How Much Should I Budget For My Wedding DJ?
If you’ve never been faced with the difficult decision of hiring a Wedding DJ, it can be hard to navigate the variety of pricing and offers out there in the wedding industry. While some DJs are only charging a couple of hundred dollars, others seem to be charging thousands, so what gives?
The truth is, not all DJs are the same. There is a big difference in quality of service between a hobbyist DJ and a Professional Wedding DJ. But even amongst the pros there is a large variety in both content and quality of package that adds an unnecessary complexity to your buying decision. The key factor to remember is that if you’re looking for a DJ that can help you through a great wedding party, you’re going to want to hire a Professional Wedding DJ.
On average a Professional Wedding DJ will cost you between $800-2000
A Professional Wedding DJ by our definition is a registered, licensed and insured DJ Company with 2 years of experience or at least 50 weddings. Visit our blog to learn more about the 6 Different Types of DJ you might meet, or about the three tiers of service quality. Or, if you’re the type of person that wants to know all the details before making a decision, we’ve put together an entire guide on hiring the perfect DJ for your wedding.
Average Cost of Wedding DJ Packages
Your wedding DJ just be responsible for playing great music, but depending on your needs they are going to have to fulfill a variety of roles from lighting and sound to emceeing and event managing. There are dozens of ways to package these services together, so let’s have a look at some of the most popular types of Wedding DJ Packages, and what they may or may not include.
Here is a list of some of the most popular types of Wedding DJ Packages;
DIY Wedding DJ Package
The ultimate DIY wedding music package.
If you’re planning to have a wedding without a professional DJ, this package is designed just for you. Comprised of a detailed consultation with an experienced wedding DJ, equipment recommendations, and access to a ton of highly organized, wedding-certified playlists to ensure you make the best of your wedding.
Package Includes;
- Consultation with experienced DJ
- Equipment recommendations
- Access to Wedding Certified Playlists
How much does a DIY Wedding DJ Package cost?
You should expect to pay between $200-400
Pre-Wedding Party DJ Package
Approximately 6 hours of service.
If you are throwing a pre-wedding party such as a “Stag & Doe” or “Jack & Jill” many DJ companies will offer services which can help you make the most out of your event. Great Wedding DJs will have lots of experience running these events and will be able to help organize and emcee your event, which can lead to more donations.
Commonly Includes;
- Experienced DJ
- Emceeing of party games
- Basic Lighting
How much does a DJ cost for a Stag & Doe/Jack & Jill?
You should expect to pay between $400-800
Micro Wedding DJ Package
Approximately 5 hours of service.
Micro weddings or small-capacity weddings have become more and more popular. Although many micro weddings are too small to justify having a DJ, many couples are still wanting to have a shorter dinner and dance if local regulations allow it. These packages usually cover your ceremony, cocktail and dinner music, as well as first dance, parent dances, and social distance dancing when appropriate.
Commonly Includes;
- Experienced DJ
- Ceremony Music
- Cocktail Hour
- Dinner Music
- Social Distance Dancing
How much does a DJ cost for a Micro Wedding?
You should expect to pay between $500-800
Cocktail Wedding DJ Package
Approximately 6 hours of service.
This is a very common wedding package you will see available with most DJ’s. It is designed for couples having a cocktail-style wedding that runs from 7pm-1am. It should cover all of your essentials like a microphone, dance light, and sound for 100-150 people.
Commonly Includes;
- Experienced DJ/MC
- Microphone for speeches
- Dance Lighting
How much does a DJ cost for a Cocktail Wedding?
You should expect to pay between $800-1000
Wedding Reception DJ Package
Approximately 8 hours of service.
This standard wedding DJ package will include DJ service for everything except your wedding ceremony. You’ll have a DJ there from 5pm-1am to help you with your cocktail hour, introductions, dinner music, reception dance and of course all the great things that happen in between. The Wedding Reception DJ packages should typically include minimal lighting and sound to cover your event.
Commonly Includes;
- Experienced DJ/MC
- Full night of dancing
- Microphone for speeches
- Great Lighting
How much does a DJ cost for a wedding reception only?
You should expect to pay between $1000-1200
Ceremony & Reception DJ Package
Approximately 10 hours of service.
This wedding package is by far the most popular. Brides love having the DJ there to provide support during the ceremony, to provide ceremony music or even to integrate with a live musician, in order to ensure even the guests at the back of your ceremony hear your vows. Then you have the confidence of knowing your DJ is already set up and ready to go for the rest of the evening.
Commonly Includes;
- Experienced DJ/MC
- Speaker, Mic & Music for ceremony
- Full day coverage
- Microphone for speeches
- Great Lighting
How much does a DJ cost for a wedding ceremony and reception?
You should expect to pay between $1200-1800
Ultimate Wedding DJ Package
More than 12 hours of service + bonuses.
Reserved for couples seeking a cut above the rest. There are only a handful of DJ Companies who offer Ultimate or All Inclusive style DJ Packages, which might include things such as premium equipment upgrades, unlimited meetings, international travel, multi-day events, no-cost package add-ons, and special gifts for the Bride and Groom.
Commonly Includes;
- Experienced DJ/MC
- Multi-day coverage
- Advanced Lighting
- Luxury Service
How much does a DJ cost for an Ultimate Wedding DJ Package?
You should expect to pay between $2000-4000
