Mobile | Dude Walker

Wedding Cost Checklist

Dude Walker — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 16:19:53 +0000

Not long after the excitement of the proposal takes place the sobering question of reality sinks in – “how much does a wedding cost”? (read more…)

The real cost of a wedding is always based on the desired services and anticipated guest count.

Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to be cheap. It simply means that your budget and priorities need to compliment each other to offer you and your guests a party that can be enjoyed.

Adopt a “less is more” philosophy! Rather than hiring 20 things that fail, hire 10 things that really stand out. Many Brides and Grooms get lost in a wedding that is cluttered. Take time, enjoy your guests and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Two simple ways to enjoy your special day and control the costs of your wedding is to:

1: maintain control over your guest list.
2: focus on quality and experience, rather than the lowest price and inferior quality.

How To Properly Build Your Guest list:

Click to Access Budget Calculator

1st: Family

2nd: Friends

3rd: Co-Workers

4th: Acquaintances (if budget and space allows)

Use this simple and handy wedding checklist budget calculator to reference wedding costs and stay on top and in control of your wedding budget.

These forms require Adobe Reader:
Download Free Adobe Reader

Click HERE TO DOWNLOAD
2018 Average Wedding Cost and Wedding Budget Checklist Calculator

The post Wedding Cost Checklist first appeared on Dude Walker.

How Much Do You Charge?

Dude Walker — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 09:11:11 +0000

How Much Do You Charge

How Much Do You Charge?
By Dude Walker

How Much Do You Charge? Perhaps the 5 most dangerous words you can ask any vendor as your initial question, especially entertainment. Date availability, areas of expertise and event length can play a significant role in determining the investment.

How Much Do You Charge has become the question that traps many of those planning a wedding, and setting them up for buyer’s remorse after the hysteria around the wedding subsides. Planning your wedding today is fraught with seemingly endless options. You may find yourself long on want, but short on means. Finding qualified and experienced wedding vendors is very important and needs to be a priority when starting your wedding planning process. There are few areas of your reception that are as important as entertainment, being as music is absolutely vital to the overall success of your reception.

There are some very simple steps that you can take to help turn the wedding bell whoa and woes into WOW’s.

Step 1:

Put yourself into the right frame of mind. When it comes to quality, it can’t be the best if it’s cheaper than the rest. No matter how long you polish a penny you can’t turn it into gold.

Step 2:

Set two budgets.

Budget #1: The Ballpark Budget: Generally speaking around 30% of the bride and groom’s total annual income or around $100 per guest.

Budget #2: The Commitment Budget: Generally speaking your comfort zone. Pick an amount within reason, in reference to your ballpark budget, that you and your fiance can feel good about as you plan your special day. Don’t be scared, but be cautious about exceeding your commitment budget.

⇓ DOWNLOAD ⇓
Sample Wedding Budget Checklist Here

Step 3:

Get your priorities straight. Prioritize your wedding plans by importance. If a wedding dance is not a number one priority to you, go without and consider using that portion of your wedding budget elsewhere. However, if you recognize that entertainment is the lifeblood of your reception, consider prioritizing your budget to reflect your needs. Keep in mind that a hasty decision to hire an under-qualified low priced mobile DJ, in reality, ends up costing you more when they fail to connect with your guests and your guests end up wandering off or leaving early.

Step 4:

Set up a separate account for your wedding. It will help you keep an eye on costs and assure you that you only use those funds for your wedding purchases.

Step 5:

Choose your wedding date and reserve your church or reception site immediately. Wedding costs can vary greatly depending on the time of year they occur.

Step 6:

Get control of your guest list. Build a guest list of family and friends that are closest to you and work your way out to your outer circle friends and co-workers who might not make the guest list cut if cutbacks need to be made. Keep a close eye on your commitment budget. Difficult as it may be, you may find it necessary to trim the guest list or go without to stay on budget. Sacrificing quality for quantity is one of the quickest ways to experience wedding buyer’s remorse.

Step 7:

Choose wedding entertainment wisely. Make your entertainment selection based on experience and talent first, price second. Be wary of false testimonials and credentials. The wedding industry is filled with impostors that are long on promise and short on delivery. Don’t hire entertainment that is not fully insured and registered with the secretary of state. Insist on meeting in person to interview potential entertainment and require that you get everything in writing.

Step 8:

Know what you want and why. Wedding vendors want your business, however, there are real costs involved in making your dreams come true. There’s nothing wrong with asking to scale back the services offered by the wedding vendor you want if those services don’t fit you or your wedding day. However, not asking guarantees you’ll make the wrong choice by focusing on price associated with things you don’t want or need.

