Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

L
Just Said Yes August 2018

Average cost of a dj in the Boston area

lizzy, on March 13, 2018 at 8:27 PM Posted in Massachusetts Planning 0 15

Hey everyone. We're in the process of looking for a DJ for our wedding in August. Just wondering how much one would consider to be reasonable or unreasonable for DJ services consisting of uplighting, music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We received a quote of $2400 which includes 12 LED lights ($600), music for the ceremony ($300) through the end of the reception ($1500). The cost for the uplighting seems like a lot but I am wondering what other brides think. There is also an option to add a photo booth for $800 but we're most likely going to pass on that. Thanks in advance for your input!

15 Comments

Latest activity by Kenneth, on June 5, 2019 at 7:04 PM
  • Amanda
    Super May 2018
    Amanda ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    We are paying $1999 for the DJ which is ceremony, cocktail hour and reception music, but we booked them in 2016 before their pricing went up. I’d say what your describing is average for this area.
    • Reply
  • Emily
    Expert November 2018
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I just booked my DJ in the Boston area! So after researching, $2500 Is defiently the average for the services you listed. I ended up going with a wedding show package deal though that gave me a few upgrades like the photo booth for the same price range above.
    • Reply
  • L
    Just Said Yes August 2018
    lizzy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Ok, thanks for the info! Appreciate it.

    • Reply
  • L
    Just Said Yes August 2018
    lizzy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Wow $2k is a great deal. Thanks for the info!

    • Reply
  • Mia
    Dedicated October 2018
    Mia ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    You can pb find a better deal. I just did a search in the Boston area for a DJ. I got quotes from 900 - 2000 but I think I'm going to have a friend DJ instead.
    • Reply
  • T
    Savvy October 2018
    Tanina ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Salem NH.... $2100 for ceremony, cocktail hr and reception services with uplighting.
    • Reply
  • Alysia
    Devoted September 2018
    Alysia ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I'm paying $1000 for six hours of DJ coverage (about an hour west of Boston). We didn't bother with uplighting because we didn't feel it was important, so I can't really tell you how much that would be. We went through Thumbtack and then looked up reviews of the vendors on Wedding Wire and The Knot to confirm if they were any good.


    • Reply
  • Lynnie
    WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
    Lynnie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Hi lizzy! You should check out the WeddingWire Cost Guide! Just enter the wedding service you want to know about and your zip code or city/state, and we'll show you the average cost and ranges of spending:

    WeddingWire Cost Guide - DJs in Boston

    Is exact average is $1500, with most couples spending between $1,100-$1,750. There's a lot more info in that guide!

    • Reply
  • L
    Just Said Yes August 2018
    lizzy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Will check it out! Thanks, Lynnie!


    • Reply
  • Bryanna8.18.18
    Savvy August 2018
    Bryanna8.18.18 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Just a tip, talk to some DJs in the southern NH area. Mine is extremely affordable and will travel all over MA. I got a photo booth, uplights, dj and ceremony sound with mics for less than you were quoted.
    • Reply
  • Crystal
    Devoted July 2018
    Crystal ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I am paying 1350 in MA
    • Reply
  • Gipperkm
    Super September 2018
    Gipperkm ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Ours is just under $2000 for 6 hours, but no uplighting.

    Check out c-zone entertainment! It's who we hired and I went to a wedding where they hired a DJ from c-zone and he was awesome!!
    • Reply
  • K
    Savvy September 2018
    Kaitlyn ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Wedding is in Salem, MA but we booked our DJ through Murray Hill Talent in Malden (right on the Orange line, lol) - there's some variation depending on who you book, but not by much. We're paying $1250 for cocktail hour/reception music (ceremony is covered elsewhere), and decided to pass on uplighting. I think even with lighting we could've done it for under $2k.

    • Reply
  • Lauren
    Just Said Yes August 2019
    Lauren ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Would you share who you used? I didn't reserve anything more than $1000 in the budget and even then, I'd prefer to keep it below $800.

    • Reply
  • Kenneth
    November 2024
    Kenneth ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    As someone who has worked in the event industry for 13 years now, I have to say-- Most of the time, you get what you pay for. Cheap DJs usually come with a combination of the following: Cheap equipment that they bought in 1965 that is falling apart, absolutely no real audio mixer to make mics sound good, no processing to make the sound clear and bumping, which means the sound is going to be muddy and boxy, usually don't bring subwoofers so there is no low end bass, end up having feedback issues with their mics (squeeling that is very annoying and can make people go deaf if they don't get it under control), often times don't even ACTUALLY DJ or mix songs together and instead half the time bring two laptops and a volume control rather than real DJ gear that can match beats together, or just play song after song which is boring and with no consistency on tempo, and often playlists that are completely outdated, and often just play songs on Spotify which is NOT a DJ and robbing you of money.

    The honest truth is most wedding DJs with low rates are the ones that are not keeping up with the times and constantly bettering their craft, like 80 years old that stopped advancing 6 months after they started in 1960.

    DJ'ing is an art, and like all art, you get what you pay for. Would you buy your guests $1 menu McDoubles at your wedding? Would you get a full sleeve tattoo that costs $20? If so, I highly suggest you reconsider before ruining your life. lol

    Keep in mind I work with DJs that charge up to $10,000 to do weddings with massive loads of production to go with everything. Granted, not everyone can afford all the extras, obviously, but you should do what you can to get enough for a QUALITY DJ, as there are a lot of $1 menu McDouble DJs out there as I call them.

    Moral of the story: Don't go cheap on the DJ. This is the biggest day of your life and you deserve to have an amazing time and a memory that stays in you and all of your minds for a lifetime, especially considering it is a (hopefully) once in a lifetime event for your family.


    Just my 2 cents from a seasoned music industry professional.

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics