Phat Hat Band

enough. I am from New Orleans, but we planned our wedding from out-of-state. It was really important to us to find a band with an authentic New Orleans sound who could handle destination wedding logistics. We reached out to ~10 bands, and Phat Hat stood out in particular for their extensive demo videos, exciting song list, and competitive pricing. Importantly, unlike many local New Orleans bands that rotate musicians each gig, Phat Hat is a fixed 8-piece group (male + female vocalists, guitar, bass, drums, and a three-horn section). That meant the sound we loved online is exactly what we got on our wedding day, which was crucial when planning remotely. We couldn't believe our luck in finding a band that sounded this good! Rick (their guitarist) was our main point-of-contact and was an absolute pleasure, making the entire out-of-state planning process seamless. He coordinated directly with our venue, helped us understand every step of booking a live band, and directly managed the ceremony music. Rick even sourced a pianist from outside the city when local options were booked, finding us the perfect musician to play the songs we wanted for the ceremony. Phat Hat was also very flexible to work with the equipment available at the venue, handling sound, lighting, stage setup, and timing across both ceremony and reception (which were at the same location) without us needing to worry about anything. They were just eager to play a show! And they absolutely crushed that show. They began captivating our guests before the night even started. While we were taking pre-wedding photos, their saxophonist started soundcheck by warming up with the first few notes of “Careless Whisper,” and the entire room went quiet. Someone in our wedding party broke the silence, saying “Whoa, he’s incredible.” That moment set the tone for the music that night. Every musician is outstanding. Wendell’s vocals are unreal (his smooth, powerful baritone on “What You Won’t Do for Love” stopped me in my tracks when I was supposed to go cut the wedding cake!). Guests are still sending me videos of Rick’s “Purple Rain” solo. And I think the memory of looking down at our reception from upstairs during Phat Hat's rendition of Norah Jones' jazzy, wistful "Don't Know Why" will stick with me forever. I could go on and on about these musicians. Their setlist was the perfect mix of soul/funk and modern hits -- classy, cool, yet high-energy and infectious. It felt exactly like the New Orleans vibe I grew up loving. They also emceed the evening, interacted with the crowd, and kept the event flowing smoothly. They DJ'd recorded music for our first dance song as well as a short playlist of our selections for their break. Most importantly, they kept our dance floor packed all night. Everything felt effortless and fun. I can't wait to catch another one of their shows when we visit New Orleans next. If you’re planning a destination wedding in New Orleans, Phat Hat is exactly the band you want: world-class musicians who will make your night unforgettable. Book them -- you will be glad you did!

and he made me feel completely relaxed in every conversation we had.