Wedding DJ With Live Instruments — All-Inclusive Packages With Live Sax, Violin, and Drums
Music That Moves The Room.
We pair expert DJs with live musicians — think saxophone, electric violin, or drums — for a wedding experience that's unique, interactive, and completely customized just for you. Every package is all-inclusive: sound system, MC services, wireless mics for your officiant and toasts, ceremony audio, and stage lighting. No hidden fees, no overtime charges, no confusion about what's covered. You tell us the vision, we match you with the right DJ and musician, then we handle every detail from the first song to the last.
Live Music Sound Without the Live Band Price Tag
Every DJ Hybrid package comes with everything you need to turn up the dance floor: sound system, MC services, wireless mics, ceremony audio, and a DJ matched just for you and your wedding vision. No piecemeal pricing that destroys your budget, and no surprise add-ons after the fact. Your perfect night starts with the perfect soundtrack.
- J M
Overall, we couldn’t recommend them more highly—they went above and beyond to ensure our day was everything we hoped for and more.”
“We had an amazing experience with DJ Hybrid Chicago! The DJ Hybrid team guided us with song recommendations that not only aligned with our personal taste but also complemented the instrumental selection (We chose electric violin).
- Emily Stonier
The team was extremely responsive and organized leading up to the big day, super patient with us when it took us forever to make some song choices and I can’t say enough good things about both the MC and the DJ!”
“DJ hybrid was AWESOME! The icing on top was the saxophone! our guests went on and on about how fun it was. They were perfect!
Here’s Why Couples Choose DJ Hybrid
Music is our life.
Our DJs are working artists who play Chicago's clubs and venues every week, and our musicians are often jazz performers who know how to improvise to the beat and solo live instead of just playing along to the track. Music is in our blood. It’s who we are and it’s what we do, both during your event and outside of it.
More chemistry than a high school science lab.
We only work with 4-5 musicians per instrument so we can maintain top-tier quality. You’ll never catch us scrambling to find whoever's available. Because all of our DJs and musicians know each other and work together often, the chemistry between them isn't a lucky accident — it's the reason we exist.
Excellent vendor relationships.
We’ve been in this industry for a long time, and have excellent relationships with vendors spanning the full wedding and event spectrum. As a DJ Hybrid couple, not only are we happy to put our full rolodex of contacts to work for you, but odds are good that we’ve worked with some (if not all) of the other vendors you have scheduled for your big day.
We plan for the stuff you never even thought about.
We set up a wireless mic for your vows. We create a custom sound plan for your venue's acoustics so the sax isn't drowning out the toasts and the bass isn't rattling the windows. These details aren’t on a pricing sheet, but they're the difference between good service and great experience.
We’ve been in your shoes recently.
Owners Mike and Marisa got married at the InterContinental in Chicago just a few years ago, so they know what it’s like to be planning a wedding, coordinating vendors, and trying to get the most important details (like the music, duh) just right. That first-hand knowledge is why every couple gets direct access to them.
DHC Standard Packages
Everything You Need. Nothing You Don't.
Our most popular DJ Hybrid Chicago packages include everything you need for a seamless entertainment experience from your ceremony through the final song of the night. Every Standard Package includes sound coverage for your ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing, along with wireless microphones for your officiant and speeches, professional MC services, dance floor lighting, and our high end sound system featuring subwoofers and top-of-the-line audio equipment. You can choose your package with up to three live musicians performing alongside your DJ.
Packages start at $4,500.00
DJ + 1 Instrument | DJ + 2 Instruments | DJ + 3 Instruments
DHC LUXE Packages
Our Premium Entertainment Experience
Take everything included in our Standard Package—and elevate it. Our LUXE Packages include complete sound coverage from your ceremony through the end of the dance floor, along with microphones, professional MC services, and upgraded lighting and production. You'll enjoy our signature LUXE DJ booth, enhanced lighting featuring moving lights and uplighting, elevated staging for your DJ & Musicians, and a premium sound system customized to your venue's acoustics. Whether you're looking for a more luxurious entertainment setup or celebrating in a venue with tricky acoustics like marble walls, vaulted ceilings, or multi-story atriums, the LUXE Package delivers an elevated experience in both appearance and performance. Choose 1-3 instruments to play alongside your DJ or ask about our custom ensembles!
Packages starting at $7,000
LX DJ + 1 Instrument | LX DJ + 2 Instruments | LX DJ + 3 Instruments
Looking for Even More Live Music?
Create the Perfect Soundtrack for Every Moment.
We love designing a complete musical experience from your first walk down the aisle to your last dance.
Begin with live ceremony music featuring piano, strings, or other instrumentalists. Transition into cocktail hour with a lively Jazz Trio or a Bridgerton-inspired String Quartet. Whatever you're envisioning, we'll help bring it to life.
