Why are Wedding DJ's so Expensive?! Professional wedding DJ pricing explained by professional wedding DJ

CONGRATULATIONS!! YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!! Now What?... (insert seemingly never-ending list of things to think about)

Between the venue, the photographer, the caterer, the flowers, the bridal party, and everything else that needs to be figured out, the numbers can rack up quick! And then all of a sudden you get a quote from a wedding DJ that adds another $1,500 - $2,500 or more?! Why though?

It's a great question and one that, in my professional wedding DJ opinion, doesn't get answered well enough. While you might get lucky and find a great DJ who's just getting into the business and has specials, discounts, or any reason to give a lower rate. However, in most situations its a combination of experience and reliability that equal peace of mind. So it's up to you to determine how much that peace of mind on your wedding day is really worth.

I can't speak for every wedding DJ, but let's go over EXACTLY what you pay for when you hire a professional, experienced, and reliable wedding DJ like Bash The DJ.

So how does a professional wedding DJ determine their pricing? And why do they always ask for the guest count? What's that even matter? Do we really need lighting?

Sound Equipment

A professional wedding DJ will try to get a feel for what you're envisioning for your wedding day. The DJ will usually be handling any and all sound/music requirements so things start with the equipment required and we want everything to sound great!

A professional wedding DJ will ask how many guests you're expecting to know how much "sound" will be necessary. More people usually means a bigger venue which may translate to needing more sound equipment to make sure everything sounds clear without sounding distorted or risk damaging a smaller system by pushing it too hard.

Most professional DJ's set-ups cost anywhere between $5,000-$10,000 and a professional DJ will also pay insurance on all the equipment. So ask yourself, how much would it be to rent $10,000 worth of equipment and have someone there to set it up and operate it effectively for a whole day?

This is probably the biggest part of what your paying for. Your rate will vary depending on how much equipment is needed and for how long. This is why it's so important to know whether or not you'll need sound equipment for your ceremony, if you're cocktail hour will require a remote speaker system. or if your venue has a sound system installed and your wedding DJ will not need to bring any extra sound equipment, then you'll save on that!

Planning

I can't stress enough how important planning and preparation are to a successful wedding day!

From the first phone call to the last song of the evening, the behind-the-scenes planning a professional wedding DJ does for each couple is a clear indication of the quality of service that you'll get on your wedding day!

Because your wedding DJ will be in charge of doing introductions, announcing first dances, cake cutting, etc, they'll need to coordinate with your wedding planner, day-of coordinator, or event designer to ensure everything flows properly and you are able to have a worry-free wedding day.

An experienced professional wedding DJ will also offer to help with day-of coordination if you're not working with a planning professional. This mean clear and effective communication with the couple, the bridal party, and any other vendors on the day also.

Before the day, your wedding DJ should know things the timeline for the day, the order of introduction, who will be making toasts, and how everyone's name is pronounced. And, of course, have all the music you have selected prepared and ready at the right time for the right moment.

All of this requires experience, patience, and most of all time. If a wedding DJ is quoting you something that seems unreasonable you are completely within your rights to ask why and what goes into their planning process.

Music Selection

It's your wedding and it should be your soundtrack. Unless you're hiring a DJ specifically for their mixing style and/or the show they put on, the music should be a reflection of the couple and not the DJ.

A professional wedding DJ will customize their set list with your specific selections for any specific part of the evening. They may take requests and read the room to make appropriate selections to mix in but your playlist,and do-not-play list, will always be the first point of reference when making those decisions and taking requests.

To facilitate this, your wedding DJ will provide you with a way to create your customized playlist for your wedding. Be it on a playlist on a streaming platform or a handwritten list, this will be your DJ's primary reference for the vibes and energy you want for your wedding day. Separate playlists may be created for pre-ceremony music, processional/recessional, cocktail hour, dinner hour, and dance time.

While it's very unlikely that EVERY SONG will get played, a professional wedding DJ will at the very least make sure they have every song available. This can mean hours of searching record pools, buying specific songs, and preparing setlists in their software for each part of the evening. Depending on how much you want your wedding DJ to adhere to your playlist, this may include scouring over thousands of songs to find the right tracks to mix in with your selections. You might also want to be very specific and have your DJ stick strictly to your playlist and they should absolutely do so if that's the case.

More so than not, your do-not-play list is more important than your playlist. You can list specific songs, artist, genres, or general vibes you'd like to avoid. Some couples simply say no swearing while others may choose to say some is ok or some kinds of music should only be played after a certain time.

The point of all this is to make the soundtrack for your day... yours! A professional wedding DJ will take the time to make sure that's the case.

Lighting

Solid lighting can be an incredible help when setting the mood for specific parts of the evening, specific songs, and the look and vibe of the wedding in general. With that being said, is lighting absolutely necessary for a wedding? Most definitely not!

DJ lighting is one of those things that looks great but isn't for every wedding. This could be for a few reasons. Time of day - Having a daytime wedding? Lighting would be pretty unnecessary. Your venue might even have lighting installed already so the DJ might not need to bring any. It really depends on your vision for your wedding reception. Some couples wants a full-blown club experience, some might want basic lighting, and some might not want any lighting whatsoever. It's your wedding and you should illuminate it as you see fit!

A professional DJ will have various lighting options available for you to choose from. The price of each option may vary on how many and what kind of lights you choose as some are more complex to set-up. For example some light fixtures that require support structures will cost more to bring out. Similarly, if you want uplighting for the room, that could run $20+ per light. This is why it's really important to have a clear vision for your wedding day, be aware of what your venue provides, and what is within your budget.

For some it might not be in the budget but this is where a professional wedding DJ will show how flexible they can be. A professional wedding DJ will want to make an impression and ensure that they have done everything within reason to make their set-up, the space, and the dance floor as great as possible! This looks good for the couple and helps the DJ look good for the venue and any potential clients among your guests. Unless specifically told not to, I will always bring some kind of lighting as part of my basic package.

Extras and Other Details

So what else does a DJ do? You've gotten a few quotes from a few wedding DJs. What makes this DJ quote $2500 while that DJ is only quoting $1500?

It all comes down to experience and reliability.

A professional wedding DJ will have contingency plans for almost every scenario. From extra equipment to solutions for unexpected issues. Weather ruined plans for an outdoor ceremony? No worries, your wedding DJ can help out with a wireless microphone and extra speaker. Things got backed up and you need to move the timeline? No problem! Your professional wedding DJ has separated the entire day for your wedding and will be able to flex when things like that come up.

An experienced DJ will also know the value in offering special items or extras at no additional cost. While some DJ companies might charge for somethings, for instance, Most independent DJ's will always have extras included in their packages. For example, a professional wedding DJ will also do MC work like engaging with your guests and creating moments that will turn into highlights of the evening.

Depending your package some DJ's might include extras like basic lighting, glow sticks, or foam light-up tubes that might be a fun enhancement for your reception.

A quality professional wedding DJ will have all of these details and more in mind so you don't have to worry about anything on your wedding day except for saying "I do."

I left a few things for last because I feel like they should be obvious and I'm always blown away when I hear about DJ's that don't do the basic stuff. Things like showing up on time, staying sober, looking presentable, coordinate and cooperate with staff and other vendors, and conduct themselves courteously with guests.

And, again, while I can't speak for all wedding DJs, Bash The DJ makes sure all these factors are taken into account when talking to couples about one of the most important day of their lives. If you're getting married and want a DJ that provides a personalized, worry-free experience then send an email to Sebastian@BashTheDJ.com and get a free quote today!