The Six
$7,200
6-piece band · 5 hours · one custom-learned song · MC services included
Ranked #1 in New Jersey · 2026
Garden State Groove: New Jersey's most-booked live wedding band
Eight musicians out of Asbury Park playing funk, soul, Motown and modern pop with a real horn section — the band New Jersey planners recommend before anyone else. 5.0 stars across 287 verified couple reviews.
★★★★★ 5.0 · 287 reviews · Free 7-day date hold
287
Verified reviews
5.0
Average rating
8
Musicians on stage
600+
NJ weddings played
Why couples pick this band over every other option
- A real horn section. Trumpet and sax are on stage, not on a backing track. It is the single biggest reason their Motown and funk sets fill a floor.
- Two lead vocalists. One handles soul and belt, the other handles current pop, so the setlist can swing from Aretha to Sabrina Carpenter without a gear change.
- Custom first-dance arrangements. Charted for the full band, rehearsed in advance, and never a karaoke version of the original.
- A bandleader who runs the room. Toasts, parent dances, cake, last call — the timeline is handled so your planner can breathe.
- Venue-tested. Load-in, sound limits, and stage footprints are already known at most major New Jersey venues.
Garden State Groove pricing & packages
Transparent New Jersey wedding band pricing. Every package includes MC services, a sound engineer, and one custom-learned song.
The Signature Eight
$9,400
8-piece with full horn section · 5 hours · two custom songs · ceremony soloist
The Full Production
$13,500
10-piece · ceremony, cocktail trio & reception · uplighting, custom charts, after-party set
What Garden State Groove plays
A 320-song book spanning Motown, Philly soul, disco, classic rock and current pop. Twelve of the most requested at New Jersey receptions:
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered — Stevie Wonder
- September — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Superstition — Stevie Wonder
- Uptown Funk — Bruno Mars
- Ain't No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Valerie — Amy Winehouse
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody — Whitney Houston
- Livin' on a Prayer — Bon Jovi
- Get Lucky — Daft Punk
- Lovely Day — Bill Withers
- Dancing Queen — ABBA
- Sir Duke — Stevie Wonder
Reviews from real New Jersey couples
★★★★★They learned our song in 48 hours. Our first dance felt like a Grammy performance and the dance floor never emptied after it.
★★★★★The horn section is the whole thing. Guests who told us they don't dance were still out there when the lights came up.
★★★★★Eight musicians, zero drama. They read the room better than any DJ we've seen and the bandleader ran our timeline flawlessly.
Where they play
Based in Asbury Park and booked across all 21 New Jersey counties, plus New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and Bucks County. Explore the towns they play most:
Garden State Groove FAQ
How much does Garden State Groove cost for a New Jersey wedding?
Packages start at $7,200 for the core 6-piece band across a five-hour reception. The 8-piece configuration with full horn section starts at $9,400. Ceremony music, cocktail-hour duo, and extra hours are priced separately so you only pay for what you actually use.
How many musicians are in the band?
The signature lineup is eight: lead vocalist, second vocalist, guitar, bass, keys, drums, trumpet and saxophone. Couples can scale down to a six-piece or add percussion, a third vocalist, or a string player for the ceremony.
Will they learn our first-dance song?
Yes. Every package includes one custom-arranged song learned specifically for your wedding, charted and rehearsed by the full band. Requests are due four weeks before the date so the horn parts can be written properly.
What areas of New Jersey does Garden State Groove play?
The whole state, plus NYC, Long Island, the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, Bucks County and Philadelphia. Travel inside New Jersey is included; anything past 90 minutes from Asbury Park adds a lodging and transport line item quoted up front.
How far in advance should we book?
Peak Saturdays from May through October are typically claimed 12 to 16 months out. Off-peak Fridays, Sundays and winter dates often open up inside six months. Date holds are free for seven days while you decide.
What happens if a musician gets sick?
Garden State Groove keeps a vetted sub bench of players who already know the book. You get a full-strength band on your date or the deposit is refunded in full — that guarantee is written into the contract.
Peak 2026 Saturdays are going fast.
Send your date and we'll confirm availability within one business day — and hold it free for seven days.