COST OF A DJ

burrunga

I was wondering what the average cost of a DJ was.  Also, do they normally just play at the reception or am I supposed to have them play thru the cocktail hour as well.  Thanks.

TerriandJoe

Ours is $1200. But when we looked last year we found most were in the range of $1000 - 1500. However, the first guy I got a quote from was $2995!!! At that time I wanted a band (FI wanted a DJ) so since bands had given me quotes of $5000 - $7000 or more! I had thought the almost $3k DJ was a good price.

Needless to say, after going to bridal shows and finding out what was the normal price for a DJ. I made it so much easier to decide.

But remember, with the DJ, the personality is so much more important! So get pricing info from a few DJ's (and find out what is included) and use that to decide. As long as your guy is in the normal range - even at the higher end of normal - the personality outways the cost.

e_jakiela

We are paying $1,900 and that includes a DJ, and MC, lighting for the ballroom and cocktail hour.

foru2nv707

our D.J is 1500

psichick

you can have your dj do cocktail hour. we aren't, we're having the musicians from the ceremony do that as well. 

clarereedy

Our DJ is 2400, but is for six hours.

kristinanddan

Ours was 2k. They included the cocktail hour for free, but really all they did was put a cd on. If they didn't, they venue said they would play appropriate music, so ask about that if your dj wants to charge you.

Jenni83

Our DJ was a family friend(professional to) so he gave us a hugeeeeeeee break.but he had 3 dif systems he brought(ceremony set up,cocktail hr and reception) and played during both the cocktail hr and the reception.

mocknine

Mine was $1500 and it included music for cocktail hour, dj and mc for the reception and basic lighting.

manda26

I think we are paying 1200, and that includes them playing something during cocktail hour

ssage

ours was $1000....that was for just the reception. 
We didn't have a cocktail hour musician..we just had the venue pipe in music...i found that a  waste of money in my opinion for my venue.  People are takling so you just need background music.

I do agree that personality is also very important.  They could be cheap but not nice or expensive and you just don't like them. 

Crissyo

Ours was 1900...included percussion, basic lighting and cocktail hour ( but we didn't use them for cocktail hour because our ceremony musicians played)

Kris0816

Mine is $1100, it is less expensive since we are doing a Friday night!

pollyguts

I'm paying $1400, not including cocktail hour (I am having ceremony musicians do it.)

burrunga

thanks guys, sooo I'm looking at an average of about 1200-1500.  My thing about the cocktail hour is that people WILL BE talking and mingling. 

And yes, Personality will have to count A LOT because I'm Dominican and I'll need to have someone that understands how to put on tipical spanish music (salsa, merengue, bachata) and everything else.  My FI is, idk what generation, American (he's mixed and could care less about his ancestry, but thats besides the point). 

My biggest fear is hearing "kill the DJ", lol.

Anyway, thanks everyone!!