To DJ or not to DJ

ahhhitsshannyn

Due to a few changes in the guest list, we have changed our reception from the Calabria and Dicarlo room to the Calabria and Abruzzi room. I think with the bigger room we not might have room for a . BUT I am pretty scared of the cost, I seriously have NO idea what to expect.

We originally did not want a DJ because we figured we couldn't afford one. We were just going to bring a PA system and our ipod. But now I am starting to worry that the party might be kind of dull. I'm confused about how we would have our first dance, if we chose to do a bouquet toss, how we are announced... etc.. I feel it might be weird if we just walk in.... and then just stand up when we want to dance... I just don't want it to be weird. Maybe I am just weird..

So I guess what I am asking is if anyone knows the average cost of a DJ and if anyone who did not have a DJ if everything still went fluidly without the awkward "uhh.. we are going to dance now... "

mojodrew1

first, honesty.  i'm a dj in vegas so i won't do a sales pitch on whether you should or shouldn't because i'm sure as a dj, you know my opinion.  i can say this, as far as costs, you should budget between $100-$200 per hour.  so if your reception is 3 hours, between $300 and $600 depending on what you would like your dj to do.  hope this helps and no matter what you decide, the getting married part is the most important.  good luck.

dizzygoo82

Hi!  I'm in the same boat as you.  I booked the same rooms for next september and I'm debating the whole DJ thing.  Allnightlong quoted me 600 bucks for the 4 hour reception.  But then I'd probably have to get a dance floor which is another 250.  I don't think we're doing the big entrance but I do want to do the cake cutting and first dance.  I may end up going with a dj in the end just because it's one thing you don't have to worry about.

kara811

Personally, I think it's much better to have a DJ at big events like weddings. They're there to insure that you and your guests will have a great time, and makes sure the party is flowing well with the timeline. They not only DJ but only MC. I've never been to a wedding without a DJ before but I know some knottiest on here didn't have them on their in suite receptions and they still had a great time. But like PP said, they run about $100-200 per hour depending on what you want them to do and the set up they'll need to bring(lights, etc).

 You don't have to have a dj if it's not in your budget. You can just plug in your iPod and when it comes time to do announcements. If you know someone good with public speaking you can ask them to announce those things. And remember that your marriage is the most important part of it all! Good luck!

SunnyCanadian

BOOK THE DJ!!!

We didn't think we'd need one but its one of my major regrets from my wedding. We used a laptop instead, but the connection between the laptop and Maggiano's sound system was horrid and the only way they could play the music was if the projector screen was lowered and the projector was on.

So all of our nice first dance pictures, etc. have the projector image displayed onto our heads!

No one really danced, and even though they gave us an extra hour to use the room because of the sound issues, our reception ended early.

Oh and we had the Calabria room with approx. 50 guests. I don't think a DJ could fit in there, but we booked the room based on the fact we weren't going to have one. If you can fit one in, do it!!

vegasgroom

Definitely go with the DJ, can make a night and day difference in the flow of the party, and the fun.

Problem I'm having is finding a DJ in Vegas; there are not a lot of reviews, etc. online that I can find, so I have found a ton of DJ listings but no real references/experiences of people who've used them all so I have no idea how to evaluate whether one is legit, would be good for our party, etc.

ahhhitsshannyn

Yeah, I think it really depends on the quality of the DJ. The only thing that sucks for me is that we have to use the preffered vendor, All Night Long Entertainment. But I think I rememeber just recently one bride has HUGE dj issues with them... so that is pretty scary. I think we have decided that we probably will get one because there were a lot of things that we didnt even consider before like grand entrance, cake cutting, first dance, garter/ bouquet toss... I think it will flow MUCH easier than relying on one of my friends to try and remember to announce all these things. OH and they sepcifically have "do not play" which I love since FMIL wants Mariachi music and I KNOW if we do an ipod she will sneak in her ipod and turn it on.. and no...just no.

MVJP10

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_dj-not-dj?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:b9b0544d-9b0c-42c7-9bd5-3d61553840daPost:78522738-d5df-4db1-9fb9-96135841c642">Re: To DJ or not to DJ</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi!  I'm in the same boat as you.  I booked the same rooms for next september and I'm debating the whole DJ thing.  Allnightlong quoted me 600 bucks for the 4 hour reception.  But then I'd probably have to get a dance floor which is another 250.  I don't think we're doing the big entrance but I do want to do the cake cutting and first dance.  I may end up going with a dj in the end just because it's one thing you don't have to worry about.
Posted by dizzygoo82[/QUOTE]

Maggiano's doesn't have a dance floor?   Mariachi music is cool. lol

ahhhitsshannyn

Well if you are in the Dicarlo room they can roll up the carpet so it is kind of a dance floor. We are not going to be in the Dicarlo room anymore so there is no dance floor. But Cassy told me that it doesn't really matter, people are going to dance whether there is a wood floor or not.

Haha, sorry about the Mariachi comment. I know people love it, but just not our style. I am Scottish, and my FI is half white, half Mexican. But he is like 3rd generation Mexican. We have gone to a few wedding with that style of music and we just feel out of place... and I definitely do not want to feel out of place at our wedding.

wallacje

You should get a Dj if you can afford to do it. They help with the overall flow of the evening and can get the announcements out that are needed.  We booked All NIght Long for our Dj, haven't any problems with them yet. They have actually been very flexible with me, since I've changed reception venues 4 times since booking them.

mojodrew1

okay, because all the ladies said to book a dj, i can post from the heart.  as it was said, having a grand entrance and first dance may seem like small  parts of your wedding but when they occur and everyone is clapping and taking pictures it reinforces that it's YOUR wedding and YOU are the bride and YOU just got MARRIED:o).  Also, most dj's are flexible and should be able to fit their equipment just about anywhere.  so, as everyone else has said, if it's in your budget, do the dj.

wenawinter

We just used All Night Long for our wedding on 11/7 at Maggiano's.  It was added to our room premium.  It cost $600 for the nigth, which I did not think was bad at all.
I am soooo glad we did it, I think it would have been boring with a DJ there! Plus he was able to do the entrance announcement, first dance, cake cutting!
Was he the best DJ in the world? No, but he was just fine for what we wanted.
We did not rent a dance floor, couldn't justify the cost ($250). The carpet was just fine.
Is say do it if it's in your budget, you won't be sorry.

ahhhitsshannyn

Thanks everyone for your help!!! I think we are going to decide to get the DJ. Since we got the bigger room with the bigger minumum, it will actually help us make it towards the minimum. We are very excited now!! Thank you girls and guy for all of your opinions

wildstyle

I wasn't going to book a DJ either based on small guest count but let me tell you all how glad I was that I did.  Don't think 25 people will all be on the dance floor?  Well, guess what - they were and I owe that to our DJ.

Our DJ btw was DJ Harry O - and since Vegasgroom mentioned there are no Dj recs on here, let me give you guys an emphatic recommendation for him.  He made such a difference in the flow of our reception.  We would have been lost without him.

ninaq06

Yes do the DJ if you can.. I was going to do my own music and then became worried that sound wasn't going to work right or people wouldn't dance or just the flow of the reception. Getting a dj was the best thing ever and I got so lucky finding one the week before the wedding.