Ceremony, Cocktail Hour & Dinner Live Music starting at $350
Custom Add-Ons
Take your personalized night even further with ceremony musicians, cocktail hour jazz trios, string duos, a New Orleans-style horn line entrance, photo booth, dancing on the cloud effects, cold sparks, light-up wristbands, uplighting, moving lights, and LED DJ booth. Every add-on is built to layer seamlessly onto your base package.
Contact us for a custom proposal.
What to Know Before You Book
These are the questions we get most often, plus maybe a few you didn’t even think of.
What exactly is a DJ Hybrid?
It's a professional DJ paired with a live musician — saxophone, electric violin, drums and more! — performing together as one unit for your entire event. The DJ mixes live while the musician improvises, solos, and interacts with the crowd in real time. It's not a DJ with background music. It's a fully integrated experience where both artists feed off each other and the energy of the room.
How is this different from just hiring a DJ and a separate musician?
Chemistry. Our DJs and musicians play together regularly at Chicago venues and events — they know each other's instincts, timing, and style. When you hire a random DJ and a separate sax player who've never met, there's no guarantee the equipment syncs up, the volume balances, or the musical styles actually complement each other. With us, the pairing is intentional, vetted, and tested. That's the whole point.
Do you offer DJ-only packages?
No. The live musician is what makes DJ Hybrid what it is. If you're looking for a standalone DJ, we're happy to recommend great ones — but our model is built around the hybrid experience. The interactivity and chemistry between the DJ and the musician is what sets us apart, and we don't offer a version without it.
What's included in every package?
Every package is all-inclusive: full sound system for the entirety of your reception, MC services to guide guests through the evening, wireless microphones for your officiant and toasts, ceremony audio, stage lighting, and a DJ team matched to your wedding vision. No hidden fees, no surprise charges. What we quote is what you pay.
Can I add things on later after I book?
Absolutely. Once you book us, you're locked in — add a cocktail hour jazz trio, a photo booth, light-up wristbands, ceremony strings, or an extra musician whenever you're ready. Couples add things on all the time as their plans take shape. You don't have to figure it all out upfront.
Do I get to pick my DJ and musician?
We match your DJ and musician based on your music tastes, your venue, and your crowd — not just whoever's available that day. This is intentional. We know our roster inside and out, and we know which pairings work best for which styles of events. That said, if you've seen someone specific on our Instagram or at an event and want to request them, let us know and we'll do our best.
How do you handle music planning?
About 6-8 weeks before your wedding, we send your planning forms covering music and logistics. From there, we set up a call between you and your DJ so you get face time and can talk through the music in detail. We also create custom MC notes for your event — a detailed roadmap of every moment that our entire team follows. If you don't have a planner, these notes essentially become your entertainment timeline.
What genres do you play?
All of them. Motown, hip-hop, pop, EDM, rock, country, Latin, Bollywood, R&B — our DJs are real, working DJs who mix live across genres, not Spotify managers pressing play. That's why couples with eclectic music tastes are a perfect fit. Want Eminem into Ginuwine into Dua Lipa? A DJ can handle genre transitions that a live band can't, and that's one of the biggest advantages of the hybrid model.
What does the setup look like? How much space do you need?
Our footprint is significantly smaller than a full band — which is a major plus for venues that can't accommodate a 10-piece band. The exact setup depends on your instrument pairing and venue layout. We coordinate with your venue ahead of time on placement, load-in, and any acoustical considerations.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as possible. Our best DJs and musicians get reserved quickly, especially for peak wedding season Saturdays. We recommend reaching out 6-12 months before your date, but we can sometimes accommodate shorter timelines depending on availability.
Do you do corporate events too?
Yes — and corporate is actually one of our fastest-growing markets. Holiday parties, galas, networking events, brand activations, and company celebrations. The hybrid format is perfect for corporate events because it's more engaging than a solo DJ, more flexible than a full band, and the smaller footprint works in any venue. Check out our corporate page for more details.
What's the booking process?
Start with a quick call where we learn about your event and your vision. We send a custom all-inclusive proposal based on your needs. Once you're happy with it, it's a signed contract and deposit to lock in your date. From there, we handle the rest — planning forms, DJ matching, music coordination, MC notes, and day-of logistics.
Do you travel outside Chicago?
Yes. We serve all of Chicagoland and beyond — Milwaukee, Madison, Indianapolis, and across the Midwest. Travel logistics are built into your proposal.
Your Perfect Musical Duo Is Just a Phone Call Away
Tell us all about you, your partner, and the kind of soundtrack you want for your wedding, and we’ll put together a musical duo that’ll keep the dance floor packed all night long.
