How to Make Your Wedding Music and DJ More Affordable

Someone needs to hear this: Please don't DJ your own wedding to save money. No matter how many saves your public playlists have on Spotify, it pays to have a pro who knows what they're doing. Just look for an affordable wedding DJ or live band, or work with a pricier pro to determine appropriate ways to save money on your wedding music. (Note: None of these methods include negotiating the price outright—rates are rates for a reason.)

We know it's tough to allocate your budget and plan an affordable wedding. According to the 2023 The Knot Real Weddings Study, 72% of couples had a wedding DJ, 32% had musicians and 13% had a live band. Combining those stats shows that many couples hired multiple forms of wedding music—and according to the 2024 The Knot Couples Finance and Budgeting Study, only 4% of couples are willing to lower their wedding music budget. It's safe to say pros are (and should) be a priority.

"Couples should always hire pro entertainment because there's much more to our job than the actual music," says Scott Arrington, artist and account manager at Murray Hill Talent in Boston, Massachusetts. "Having someone who understands wedding time lines, someone not afraid to take charge in the absence of a coordinator or a wedding planner, is very important. Bands and DJs often keep things on schedule and handle important logistics. They're also the MC, which is necessary to ensure that guests are aware of important moments. And of course, we know our music and we're instrumental in creating the atmosphere you envision." We tapped a handful of pro DJs and wedding musicians to give us some intel on how to make your wedding music more budget friendly. Below, see their tips and tricks to save money.

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1. Ask Your Planner for Recs

Not only is a wedding planner a great resource for connecting you with reputable vendors they've worked with, but they can also guide you through sticky budget situations. They definitely have experience helping couples strategize and source budget-friendly music or an inexpensive DJ for a wedding as well as set spending priorities. If you don't have a planner yet, find one on The Knot Vendor Marketplace before you get too far in the weeds.

2. Pick a Band or DJ—But Not Both

A common misconception is that splitting the reception set between a live band and DJ will always save you cash, but you're better off just choosing one to avoid two sets of setup fees or a similar cost, depending on who you're booking. Note: The average cost of a DJ is generally cheaper compared to a band. "DJs are significantly less expensive," says Arrington. "The DJs we hire travel alone unless the venue is unusually complicated or the crowd is abnormally large. If you'd like a band, certainly just hire the band. They can fill their break time with a great recorded mix of music."

3. Understand What's Included

"When pricing DJs, always ask if everything is included, like tax, setup, breakdown, gratuity and travel," says Arrington. Or better yet, source a DJ that doesn't have hidden fees. "To be quite honest, [extra fees] should be antiquated in our business. If we're giving a price for a certain time frame and service, everything is built in," he says. Although, if you or the venue need the DJ or musician to arrive at your event ahead of their contracted time, you may incur an extra cost. Be up front with your DJ or band as you ask them questions to avoid being surprised with a higher bill.

4. Put Your Budget Blinders On

If you really have a strict amount to spend with no wiggle room, be sure you're not tempted by pros beyond your price range. (Remember on Say Yes to the Dress they wouldn't let brides try on dresses outside their budget? Same idea.) Luckily, you can filter by price (and by genre, if they have sound equipment and more) on The Knot Vendor Marketplace's DJ page. Now, you can focus your attention just on affordable wedding music options and avoid sticker shock.

5. Use The Knot Budget Tool

The Knot's budget tool can of course help you track wedding expenses like a DJ or band, but it can also denote how much you've already paid (among the tool's other capabilities). If you're late to the payments party, you could rack up late fees, which is annoying for both you and your vendors to contend with. Plus, it defeats the purpose of putting in the work to find an affordable wedding DJ.

6. Be Open to the Off Season and Off Days

"The best thing you can do to make things less expensive is consider the off season," says Arrington. "I understand that in somewhere like New England you may not want to, but even April or November will likely earn you a better price than anything in between. If you have a small wedding and you know the majority of your guests could make it work, a Thursday wedding will also be a big draw for most DJs."

7. Ask if Your Musicians Are Multifaceted

If you're having a band at your reception, ask about hiring one or two members for the ceremony. "Because they're already planning to be at your wedding later on, they may charge less than you would pay for a separate ensemble," says Michael Taylor, CEO of Star Talent Inc. in New York, New York. Similarly with DJs, see if you can get a package deal for one to play songs at both your ceremony and cocktail hour. What's more, Arrington says: "If you have an after party and want a DJ for it, ask your band if there's a member who also DJs. This is pretty common and can save some money."

8. Ask if You Can Reduce Your Band's Headcount

If your budget works better for a DJ, but your heart is set on a band instead, see if you can book a portion of a larger ensemble or select a smaller group. In other words, the smaller the band, the fewer people and less equipment you'll need to pay for. It's not always an option, but cutting down your band from 12 pieces to eight or even six musicians and vocalists is an easy way to save on live music. "Depending on how powerful the band is, you may not notice a difference," says Harris Lane, founder of Hank Lane Music and Productions in New York, New York. "There are bands that can work in a five- to six-piece capacity and sound just as great as a 12-piece band," Lane says.

Bonus tip: There's no reason you can't scale down the size for your ceremony music too—instead of a trio or quartet, pick a professional soloist or duo.

9. Understand Your Needs Before You Sign a Contract

"Some couples will forget to think about ceremony needs until they've already booked and signed a contract for the reception," says Arrington. "Consider the full scope of your entertainment needs for the entire event and remember that anything requiring sound is something you can talk to your DJ about."

10. Ask for an Associate

If the DJ or musician you love is squarely out of budget, don't give up just yet. Ask about booking an associate. Oftentimes, great bands and DJs can recommend another person that works for them at a lower price, meaning you get a similar vibe and quality, just not the one most in demand. "I have five associates who work for me with all levels of experience, but who share the same philosophy and have a similar style to mine," says Michael Antonia, founder of The Flashdance in Los Angeles, California. "I work with them regularly to ensure consistency."

You can also do a little of both. "The DJ may have an understudy who could set up the sound, and play the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner, while the main DJ just comes for the dancing or after-party," says Antonia.

11. Pick the Right Package

"Ask if the DJ company has different pricing packages," says Arrington. Know what's included and what you might be able to go without as you hire a wedding DJ. "A ceremony sound system can be an added expense, so some couples will have a friend run music for that and if the wedding is small enough, they can forgo microphones."

12. Check Out Music Showcases

If a band or DJ you're considering posts about a showcase, go. Think of it like a trunk show, but for music. And just like at a trunk show, sometimes attendees get access to special deals or discounts you wouldn't know about otherwise. Not to mention, seeing them in person means you'll get a great sense for not just their music, but their personality and style. "I know I would rather play for someone I see eye to eye with already over somebody who just saw my name and wants me to play music that isn't my specialty," says Antonia.

Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, financial or tax advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your financial and tax advisors about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date and we undertake no responsibility to update. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.