What size should a wedding cake be?

A 3-tier cake (10, 8, 6 inches) usually serves 75–100 guests. Larger weddings may need more tiers or sheet cakes.

How much does a wedding dessert table cost?

On average, dessert tables cost $3–$8 per guest depending on desserts and display setup.

What desserts are good alternatives to cake?

Cupcakes, donuts, pies, cookies, and mini tarts are fun, affordable alternatives to a traditional wedding cake.

What’s the difference between a last dance and an exit song?

The last dance is the final song on the dance floor. The exit song plays as you leave or during a sparkler or tunnel send-off. They can be the same or different.

Should we go upbeat or slow for the exit?

An upbeat song creates a big sing-along, high-energy goodbye. A slow song creates a romantic spotlight moment. Choose the vibe you want captured in your photos and video.

How long should the exit song be?

Aim for 3–4 minutes. Your DJ can start at the chorus and fade at the perfect time so it feels seamless.

Can the DJ handle clean edits and timing?

Yes. Professional DJs use clean versions, cue guests, and coordinate timing with photographers and planners so the exit feels flawless.

How much should we budget for a wedding DJ?

National averages typically range from $1,000–$1,700 depending on the source. In Washington, DC, couples commonly invest $1,600–$2,200 for full-day coverage on peak dates. Always compare all-in quotes for a fair match.

Does ceremony audio cost extra?

Usually yes. Ceremony sound often requires a second system, wireless microphones, and additional setup time. Expect an add-on of about $300–$600.

Why do big venues or multiple rooms cost more?

Larger spaces or split-room layouts may require extra speakers, microphones, cabling, or an additional system for cocktail hour. More coverage means more gear, setup time, and labor.

What hidden wedding DJ costs should we watch for?

Common add-ons include overtime, travel/mileage, extra systems for additional rooms, dance lighting or uplighting, photo booth services, and peak-season premiums. Ask for a line-item breakdown.

What’s included in professional DJ pricing?

Typically: ceremony audio, cocktail-hour system, reception system, wireless mics for toasts, basic dance lighting, setup/teardown, backup equipment, and planning/prep (timeline review, music pulls, coordination).

Are wedding DJ prices negotiable?

Pros may adjust based on hours or off-peak dates, but established companies usually maintain set pricing to reflect labor, experience, and reliability.

What’s the difference between a cheap DJ and a professional DJ?

Lower-cost DJs may lack backup gear, insurance, MC skills, or timeline management. Professionals bring reliability, polished MC work, and the experience to keep energy and flow on track.

Do DJs charge for setup and teardown?

Most professionals include setup and teardown in their quotes. If it’s not specified, request that it be detailed in writing.

Do DJs bring their own lights?

Basic dance-floor lighting is often included. Uplighting or specialty effects are usually available as add-ons.

How do travel fees work for DJs?

Many DJs include travel within a local radius (e.g., 30–50 miles). Beyond that, mileage or flat travel fees may apply; confirm the details in your quote.

How far in advance should we book our DJ?

Peak Saturdays can book 12–18 months ahead. If you want better availability or pricing, consider Fridays, Sundays, or off-season dates.

How can we save on DJ costs without cutting corners?

Consider off-peak dates, trim coverage hours if your timeline allows, and ask about package pricing when bundling services like DJ plus lighting.

DC Wedding Planning - 7 Steps To Choose Your Vendors

Wedding ceremony in black and white in Washington DC.

Peak DC Wedding Planning Season

January 1st marks not only the start of a new year, for those of us in the wedding industry, but it also marks peak inquiry season. Forty percent of all engagements occur between Thanksgiving and New Years Day so it stands to reason that this would also be when couples begin to search for their Washington DC wedding venues and vendors.

Like virtually everything else, DC wedding planning has been impacted by Covid-19. Large numbers of weddings that were planned for 2020 were rescheduled for 2021. This means vendor calendars are much fuller than they would typically be in a “normal” season. I know of many venues that have no Saturday’s available for 2021 and have a limited number of 2022 dates left.

How to make the final decision?

When choosing DC wedding vendors, you might be struggling with how to make the final decision. Perhaps you’re torn over several vendors, or maybe just between two. Below are my top tips to help you hire the right wedding vendors for your day.

Get A Quick Quote!

Meet With Your Narrowed List.

After you’ve contacted your potential vendors, schedule consultations with your narrowed selections. This year that likely means a Zoom meeting or a phone call. Email isn’t as efficient and you’ll never get to know these wonderful people only via text. As a professional, I couldn’t recommend this step more.

Consider the Connection

How well did you click with each vendor? Did you hit it off with one and not as much the others? Were you comfortable with them?

Think of it like dating. Who would you want to see again?

As I mentioned earlier, this step doesn’t matter so much with rentals and vendor categories that you wouldn’t interact with much during the planning process of the wedding day.

This is incredibly important with your photographer, planner, and all of the other vendors who you’ll spend a lot of time with for your wedding. It’s vital that that connection is there, as it puts you at ease on your day.

Fall wedding in the District of Columbia.

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Discern Their Value

How much value does each vendor provide?

Don’t just consider their cost and services on paper. Look a little deeper at exactly what each vendor can do for you. Making you feel 100% at ease is value in itself.

Value is perceived differently by everyone, so find out what’s valuable to you and who will provide the most of it for your wedding.

Discuss Your Budget

Obviously, budgets are important and you don’t want to go over-budget too much or at all. Having said that, be prepared to shift the budget or expand it slightly for a vendor you love.

If that means you allocate 2% more to your DC wedding DJ and you take away the wedding favors (which, let’s be honest, are rarely taken home by guests), then do it!

You’re not limited to the formulaic budgets set by leading wedding resources. Customize it to reflect what’s most important to you and be willing to tweak it during your booking process.

One thing to keep in mind about wedding budget websites is that the budget allocations listed are averages. Average venue cost, average photographer cost, average floral cost, etc. If you are not serving rail brand alcohol, expect bar cost to be higher. The same applies to your venue, catering menu, etc.

Be prepared to shift those numbers to get the vendors and services that mean the most to you. You’ll be happy you didn’t settle for average on the important aspects of your Washington DC wedding.