Perfect Weddings Budget with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

These Wedding Statistics may shock you but they are true & from well known reliable sources about Perfect Weddings Budget!  Read them all here and learn from other Brides & Grooms mistakes!  It will make you rethink Wedding Reception Priorities!

Shocking Wedding Statistics: Perfect Weddings Budget!

Perfect Weddings Budget - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Perfect Weddings Budget After Your Wedding Reception

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 wedding dress, 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 (Band / DJ).

65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding reception, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey!

*These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine . Sources include: Simmons; USA Today, National Bridal Service, The Knot, Brides Magazine.

Perfect Weddings Budget - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Wedding Disc Jockey rates are vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability & personality. Not all Wedding DJ’s are Created Equally, as many of you know – we have all seen the “Bad” Cheesy Wedding DJ!

Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to $3,500.00 with an US average of $1,200.00 for a 4-5 hour reception.

The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As the surveys above conclude that 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment & made it their #1 priority in hindsight!

A Professional Wedding 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 & tear-down, education, phone calls, travel & other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special once in a lifetime day.

Modern Bride Magazine: Entertainment is 5% of your Wedding Budget, but TWICE as many guests will remember your entertainment, more than anything else!

Perfect Weddings Budget - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

The numbers don’t lie, Perfect Weddings Budget…

The cost of entertainment at your reception is only a small portion of your overall budget.  As Modern Bride Magazine states above, only 5% of your overall budget will be spent on entertainmentHowever, over 50% of your guests will remember the performance of your disc jockey more than anything else at your reception.  Think back to the last affair you attended, what did you eat? What Color was the Napkin? What was the guest of honor wearing?  The Chart Below shows you what was spent compared to how well it will be remembered….

Percentage of Money Spent      Percentage of What Guests Remember Most

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When you’re spending thousands of dollars on a once-in-a-lifetime event, doesn’t it make sense to reserve the finest entertainment, especially since it is only 5% of your over all budget??

Yes, your Gown & your Food are very important.  Still, the selection of Music &  Entertainment can determine the success of your event!

A qualified Wedding MC can guarantee your guests will stay after dinner to party; the Photographer & Videographer will have something to shoot & your guests will stay long enough to really remember your gown!

via Perfect Weddings: Budget.

Perfect Weddings Budget - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Perfect Weddings Budget – Rhode Island Wedding DJ

I think they raise some interesting and revealing points. What do you think about this information? Is it correct or skewed? Does it match your experiences at Weddings?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Save on Wedding Music – Cut Wedding Music Costs | Wedding Planning, Ideas & Etiquette | Bridal Guide Magazine

How to Save on Wedding Music

It is always fun to see yourself quoted in articles for a magazine like Bridal Guide. This is a great blog on saving money on Wedding Music. Let me know what you think of the various ideas for Wedding Music!

How To Save on Wedding Music By:  Sharon Naylor

From first dance to last call — budget-friendly ways to entertain your guests in high style.

Great entertainment can really make your wedding unforgettable. A fabulous DJ or a live band keeps your dance floor packed and the energy up. Those ultra-special moments like your first dances and your cake-cutting become even more special with a stellar introduction. And surprise live performances are sure to wow your crowd.

Entertainment can be one of the most expensive parts of the wedding budget, however, and it’s not always the easiest place to cut corners. But fear not, there’s definitely wiggle room when it comes to number crunching — and we’re here to give you the scoop. Plus, get wedding song recommendations here!

Bride Dancing to Great Wedding Music by Rhode Island Wedding DJ
Photo Credit: Kathryn Krueger Photography

The Number-One Question: DJ Vs. Band

You’ve always heard that DJs are less expensive than live bands. After all, there’s only one person to hire and feed, so that has to be less, right? Not always. According to the American Disc Jockey Association, rates can soar to $5,000 and beyond for top-tier master-blasters. But yes, in most cases, DJs can be less expensive than bands since there are fewer people to book and feed.

And yet: “Think about the experience you want to have at your wedding,” says planner Courtney Hammons of A Magical Affair in Brentwood, Tennessee. You may be aiming for the energy that fills the room when a live band plays hit songs. Or it may be that you really prefer the original artists’ renditions of songs, as played by a DJ. You may want the festive look of a nine-piece orchestra, versus the tech-heavy presence of a deejay.

