Choosing the right DJ for your wedding can make or break your special day as the music creates the whole vibe of your event. The soundtrack for your wedding reception will be created by the DJ that you choose. This is why it is important to find the right one.
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There are certain pointers for finding that extra special disc jockey. Who will transform your reception venue into an enjoyable location for all your guests? These are some of the factors we will be highlighting in this article on how to choose a wedding DJ. Things like wedding DJ songs or how much DJs for weddings might cost are all addressed below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to tip the wedding DJ?
Great DJs can gauge the mood of a wedding and know what songs fit the moment best. They are very significant at weddings and deserve a tip for a job well done. In normal situations, a DJ gets tipped between 10% to 15% of its total charge. Never go below 10%.
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The Average Price For Wedding DJ
Music is the soul of a wedding, and only the best service can make your wedding unforgettable. Knowing the average wedding price for DJ helps you work better around your wedding budget.
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The average cost of a wedding DJ
The average wedding cost of a DJ is between $800 to $1500. The minimum DJ’s price is $500 while the maximum is $3000+. This is for DJ costs only, as other side toppings attract extra pay. The average wedding DJ price for a 4 or 5hr long wedding is between $450 to $1200. A professional DJ’s costs for a wedding are between $2000 to $3000+. This applies to DJs who are skilled and with years of experience on the job. They do it full-time and charge quite a bit high.
DJ’s who price below $600 are less experienced or DJ part-time. But couples steady spend between $400 to $2,200 on DJs, using Los Angeles, and New York as a case study. This will often depend on the length of the wedding and the DJ experience.
We advise that you apportion at least $900 to your DJ in your wedding budget. It prepares you against unforeseen circumstances.
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Wedding DJ cost per hour
The hourly average cost of the DJ for a wedding is between $100 to $300. Most DJs charge an hourly rate. But others insist on a minimum number of hours one must book with them. You should also check how much they charge for overtime, and other add-on offers.
Wedding DJ cost factors
The DJ is at a wedding to play more than ceremonial music. They are a lot of things at your wedding. From the master of ceremony to controlling the cocktail hour and keeping guests happy. This makes the average price for a wedding DJ well worth it. But this depends on a few factors.
- The venue distance: A wedding venue that’s over an hour away will require an extra fee. DJ’s come with their equipment and all. They’d need to fuel their car, and also get accommodation. This is in case your wedding extends into the night. All these will come with the pricing.
- Additional offers: Some DJs offer all-inclusive packages that cover every aspect of wedding music. If you use a venue that’s complete with all you need, then you’d pay less. On the reverse, things like karaoke, photo booth, dance floor lighting, fog machine, etc., will cost more.
- Length of the wedding: This is important in determining the average DJ cost for the wedding. Asides the hours, the longer your wedding gets, the longer the time they’d have to play. And this affects the instruments, so they have to prepare them to stand the time. This will cost you extra.
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10 Steps On How To Choose A Wedding DJ
- Research
Do your research. Check out a list of DJs in your area online, their websites, videos, and song lists, and see what they have to offer. This will give you an idea of what’s out there, and where you should start. - What do you want?
Consider what you want. Are you looking for country music, classic, or RnB? Only certain DJs would have the particular style and ambiance you are looking to create. This should also help you narrow down your search. - Have a face to face meeting
Once you’ve decided on which DJ or DJs might be perfect for your day, have a meeting so you can connect, and respond to the slew of questions that you might have. - Rate their experience
The feedback you get from the DJ should give you an idea of how much experience they have in this area. Ask which events they have managed lately, how long they’ve been in the business, and what type of reviews they receive. - Check out their equipment
Equipment is vital in this line of work, and depending on the size of your venue, you’re going to want speakers that can accommodate it. So ask about the quality of their equipment and also ask to see them if possible. - Make sure they understand your needs
Be sure that they are attentive to your needs and requirements, and totally understand your concerns. If you meet with someone who seems distracted from you the customer, then they are definitely not the right fit. - Do they have a backup?
There should always be allowances for unforeseen circumstances. And since you want a hitch-free wedding, make sure to hire a DJ that has a backup. Ask what happens if there is a delay in traffic or if something suddenly goes wrong with their equipment. - Check their music selection
A good wedding DJ will have a collection of wedding playlists, so ask to see their wedding playlist. See if they truly have the type of musical coverage you are looking for. - Any bundled services?
