NJ Wedding Band Entertainment
The Energy of Live Music. The Flexibility of a DJ. One Unforgettable Wedding.
Make It Unforgettable
Choosing your wedding entertainment often feels like a choice between two options: hire a live wedding band or hire a DJ.
But what if you could have a little of both?
We’re Liza & Josh, two professional singers from New Jersey offering a different approach to NJ wedding entertainment. We perform live from a repertoire of more than 1,000 songs, interact with your guests and bring the personality of live performers to your celebration.
But we’re not limited to the songs we sing.
When the moment calls for a particular recording, dance track or special request, we can seamlessly DJ it in.
Live singers when you want live music. Original recordings when you want them.
For couples looking for something more personal than a traditional DJ and more flexible than a conventional wedding band, it can be the best of both worlds.
Wedding Band or DJ?
DJ? Band? Why Not Both?
It's one of the first entertainment decisions many couples make.
Band or DJ?
A great NJ wedding band gives you something a recording can’t: real people performing for the people in the room.
There is spontaneity. Interaction. Requests. Personality. A great live performance can turn a song everyone has heard hundreds of times into a moment that belongs specifically to your wedding.
A great NJ wedding DJ, on the other hand, offers almost unlimited musical flexibility. If you want a particular recording played exactly as you remember it, the DJ has it. If your guests suddenly want a completely different style of music, the playlist can change instantly.
We designed our approach so you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice one for the other.
We can sing many of the songs that make a wedding memorable – from Sinatra and Motown to Billy Joel, Springsteen, Bon Jovi and today’s music -and then use the original recording whenever that’s the better choice.
Want your first dance played exactly as recorded?  Done.
Want live music during dinner?  We can do that.
Want to hear your favorite singer’s original version of a song?  Let’s play it.
Want everyone singing along with us to a song they suddenly requested? Let’s do that too!
That’s the advantage of creating wedding entertainment around the moment rather than around the limitations of one format.
The Rise of
The DJ Vocalist
The Best of Both Worlds - Almost 20 years ago, we started using a term to describe what we do: DJ Vocalist.
At the time, we weren’t trying to invent a new category of wedding entertainment. We simply needed a way to explain an act that didn’t fit neatly into the traditional choices of band or DJ.
A DJ Vocalist combines the personality and energy of live singers with the musical flexibility of a DJ. We can perform many of the songs your guests love live, then seamlessly switch to the original recording whenever the moment calls for it.
What we didn’t realize nearly two decades ago was how perfectly that concept would eventually fit the way so many couples want to celebrate today.
Intimate weddings, restaurant receptions, cocktail-style celebrations, outdoor weddings and smaller, more personal parties don’t always need a large traditional wedding band. But couples may still want something more engaging and memorable than having a DJ play recordings all night.
That’s where the DJ Vocalist concept really shines.
You can have Sinatra performed live during cocktails, Billy Joel during dinner and Springsteen when everyone starts singing along—then hear the original version of your first-dance song or switch instantly to the dance tracks your friends want to hear.
We’re not limited by what we can sing, and we’re not limited to what we can DJ.
Nearly 20 years after we first started calling ourselves DJ Vocalists, we’ve realized that the name describes exactly what many couples are searching for: the energy of live music with the freedom of a DJ.
Live Music for Weddings That Feels Personal
We think the best live music for weddings should feel like it belongs to the couple.
Your wedding isn’t a generic Saturday-night gig.
The songs you choose have history.
Maybe there’s a Billy Joel song your family always sings together. Maybe Springsteen reminds you of summers at the Jersey Shore. Maybe your parents have a Sinatra song. Maybe you and your friends need a particular 2000s dance track the second dinner ends.
Those details matter.
With a repertoire of more than 1,000 songs spanning generations, we can move from standards and classic rock to pop, Motown, country and contemporary favorites.
And because we’re performing as a duo rather than bringing a large conventional band, we can change direction quickly.
Some of the best live music ideas for weddings aren’t elaborate productions at all.
Sometimes it’s the right song at exactly the right moment.
NJ WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT GALLERY
We perform at all kinds of weddings throughout northern New Jersey, New York City and the Hudson Valley. Have a crazy idea for your big day? Call us.
A Different Kind of NJ Wedding Band for Smaller Weddings
We’re especially well suited for couples planning a small wedding in North Jersey, a restaurant wedding, backyard celebration, or a more intimate reception.
A 10-piece band can be fantastic in a huge ballroom. It can also be far more entertainment than a 60-person wedding needs.
Our setup is intentionally compact. We use professional sound equipment capable of creating a full, polished sound without requiring a huge stage or consuming a large portion of your reception space. That opens up possibilities.
You can have live singers and a big band sound at a restaurant wedding. We can set up near a bar or cocktail area. We can perform outdoors. We can work in intimate private dining rooms where a traditional wedding band simply wouldn’t fit.
For couples considering trendy restaurant weddings in NJ, that flexibility can make a major difference.
