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DJ and Photographer prices and suggestions

mafylermafyler
First Comment
in Maine
Hi girls,
Hope all the planning is going well! I am in the process of searching for the DJ and photographer and was curious what everyone is paying? Do you have any suggestions?
So far for DJ quotes I have gotten $800 and $1500 which are both higher than I wanted to pay, is this unrealisitic? I am also nervous to book a DJ that isn't recommended on reviews because it could change the whole vibe on the night, what do you think?
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Re: DJ and Photographer prices and suggestions

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    kristendurant23kristendurant23 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think price goes hand and hand with quality.. As it does with every purchase you make. You can't expect a Cadillac on a Kia budget. Odds are the higher the price the better the product you are getting (more experience, more reputable, better skills).

    You get one chance at making your wedding day right.. it's expensive but make sure you choose the right vendors!
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    hcorr34hcorr34 member
    First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My DJ is costing me $850 and that's because I'm getting a deal (he's a friend).  He's out of Boston, so his prices are a bit higher, but I've known him forever and want him DJing my wedding.  I think you are going to have a hard time finding a GOOD DJ for less than the $800 you've been quoted.

    My photographer is costing me $1200 and from what I've been told by a few friends, I'm getting a great price for what I'll be getting from her (this includes 2 photographers).

    I decided to save money on a few things that are a lot less important to me.  I bought my invite kits for a total of $42.  I'm DIYing my flowers and buying them through BJs or Sam's Club (for my bouquets and centerpieces it will be about $150). 
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    ivyrose13ivyrose13 member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I did a lot of searching and I was able to find a DJ for $750 for a six hour reception. His demo videos are awesome and he has five star reviews on wedding wire. $750 is the lowest price that I have seen for a reputable DJ, I saw a couple on Craigslist, but they seemed sketchy at best. 

    DJ's are expensive, but remember, they are more than just music at your reception, they are also the MC that basically runs the show. 


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    mafylermafyler
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Ivyrose, do you mind giving me the name of the DJ you booked?
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    schadbourneschadbourne member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    i am paying 500 for dj and 800 for 2 photographers all day with a cd of photos

    both are friends and are giving great deals
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    jpickering8jpickering8
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The DJ I'm using is Rod Gudroe out of Palmyra.  I've seen him at 2 weddings and he kept the dance floor going all night!  He is $450 for the first 4 hours and $100 for every additional hour (so basically $100/hr).  Then $50 to travel if it's far (i.e. from Palmyra to Peaks Island).  He was the best deal I could find and he was only a $50 deposit!  Total I'm paying $700 ish for ceremony & reception & I'm going to buy him his ferry ticket to get his equipment over.. soo I can't complain!

    Also my photographer, Jen Lamoreau is out of Poland.  Again the best price I could find, especially for her quality of work!  The deposit was $330 and I'm only paying $960 for the whole thing (including 6 hours of coverage, the cd, prints and a photobook).  She is wonderful!! Look her up on facebook to see some of her work.  She does it as a side job and has 2 young girls so the prices are lower!  If you want either of their contact info let me know!
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    ivyrose13ivyrose13 member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    mafyler, you have a PM
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    fickrj5fickrj5
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The photographer was our splurge for the wedding.  we are using Shannon Post, she used to live in Brunswick but moved to Indiana and travels back here for weddings.  The cost of our package is $2200, but it gave us everything we wanted.

    As for a DJ, we are planning on using a friend as long as he doesn't move before then.  We are paying him $300 and a meal.