And of course, you might be among the many couples that choose both. They’ll have a band play for the dinner hour and the start of the reception, then have a DJ step in and rev up the energy with club music. And—surprise—this can save money. Read on to see how.

Typical Costs

  • DJ: $525 to $1,400
  • Live band: $1,200 to $3,000-plus
  • Specialty musicians, soloists and ensembles: $400 to $1,000-plus

These are national averages. Depending on your reception entertainment choices, such as a 12-piece orchestra, you could be looking at prices double these, if not more.

*Source: industry survey site costofwedding.com.

Great Wedding Music by Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Budget Basics

Professional entertainment will cost less during the off-peak months of October through March, and at non-peak times such as a Sunday wedding, a Saturday afternoon wedding or on a Friday, with prices dipping 20 to 40 percent or more for these less in-demand times.

Avoid booking for too few hours. Andy Kushner of Andy Kushner Entertainment in Rockville, Maryland says, “Four hours is the standard length, and anything else will go too quickly.” Overtime fees can be very expensive, often hundreds of dollars.

Booking a DJ and band to split the time can add up to less. Michael Swerdloff, AKA DJ Mystical Michael of the New York tri-state area says, “I have performed in between the band’s sets and then did the last hours of the reception, which can save 25 to 75 percent over hiring a band for the whole event.”

Ask your wedding planner and additional wedding vendors for recommendations. Katherine Stimson, entertainment specialist with Suman Entertainment Group in Miami says that some vendors offer package deals among “friends” in their vendor circle, saving you 10 to 20 percent.

Ask your entertainer if you can get a discount for paying your entire fee in advance. Some experts will give you 5 to 10 percent off a package price if you pay everything up front.

Ask about specialty discounts. DJ Mystical Michael granted a 50 percent discount to a military couple, and reports that he often gives a discount for last-minute planners just to book the date.

Check entertainers’ social media sites for discounts, says Gregg Hollman of Ambient DJ Service in Princeton, New Jersey. These special online offers will typically save you 10 to 15 percent.

Get more out of your dj by having him take a break during the dinner hour, says Kushner. “Then negotiate for him to play non-stop during the dancing hours.”

Choose a one-man dj operation, rather than paying for a two- or three-member team. This can save you 15 to 25 percent depending on the agency, says Swerdloff.

Look for multi-tasking band members who play more than one instrument to get even more bang for your buck. See if one of your reception band’s musicians will also play at your ceremony, and negotiate a percentage off what it would cost to book a separate musical act.

Don’t be afraid to go big: “It’s always best to negotiate with an established entertainment company rather than go to a lesser-known agency,” Kushner says. Larger agencies often have a greater ability to meet your budget needs.

Great Wedding Music by Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Save By Going Off The Beaten Track

Check with local colleges’ music departments to find student musicians who need the credits and additional live experience, and may not charge anything,” says Hammons. (Do give them a nice gratuity after the show.) Some students do charge, but far less. Mark Kingsdorf, director of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Philadelphia agrees, saying that music school student entertainment can cost one-third less than pro musicians.

Hammons also suggests checking with your church’s musical director, who can suggest excellent pianists and other musicians they use during services, who you can hire for 30 to 40 percent less than the prevailing professional rates.

Professional entertainment companies keep a roster of specialty musicians and dancers, who you may be able to add onto your music package for a 10 percent discount.

Look to venues like Irish pubs or Indian restaurants for specialty entertainment options such as fiddlers, step- or belly dancers. Hammons says she has found stellar entertainers through local restaurant owners, saving her clients 40 to 60 percent.

Contact local cultural associations to book singers, musicians and dance troupes for 25 to 50 percent less than the going professional rates. This is a great way to add global flair to your reception. If you hear a great musician at a local club or coffee shop, always ask if he or she does weddings. These artists often charge a low per-hour rate that can save you hundreds of dollars. Bonus: you already know their sound, which may be perfect for your cocktail-hour music, if not your ceremony.

Great Wedding Music by Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Hot Tip: Many DJs and bands offer specialty lighting effects as part of their package; often their basic lighting accents are gratis, with customized lighting for an added fee. Ask if you can use non-custom effects such as light projected in a snowflake pattern on your dance floor at no charge—rather than commission lighting effects with your names.

via Save on Wedding Music – Cut Wedding Music Costs | Wedding Planning, Ideas & Etiquette | Bridal Guide Magazine. by Sharon Naylor

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