4 Details That Affect Your Wedding DJ Price

Find Out Why Wedding DJ Prices Vary

Wedding DJ prices aren’t the same from one event to the next. Unique from other vendors and wedding costs, wedding DJ prices usually come after some discussion, so DJs and their teams understand exactly what’s needed for the event. 

If you’re ready to get a quote now for a wedding DJ, just contact the trusted team at Deux Weddings & Events by clicking the button below. Include the date, location, and any details about the vibe you’re looking to create, and we’ll reply ASAP.

4 Factors That Affect Wedding DJ Prices at Deux Weddings & Events

You won’t find our wedding DJ prices quoted on our website, social media, or elsewhere. That’s because our team needs to dial in some crucial details about your event — and what our DJs would need to bring, plan for, and manage — to determine the price. Some of the main factors that go into wedding DJ prices are below. 

1. Your Wedding’s Location

Where will your wedding be? How close is that to one of our main hubs?

The wedding DJs at Deux Weddings & Events operate out of most major metros nationwide. So, if your wedding is in a: 

Closer locations

Our DJs may have minimal travel time and ready-to-go plans, resources, and access if your wedding is in (or relatively close to) one of our main hubs. That could mean marginal travel expenses that may give couples and wedding planners more bandwidth to include “extras” in wedding DJ prices (like photo booths). Keep in mind, though, that some high-demand areas may have higher price points simply because there’s a premium cost to operate in these “hot spots.”

More remote areas

Distant and more off-the-beaten-path locations can make amazing locations for weddings. They can also take some extra effort, more time, and additional resources for wedding DJs to get there. With that, wedding DJ prices may need to account for our team’s extra costs, like the additional gas, overnight lodging, and other travel expenses. 

2. Your Wedding’s Run Time

How long will you need a wedding DJ? 

What are the starting and estimated end times for your wedding?

The number of hours you need one of our wedding DJs on-site is another key factor that impacts pricing.

As you consider your wedding’s run time and how long you may want a DJ, be sure to think about the:

  • Equipment setup and soundchecks 

  • Guests’ arrival on your big day

  • Pre-ceremony cocktail hour or mingling

  • Wedding ceremony

  • Post-ceremony cocktail hour 

  • Reception

  • Equipment breakdown and clean up after the wedding

Generally (and logically), the longer the event, the higher the wedding DJ prices tend to be because pricing is calculated by the hour, along with other factors. 

Also, even if you’re planning a shorter event or you only want a wedding DJ for part of it (like just the reception), your DJ will still need to account for setup, soundchecks, and equipment breakdown at the very least, adding a couple hours or more to whatever the anticipated run time would be.

3. The Sound Rig Needs

Will different parts of your wedding be held in different areas? 

Will your ceremony be in one location, dinner in another, and/or the reception elsewhere?

When different parts of the event are held in separate locations, our wedding DJs may have to plan for, bring, set up, and break down multiple sound systems. 

So, let’s say: 

  • Your wedding ceremony is held in a hotel rooftop garden.

  • The cocktail hour is at the same hotel’s swanky 1st-floor lounge.

  • Your reception is in the hotel’s 2nd-floor ballroom.

In that case, your wedding DJ would need separate sound rigs for each location. That, in turn, could involve: 

  • More equipment

  • Multiple vehicles to transport the equipment

  • Additional staff to help set up and break down the equipment.

With more elaborate sound rig needs, wedding DJ prices tend to go up due to the additional effort, support, and expenses it takes to deploy and manage these more complex events.

4. The Included Add-Ons 

Wedding DJs prices at Deux Weddings & Events can cover the DJ services, equipment, sound, music, and the overall “vibe” for your event. 

That’s not all, though, if you’re looking for more and you want your wedding to come with some amazing extras.

Depending on your needs and what add-ons you choose, wedding DJ prices can also account for “extras,” like (and not limited to):

  • Uplighting: Create a magical ambiance by highlighting special parts of your event with spectacular pillars of light. Uplighting can be a wonderful touch next to the wedding party’s table, photo booths, gift tables, the cake table, and other key areas you want your guests to notice.

  • Photobooths: Invite your guests to take inspired candids in photobooths, so they can capture fun moments that become personalized keepsakes. Add props and/or themed backdrops to make the experience even more memorable.

  • Flameless sparklers: Add some drama, charm, and glamor to your wedding (and wedding photos) with flameless sparklers. Dazzling and safe, flameless sparklers can add a delightful effect to any moment, from the grand entrance to the first dance, the cake cutting, the grand exit, and more.

