How Much Does a Wedding DJ Cost in Brooklyn?
Updated: Jul 20, 2021
How Much Does a Wedding DJ Cost in Brooklyn?
So, you are planning your Brooklyn wedding and want to hire a DJ. What's the first thing everyone wants to know? Price! How much is it? What's included? What do DJs do? Are there any extra charges? Read on to find out how much a wedding DJ costs in Brooklyn.
The average cost of a Brooklyn wedding DJ is $1,650. But depending on your budget you can certainly find one for less or pay more if you add on extra services.
What services are provided by a wedding DJ?
Wedding DJs provide music, announcements and other services at your wedding ceremony and/or reception. Here are the most common services (offered a la carte or as part of a package):
A sound system, music and mics at your ceremony (sometimes extra, 30 minutes to an hour*)
Music at your cocktail hour (1 hour)
Music at your reception (dinner and dancing, 4 hours)
Announcements and introductions
Decorative lighting (often extra)
Party lighting (often extra)
*times are approximate
What services are usually extra?
Travel (usually beyond the first hour of driving)
Large guest counts (over 300 guests? Expect to pay extra.)
DJing for more than 6 hours (Want your DJ to play the after party? It's gonna cost you.)
Specialty lights (Monogram, spotlights, etc...)
Smoke machines, CO2 guns or "dancing on the clouds" (do they do these things in Brooklyn?)
Photo booth
What is included in the cost of a Brooklyn wedding DJ?
A minimum of two consultations (usually one before signing the contract and one a week or two before your big day)
A form or software for you to send your music choices to your DJ
Arrival to set up 2 hours or more before guests come
A full sound system and music library (with a back-up in case of malfunction)
Mics (including a wireless one)
A contract (this protects you as well)
Liability insurance
Are there alternatives to hiring a wedding DJ?
Sure there are, you can hire a band for $5,000 or more. Oh, you want to know about cheaper alternatives... You can absolutely DJ your own wedding. And many Brooklyn wedding venues have a full sound system. (See my list of the top 5 Brooklyn wedding venues here).
Here are some things to watch out for when DJing your own wedding:
Things will go wrong (at least more than if you hired someone who does this every week)
DJs usually play songs for only 2 or 3 minutes and blend them together to avoid breaks in the music. Put someone in charge of the music.
It might not be loud enough. DJ's speakers have a lot of power that the speakers at some places (like restaurants) don't have.
Use a wired mic. Wireless mics can be tricky. Trust me on this one!
If you want a big dance party, choose songs everyone knows.
Have your playlist backed up on two devices.
Check my guide to packing your dance floor.
Do you have to tip your wedding DJ?
Bridal Guide recommends 10% to 15% of the total price as a tip but obviously it's not mandatory.
So how much does a Brooklyn wedding DJ cost exactly?
$1,650 (according to WeddingWire's DJ Cost Guide). That seemed about right but I also averaged up the cost of the DJs on WeddingWire's Brooklyn wedding DJ page and came up with just under $2,000 ($1,973.91 exactly) out of 46 DJs. That seems a bit high to me, but it gives you an idea of the range. A few points...
The national average cost for a wedding DJ is $1,200 according to WeddingWire. The Knot has it as $1,265.
New York City has the highest wedding cost in the country.
There was a DJ on WeddingWire for as low as $600 (ridiculous). Anyone who prices a 4-hour wedding reception in New York City with a full sound system at under $1,200, please beware.
Brooklyn is a boutique-y city now and many DJs only providing sound and announcements price themselves at well over $2,000. This isn't as common elsewhere in America.
Most DJs require a deposit which usually ranges from 25% to 50% of the total cost.
DJs differ on when you have to pay them your final balance. Common times are on the day-of, or two weeks before your date.
Conclusion
So, you've got your $1,650 and are ready to hire a DJ! Now what? Head over to WeddingWire and The Knot and then check out my guide "How to Choose a Wedding DJ" for help. It'll walk you through the whole process of what to look for and what to watch out for. Also, check out my website. And if you need any help or just want to chat about the process, email me.