... she can have a wedding for that much (or little).
Sure, you can have a wedding for $200... because that's what a Justice of the Peace or an officiant will charge. That's the only requirement for getting married. The rest of "it all" is merely frosting on the cake (pun intended).
Your choices are un-limited for what you can add to that, and what it will cost... here's what I mean:
Venue - You can have the reception in the basement of your church, or in your back yard. If you're a member of the church, many times it's free, especially if you hire the Paster for the nuptials.
Food and beverages - If mom or Grandma can cook, then, it's simply the cost of the food for all of your guests. I actually heard of one bride who had McDonald's cater her event. One bride even brought her guests to a pizza place. The fee starts at $50 and goes up from there... or, if everyone brings a dish, and a 6 pack, it's free. $0.
Rings - I've seen brides and grooms who shopped at Walmart for rings. Heck, they have pretty good jewelry there! Lets start with $50 each... or none at all, for now. $0.
Wedding dress - How about a nice evening dress? That can be had for under $100, again at Walmart or Pennys. If you saved your prom dress... $0.
Dancing / Entertainment - Go the iPod route, and home stereo speakers. It's not going to be a rock out "night club" experience, but what the heck. Or, use your Smart Phone. $0.
Cake - Walmart... isle #9. Walmart and the Dollar Store are you best resources for DIY and low budgets. Can you say "cupcakes"? $20.
Flowers - Do you REALLY need flowers? $0.
Photos or Videos - Everyone now has a camera in the phone or a point and shoot mini camera. My Smart Phone takes amazing pictures. $0.
So, this DIY wedding will run about $500 or less... hows that for keeping the cost down?
Now, having mentioned all of the above on a strict budget, everything has a value and price. What is your dream, and how do you want to remember it in your future? You can actually get married for less than $500, or go as high as $50,000. The national average for wedding in the US is $35,000. If you were famous and lived in Hollywood, you could easily quadruple that. You have the choice to make. Everything you add, will bring the cost rapidly up. It's your day... you pick.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Comparing DJ "A" to DJ "B", and all the rest...
Here I go again... I just finished reading a thread on a wedding web site, where the bride is perplexed as to which DJ to choose. One is charging $600, and the other is charging $1080. Her reaction is to go with the cheaper one, but here are a lot of things to consider, before picking your DJ based solely on price. You need to compare apples to apples to make sure you have the correct budget for your DJ.
Skill & knowledge
Most DJs will tout their services, by saying they are the best you can buy. If you've ever taken a basic marketing 101 class, you'll discover this as a "comparison" strategy. Watch any ad on TV, and you'll discover that most of them use this marketing technique. This car gets 35 miles per gallon and the other guy only gets 18 MPG. How many fall into that trap?
Since there is no DJ college or reference organization to tell you if your candidate has the skill, you have to do your homework and check out each business. A lot of DJs get started by printing business cards, and putting an ad in the local newspaper. Sure, there are organizations that many DJs join, but it's as easy as paying your $100 to join, and they recommend you... bahhh. Too many fledgling and unskilled DJs pony up the cash to get the endorsement. Too bad, the world works this way. I've heard brides say, after the fact: "if only I'd have known".
You've heard the horror stories. "The DJ screwed everything up". "He was hitting on the bridesmaids all night". "He didn't play the songs I asked him to play". "He got the introductions wrong... or didn't do the introduction". "We couldn't hear the music". The list goes on and on... but that's what happens sometimes when you hire the cheapest bid. Since your wedding is considered one of the most important days of your life together, you need to consider how you're going to feel about it once it's over and a memory. Was it the "fairy tale" dream you had envisioned since you were a little girl, or the lowest bid disaster that all of your guests will talk about for years?
Lets begin the journey of selecting the best DJ for you (based on my 26 years in the industry). There is a list of things to consider, before turning the success of your special day over to a novice. Here are some of them (and, I'll address the issues one by one after the list, so you can avoid some of the pitfalls):
How long has this DJ been in business?
Does this DJ have insurance?
Does he/she have back up gear?
Is his/her music library legal?
Does this DJ have a web site?
Are there any venues that will recommend this DJ?
Does this DJ have pictures or videos from past engagements?
Has this DJ taken any training, or a member of an organization of peers?
Does her/she keep up with current trends?
Does this DJ have a legal contract?
