DJs...going rate...oh and uplighting

pinkmochiball

I've been quoted anywhere from $600-$2,000...is this usually the going rate for Djs? i'm not sure i'm really going to have a "dance" party but I would like music playing when there's dead time and after our live entertainment leaves.  I know that i'll have a DJ but a lot of them all themselves entertainment coordinators and that kinda freaks me out since I am paying a lot of money for a coordinator! haha. okay babbling...what do you guys think?

also uplighting? what companies do you recommend. REA events I know is one but they are so hard to communicate with and I feel like i'm getting the run around.

melmac26

As far as DJ's go, we had the same issue. HUGE variance in price....which seems so odd to me. We went with ND-Mixx Productions. You can check into them. Husband & wife team, very sweet & reasonable IMO. Otherwise, you could create a playlist, use a computer or Ipod & rent speakers? Just a thought.

Don't have rec's for uplighting, sorry

leejj3

We went with music express because it was very reasonable. I believe accel rentals does lighting but I'm not sure... Sorry!

hitchedinhawaii

I went with Exclusive Sound. Ben is really nice and he's doing my ceremony and reception setups and also providing my uplights. I'd recommend trying to find a DJ that can do both - that's one less vendor to worry about.

AKWinterBride

I didn't go with the lowest priced DJ that my coordinator recommended due to the review of a bride that I made friends with who used him.  We decided it was worth the bit of extra money to have a DJ who knew what he was doing and wouldn't leave us with dead air, or play awful music! 
I was quoted at $50/per uplight, don't know if that's a lot or not - we still haven't decided on uplights.  I love them, but it's just one more expense, you know? 

johndrea

we had uplighting(just behind the headtable), the star lighting and dj just over 1200 with mystical sounds productions. they were really easy to work with. GL!

jaymers99

Hi Cari!  My cousin was my DJ, so I'm not sure what DJs run for.  However, I did shop around for uplighting, so I can help there!  This was a super last minute thing we decided to add about a week before our wedding, so we didn't do too much research.  We ended up going with REA Events, but I know what you mean about the communication.  I had to keep calling and she seemed kind of unorganized, but thankfully it all worked out great on the wedding day!  We paid $50/light (canned light) and we had 10 lights around our ballroom.  

Mystical Sounds quoted us $4,000 to light our room with their super bright LED lights (vs the canned ones from REA) that are the same as used for the olympics.  It also included a starry sealing and monogram light.  They would stay the whole night and "man" the lights.  They could change it throughout the night (blue during first dance, pink during cake cutting, alternating the whole night, etc.) and even have it strobe during the dancing portion.  $4000 was just way out of our budget.

I also contacted Tony So who is also a DJ.  He also offerered the canned lights for $50/light.  Ultimately we went with REA Events because we didn't need a DJ and ended up getting some linens too.  REA came in and set everything up then returned at the end of the night to pick it all up (they don't "man" the lights).

prlady

Pacific Party Rentals is fabulous to work with. They can do whatever types of lighting you need and Sheryl is a DOLL. They are doing our wedding next year and I adore her!

Margo

aguilar

For uplighting, try UNQ Rentals.  I was quoted about $45 per light.