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    frugalgirlfrugalgirl member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Did you try Jeff Rockwell?  He is fabulous and affordable!!!
    http://www.rockpro.com/
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    chayer227chayer227
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_dj-photographer-prices-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:98Discussion:5ee5cf72-0af1-4c8b-801f-e27105b166ffPost:1fb5b788-c581-4150-8ccc-8d33b70b46fe">Re: DJ and Photographer prices and suggestions</a>:
    [QUOTE]Did you try Jeff Rockwell?  He is fabulous and affordable!!! <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.rockpro.com/">http://www.rockpro.com/</a>
    Posted by frugalgirl[/QUOTE]
    This is who I used.  I honestly don't know his current prices, but he was extremely affordable when I booked him in late summer of `08 for our Oct `09 wedding.  I booked him on price and recommendations alone, and didn't meet him until about 3 weeks before the wedding.  He was the one, by far, to put me most at ease about my wedding day.  He called me more often in the days leading up to the wedding than anyone else did - partly because I did a slideshow in place of the father/daughter dance (and he wanted to be sure it came out perfectly for me). 
    I trusted him so much, that we just gave him a few "must play" songs and a few "do not play" songs and gave him free reign beyond that.  He read the crowd SO WELL and had the dance floor full the entire time!  His partner DJ'd the wedding in the next room, and after it was over, he came over to join the party, saying my guests were a better crowd than the one he worked with.  <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

    Not sure what your budget is for a photographer, but the best for the money is Clare Norton - <a href="http://www.snapshotsbyclare.com" rel='nofollow'>www.snapshotsbyclare.com</a> She does wedding photography because she enjoys it, not just for the money.  I've said it a million times, but it's true - my biggest regret with my wedding planning is that she was already booked for my date, 15 months in advance.  She's AMAZING, and very affordable for the quality. 
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    JWiggin218JWiggin218
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We were lucky enough to book High Tech Entertainment out of Bangor! After I emailed him the first time I felt so at ease with everything! I had no idea what I was doing and they really made everything simple...He has great reviews as well!

    GOOD LUCK!!

    DJ Mike
    HighTechMaine.com


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    jena.n.rossjena.n.ross member
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_dj-photographer-prices-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:98Discussion:5ee5cf72-0af1-4c8b-801f-e27105b166ffPost:1a88d23c-63c9-4d7e-9805-ea8d8a1d2a5e">Re: DJ and Photographer prices and suggestions</a>:
    [QUOTE]The DJ I'm using is Rod Gudroe out of Palmyra.  I've seen him at 2 weddings and he kept the dance floor going all night!  He is $450 for the first 4 hours and $100 for every additional hour (so basically $100/hr).  Then $50 to travel if it's far (i.e. from Palmyra to Peaks Island).  He was the best deal I could find and he was only a $50 deposit!  Total I'm paying $700 ish for ceremony & reception & I'm going to buy him his ferry ticket to get his equipment over.. soo I can't complain! Also <strong>my photographer, Jen Lamoreau is out of Poland. </strong> Again the best price I could find, especially for her quality of work!  The deposit was $330 and I'm only paying $960 for the whole thing (including 6 hours of coverage, the cd, prints and a photobook).  She is wonderful!! Look her up on facebook to see some of her work.  She does it as a side job and has 2 young girls so the prices are lower!  If you want either of their contact info let me know!
    Posted by jpickering8[/QUOTE]

    <div>
    </div><div>I can't reccomend her.  She did our wedding in October, and we're still waiting for the rest of our pictures.  Her package says "all," and when I enquired about all the "missing" photos (the files are numbered consequtively, with huge gaps, totalling over 500 pictures), she got extremely defensive and rude.   I honestly just stared at her email with my mouth agape.  After threatening me with legal action, she said she would send me the photos she "hasn't already deleted" in "the near future."  This was over three weeks ago, so we'll see.</div>


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    michellelynnbmichellelynnb member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    d
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    michellelynnbmichellelynnb member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I got my DJ for 150.00 hr, and he also does Free walk-around magic during dinner.
    He used to DJ for a big DJ company and I think he still does but he is now doing it on his own, and he is great. Magical DJ Productions,is the his company name and his magic name is The Great Stephan and he is an awsome magician and DJ..It cost us 750.00 for 5 hours..ahh I found his website www.mainedjsteve.com
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    michellelynnbmichellelynnb member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    s
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