Wedding Budget

I would suggest Brides & Grooms budget at least $1200 for entertainment (more for a band) and then go from there. I am sure for some, this seems a lot, but all you have to do is look at exactly what you are getting and the true value of what you are receiving.

Let’s say you have 100 guests. To cater, you will probably have to pay anywhere between $17 to $50 a plate. So, let’s take the cheap end (so your guests only get to eat chips and salsa). 100 x 17 = $1700.

Your DJ at $1200 would come to only $12 per head.

Let’s say your reception is only four hours. One of four scenarios may occur.

SCENARIO #1: Great food, great DJ = Most guests stayed till the very end. Unforgettable memories.

SCENARIO #2: Food sucked, great DJ = Most guests stayed till the very end. Unforgettable memories. Reception is still salvaged. [ a number of bridal surveys show that newlyweds mostly remember if they had a good time, versus what they ate ]

SCENARIO #3: Great food, DJ sucked = Most guests leave BEFORE the reception even ends. Forgettable memories. There is no way to salvage the reception, no matter how delicious the food was, or how beautiful the venue and flowers were.

SCENARIO #4: Food sucked, DJ sucked = Pretty sad. NO way to salvage the reception. You probably would have been better off eloping.

Something to think about in regards to Scenario #3. Remember the $17 per guest figure? If your $600 DJ (who you hired for four hours) ends up only staying for two or three hours, because guests were not exactly having a great time or were simply bored, the money you were saving at $6 per head ends up averaging out to $12 a head since the DJ was not there the entire four hours. So in essence, you end up paying about the same price compared to a more professional Entertainer.

*** Paying more for a DJ does NOT guarantee the ultimate performance. I have seen some awesome DJs charge very little for their time and effort (heck, I would have hired them myself at such a bargain). DJ Entertainment is NOT a commodity. Yes, quite a few DJs treat their profession as such and easily cater to Brides & Grooms who will pay the minimum (or below), but DJs are not equivalent to gas, orange juice, or chopped beef.

Some Brides & Grooms may ONLY see the DJ as someone performing for four hours, but they spend well over four hours on any single reception.

In addition to the four hours of performance, most DJs will also have to schedule in and budget the following:

Setup – One to three hours (or more, if a huge lightshow / up-lighting).

Breakdown – One to three hours.

Initial consultation (before the decision to “buy”) – One to two hours.

Equipment Rental – average cost is $400 to $1200. Just for the equipment, NOT for someone to operate it (such as a sound engineer).

Equipment Rental – pick up and setup costs money.

PA / Tech – average cost is $25 to $50 an hour to just run the equipment, NOT read the crowd or act as Master of Ceremonies.

Planning out the itinerary – one to three hours going over the details and coming up with a tentative outline, UNLESS you have hired a Wedding Coordinator / Planner to do this (min. cost of $250, which is a separate topic)

Folow up and Additional Consultation – answering & responding to Brides & Groom’s questions, requests, and last minute changes. Preparing a playlist based on the tastes of the Bride & Groom. Preparing in advance on how to incorporate the vision of the Bride & Groom, so the reception reflects who they are and insure guests and family have fun, regardless of age and music preference.

And don’t forget gas, travel expenses, insurance, training, wardrobe, and music subscription costs that the DJ must incur in order to properly sustain just the “operation” (the tools) of his/her trade.

I’m sure you get the idea. Now, you may react to this article and say, “Well duh! You ARE a DJ, so you are going to make a big deal out of how important you are to the reception.” – I can personally refer you to actual Brides & Grooms who can attest to the true value. That’s right. I have over four dozen Brides & Grooms who are willing references for my services. Not family members. Not close friends. Actual, real life clients.

I’m sure most of you do not “see” a DJ as a commodity, but you know (as in ANY profession) there are great DJs and there are mediocre DJs. Price may not necessarily reflect a Great DJ, but if s/he is getting paid what they are worth, s/he is obviously doing something right.

Feel free to share comments and feedback, especially those clients who have chosen me to perform at their private events.