There are so many ways to save money on your wedding DJ.
A DJ, or disc jockey, is a super common wedding expense. These are the folks you hire to take care of the sound and music at your wedding. They are typically there for your ceremony, making sure the right songs are playing as you walk down the aisle, and stay all the way through to the end of your reception. When the music turns off, their job is done.
A great wedding DJ can make your wedding incredible. From following the right plan for the songs you pick out, to ensuring that microphones are working, and that the party is hopping on the dance floor, DJ’s play an important role at weddings. And while not every wedding has a DJ, most couples opt to hire one for their wedding. And that’s why it’s important for most of you to know how to save money on your wedding DJ.
How To Save Money On Your Wedding DJ
If you follow the tips in this post, you will save money on your wedding DJ. Yes, some tips may mean taking a leap of faith. Or, skimping on your overall plan for your wedding music. However, each of these tips are a money saver, and will still allow you to have tunes at your wedding.
Let’s get into it!
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING DJ BY HAVING YOUR WEDDING AT AN OFF-PEAK TIME OR SEASON
This money saving tip isn’t just true for wedding DJ’s, but it still applies.
Getting married in the off season, or at an unusual time of day, can mean big discounts. Typically, the off season for weddings is anywhere from November to April, in North America. An off-peak time may mean getting married in the morning. Or, on a weekday. Avoiding a Saturday in say, June, at dinner time, can mean that your dream DJ is available, and more affordable.
SAVE BY HIRING A WEDDING DJ WHO IS JUST STARTING OUT
A big way to save money on your wedding DJ? Hire someone is just starting out, or doesn’t have that much experience.
Now, this tip does come with some risks. For example, a more experienced DJ will likely be more professional. They may adhere to the schedule a bit better. If a technical issue comes up, they might have readily available solutions to it. Or. . . not. Look, yes, with more experience there is an increased likelihood that your DJ will be just a bit better at their job. However, just because someone is starting out doesn’t mean they don’t know what they are doing. They may be just as awesome.
My advice? If you want to save money on your wedding DJ, and are willing to take a chance on someone looking to get the experience, go for it. Pay attention to red flags, like showing up late to your initial meeting. Or, not having a contract for you to work with. If possible, ask for references or look up reviews. Chances are everything will work out.
SAVE BY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF HOURS YOU’LL NEED A DJ PRESENT
Some couples save money on their DJ by only hiring them for a short amount of time.
I know that earlier I said DJ’s tend to be at your wedding from ceremony to the end of the reception. There is no rule that says things have to work out that way, though. Many couples find that they can play their own music using the venue’s system during their ceremony, cocktail hour, and through dinner, hiring a DJ for just the reception. Doing so depends on how tech savvy your venue is, and how hands-on the couple may want to be with the music.
If you have a tight budget, and find an awesome DJ but can’t meet their price, see if they will work with you on the timing. You never know if they will give you a discount for only being at your wedding just a few hours, until you ask.
SAVE MONEY BY CREATING YOUR OWN WEDDING PLAYLIST
Want to know the real way to save tons of money on your wedding DJ? Be your own DJ.
Now, now, I know what you’re thinking. And, you’re right. Being your own DJ is not the same as having a DJ, like at all. You’re not going to have the same cool DJ vibe with a Bluetooth speaker and a great playlist as you will with a DJ spinning records and jamming out to the tunes.
However, it will be a lot less expensive. If your wedding is relatively low-key, or smallish, being your own DJ can be a great option. All you need is to have an awesome playlist, and a way to make it audible to everyone who wants to hear it. A great playlist and some quality speakers can go a long way.
A few notes on the playlist, though. Make sure that you have the right songs available, for the right amount of time. You don’t want to have to have it repeat music when you don’t want it to. Also, find a way to have the songs “blend” into each other so anyone dancing doesn’t have to pause to wait for the next song to get up to speed. You may even want to outsource the playlist creation to a music professional so the flow can get just right.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING DJ BY HIRING EARLY IN WEDDING PLANNING
The best way to save money on anything wedding related, without compromising on quality, is to hire your vendors as early as possible.
Hiring a wedding DJ early on in wedding planning shouldn’t be that difficult. All you really need to know is the date you’re getting married, and the venue. You may also need to have a deposit handy, but that amount varies per DJ. Finding a DJ early means that the more affordable, yet still highly rated and skilled, ones are likely available on your wedding day. It’s plain common sense.
SAVE BY LISTENING TO YOUR VENUE’S RECOMMENDATION
Did you know that most professional wedding venues have preferred vendors? They do, and they are often your best bet when it comes to hiring affordable people to help at your wedding.
Now, I’m not saying that a venue’s preferred vendors are going to be the cheapest vendors in your area. What I am saying is that these vendors are vetted. The venue likes working with them, which goes a long way. And, you’re less likely to have to pay for extra insurance or additional fees for hiring non-preferred vendors. Plus, some preferred vendors really do come with a discount, because they like working with your venue.
If your venue doesn’t have a preferred vendor list, still ask them their recommendation for who to hire. You may receive a referral discount from potential wedding DJ’s because the right place recommended them to you.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING DJ BY HIRING LOCAL
When it comes to hiring wedding vendors, travel expenses can add up.
If you want to save money on your wedding DJ, hire someone who is local. By doing so, you can save on travel fees such as gas, lodging, and even meals (though be sure to feed your DJ during your wedding no matter what). Plus, a local DJ may even be able to refer you to other vendors in the area, if you need help, and will likely know your venue. This can save on issues and risks later on as they may have worked there before and understand the best set up and any nuances.
SAVE BY ASKING A FRIEND TO HELP YOU OUT
Last tip for how to save money on your wedding DJ!
Ask a friend to help out.
Just as you can be your own DJ, creating and setting up your playlist and speakers, a friend may be able to help you with this as well. In some cases, you may end up paying your friend a nominal fee for their help. Or, they may help you out as their wedding gift to you.
Of course, you can’t just ask any old friend for this kind of help. See if there’s someone you know, who isn’t pivotal to the wedding, who would have the skills and motivation to help you. Or, see if a friend of a friend is available. Many people are willing to do a little side hustle just like this, and you can save tons by trusting in the right person.
THOUGHTS ON SAVING MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING DJ
Friends, there are lots of ways to save money on your wedding DJ. Being proactive about hiring early or asking for referrals can pay off. In some situations, being your own DJ or asking someone you know to help out will mean big bucks back in your budget. To figure out the best ways for you to save money on your wedding DJ, look at how important a DJ is to your wedding and plan accordingly. Happy wedding planning!
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