Lets' start with your budget. Far too many brides don't designate the proper amount of their budget, in order to hire the right service (on any vendor... not just DJs). I hear brides all the time ask if they can have a wedding on a $5000 budget. Sure, but don't expect to get the same services that a bride who pays the National average gets at her wedding. About $35,000 is the average amount spent on weddings nationally. Anything less, and you'll have to make serious cuts somewhere. I'd love to drive a Porche, but can I get a new one for $5000? Of course not! You'll have to lower your expectations, and be realistic!
There was a national survey done by a notable wedding magazine, asking brides about their entertainment. Over 80% said they would have spent more on their entertainment, had they known the outcome, after the fact. Too late now!
So, let's address the above considerations
1) How long has your DJ been doing this? Anything less than two years, you're dealing with a beginner. Beginners make mistakes; forget things; or do it wrong. While that isn't necessarily bad, be prepared for it. New vendors just haven't run into every situation yet, and things always go wrong at a wedding. They need to learn to adapt.
2) Insurance is a must when performing with high tech and heavy equipment. What happens if someone trips over a speaker of stumbles into the controls? Without insurance, the bride pays for the damages. Liability insurance costs a lot of money. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
3) Without back up gear, your DJ is out of luck if something fails to operate properly. A skilled , seasoned DJ, can always get the performance going again. Craigslist DJs... not so much.
4) Any DJ who steals music, is a thief. Do you want a thief working for you at your wedding? If you hire this DJ, you are also a thief. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky? Enough said!
5) While a professional web site, doesn't guarantee a quality performance, it does show that this DJ is committed to the profession. A professional web site, shows the public that this DJ is striving for quality and commitment to the customer. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
6-7) Find out if your venue can recommend this DJ. Every venue on the planet wats you to talk about the amazing night you had (it's good for business). Hire a poor quality DJ, and that concept goes out the window. Check references, Google, or Yahoo and YouTube for past videos, and look at pictures of his/her work.
8) Find out if your DJ is a member of any fraternal organizations. Ask about training and attendance at professional seminars. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
9) DJs who are committed, find out about current trends in the industry. Did you know that mp3 music is just as good or better than CDs? Organized play lists on a professional computer can arrange music in seconds, and doesn't have pauses between songs. Does your DJ know about "room enhancement" lighting. It's all the rage right now. It colors your room in a wash of lights that can be choreographed to the music. It's expensive! Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
10) If your DJ doesn't have a legal and binding contract, you're dealing with an amateur. A legal contract, that is easy to read and understand, protects everyone involved.
As I said above... if you don't do your homework, you're going to make a big mistake. Be sure to type your DJs's name and business into search engines to read all about their service. Check: YouTube, Twitter; Facebook; Google; Yahoo and every other means at your disposal. If you're looking for the cheapest bid... well, good luck!
Skill & knowledge
Most DJs will tout their services, by saying they are the best you can buy. If you've ever taken a basic marketing 101 class, you'll discover this as a "comparison" strategy. Watch any ad on TV, and you'll discover that most of them use this marketing technique. This car gets 35 miles per gallon and the other guy only gets 18 MPG. How many fall into that trap?
Since there is no DJ college or reference organization to tell you if your candidate has the skill, you have to do your homework and check out each business. A lot of DJs get started by printing business cards, and putting an ad in the local newspaper. Sure, there are organizations that many DJs join, but it's as easy as paying your $100 to join, and they recommend you... bahhh. Too many fledgling and unskilled DJs pony up the cash to get the endorsement. Too bad, the world works this way. I've heard brides say, after the fact: "if only I'd have known".
You've heard the horror stories. "The DJ screwed everything up". "He was hitting on the bridesmaids all night". "He didn't play the songs I asked him to play". "He got the introductions wrong... or didn't do the introduction". "We couldn't hear the music". The list goes on and on... but that's what happens sometimes when you hire the cheapest bid. Since your wedding is considered one of the most important days of your life together, you need to consider how you're going to feel about it once it's over and a memory. Was it the "fairy tale" dream you had envisioned since you were a little girl, or the lowest bid disaster that all of your guests will talk about for years?
Lets begin the journey of selecting the best DJ for you (based on my 26 years in the industry). There is a list of things to consider, before turning the success of your special day over to a novice. Here are some of them (and, I'll address the issues one by one after the list, so you can avoid some of the pitfalls):
How long has this DJ been in business?
Does this DJ have insurance?
Does he/she have back up gear?