Step 9:

Avoid the iPod, iPad, personal laptop or MP3 Player! There has been a recent trend among today’s couples to load an iPod, iPad, personal laptop or MP3 Player with songs and let that be their wedding entertainment. One thing most of them forget until they are in the midst of a failing DIY reception, is that the entertainer, not the equipment, can make or break your wedding reception. Qualified mobile DJs know that there is little margin for error when reading a room, crowd and dance floor. An iPod, iPad, personal laptop or MP3 Player completely ignores the essence of drawing upon experience of knowing what to play and when to play it to keep your dance floor alive. If your reception is a back yard barbecue without any desires for dancing, then maybe an iPod, iPad, personal laptop or MP3 Player would be for you. But, very few have looked back on the DIY route as a good decision for their reception.

Step 10:

Avoid the friend, friend of a friend, college buddy, roommate, co-worker or relative that thinks they can DJ! Music is subjective, people are judgmental. Trying to save money this way can lead to hard feelings and resentments that can last years, if not a lifetime.

Investing a little bit of time and asking your potential vendors the right questions and basing your decisions on the things that truly matter will go a long way in assuring you that WOW wedding most couples dream of!

Check DJ Pricing & Packages

Dude Walker can be reached at : dudewalker@dudewalker.org

The post How Much Do You Charge? first appeared on Dude Walker.

Check Date Availability

Dude Walker — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 16:04:43 +0000

Use this form to check date & availability.

ATTENTION: HOTMAIL email addresses may not work.

[contact-form-7]

We provide DJ services for all occasions, including these and more:

Anniversary PartiesLip-Sync ContestsBanquetsMiddle School DancesBar Dance PartiesMother Son BanquetsBar-Mitvah PartiesNew Years Eve PartiesBat-Mitvah PartiesPicnicsBeach PartiesPrivate EventsBenefitsProm PartiesBirthday PartiesRehearsal DinnersCar ShowsRenewing Vows ReceptionsChristmas PartiesRentalsChurch Dance PartiesResort PartiesCollege PartiesRetirement PartiesCommunity Event PartiesRetreatsCompany PartiesReunion PartiesConventionsSadie Hawkins PartiesCorporate Event PartiesShop PartiesElementary PartiesSock HopsFall Festival PartiesSorority PartiesFashion Show Sound and LightingSpring Festival PartiesFather Daugther BanquetsStaff PartiesFoam PartiesStreet Dance PartiesFormal DancesSummer Festival PartiesFraternity PartiesSweet Sixteen PartiesFundraisersSweetheart BallsGirl Scout PartiesTeen Dance PartiesGraduation PartiesValentine Dance PartiesGrand OpeningsVideo Dance PartiesGreek Event PartiesWedding ReceptionsH.S. DancesWeddingsHalloween PartiesWinter Festival PartiesHigh School DancesWinter FormalsHomecomingsYouth Gathering PartiesJR H.S. Dances

Anniversaries

Karaoke

The post Check Date Availability first appeared on Dude Walker.

Instant DJ Price Checker

Dude Walker — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 16:03:27 +0000

How much does a wedding DJ cost? Use our handy Instant DJ Price Checker to get an instant wedding DJ rate quote within two clicks.Here’s the best part! You don’t have to create an account to view our pricing.

** NOTE: ECONOMY PACKAGE DISCONTINUED **

Click 1: How long will your wedding dance be?

Your first question shouldn’t be: How much do you charge?

It should be: Are you available for my wedding date?

If the DJ calendar is full, Wedding DJ price doesn’t matter, time to move on.

However, we understand everyone is working with a wedding budget.

Wedding planning can be a hassle; calling countless wedding djs, perusing DJ websites trying to figure out the average cost of a Wedding DJ.

Wedding Tip:

When shopping for a wedding DJ and advice on price, remember, DJs charge a rate that reflects their quality and quote rates that reflect their time and services invoved based on their experience.

You can’t be the best, if you’re cheaper than the rest!

The post Instant DJ Price Checker first appeared on Dude Walker.

School DJ Price Checker

Dude Walker — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 16:02:33 +0000

How much does a High School DJ cost? Use our handy Instant DJ Price Checker to get an instant High School DJ rate quote within two clicks.

Here’s the best part! You don’t have to create an account to view our pricing.

Click 1: How long will your High School dance be?

Check Another Event Length

Your first question shouldn’t be: How much do you charge?

It should be: Are you available for our homecoming or prom date…?

If the DJ calendar is full, DJ price doesn’t matter, time to move on.

However, we understand everyone is working with a budget.

High School Dance planning can be a hassle; calling countless djs, perusing DJ websites trying to figure out the average cost of a High School DJ.

High School DJ Tip:

When shopping for a High School DJ and advice on price, remember, DJs charge a rate that reflects their quality and quote rates that reflect their time and services involved based on their experience.

You can’t be the best, if you’re cheaper than the rest!

The post School DJ Price Checker first appeared on Dude Walker.