What Should a Wedding DJ Cost?
Price & weddings - these two words can feel taboo when put together. We’ve all seen blog posts and discussions about what vendors should cost. Viral posts have spread the idea that services cost more because of one added word - “wedding”.
Photo Credit: Yvonne Goll Photography, La Lomita Ranch, San Luis Obispo, CA
I’m not here to dispute this - highly recommended wedding vendors generally are more expensive, and, they should be. On your wedding day, your vendors work under immense pressure, aiming for perfection, while flawlessly handling curveballs and any unexpected surprises.
Generally, the higher the price, the lower the tolerance for delays and mistakes.
Photo Credit: Bethany Joy Photography, Oak & Vine Vineyard Estate, Templeton, CA
Picture this - you’re at your favorite bar/club, celebrating your birthday, they have a DJ, and they’re giving birthday shoutouts. You tip the DJ, request your favorite song, and ask for a shoutout. The DJ gets on mic, says your name wrong and plays the wrong song. Disappointing, right? Now imagine the same story but on your wedding night. That would be extremely upsetting, right?
It breaks my heart to say this - I hear this exact story from couples far too often. Engaged couples are concerned their DJ won’t play their requests. Married couples who felt ignored by their DJ still talk about it 10 years later. That’s why reading reviews, watching videos from past events, and meeting your DJ before booking is so important.
You should also be up front with your expectations - do you want an energetic MC? Someone who will read the room? A DJ that mixes music and doesn’t just press play? A DJ that’s creative but doesn’t overdo remixes? Someone with experience that can offer suggestions and advice? Should your DJ’s setup look modern and professional?
Let’s say you’ve already done that, you’ve found several professionals you like, and you’re considering their prices in your final decision. How can you tell which one is offering the best experience and a fair price?
Photo Credit: Lauren Maeve Photography, at Willow & Oak Estate, Creston, CA
We’ll start with the numbers. Professional Wedding DJs in San Luis Obispo/the surrounding area, providing services at Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception range in price from $1200-$3000. On average, for 7 hours of service (counted from when music starts prior to Ceremony through the last song of your night), couples spend $2000-2500 (before adding extra lighting, a Photo Booth, or special effects).
*Sidebar: Price ranges vary by region/location. Wedding DJs typically bring more high end gear and multiple systems, making their rates noticeably higher than most bar/restaurant DJ rates.
Factors such as experience + reputation, quality/quantity of equipment, the DJ’s involvement in the planning process leading up to your wedding, and event duration make a big impact. However, it is possible to save money and book an amazing DJ below the average spend - with some concessions.
Experience: Newer DJs/new businesses with less wedding experience are often competitively priced.
Skill: Someone who’s a great DJ but is less skilled as an MC (or vice versa) may price themselves lower in these ranges.
Less Popular Date: Many full time vendors offer discounts for Monday-Thursday and slow-month dates.
Fewer Event Needs: If you don’t need your DJ to provide audio during your Ceremony, are planning a shorter celebration (5 hours or less), and don’t need any lighting from your DJ, they may be flexible with their pricing.
Minimal Equipment: If your DJ brings less overall equipment (you’re providing their table + linen, they only bring 1 sound system, no subwoofers, no lights, etc.), their prices are more likely to be lower.
Photo Credit: Derek Preciado Photography, at The White Barn, San Luis Obispo, CA
If you’re saving money by booking a lower priced DJ, it should be very obvious where the savings are coming from. If not, I strongly encourage reviewing their contract, list of services/equipment included, and asking questions like:
Can you send me videos of you DJing/MCing? (if they don’t have any posted online)
What’s your style as a DJ/MC? Are you going to be mixing music? How do you interact with the crowd?
How are you going to handle transitions between locations (e.g. from Cocktail Hour to Reception)?
If you get sick or your equipment fails, what are your backup plans?
Are there any fees? (e.g. processing fees for debit/credit card payments, travel fees, overtime charges, etc.)
At the absolute minimum, your DJ should have a business license, a professional event contract/agreement, liability insurance, and be able to provide COIs (Certificate of Insurance) with additional insureds upon request.
Photo Credit: Bethany Joy Photography, Oak & Vine Vineyard Estate, Templeton, CA
For the best possible experience, consider this:
Based on what’s important to you, which DJ do you trust most? Who do you believe will prioritize your vision, will honor your requests, and has a style matching your expectations?
And consider less tangible things - does this DJ respond to messages in a timely manner? Are they open to my requests? Are they easy to work with? Someone who cares can make all the difference.
Photo Credit: Miranda Florer Photograpy, Niner Wine Estates, Paso Robles, CA
Before you click away, I hope you’ll take the time to read my perspective, as a DJ.
When you hire me to DJ your wedding, to DJ your celebration, to DJ your event, it’s my dream come true! I chose to start my own business, I choose which events I DJ, and I’m extremely grateful that I get to do this full-time. I’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars in equipment to live this dream. I own and drive a pickup truck because of this dream. I happily work weekends, late nights, long hours, and (sometimes) weeks on end for this dream.
I set my prices with my business goals in mind. I love meeting new people, playing all kinds of music, and tailoring my approach to every event. I’m always looking for ways to be better, to create better experiences, and I love that no two nights behind the DJ booth are the same. I’m young, my business is younger, and I’m here for the long run.
DJing has my heart and fills my soul.