Is his/her music library legal?
Does this DJ have a web site?
Are there any venues that will recommend this DJ?
Does this DJ have pictures or videos from past engagements?
Has this DJ taken any training, or a member of an organization of peers?
Does her/she keep up with current trends?
Does this DJ have a legal contract?
Lets' start with your budget. Far too many brides don't designate the proper amount of their budget, in order to hire the right service (on any vendor... not just DJs). I hear brides all the time ask if they can have a wedding on a $5000 budget. Sure, but don't expect to get the same services that a bride who pays the National average gets at her wedding. About $35,000 is the average amount spent on weddings nationally. Anything less, and you'll have to make serious cuts somewhere. I'd love to drive a Porche, but can I get a new one for $5000? Of course not! You'll have to lower your expectations, and be realistic!
There was a national survey done by a notable wedding magazine, asking brides about their entertainment. Over 80% said they would have spent more on their entertainment, had they known the outcome, after the fact. Too late now!
So, let's address the above considerations
1) How long has your DJ been doing this? Anything less than two years, you're dealing with a beginner. Beginners make mistakes; forget things; or do it wrong. While that isn't necessarily bad, be prepared for it. New vendors just haven't run into every situation yet, and things always go wrong at a wedding. They need to learn to adapt.
2) Insurance is a must when performing with high tech and heavy equipment. What happens if someone trips over a speaker of stumbles into the controls? Without insurance, the bride pays for the damages. Liability insurance costs a lot of money. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
3) Without back up gear, your DJ is out of luck if something fails to operate properly. A skilled , seasoned DJ, can always get the performance going again. Craigslist DJs... not so much.
4) Any DJ who steals music, is a thief. Do you want a thief working for you at your wedding? If you hire this DJ, you are also a thief. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky? Enough said!
5) While a professional web site, doesn't guarantee a quality performance, it does show that this DJ is committed to the profession. A professional web site, shows the public that this DJ is striving for quality and commitment to the customer. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
6-7) Find out if your venue can recommend this DJ. Every venue on the planet wats you to talk about the amazing night you had (it's good for business). Hire a poor quality DJ, and that concept goes out the window. Check references, Google, or Yahoo and YouTube for past videos, and look at pictures of his/her work.
8) Find out if your DJ is a member of any fraternal organizations. Ask about training and attendance at professional seminars. Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
9) DJs who are committed, find out about current trends in the industry. Did you know that mp3 music is just as good or better than CDs? Organized play lists on a professional computer can arrange music in seconds, and doesn't have pauses between songs. Does your DJ know about "room enhancement" lighting. It's all the rage right now. It colors your room in a wash of lights that can be choreographed to the music. It's expensive! Amateurs don't care to spend the extra money. Are you feeling lucky?
10) If your DJ doesn't have a legal and binding contract, you're dealing with an amateur. A legal contract, that is easy to read and understand, protects everyone involved.
As I said above... if you don't do your homework, you're going to make a big mistake. Be sure to type your DJs's name and business into search engines to read all about their service. Check: YouTube, Twitter; Facebook; Google; Yahoo and every other means at your disposal. If you're looking for the cheapest bid... well, good luck!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
"Doing Your Homework"
Your wedding budget—Let’s be REALISTIC!
This information is aimed at the brides who are frequenting the wedding boards with budgets and DIY projects for their special day. Go to any of the bridal and wedding boards, and you’ll see the overwhelming number of brides who are planning their wedding, many of whom have extremely unrealistic expectations for their special day. Here’s what I mean:
Sally from Connecticut wants to DIY her wedding and has a $5000 total budget. She wants her reception at the local hotel reception room, and has invited 200 of her closest friends and family. She expects the hotel staff to do a buffet serving with 40 round tables, covered with white table clothes, and she’d like music for 5 hours with a dance floor, two bartenders and a keg of beer. Sally wanted two choices of meat, vegetables and dessert. Do you see any problems yet?
Yuppp! Sally is already $10,000 over budget, and she hasn’t even started her DIY projects. Let’s see… Sally had the following “wants” for her fairytale dream day: Flowers on every table, photography of the wedding and reception, soft dinner music with dance music later on. Wedding party arrival at the reception in a white stretch limo, room décor lighting, covered chairs and colored ribbons, ostrich feather centerpieces, and a photo montage of her and her FH while they are dating and falling in love. Don’t forget the rings, wedding dress, tux, cake, officiant, bridesmaids gifts, makeup, invitations, stationary, wedding album, napkins, candles, hairspray, lipstick, dress train, etc etc etc… See where this is going?
