How Much Should You Pay For Your DJ?
DJ/Entertainment rates vary based upon talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability, and personality.
A full-service DJ/Entertainment company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for "4 hours". Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.
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Rates for the DJ/Entertainment industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00 with an average of $1,200.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight. .
The best price is not always the best deal, especially when planning a wedding!
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*These excerpts are taken from the American Disc Jockey Association's website. (DJ Hiring Tips)
After The Vows... - 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.
- Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.
- During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer - reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!
- When asked 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
- 65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey.
- Assuming a $10,000 food/drink minimum you’ll spend a minimum of $1500 on gratuity at 15%.
Which has a bigger impact on the outcome of the event? Quality entertainment, or a 15% gratuity on food/drink?
*These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine in 2003. Sources include: Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; Brides Magazine, 2001.
Additional Wedding Statistical Information
Wedding Statistics |
Engagement Statistics
- The average American engagement is 16 months.
- June is the most popular month for weddings, then August, followed by September October and May
- Every year an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S.
- The Wedding Industry is a 50 billion dollar a year industry
- Average age for first-time brides is 25 years, for grooms it's 27.5
- 175 guests are invited to an average wedding
- One third of engaged couples retain a Wedding Consultant
- An average honeymoon vacation is one week
- The average household income of a newly married couple is $60,000/year
- Tuxedoes are typically purchased 5-6 months after the wedding gown
- Bridesmaids' gowns are general purchased 3-4 months in advance of the event
- Average size of wedding party: 12
- Most brides (30%) plan their weddings for 7 to 12 months
- Most (about 75%) first-time brides will receive a diamond engagement ring (67% of repeat brides).
- About 15% of weddings include ethnic customs
- 35% of weddings occur in the summer; 29% in the spring; 23% in the fall; 13% in the winter.
- 11% of winter weddings are Christmas weddings
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Cost Statistics - $22,000 is the average amount spent on a traditional American wedding
- A total of $72 billion is spent on weddings annually in the U.S.
- $19 billion is spent buying presents at wedding gift registries
- The average amount spent on a bridal gown is $800
- The average ring costs $2,000
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Top Wedding Destinations - Las Vegas (100,000 weddings/year)
- Hawaii (25,000 wedding/year)
- Bahamas (5,000 weddings/year)
- Jamaica (5,000 weddings/year)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (4,000 weddings/year)
| Other Wedding Statistics - 80% of traditional weddings are performed in churches or synagogue.
- Four out of five brides are employed.
- 35% of Brides and Grooms have a valid passport.
- Percentage of couples living together before marriage: 64%
- Percentage of engaged couples who’ve known each other longer than 3 years: 69%
- Percentage of brides who say they’ll be changing their surnames: 60%
- 53% of weddings occur in the afternoon; 31% in the evening; 16% in the morning.
- 30% of receptions are held in churches; 20% in hotels; 20% in country clubs;
and 10% each in fraternal halls, private homes, and other locations. - 38% of weddings have a buffet; 34% have a sit-down dinner; 28% serve only cake and punch.
- 62% of weddings have a flower girl.
- 56% have a ring bearer.
- More than 4.2 million unmarried couples live together.
- 67% of women continue to wear the same fragrance they wore on their wedding day.
| Marriages By Month - January 4.7%
- February 7.0%
- March 6.1%
- April 7.4%
- May 9.8%
- June 10.8%
- July 9.7%
- August 10.2%
- September 9.6%
- October 9.4%
- November 7.4%
- December 7.8%
| Wedding Costs By Category - Reception 28.3%
- Consultant 15.0% (if hired)
- Wedding Rings 11.5%
- Photography/Video 6.6%
- Bridal Gown 6.1%
- Music 5.2%
- Flowers 4.6%
- Bridal attendants' apparel 4.5%
- Rehearsal dinner 4.2%
- Men's formal wear 3.2%
- Invitations 2.8%
- Attendants' gifts 2.1%
- Mother of the bride apparel 1.7%
- Bride's veil 1.6%
- Clergy and ceremony fees 1.2%
- Limousine 0.9%
- Groom's attire 0.8%
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Honeymoon Statistics | General Honeymoon Statistics - Among couples who choose a traditional wedding, 99 percent take a honeymoon.
- Couples spend an average of $4,000 on their honeymoon. That's three times as much as the average U.S. adult spends on a vacation.
- The length of an average honeymoon is seven days.
- 45 percent of honeymoon trips are to domestic locations; 55 percent are foreign.
- The Honeymoon Industry is a 12 billion dollar a year industry.
| Most Popular Honeymoon Activities: - Visiting a new place for sightseeing, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife- 75%
- Beaches and lakes - 45%
- Casinos - 20%
- Cruises - 15%
- Golf/sports vacations - 10%
- Skiing trips - 5%
| Destinations That Are Most Frequently Chosen - Aruba 8%
- Bahamas 20.2%
- Bermuda 3.1%
- British Virgin Islands 7%
- Caribbean 34%
- Caribbean Islands 6.3%
- The Cayman Islands 10.5%
- Europe 4%
- Hawaii 33%
- Jamaica 17.1%
- Mexico 7%
- Puerto Rico 3.8%
- St. Marten 5.6%
- US Virgin Islands 7%
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Transportation Used for Honeymoon - 76.2% Airplane
- 60% Rent Car
- 16.4% Their Own Car
- 27% Boat/Ship
- 2.7% Railroad
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Places To Stay While On The Honeymoon - 46.1% Hotel/Motel
- 35.2% Resort
- 20.1% Boat/Ship
- 8.2% Bed and Breakfast/Inn
- 8.9% Other
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Voted Best of The Knot 2010!
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