Cocktail Hour: Where Live Music Really Shines
You don’t necessarily need live performers for your entire wedding.
One of our favorite ways to use live music for weddings is during cocktail hour.
Guests are arriving, getting drinks, reconnecting with family and friends and settling into the celebration. Music helps establish the atmosphere without needing to dominate it. That’s an ideal environment for us.
We can keep things sophisticated with Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Carole King, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joel – or make things more contemporary depending on the crowd.
And because we take requests, the cocktail hour can start becoming interactive before the reception even begins.
For couples searching for a cocktail hour singer in NY or New Jersey, the same concept works beautifully whether your reception is in Bergen County, Rockland County or elsewhere in the Hudson Valley.
Planning a separate cocktail-style celebration? See our entertainment options for a cocktail party in Northern New Jersey.
Wedding Entertainment in Bergen County, NJ
Bergen County is our backyard, and it has an incredible variety of wedding venues, from traditional catering halls to historic restaurants, country clubs and intimate private spaces.
We’ve had the opportunity to perform at weddings and special events throughout the area. Here are a few that we love:
The Brick House – Wyckoff
The Brick House in Wyckoff is exactly the kind of venue where our approach can work beautifully.
The historic property combines a restaurant with dedicated event spaces and can accommodate wedding receptions of up to 150 guests in its banquet facilities. It also offers private rooms for more intimate wedding celebrations.
For couples who want an elegant Bergen County setting without necessarily planning an enormous ballroom wedding, it’s a great example of how trendy restaurant weddings in NJ can create a more personal atmosphere.
Seasons – Washington Township
We’ve also performed at Seasons in Washington Township, one of Bergen County’s established wedding venues.
Its Grand Ballroom can accommodate celebrations of up to 300 guests, making it an example of the larger, more traditional North Jersey wedding experience.
Venues like Seasons also demonstrate why flexibility matters. Entertainment isn’t just about what happens after dinner. There may be a ceremony, cocktail hour, introductions, special dances, dinner and then the party itself.
Each part of the wedding can have its own musical personality.
Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn – New Milford
Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn in New Milford has a special place in our story—we’ve been performing there for approximately 20 years.
Known for exceptional Italian dining, live entertainment and elegant private events, Sanzari’s is also a beautiful choice for weddings, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations.
For couples planning a small wedding in North Jersey or one of the increasingly popular trendy restaurant weddings in NJ, Sanzari’s pairs great food with an intimate atmosphere that works beautifully with live music. And after two decades of performing there, it’s a venue we know exceptionally well—and always love returning to.
The Venetian – Garfield
The Venetian in Garfield is one of Bergen County’s grander wedding venues, with dramatic architecture, elaborate cocktail hours and beautiful ballroom spaces.
We’ve performed at The Venetian, and it’s a great example of how our approach to NJ wedding entertainment works for larger celebrations too. Live vocals can add something special to cocktail hour or dinner, while our New Jersey wedding DJ capabilities give couples the flexibility to fill the dance floor with virtually any music they want.
It’s the best of both worlds: live performers and DJ flexibility in one entertainment package.
Il Villaggio – Carlstadt
Il Villaggio in Carlstadt is a dedicated Bergen County wedding and event venue known for its Italian cuisine and elegant European-inspired atmosphere.
One thing that makes Il Villaggio particularly appealing is that it hosts one wedding at a time, giving each celebration exclusive attention. Its Grand Ballroom features soaring 25-foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a large granite dance floor, with the venue accommodating weddings of roughly 50 to 275 guests.
It’s also a great example of why our DJ Vocalist concept can work so well for couples who don’t want to choose completely between NJ wedding bands and a traditional NJ wedding DJ.
Live vocals can create the atmosphere during cocktails and dinner, and as the celebration builds, we can transition into requests, dance music, and original recordings whenever they’re the better choice.
For couples planning a Bergen County wedding with great food at the center of the celebration, Il Villaggio is certainly a venue worth knowing.
Hackensack Golf Club – Oradell
Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell is another Bergen County venue where we’ve had the opportunity to perform for weddings and special events.
Country club weddings can be a particularly good match for our style of entertainment because there are so many opportunities to incorporate music throughout the day. Live vocals can create a relaxed atmosphere during cocktail hour or dinner, while our DJ capabilities give us the flexibility to change gears when it’s time to get people dancing.
Hackensack Golf Club hosts weddings and other private celebrations at its club facilities, making it another great example of the variety couples will find when looking at wedding venues – and Northern New Jersey wedding bands – throughout Bergen County.
Skylands Manor – Ringwood
Some weddings call for something completely different.
Skylands Manor, surrounded by the New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood, provides the kind of historic, romantic setting that feels worlds away from a conventional ballroom.
We’ve performed there as well.
Settings like this demonstrate another advantage of a compact live entertainment setup. Historic properties, gardens and unconventional venues don’t always have the same entertainment infrastructure as a modern banquet hall.
Being able to bring in a professional setup without needing a massive stage makes live music for weddings possible in places where couples might otherwise assume a DJ is their only practical choice.