The national average for a “normal” run of the mill wedding in the US is over $35,000. Sally is going to have to do some SERIOUS DIY, to pull this off. So, where does Sally begin? Being “realistic” is a good starting point so that Sally isn’t “disappointed” with the outcome of her “dream day”. Sally has been dreaming about this day, since she was a little girl, and that “picture” in her head is what she wants! Sally… get ready for a “brick to the forehead” realization of what your actually going to get for $5000.
First, Sally needs to sit down about a year and a half (or more) before her wedding, and start planning with a notebook of paper. First write down “MUSTS” and then “WANTS”. You see, Sally has been doing this all wrong from the beginning. She started with her total budget, then tried to plug each of her “musts & wants” into the total pie chart. Can’t be done that way! Sally needs to consider a LOT of other aspects first, then come up with a “total budget”. She needs to “DO HER HOMEWORK”!
First and foremost, Sally needs to know how many people she wants to invite. The difference between 100 people and 200 is substantial. Unless Sally and her “entourage” are cooking fried chicken and potatoes and baking her own cake, she better calculate at least $50 for every guest sitting down for dinner. Venues charge for every plate, and charge anywhere between $50 to $100 for each guest (and sometimes more). Some of the major exquisite venues get a lot more. So, how does Sally save money on food? Can she use the venue kitchen, herself? Can she cater the food with family contributions? Does she need to hold her reception at a hotel, or would a church basement work? How about her back yard? Will Sally use paper plates or white china?
OK, so Sally has narrowed her invite list to 100 guests. At $50 per plate, this will cost $5000 (there goes the budget). She has reduced her brides maids list to 3 of her closest friends. She’s holding her reception in the back room of the local VFW, and she gets to use the kitchen as long as it’s completely cleaned and all dishes are put away. The VFW will sell her the first keg at cost, but will charge extra for additional kegs, and the liquor is at cost, but Sally needs to pay for the bartender. Sally has elected the “closed bar” so she won’t have to pay for drinks (not so many folks will drink and will probably party less with a closed bar). Who will Sally have to start the cooking in the kitchen, and be in charge? Mom, or Grandma? Will they miss all the fun of the “party” if they are spending all night back in the kitchen? Who will decorate, and are “dollar store” decorations going to be OK? Did Sally do her homework? What’s the total cost of this DIY project? Add it to the list.
Will aunt Betty bake a cake for Sally, and will Uncle Henry drive the wedding party to the reception in his Cadillac (two trips or more)? Are the tables going to be covered with linen tablecloths or will bed sheets, cut in half, do the job? Is Sally going to hire a professional photographer for the whole day, or just for the wedding… or will Sally put disposable cameras on every table (hope there are not too many pictures of little Billy making faces and throwing up, or cousin Sarah dancing on the table after too many beers). Did Sally do her homework on this DIY project? What’s the total cost of this DIY project? Add it to the list.
OK, so Sally’s FH went to college with his BFF, Ben, who happens to know how to DJ some tunes. Will he play from his iPod Will the “pause” between every song be a “party kill” for the dance? Are the home stereo speakers loud enough to 100 folks in the back room? Will Ben play his favorite music (Country Western) or dance music for everyone to get up and party to? Will Ben spend the night watching the music so no one sneaks in to play their favorite song, somewhere on the iPod, and will Ben make announcements all night or announce the wedding party on time… or was he out having a cigarette at “that moment”? Did Sally do her homework for this DIY project? What’s the total cost of this DIY project? Add it to the list.
Did Sally purchase her dress on e-bay, and have it altered by her sister Louise who is attending a sewing class? Did she print her STD’s on the home computer, and PhotoShop out the image of the old BF on her favorite Disneyland picture? Did she remember to hand address each invitation and put a return stamp on every RSVP? Did Sally do her homework for this DIY project? What’s the total cost of this DIY project? Add it to the list.
