WR: DJ Dilemma

Hummingbird125

Okay, so FI and I met with a DJ on Sunday. With just him (the DJ), the price would be a few hundred dollars below my DJ-Budget. With him plus an emcee, the price is $100 over my budget. The company has great reviews online: http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/ny-elite-entertainment-new-hyde-park/64340507121f8666.html

So far, I haven't been able to find another DJ with nearly as good reviews that is close to budget, so I'm wondering if we should just go ahead and book this guy. I didn't LOVE him, but honestly, I don't know how much I'd like any DJ. I think we'd definitely need to pay for the emcee if we went with this guy because he had a bit of a stutter, and admitted that he wasn't good at making announcements, which is why he usually worked with an emcee. He showed us photos of the set-up he uses, and it looked really sleek and cool, and he himself seemed very established and professional. 

I guess what I'm asking you OMH's, or others currently wedding planning is - did you feel like "OMG this DJ is amazing! I need to hire him!" or just "Yup, seems fine to me." I'm especially curious about your answer if you did NOT see him work another wedding, and are just going off of reviews/meetings. He's the right price, seems reliable and professional, and has very strong reviews - I'm not sure what else I'm looking for...

Dignity100

Would it make you feel better if I told you I've went over budget on just about everything.  I planned to go over budget though and FI keeps saying 'don't worry, it's family'.

We are not having a DJ. Honestly, I don't remember any DJ from any wedding I've went to saying 'This guy is amazing', I do know my FSIL had one at her daughter's graduation and he was not that great - but I think it was just because of the atmosphere was not right for him (if that makes sense).

I'm going to pose it to you this way:  What are you going to remember from your wedding?  You'll remember how you felt on your day.  You'll remember what you and your groom were wearing.  You'll have your pictures as a keepsake.  Probably won't remember the food or the cake (unless they are totally amazing or totally awful).  Probably won't remember your DJ unless he sucks - I guess this goes into your 'feel' if everybody is sitting down and not dancing and having a good time.

Blackbird230

DJ I think is one of those wedding vendors that's tough to "connect" with. It's difficult to see their work since you would have to see them live. I would go with him. $100 over budget isn't too bad. It could be much worse. 

Peaseblossom55

We were (or perhaps H will say "I") was very specific about what we wanted for a DJ and the type of tone we set for the evening terms of music.  We went with a DJ company that our friends used and I remember from their wedding liking this companies style.  We did have a different DJ from them, but as long as he was willing to listen to us about what we wanted we were fine with him.  The DJ wasn't a big concern for us, most of it was the food and the photography. 

Our DJ was great better than expected we got a few compliments here and there about guests liking the music.  I was also very specific with the DJ about play lists do not play lists, lighting,music volume things like that.  I remember when we decided we were like he seems ok, willing to do what we want, good reviews, we know the company so we just booked.

labro

I agree with @Blackbird230 It's really hard to feel connected to a DJ or super excited about one in particular if you haven't seen them perform in person. When I booked our DJ, I didn't feel like "OMG YAY BEST DJ EVAH!" but I did feel like he was bringing the kind of style and attitude that we wanted to have for a dj. I would've felt super excited if I had been able to hire @southernpeach89's DJ but he was already booked.

$100 over budget doesn't sound THAT bad. Can you tell him your budget and see if he can come down on the price at all?

lavenderfields13

I went over budget for the DJ. I had no idea how expensive DJs were! I didn't feel this amazing connection with her but she's young, seems to have a similar taste in music and has great reviews so we booked her. To us the DJ is very important since we want our reception to be pretty much a dance party. A good DJ that can read the crowd is important for that so we were willing to go a little over the budget. Personally I would pay the extra $100 to have the complete package- as long as the emcee has good reviews too and is just going to make the necessary announcements and that's it. Some put on a "show" and it's just annoying. 

So to sum that up: To me DJs can make or break the reception and I'd pay a little more 

buddysmom80

My DJ was referred to me by a CW of mine as well as a few CWs or FI's and they all loved one specific DJ with the company we booked with (and it was the DJ we ended up booking with). I wasn't into the whole DJ thing, I would've rather had no DJ. But, that was FI's hill to die on.

I was more "yup seems fine to me" to book him because he threw in uplighting for the ceremony and took a ton of money off their packages, wheras FI was more like "OMG WE GOT BILL FROM X COMPANY!!!!" Whatever, just play the music, you know?

 

[Deleted User]

We hired our DJ over the phone and never met him or saw him at another wedding before we hired him. In all honesty though, the DJ wasn't one of our top priorities. I kind of figured about anyone could play songs...so I wasn't worried. Their site had good reviews and they were recommended by our venue. At the wedding I'd say I didn't think he was probably the best of the best...but he played great music, made the announcements we'd asked him to and our guests seemed to have a great time.

 

Swazzle

We booked a DJ company that my friend used. We didn't see our actual DJ in action until our wedding day, though. When we met with him we both really clicked with him and decided to book him on the spot. 

If you liked the company and think it'll be fine with the emcee, I would absolutely explain that you want to book with them but they're over your budget. I would probably even fib and say they're a couple hundred over budget just to try to get them to come in under. 

phira

We booked the same DJ that my future brother-in-law had at his wedding (I wasn't in the picture at the time, but J said the DJ was awesome), mostly for budget reasons. I think that, like other people have said, it's VERY hard to connect with a DJ the way you would with a photographer.

So I think that if they have great reviews, and they're clearly competent, then the only reason to go with someone else would be like ... if the DJ said something you found offensive.

Blue & White

Our DJ was really important to us (H used to be a non-wedding DJ and my family is the family that is ALWAYS on the dance floor).  I think your DJ could work the the emcee, but I would probably want to meet the emcee first before booking (remember that the emcee is the guy who is going to do your intros AND keep people on the dance floor to some extent.)  I wouldn't worry too much about the $100 over budget as long as you are able to be under budget somewhere else, though.

doubleSS07

We booked a DJ that was a good friend of the best man.  We got a break on the price and he had great reviews.  One of the nice things he did on his website was that he posted videos of different events including weddings that he's done so that we could actually see him in action.  I only talked to him on the phone until the day of the wedding but he worked out great, played really good music and was on cue for everything.  We got a lot of compliments for the job he did.

Edit: spelling sucks today

Hummingbird125

Oh shoot, I'm guilty of a P&R. Reading everyone's responses now. Thanks!

Hummingbird125

@Dignity100 - You're absolutely right that unless the DJ sucks we probably won't remember him. This is one of those things that I don't care too much about, other than knowing that we need music and would like someone to make a few announcements. 

@Blackbird230 and @Lavenderfields13 - I don't mind the $100 over, as FI keeps telling me "We have to go over-budget in SOME areas and under-budget in OTHER areas." Which, I know, I'm just a budget-czar. 

@Swazzle - oh, I will definitely be bargaining. I think I'm going to ask if there is anything else they can throw in (TV screen for photos, maybe?) OR if they can reduce the price at all. I don't mind the fee, but it would be nice to get a little something extra out of it...

Thanks all - I think we'll just go ahead and book with this guy, I just wanted to make sure everyone else wasn't like "No, I LOVED my DJ from the moment I met with him/her!" :-)

cu97tiger

I was definitely 'Yup, seems fine to me!' and he came recommended from someone who I respected quite a bit. He did a good job, other than one request where he insisted he was playing the right song, while 10 of us shook our heads saying 'nope, not the right song.'