Biagio's – Paramus
Biagio’s in Paramus is another venue we’ve gotten to know through years of performing in Bergen County.
Its restaurant and banquet spaces can accommodate celebrations of different sizes, while The Terrace at Biagio’s provides a larger dedicated wedding venue next door.
For couples who like the idea of combining excellent food with entertainment, restaurant-based weddings can offer a different feeling from a traditional catering hall.
That’s one reason we’re particularly enthusiastic about them.
Outdoor Weddings in NJ
An outdoor wedding in NJ can be spectacular.
Garden ceremonies, patios, tented receptions, private homes and estate weddings all lend themselves naturally to live music.
Imagine guests arriving while live music plays in the background. Or cocktails outside as the sun begins to set. Or an intimate dinner followed by everyone gathering around for requests and dancing.
We can tailor the setup and performance to the size and atmosphere of the celebration.
If your wedding includes a larger outdoor component – or you’re planning another type of celebration at home – learn more about our outdoor party entertainment.
Northern New Jersey, Rockland County & the Hudson Valley
Our home base is North Jersey, but weddings don’t stop at the state line.
We perform throughout Bergen County and Northern New Jersey, as well as nearby Rockland County, NY and the Hudson Valley.
That includes celebrations around communities such as Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Paramus, Mahwah, Ramsey and Montvale in New Jersey, as well as Pearl River, Nanuet, Nyack, Suffern and surrounding areas in New York.
Couples searching for Northern New Jersey wedding bands often find themselves looking at venues throughout this entire region.
We’re comfortable going where the wedding takes us.
More Than Just a Wedding Playlist
There’s another difference between hiring live performers and simply building a playlist:Â We can read the room.
That’s something we’ve learned from years of performing live music in North Jersey restaurants, parties and events.
If people are eating and talking, we don’t need to overpower them. If the room starts singing along, we can follow it. If someone requests a song and we know it, we can perform it. If the dance floor needs a particular recording, we can switch gears.
We’ve spent years providing live music for restaurants, where reading an audience is essential. That experience translates extremely well to weddings. The entertainment should serve the celebration – not the other way around.
PLEASE NOTE: We supply every one of our Bride & Grooms with a song request form that helps them choose the music that they really cannot live without on their big day. Filling it out tells us a lot about your music tastes, and helps guide the way that we MC your wedding reception.
Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, Dinner or Reception
You also don’t have to hire us for every part of your wedding.
Depending on your plans, Liza & Josh can be used for:
- Live ceremony music
- Cocktail-hour entertainment
- Background music during dinner
- Live featured performances
- First dances and special songs
- Requests and sing-alongs
- Live singing music between DJ sets
- A combination of live music and recorded dance music
Maybe you want us for cocktail hour and a traditional wedding DJ in New Jersey for the reception. Maybe you want live music throughout dinner and then original recordings for dancing. Or maybe an intimate wedding doesn’t need separate entertainment vendors at all.
We’ll help you think through what makes sense for the celebration you’re actually planning.
Weddings, Showers & the Events Around the Wedding
The wedding itself is only one celebration.
We also perform at engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, anniversary parties and other events surrounding the big day.
If you’re planning a shower, learn more about our bridal shower entertainment.
For birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations, explore our party entertainment in NJ.
We also provide corporate event entertainment for companies looking for the same combination of professional live music and flexibility.
Are Liza & Josh Right for Your Wedding?
If you’re searching for the best wedding bands in NJ, you’re going to find some incredible musicians.
We’re not trying to be every kind of wedding band. We’re something a little different.
Liza & Josh may be a particularly good fit if you’re planning an intimate or mid-sized wedding, want live singers without the footprint of a large band, love the idea of taking requests, or don’t want to choose completely between live performers and a New Jersey wedding DJ.
We’re also a natural fit for restaurant weddings, cocktail hours, backyard and outdoor weddings in NJ, rehearsal dinners, and celebrations where a traditional large band may not make sense. Most importantly, we want your entertainment to feel like your wedding. Not a predetermined set list. Not the same performance everyone else received last Saturday.
Your songs. Your family. Your friends. Your night.
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding
Whether you’re comparing NJ wedding bands, considering a wedding DJ in New Jersey, or trying to find something somewhere in between, we’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Tell us about your venue, guest count, musical tastes and the kind of atmosphere you want to create.
You can learn more about live music for hire in New Jersey, hear us at one of our public performances on our North Jersey live music calendar, or see some of the places where we perform on our guide to a live music restaurant in Bergen County.
Then let’s build an entertainment plan around your wedding – not around what a wedding band or DJ is supposed to be.
Live music when it makes the moment better. Original recordings when they’re the right choice. And the flexibility to move between the two all night long.
Have An Idea For Your Wedding?
COME SEE US LIVE!
Upcoming Live Music Shows
Our schedule is subject to change without notice. Every live music restaurant in Bergen County or other locations control their own schedules.
Liza & Josh Live at Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn
Liza & Josh Live at Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn
