WEDDINGS…by
the numbers
How does your wedding
reception stack up?
A
Professional DJ provides the positive catalyst for your party. Skillfully
selected and played music will add the important "feel good"
element that helps everyone interact, rekindle relationships faded by time
away and form new friendships. Music is relaxing, exciting, romantic, and
inspirational. Dancing keeps everyone at your event longer and contributes
greatly to the enjoyment of your guests.
Your
choice of entertainer is an insurance policy against bad memories of a
disappointing occasion. Unfortunately, the DJ is often the last service
chosen, after much of the budget is spent on a venue, food and clothing.
This “backward planning” often forces Brides and Party Planners to shop
for the cheapest possible price. Many people will pay far more for a cake,
flowers, or a veggie platter than they will for the most crucial ingredient
of a party - the entertainment. The DJ you select will be taking on the
responsibility of over 80% of the success of your party and often gets paid
less than 3% of the total budget (based on the average $25,000.00 Wedding,
3% would equal $750.00), yet if the DJ is a poor performer or worse,
doesn't show up, your entire investment is wasted, not just that 3%.
$35,000
- average total investment on a wedding in the year 2003
$500-1000
- average cost of hiring a professional reception coordinator
$400
- cost for just the RENTAL of professional DJ equipment (no DJ or
music library included)
$500-1000
- average cost of hiring an experienced professional Master of Ceremonies by
himself/herself (no music experience)
$175
- average cost to hire professional sound & lighting contractors to
set up the equipment and make sure it works
80%
- the average amount of responsibility that the entertainer has in making
your reception successful
24
- average number of hours a full-time DJ/entertainer will work to
research, prepare and perform at your event
18%
- typical gratuity you will invest in on top of the price for the meal
$7.50
- average investment per person for just the veggie platter (broccoli
sticks, carrots, cauliflower, Ranch dressing). At $7.50 per guest x 200
guests = $1500 you will invest on just the veggie platter, or 8% of the
budget!
5
hours in a typical wedding reception, the number of hours you will have to
create wonderful memories that last forever
2
people celebrating their special union of love in front of their family
and friends
#1
fear in America is public speaking (I am not afraid!)
1
year or more usually taken to put together and plan your special day
|
"A
cheap DJ isn’t good…and a good DJ isn’t cheap!"
-- L & M, newlyweds
|
After The Vows...
72%
of all brides surveyed said they would have spent more time choosing their
reception entertainment. Almost 100% said they would have spent more
of their budget on the entertainment.
During wedding planning, brides said
their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and
caterer - reception entertainment is among the least of their
priorities...Yet, within one week after their
reception, 78% said they would have made the entertainment their highest
priority.
When asked, 81% of guests said what
they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
65% of all couples that chose a band to
entertain at their wedding said, if they had it to do over again, would
have chosen a disc jockey.
Entertainment is 5% of your Wedding
Budget, but TWICE as many guests will remember the entertainment more than
anything else.
|
Amount Budgeted
|
Percentage
Remembered |
| Reception Hall
& Catering 37% |
Entertainment
38% |
| Wedding Ring
23% |
Gown 18% |
| Bridal
Attire 10% |
Flowers
16% |
| Photo &
Video 9% |
Reception
Hall & Catering 8% |
| Gown 6% |
|
| Entertainment
5% |
Footnotes...
"The entertainment you choose for your
wedding is responsible for 80% of the event's success and the
memories you will have for the rest of your life," writes Martha
Stewart
"Don't just hire the cheapest
companies! Insist on references and take the time to call other brides
to learn from their experiences. Every year we get complaints from consumers
angry over poor services after they hired the "cheapest"
company," writes Ken Vander Meeden, reporter, Holland (MI) Sentinel
*Sources:
Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002;
Brides Magazine, 2001;
NAME, St. Louis Bride &
Groom.
Final Mark Farrell-Type
rumblings by DJ Marino M. Regalado
© 2003-2006 Ninja Entertainment
Productions, Honolulu, HI.