All right, so you are probably getting my point in all of this. Did Sally do her homework, and address each and every detail of the aspects of her DIY wedding? Is everything covered? Sally WILL save a lot of money doing it all herself, or having friends and family help. But, has she prepared for all of the contingencies? Are the details covered, and did she plan events in the right order, with the proper steps? If she did her homework, then this event will save her tons of money, but what was all of her time and effort worth? Did Sally bring her $35,000 wedding down to $5000? Will her guests care that the flowers were from Kmart and put in dollar store vases? Will they even notice? Will anyone care that the cake came from isle 9 at Walmart? Will they notice? Does Sally care, or does she want to sit back and relax, and hire it done? All things to consider!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Time to re-visit the DIY bride mentality...
Ladies (and a few of you gentleman)... I have been in the industry for over 26 years, and have lots of opinions and comments regarding the DIY bride. And, before you jump down my throat, yes I am opinionated. My opinions are based on all of those 26 years of experience, and I am going to give you my thoughts, that are based on what I've seen and experienced. My motivation is to HELP you make wise decisions. I've been a member of many entertainment chat boards, DJ boards and my own entertainment chat site. Some of these sites include several bridal chat boards, filled with perspective brides and grooms. I feel safe in saying that I've seen and heard it all.
First... yes, you can have a successful DIY event. Now, having said that, you MUST know some of the following facts in order to "pull off" a successful wedding reception. I have read thousands of posts and threads from brides who talk about their DIY event, and most don't really know the first thing about accomplishing a successful event. I've made the following comment about a hundred times on the chat boards: "You must do your homework".
What does that mean, you ask? For example... let's say your aunt Betty knows how to arrange flowers. OK, so she worked at Walmart in the gift department and can put flowers in a vase with some credibility. So you have your florist for the reception. If aunt Betty is going to pick up all the flowers and vases, and arrange them, then put them all on the tables at your reception, so that they look just like a professional florist product, then you have pulled off a successful "flower DIY". Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Here are my concerns: Aunt Betty must make sure to pick up all the flowers, in all the colors you desire, at the proper time, so they don't wilt. She needs to arrange them properly and cut the stems just so, so that they retain water. The arrangements need to be balanced, and pretty before being placed on the tables. On and on and on... and that's only with flowers and aunt Betty.
Each of the areas of your wedding need to have this much of your concern, in order to pull it off. Food, transportation, venue, invitations, decorating, photography, music, cake, dress, hair and makeup and on and on. Each of your DIY "people" need to know SOMETHING about each area of their endeavor, in order to pull it off. Is cousin Bob going to shoot pictures with his "Hasselblad" or does he have a point and shoot K-mart camera? OK, so he has a HD Canon, and a couple of cool pictures in his album. Is that good enough for you? Are disposable cameras on every table, enough to pick up the slack? Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Is you FH's, best friend, who was the house DJ at their college fraternity, going to "spin" for your reception? Does he have a good library of tunes? What equipment will he use. Home stereo gear is not what will provide adequate sound to more than 40 to 50 people in a small room. Does he know that? Were you thinking of using an iPod instead? Does your homework include making sure the tunes on this iPod will have dancing music that all of your guests will enjoy... of just your favorite country songs? Will you have someone who will keep an eye on the iPod, so all of your guests don't try to cue up their favorite song while you're not looking? What about the 3 second pause between each song, or the order of the play list.
So many brides comment on the "super" discount they got from their BFFs brother who used to DJ, so they don't need a "real DJ" for this reception. Guess what... you DO have a real DJ, but maybe one who doesn't have any skills, knowledge or cares about giving you the best reception possible at the super price. I hear from brides all the time who say: "we're getting a really great DJ for $400", and they think that's the norm. It's not - you're either getting a gift from someone who knows the business, or you're getting an amateur, who may very well ruin your event. This doesn't just apply to DJs, mind you. This applies to each vendor or vendor "stand in" you are considering for this "memory" you are producing. Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Yes, you are the “producer” (event coordinator) in a movie (so to speak). You are running the show, and need to surround yourself with "talent" who can help you “pull off” this event (have I said that before?). You as the producer need to appoint a "director" to tell everyone where to take their places, and when the "action" phrase is called out, will roll each scene the way you want. If you've rehearsed beforehand, then your odds of pulling it off greatly increase. Have you “done your homework”? Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
I know most of the brides reading this have thought about this "fairytale dream" since they were a little girl. They want their "Prince Charming" to ride in and sweep them off their feet and live happily ever after. Far too many brides expect this fairytale to come at a MUCH cheaper price tag than fits with reality. I always tell brides to "be realistic" in their expectations. In this economy, that "fairytale" will cost in the neighborhood of 40 grand ($40,000). Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later. So, if you have a budget of $5000, the image in your head will need to be adjusted. Sorry that statement is so blunt... but it's reality.