  • Paparazzi: Give your guests a VIP, red-carpet experience while getting incredible photos and fun candids as guests arrive at the ceremony and enjoy the reception!

  • Confetti: Infuse some more excitement and color into any moment of a wedding, from a first kiss to the reception entrance and after, with confetti. Ideal for stunning wedding photo opportunities, confetti can be a fantastic festive touch, amplifying the fun and energy for guests of all ages. Biodegradable and themed confetti are available to fit any venue requirements and match the wedding's style.

Please be aware that these are not the only factors that can impact wedding DJ prices and that you can easily get a quote from us by reaching out and sharing some specifics about your big day.

When to Start Pricing Out Wedding DJs

Generally, 9 to 12 months before an event is a good time to start pricing out wedding DJs. With that kind of lead, you’ll have time to research options, get quotes from some vendors, and find at least a few DJs available on the date of your wedding (especially if it’s during the busier seasons).

Plus, the earlier you book your wedding DJ, the more time you’ll have to dial in every last detail for a flawless event.

Starting Prices for Wedding DJs

At Deux Weddings & Events, our wedding DJ prices are competitive for high-end events, with fair starting rates for the expertise, equipment, and services provided. 

Our pricing is by the hour, adding in any travel expenses and add-ons, and our wedding DJ prices include all communications with your wedding planner and any other vendors involved. 

While starting prices for wedding DJs include playlists, sound equipment, and more, for many of our clients, that just scratches the surface of what they really want.

That’s why we prefer to start with your needs, what you want, and what you already have in place, sharing prices after that, so you see dollar amounts that truly fit what you’re looking for. 

How Are Wedding DJs Usually Paid?

Expect to pay a deposit, which is a percentage of your total fee, to “lock in” services for your wedding DJ and any add-ons you want. The remaining balance may be paid in installments or in a one-time payment before the event, unless you decide to pay in full upfront when you’re booking your wedding DJ.

DJ Prices for Weddings: FAQs

Wedding DJ prices can raise a lot of questions because they’re so highly customized. Sharing more answers, the following features some helpful responses to common questions about wedding DJ prices.

  • It really depends on what you need, how long your wedding is, and how many “extras” you want to include. For those reasons, there’s no single dollar amount to keep in mind or use as the bar to evaluate if you’re getting a fair price. 

    Also, it’s critical to remember that: 

    • You get what you pay for: Rock-bottom wedding DJ prices don’t necessarily mean “value.” Instead, you could be getting inexperienced DJs who put minimal time into your event, show up unprepared, and/or bring barebones, problem-prone equipment.

    • Some things are priceless: Peace of mind and getting to celebrate your wedding exactly as  — or better than — you envisioned it can be invaluable. If you’re hunting down the lowest-priced option, you could end up with headaches and problems during your wedding, instead of a flawless event. What would you rather look back on for the rest of your life?

  • When you’re thinking about wedding DJ prices and budgets, don’t just pick a number out of a hat and use that as your anchor point. Also, don’t get prices from your friends or loved ones.

    All of that can have you working with unrealistic numbers, based on your wedding location, its run time, and several other factors. 

    While we can’t tell you where to fix your budget for this, we can suggest that you earmark at the very least a few thousand for a quality wedding DJ. You’ll want to allocate more than that if: 

    • You want any extras. 

    • You’re having a longer wedding.

    • Different parts of your wedding are in distinct areas, and you’ll want a wedding DJ for more than one part.

    • There’s any chance that your wedding will run past the “end” time printed on the invitations.

  • Our wedding DJs can often accommodate extensions, charging at an hourly rate that may be higher than the pre-booked rate. 

    Please be aware, though, that: 

    • Some venues may not permit extended run times due to staffing, local noise ordinances, and/or on-site rules.

    • We may not be able to accommodate all extension requests, depending on our schedule and other factors already in play.

    • We’ll always do our best to meet the requests at hand and accommodate extended DJ services for weddings whenever we can.

Let’s Talk Wedding DJs, Music & More

When you’re ready to talk wedding DJs, music, sound, and more, contact Deux Weddings & Events. 

With an extensive roster of wedding DJs, bands, photographers, and more, we have exceptional talent in nearly every major metro across the U.S. That makes us highly effective partners for couples and wedding planners who need turnkey wedding music and next-level solutions. It’s also why Deux Weddings is the DJ and music provider of choice for unbeatable wedding experiences. 

Contact us for a quote, more answers, and fast responses. Our wedding DJs specialize in big and small events for nearly all types of ceremonies, including LGBTQ+ weddings.

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