Sometimes a bundled service means you get to pay less on certain other services for your event. If your wedding DJ provides other services such as videography or any other kind of entertainment. You could discuss this and get it at a better price than you might have elsewhere. - Agree on a price
Without this agreement, there is no service. So, make sure you have in mind the average cost of a wedding DJ, and that you are agreeing to a price within your budget.
Wedding Band Or DJ – What To Choose?
The vibe you intend to create at your wedding, and the space available to you for entertainment. These are factors that could help you decide if live bands for wedding receptions or a DJ would be better for your wedding.
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Wedding Band, pros and cons
- Pros: It’s difficult to recreate the beauty and infectiousness of live music. A good band would be a gift on its own to your welcome guests.
- Cons: Is usually more expensive than a DJ, and may not be as flexible to the needs of your party.
Wedding DJ, pros and cons
- Pros: Less expensive than a band, a DJ can keep the party going all night long, with endless music, and absolutely no dancefloor rules.
- Cons: The wrong DJ could kill the tempo of your reception just as fast as a good one would get it going.
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Questions To Ask Wedding DJ
- Are weddings your primary focus? At what locations have you performed before?
You want to be sure that they are primarily focused on weddings and that they know what it takes to properly entertain a wedding party. You want a wedding DJ, not a club DJ; those are completely different types of events.
Even if they don’t only perform at weddings, you want to be sure that they are well rounded enough to cater to different types of audiences.
- How do you customize your song list for each couple? Can you provide new wedding songs?
Find a DJ who is attentive enough to understand your wants and the style you aspire to achieve for your wedding. With this, he can create a playlist that will work for each stage in your wedding reception without missing a beat.
He would know how to work around your do not play song list, to figure out which type of songs will be best for your event.
- Can you make a visit to our chosen venue beforehand?
The size of a venue and even the location of the DJ widely impact the sound, and so a visit to the venue is important before the big day. You need a DJ who already knows how important this is and agrees off the bat to make a site visit beforehand to check out and understand the room’s acoustics.
- Is a DJ automatically assigned to us, or do we have our choice of DJs to select from?
While discussing with the service company it is important to know which particular DJ you will be working with. To check out his style and compatibility with your requirements. You will want to discuss every item with him to be sure he covers the required skill set and necessary experience.
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Top 5 Wedding DJ’s
DJ Lindsey
While not exactly a wedding DJ, quite many couples would love to have DJ Lindsey in charge of their wedding entertainment. A DJ of high standards, Lindsey has played with and for a number of celebrities over the years. Including Prince, Shakira, Liev Schreiber, Madonna. Matthew Broderick, Naomi Watts, Mark Ronson, and many more.
Her eighties funk and electronic music are much sought after, and her level of experience makes her a well-rounded DJ. While there is no specific price list on her website, we’re guessing at her level you’ll need to budget anything from $1,500 to $10,000 to book her time.
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Goodtimes Entertainment Services
Established in 1994 and is located in Southern California. This wedding DJ company believes in going above and beyond for their clients. When covering wedding entertainment. They handle weddings as well as other special events.
Their most popular price is: $1,200
Music to the Maxx
In Lubbock, Texas we have Music to the Maxx, a DJ company that serves both West Texas and eastern New Mexico. They specialize in wedding receptions, ceremonies, as well as corporate events. And are skilled at customizing each of their packages to the tastes and vision of the client. Their most popular price is: $1,200
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William Grand
Most favored in the fashion industry, and formerly known as Japancakes. William Grand is highly sought after and would a prize to any couple that could snag him for their wedding. His mixes cover music to soothe all types of moods and desires, from soul hits to beachside wedding funk, and even breezy tropical tunes.
He has played for names like Topshop, Victoria’s Secret, Rag & Bone parties. And played alongside artists like Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Katy Perry, and Dr. Dre. While there is no public information on his prices we’re guessing at this level you’ll need to budget anything from $1,500 to $10,000 to book his time.
Non-Stop Entertainment
Serving Arizona, Phoenix, Chicago, and Illinois. This experienced wedding entertainment company is highly trained in song mixing and mash-ups to keep your party going. The team is made up of experienced DJs who know their way around a wedding party and are skilled at creating non-stop entertainment.
Their most popular price is: $1,295
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What is a wedding without music? And what is a wedding without good music? This is why it is important to research and invest in a great wedding DJ. Who can give you the desired results or even help with music ideas if you are not certain of what you need? So, if you are unsure about wedding DJ prices or you’ve been wondering where to find a wedding DJ near me. We hope that the information we have compiled would help you on your journey of finding “the one”.
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