John made our wedding into an unforgettable concert that all ages could boogie to. We had friends and family members that normally avoid dancing but Stitely made it irresistible. The wide range of songs to choose from was impressive. The band brought the funk and really rocked the house jamming through the night. It was a non stop party. People are still complimenting They nailed the songs that they learned for us. My wife and I are already planning on the next event to have the band at. Perhaps my 40th birthday but I'm not sure I can wait that long. THESE GUYS CRUSHED IT ! thanks !!! read more

Kyle was the DJ for our wedding back in May and he really kept people out on the dance floor! He did a great job and a ton of my friends commented that the music was great. Plus he was great with MC duties and stayed off the mic otherwise (I hate when DJs are constantly talking during the reception). We live out of town (Boston) so Kyle Skyped with us to get a sense of what we liked and didn't like. He was easy going and cool throughout the process. We would recommend him (and Stitely in general) wholeheartedly! read more

My husband and I couldn't have been MORE happy with our decision to use Stitely Entertainment for our wedding ceremony! We really wanted musicians who could provide a romantic and intimate setting during our wedding ceremony. Stitely delivered! The music was absolutely beautiful and everything ran smoothly. Stitely was extremely easy to communicate with leading up to the wedding. They made sure to answer all of our questions and they followed through on all of the details we wanted in regards to the music. They were able to play the songs we requested which made us so happy! Couldn't have been more pleased with Stitely and would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who is getting married! Thank you Stitely!!! read more

Hiring Stitely Entertainment - specifically Chicago Groove Collective and a DJ - was EASILY the best decision we made for our wedding! We were in contact with Sarah leading up to our wedding and she was a dream to work with! She gave us suggestions regarding introductions and timeline and also put us in touch with the band leader when we had specific questions for him. Now for the best part....the music! My husband and I had a specific request for our first dance and we are thrilled that the band took the time to learn it and rehearse it - they nailed it on our wedding night! Words cannot even express how amazing the band was. They played the most perfect mix of of music and our guests were literally on the dance floor all night. And the vocalists - WOW! They were incredible! The DJ started playing later in the night and kept the party going strong - we even had to request he stay an extra half hour because the dance floor was still packed! My husband and I couldn't be happier with Stitely and they truly helped made our wedding night unforgettable! We had wedding guests telling us, "I've never danced so much at a wedding!" and "The band was outstanding" for weeks! read more

We had a very low-key wedding ceremony -- no bridal party, just vows and a ring exchange -- so we debated about whether or not to hire a musician or to just have our DJ play something for the processional and recessional. Ultimately, we found a classical guitarist through Stitely Entertainment and we're so happy that we did! Peggy, our contact, was exceptionally friendly, professional, and helpful, and coordinated everything with such ease that it barely felt like we were doing any work. I had a specific piece in mind for the processional, which our guitarist quickly learned from sheet music that I provided. All of Stitely's musicians are extremely talented and can learn just about anything in advance. I've had dozens of friends and relatives compliment his performance since the wedding, though due to a little "mishap" (i.e., our rings went missing just before the ceremony) I must confess to being too upset and distracted to truly appreciate it myself. Additionally, because our ceremony was delayed over thirty minutes, our poor guitarist had to entertain our guests with prelude music three times longer than he was supposed to! While I can't personally vouch for his extended performance (I was melting down in the hallway at the time), I've heard from numerous sources that he handled it like a pro and continued to play beautifully. To our guitarist: Thank you, thank you! We can't thank you enough! I highly recommend Stitely if you're looking for a musician. We would absolutely use them again. read more

Such an amazing performance! 1 month post wedding, and our wedding guests are still talking about the band. We were at ease with their process and communication leading up to our wedding day. They learned a few special songs for us (dave matthews #41, seal, kiss from a rose) and nailed them! We would highly recommend read more

While we weren't totally satisfied with Stitely on our wedding day, the owner addresed our concerns and was quite gracious about it. All's well that ends well. read more

When I got engaged, one requirement I knew I had to have was a band. No DJ, thank you. A band. So the search started. I came across Stitely Band on theKnot. I looked on their website and listened to a few clips of the music. I liked what I heard so I requested an information packet. After receiving it, I immediately made an appointment to meet with them. I met with Mike initially, who was awesome and very helpful. I then met with Jeff Stitely and was pleased with our meeting. He is such a friendly person and really was attune to what I wanted. And after getting to know one another, we learned that his wife and I are in the same profession and worked at the college I attended. What are the odds? The stars were aligned. We hired them. The day of the wedding was amazing. Jeff was there from the beginning and making sure the music during dinner was ready and once the band started playing, people were on their feet dancing. Success! The dance floor was packed and they played the songs we requested but also went off the vibe of the people. We had an 8 piece band and they rocked the house. I highly recommend Stitely Entertainment for any occasion. They are professional and you will not be disappointed! I still get compliments about the music and my wedding over two years later. If that's not proof, then I don't know what is! read more

I had the pleasure of hearing the Stitely Orchestra this evening at a private event and I must say that they were fantastic! Our group was doing live band karaoke and they did a great job with the songs (which they had tons of) and also with providing backup and even helping along those who had forgotten the words or started to experience a little stage fright. When karaoke was not going on, the band and singers definitely played a great role in keeping the party vibe going. Definitely worth checking out! read more

We loved working with Stitely for our wedding. Chicago Groove Collective was great, our guests danced all night long! They were even willing to learn new songs for all of our special dances, which helped make the day extra special. THANK YOU! read more

Stitely played for our wedding, and they were great. My dad met them and saw them play beforehand, since we live in Philadelphia, and was really impressed with their variety and energy. We set up a phone meeting and my fiancee (now husband) and I worked out a schedule and gave them some special requests. They really rocked the night. They worked with us to get the evening going, from Black Eyed Peas to Lady Gaga, to Sinatra, to John Lee Hooker, Beatles, and even David Bowie. They've got the range. They knew the venue, and they worked with the flow and speed of the evening, everyone was dancing. It was fantastic. My only regret is I was so busy talking and dancing I never really got to say hi! Thanks for rocking it out guys! read more

The Stitely Orchestra played at our wedding a few weeks ago and they kept the dance floor rocking all night long! They really put on a high-energy performance, and accommodated all of our requests, including learning a few new songs and giving us a nice long Hora. Two thumbs up! read more

Vince our DJ was wonderful! Our music was Outstanding! He was extremely patient & answered ALL my 4982084302 emails & played exactly what I wanted to hear! My wedding day was PERFECT and Vince played a huge roll*Thank you! Also thanks to Katie's attentiveness and assistance on our wedding day timeline! Thanks for everything! read more

The Stitely orchestra was fantastic at our wedding. They provided services during the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, as an MC, and dancing. The music was excellent, the timing was perfect, and our guests (and us!) were dancing throughout the night in no small part due to the fantastic set list and quality of the music. Throughout the entire planning process, Jeff and the Stitely Orchestra employees were professional and responsive to all of our needs. We particularly appreciated the flexibility in choosing a few songs for the band to learn - our first dance, and father/daughter, mother/son dances were perfect as a result of this. read more

WOW!! I am so happy I booked Stitely Entertainment for my wedding. DJ Riel was so energetic and fun. We spoke with him over the phone before the wedding, sent him some song ideas, and he made magic. DJ Riel got all the guests pumped for our entrance into the reception and he kept the dance floor packed the whole evening. At the end of the reception one of the waiters at the venue came up to me said they've served for many parties and our wedding was probably one of the best he's ever worked because he could tell all our guests were having such a good time and our DJ was phenomenal. The staff at Stitely was also really easy to work with, very friendly and well organized. Thanks for helping us pull off an amazing night! read more

The Stitely band we had for our wedding, Chicago Groove, provided great, entertaining music from start to finish! They were excellent in their choice of songs to play and timing of when to play fast or slow songs. I highly recommend a live band for your wedding, and I highly recommend you choose Stitely. read more

Could not have been more impressed with Jeff Stitely and the whole band. They were great to work with beforehand and we were really happy with their catalog of songs. They already knew our song and both father-daughter and mother-son songs we chose. At the reception they really killed it. Everyone was dancing until the very end of the night and I've never seen such a balanced mix of older and younger guests sharing the dance floor and having an equally enjoyable time. Cannot recommend enough. read more

We had A very special request for a wedding. The timing could be perfect and the music had to be spot on. The musicians nailed it. They made an incredibly special night exactly what we wanted it to be. read more

I have been to at least three venues where Stitely entertainment performed. And each were awesome. Great for weddings, special events, and parties. They have always given us a great show. read more

They are the BEST! I Hosted a Chicago reception at the Park Hyatt for my son's Wedding which was in Colorado. Stitely Entertainment prvide us with two soloists for the early part, a cello and guitar: They were excellent. For the second half of the evening, we had a DJ who had our crowd of close to 100 continuously on the dance floor well past the scheduled end of the evening. Terrific entertainment, selections on the fly, appropriate to the age of the audience, ec. From the start of the event planning, Jeff Stitely and his staff carried me through to the end, from venue recommendatons to music, etc. A year earlier, he provided a band for my daughter's wedding. OUTSTANDING - sensational music!! We danced until we wore out the floor :-) A band costs a ton more than a DJ, but if you can see your financial way to the unforgettable experience, do it. My recommendation: Talk to Jeff Stitely!! read more

We were recently married (summer 2012) at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago and a band was one of the most important things to us. We wanted to have a full band to pull together our black-tie optional event. Stitley was beyond amazing. There are no words to describe how amazing the was. Jeff did a fabulous job keeping the evening moving (along with our wedding planner). But they also were so tasteful. The speaking from the band was minimal and only what we scripted for them to say. Our dance floor was packed all night. My husband and I had the best time at our wedding. It was just so amazing. I cannot say enough. If you have any questions about Stitley please contact me through Yelp. They would be amazing for any wedding where you want to have fun and have a packed dance floor! read more

I chose Stitely Entertainment for a combo party of anniversary, birthday, and thank you to all my husband's and my wonderful friends for incredible support during an illness. I knew of Stitely because my son had interned there, where he had a great experience and learned a ton. I wanted a DJ rather than a band, and the audience was mostly people who grew up in the 60s and 70s but also several 20 and 30 somethings, so I wanted to play music that would appeal to all. I am very picky about dancing music, and I wanted a playlist that all ages would enjoy and get up and dance! I made a complete list of my favorite dancing music, including a few slow dances as well as artists, like Maroon 5 that younger folks (and I) like. Sean did a great job of intermixing the songs based on a feel for the audience and all who liked dancing were on their feet! (Some people won't dance no matter what!) Sean also strung the wires for speakers so the music could be heard in two adjacent rooms, not the easiest set-up, but it worked well. Jeff also has a full roster of great bands, if that's your preference, so I don't think you can go wrong with Stitely! read more

I do not recommend Stitely Entertainment. I found the business to be highly unprofessional. They offer little control over the whole process while charging extra for menial expenses. They are extremely unorganized and difficult to work with. . I have found many other people experience the same mediocrity with Stitely. Stitely Entertainment is overpriced and unimpressive. Please don't waste your time with any Stitely run entity. You would be better off repeatedly hitting you head against a brink wall! In my opinion I would stay far away from Stitely Entertainment, there are far better options!!! read more

I cannot say enough great things about Jeff Stitely. My fiance and I weren't sure if we could afford a band for our wedding, but the second we met Jeff and Eric, we knew we had to make it work. We were unimpressed with most of the bands we researched online until we found the Chicago Groove Collective. We were both blown away!!! The great band combined with the great service we received was enough to make us rework our wedding budget. We are beyond excited to dance to CGC at our wedding and have enjoyed every minute of working with the Stitely team. read more

Live music was something that really brought my husband and I together, so it was only right that we had live music at our wedding. After doing hours of research, we finally came across Stitely Entertainment. The hardest decision we had to make was choosing between Chicago Groove Collective and the Stitely Orchestra. After obsessively watching their videos online over and over again, we chose CGC because they felt more like "our style". In short, they were AMAZING!!!! We chose an "east coast" style wedding, which allowed guests to dance for a bit BEFORE dinner, and the way that they were able to get EVERY guest out on the dance floor from the very beginning was a dream come true. There was absolutely nothing like being out on the dance floor surrounded by your closest friends and family--I was grinning from ear to ear as I took it all in. I could not believe how perfect the band sounded. From our bridal party walk out, to the first dance and father/mother dances, to the fact that our guests were on the dance floor the ENTIRE night, CGC was spot-on in their song choices and it was incredible how much they were able to take on so many different genres of music--and sound just like the original versions! However, there was one part of the night that I will never forget: for years I had dreamed of having a champagne parade at my wedding, done to the song "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. I was a little bummed that this song was not on CGC's original list of song choices. However, when I requested that they learn this song and asked if they could do it during a champagne toast, they gave me an astounding YES! without hesitation. Then, when the song began and the waiters and waitresses exploded out of the kitchen with the champagne, I was in tears! It was PERFECT! Derrick's French accent in the song and the band's ability to pull this together was my absolute favorite part of the night. In short, BOOK CHICAGO GROOVE! The music exceeded my expectations and contributed to the best night of our lives :) read more

Two weeks later we are still receiving compliments on the band (Chicago Groove Collective). We had a great experience working with the Stitely staff (Katy and Jeff among others), who were very flexible and accommodating. Do yourself a favor and meet Jeff in person if you have any reservations when booking your band. read more

My husband and I knew we wanted a live band at our wedding reception and found Stitely to be an excellent choice. We were very happy with the support they provided in getting ready for the wedding music- their online system for choosing your favorite and least favorite songs works extremely well as a method of customizing the music to be exactly what you want. We were truly happy with the variety of songs they performed which really got people dancing. Jeff even met my caterer and I at our location, driving from out of town to make the meeting and go over final details. He is a very warm and friendly person to work with and does a great job leading the group and making wedding announcements. On the day of, Jeff took a minute to quickly go over the names of people we wanted announced with my husband before he began, which we really appreciated as they are Indian names and often get mispronounced. He also had to make an adjustment on his music schedule since we were running behind and did so by checking with me quickly and then adjusting with ease. When working on the outline for our reception, the Stitely office staff ladies did a fantastic job helping provide guidance and feedback. We highly recommend Stitely for your wedding or event! read more

Right from the start Jeff and his team give top notch sercive. You will feel like you have everything undercontrol with the music, they are willing to answer any question at pretty much anytime (a few days before the wedding I received an email from Jeff at 9:30pm!). They are also very flexible, we added a 9th musician about a week and a half before the wedding, when we knew our budget would allow. We also extended the play time about 4 days before the wedding. Stitley was happy to accomodate both changes! At the wedding they were amazing! We have received so many compliments and people have asked for their info for other friends and family. My advice to any bride is BOOK THIS BAND! They will get all the guest on the dance floor and create a great party! read more

We hired the Stitely Orchestra for our July wedding at the Allegro Hotel the minute after we met with the owner Jeff Stitely. We immediately felt comfortable with him professionally and personally. Prior to our meeting we had listened to his music and watched the enthusiasm they created on the dancefloor. The energy created for our wedding was incredible and the dance floor was filled with all ages and couples until the last song at midnight! We have been receiving so many compliments ("best band they ever heard at a wedding") for the Stitely Orchestra. The quality of the singers were also amazing! Even Jeff's staff was genuinely excited and always organized and happy to answer any questions. This is definitely the Orchestra to select for your wedding! I wish I could give them 6 STARS! read more

Extremely pleased with Stitely Orchestra at our daughter's wedding. Orchestra and singers were responsive to the couples taste and performed very well. Play list was extensive and was customized to the couple and occasion. The dance floor was filled by young and older alike. read more

We used Jeff for our June 2012 wedding and they were phenomenal...zero complaints. They had the place up and dancing the whole night. By the end of the night people weren't ready to go home...and they were very accomodative about extending the booking in half hour increments. We got a ton of compliments from our guests on the band. They were perfect, and I would highly recommend them to anyone in the future... read more

We couldn't have asked for a better band! They played our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. We had an outdoor wedding and had some unforeseen circumstances arise. Jeff and his team were very agile and quick to adjust and made every moment as perfect as it could be. One of my favorite things about dealing with Stitely Entertainment was their attention to detail, with a schedule down to the minute, making sure every name was pronounced correctly, and most importantly making sure that the music was everything we wanted it to be. How'd they do this? Well, before we ever met with them to start planning, they had us go through a list of songs and mark them in one of three ways, Like, Love, Dislike. The theory here is that they can figure out what style of music to plan throughout the night based on your preferences. They were spot on! They even let me (the groom) perform on stage with them. I'm not anywhere near their talent, but the fact that they let me sing a song to my wife and play lead guitar on Sweet Home Chicago made my lifelong dream a reality. If you are lucky enough that Stitely Entertainment is available on your wedding day, book them immediately and look no further. read more

Stitely Orchestra is, in one word, PHENOMENAL!! My husband and I were married earlier this month and they blew us all away, keeping our dance floor full for three straight hours! Jeff Stitely, the band director, is everything you could possibly hope for in a Master of Ceremonies. He was incredibly accessible throughout the entire planning process, often responding to my emails by just picking up the phone and talking through my requests. Jeff made the entire planning process stress-free and his musical expertise is unmatched. The Stitely team made our wedding so uniquely personal -- from a string trio learning the "Game of Thrones" theme song for our ceremony, to Jeff actually spending time one-on-one with my anxious Dad to make sure the tempo for our daddy-daughter dance was just right. We cannot thank Jeff and his band enough for making our wedding day so spectacular. No questions here-- book Stitely Orchestra NOW! read more