Hi Everyone

So H2B and I met with a DJ off the venue's preferred suppliers list and H2B also today met without me another DJ company again on the preferred suppliers list.

The company we went to see together were really honest and said that the venue we have we really shouldn't hire too much kit from them and all we would need is the basic package and maybe if we wanted a few strip lights but absolutely no more or it'd be overkill and I agreed with them (I was also pleased they didn't just try and sell us everything just for an extra few hundred quid). So anyway, even the basic package with the extra lights is coming out at £615.

The company H2B saw today is quoting pretty much the same thing.

My sister got married last year and she just got a basic DJ with a few basic lights and his decks and cost her £250 for the night, granted hers was a Thursday wedding in April, ours is a Saturday wedding in May. The DJ's we are considering though do seem to be quite big companies and I guess it's the peace of mind of them being preferred suppliers and knowing the venue so well. Plus I've actually seen they do the big name clubs etc.

Do you think £615 is reasonable for a DJ? What's everyone else paying and getting in the package for that price?

xx

£615 is quite a lot in my opinion. Our guy was £350 for a complete bespoke service, so we get to pick pretty much all the music and I think we've got him all day to do the ceremony music and have mic's on hand for speeches etc. Our venue doesn't have room for much lighting though so maybe that's why?

Yeah, my sister's wedding last year was in Essex. We're getting married in Hertfordshire but it's only a 40 min drive away from where we live in Essex. The venue ask for £5million public liability insurance. I'm tempted to ask the venue their opinion as they told me that the ones charging £615 were around £350 and the other one H2B saw today were more at around £650.

It is quite expensive, im looking at no more than 250!

That is a lot of money for a dj, we are paying £275 or ours and i only budgeted £250! But having seen the DJ at another wedding i was happy to pay the little extra, but i would definitely not pay £615!

Woah are you having blackpool illuminations as your lights?! Our DJ is included in our package at a rate of £250 from the Actz agency. But obvs this is a basic thing no fancy lights or anything he might have a disco ball if i'm lucky! But the venue use them all the time so they get a discounted rate for their DJs. When looking at other places they were saying about 300 for the Dj that's without lighting. Have you looked at getting a basic DJ and getting lighting effects separately? Alot of venue decoration companies that do table decs chair covers backdrops etc some do lighting effects too? xx

Mine's £250. He was the venue's recommened dj, i didn't want the hassle of searching for one and this way i know he'll be reliable. £250 seems to be about average with the other girls on here too, so i'd say £615 is too steep. Ours is also a saturday wedding in June by the way, so that shouldn't make a difference xxx

Our DJ is £200 - recommended by the hotel. Xx

Oh my goodness. Ok, so I really need to shop around.

H2B met the other of the preferred suppliers today and for the equivalent package they charge, wait for it ................ £1425 no lie!

How will I find a good recommended DJ in the Watford area? Anyone know, I'd really appreciate any help. :)

xxx

That's a very diplomatic way of putting it. ;)
xxx

will have to keep this in mind when we book ours, our normal dj would have been one of oh's best mates (only charges us drinks through the night lol) but unfortunatly he will be one of the ushers. so we are hoping he can get one of his mates to do it on his equipment. xx

How much?! Oh my Days.... as soon as you mention the word wedding it instantly costs so much more... i bet they wouldn't charge that for a normal disco which is what a wedding disco is it just has a first dance !!

Try local papers and gumtree and yellow pages and shop aorund. The big companies cost a fortune and sometimes smaller 1 man jobs are cheaper and you can give them your playlists still xxx

Yes I agree with what scottC has said, I was told by my venue if my DJ did'nt have Public liability insurance and all electrics PAT tested then we could forget it. Because they could'nt risk the beer pumps being blown up by dogdy electrics. So I booked their resident DJ for £160 which I think is very reasonable, £615.00 is way over the top. Who is he Pete Tonge lol.

I've sent off for quotes from 3 other DJ's who've apparently done weddings at the venue (my venue gave me their details even though they're not on the preferred suppliers list) so fingers crossed they come back with more realistic quotes.

I've also asked the DJ company who did my sisters wedding but they're Essex based so may not come to Hertfordshire but they were good and a reasonable price.

Seems a bit more realistic! maybe ask what's included for the price what lights etc they bring with them? Then maybe you can see why the price difference? Also ask how they play their music, all on a laptop etc? and experience? Can you see them in action anywhere?

Ours is included in our package they use an agency so i wont really get to know if mines good til the day really! But they have sent through the booking form asking for first dance an 2/3rd dance songs! which now panics me thinking arrgghhh what songs!
But tbh i don't care what he brings with him as long as he can bang out a bit of oopps up side your head and it's a good volume!

xx

Lol - I'm sure if they're included in the package they'll be decent.

Just got another quote through for £350 (all inclusive) for a standard package from the company who did my sisters wedding (they're Essex based but will go to Hertfordshire). They do a premium package with extra lights and better sound system and meeting with DJ, plus a star cloth for an extra £200 which I don't want to spend that much.


Do people really want lotsa fancy lights at a wedding disco? As long as there are light and good music and take requests surely people are happy?

xxx

That's what I was thinking, just wondering what others thought and if anyone is having some amazing pyrotechnics at their disco.

DJ is not something I'm willing to push the boat out with. The Church, venue, photographer, rings and my dress are the most important to me.
xxx

Sorry to disagree but a bad DJ can totally ruin your night, Its nothing to do with lights etc. A good DJ can make your night go with a swing and create a great atmosphere and get everyone one up on the dance floor. where as a bad one can send all your guests home early with a splitting headache. Its not about price but the choice of music .

H2B and I have made a decision............I think. I need the approval though of the lovely UKBride peeps first though.

The cheapest quote we have is £275. They're not a preferred supplier but the venue gave me their details as they have done weddings there before so I'm guessing must be ok or they wouldn't have sent me their contact.

The package is DJ, his decks, standard disco lights and laser lights. They work off a small playlist and will contact me before wedding to talk about the music etc.

Do you think this is a good/decent deal and should I just go ahead a book now?

Ta
xx

Thanks hun. Form all completed and cheque written. All ready to post tomorrow, they even provided me with an sae :)
xx