The only way to cut costs, is to alter your dream, to something more realistic. Cut the number of guests, lower the quality of food and/or drinks. Hold your event in the local VFW or church basement (or your back yard). Do your DIY homework. I feel so bad when I ask a bride to come back to the wedding chat boards, with the results of their $5000 wedding, and they never show up again... I think there's a reason for that!
First... yes, you can have a successful DIY event. Now, having said that, you MUST know some of the following facts in order to "pull off" a successful wedding reception. I have read thousands of posts and threads from brides who talk about their DIY event, and most don't really know the first thing about accomplishing a successful event. I've made the following comment about a hundred times on the chat boards: "You must do your homework".
What does that mean, you ask? For example... let's say your aunt Betty knows how to arrange flowers. OK, so she worked at Walmart in the gift department and can put flowers in a vase with some credibility. So you have your florist for the reception. If aunt Betty is going to pick up all the flowers and vases, and arrange them, then put them all on the tables at your reception, so that they look just like a professional florist product, then you have pulled off a successful "flower DIY". Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Here are my concerns: Aunt Betty must make sure to pick up all the flowers, in all the colors you desire, at the proper time, so they don't wilt. She needs to arrange them properly and cut the stems just so, so that they retain water. The arrangements need to be balanced, and pretty before being placed on the tables. On and on and on... and that's only with flowers and aunt Betty.
Each of the areas of your wedding need to have this much of your concern, in order to pull it off. Food, transportation, venue, invitations, decorating, photography, music, cake, dress, hair and makeup and on and on. Each of your DIY "people" need to know SOMETHING about each area of their endeavor, in order to pull it off. Is cousin Bob going to shoot pictures with his "Hasselblad" or does he have a point and shoot K-mart camera? OK, so he has a HD Canon, and a couple of cool pictures in his album. Is that good enough for you? Are disposable cameras on every table, enough to pick up the slack? Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Is you FH's, best friend, who was the house DJ at their college fraternity, going to "spin" for your reception? Does he have a good library of tunes? What equipment will he use. Home stereo gear is not what will provide adequate sound to more than 40 to 50 people in a small room. Does he know that? Were you thinking of using an iPod instead? Does your homework include making sure the tunes on this iPod will have dancing music that all of your guests will enjoy... of just your favorite country songs? Will you have someone who will keep an eye on the iPod, so all of your guests don't try to cue up their favorite song while you're not looking? What about the 3 second pause between each song, or the order of the play list.
So many brides comment on the "super" discount they got from their BFFs brother who used to DJ, so they don't need a "real DJ" for this reception. Guess what... you DO have a real DJ, but maybe one who doesn't have any skills, knowledge or cares about giving you the best reception possible at the super price. I hear from brides all the time who say: "we're getting a really great DJ for $400", and they think that's the norm. It's not - you're either getting a gift from someone who knows the business, or you're getting an amateur, who may very well ruin your event. This doesn't just apply to DJs, mind you. This applies to each vendor or vendor "stand in" you are considering for this "memory" you are producing. Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Yes, you are the “producer” (event coordinator) in a movie (so to speak). You are running the show, and need to surround yourself with "talent" who can help you “pull off” this event (have I said that before?). You as the producer need to appoint a "director" to tell everyone where to take their places, and when the "action" phrase is called out, will roll each scene the way you want. If you've rehearsed beforehand, then your odds of pulling it off greatly increase. Have you “done your homework”? Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
I know most of the brides reading this have thought about this "fairytale dream" since they were a little girl. They want their "Prince Charming" to ride in and sweep them off their feet and live happily ever after. Far too many brides expect this fairytale to come at a MUCH cheaper price tag than fits with reality. I always tell brides to "be realistic" in their expectations. In this economy, that "fairytale" will cost in the neighborhood of 40 grand ($40,000). Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later. So, if you have a budget of $5000, the image in your head will need to be adjusted. Sorry that statement is so blunt... but it's reality.
The only way to cut costs, is to alter your dream, to something more realistic. Cut the number of guests, lower the quality of food and/or drinks. Hold your event in the local VFW or church basement (or your back yard). Do your DIY homework. I feel so bad when I ask a bride to come back to the wedding chat boards, with the results of their $5000 wedding, and they never show up again... I think there's a reason for that!
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