How much does a wedding DJ cost?
What does a wedding DJ cost in 2026?
My Evening wedding DJ package starts from £1,150 for up to five hours of music, and All-day starts from £1,750. UK guides vary: Hitched says DJs start at around £500 for the evening, while Bridebook gives £500 to £2,000 or more. Everything else, including live sax, extra hours, extra lighting and travel, is ask for a quote.
What do UK wedding DJs typically charge?
There is no single national price, and the published guides don't agree. Here is what four of them say, in their own words.
- Hitched says you'll find some DJs starting at around £500 for the evening, and that experienced, full-time wedding DJs usually cost £750 to £1,250.
- Bridebook says a professional wedding DJ typically costs £500 to £2,000 or more. Its UK Wedding Report puts average spend on reception music at £1,061.
- Weddings Hub gives £350 to £800 for a four to five-hour evening set, and £600 to £1,200 for a full day.
- FixTheMusic puts its premium DJ tier at £1,400 to £2,200 or more, and DJ plus live performers at £1,600 to £5,000 or more.
These are broad national figures. They mix part-time and full-time DJs, and they don't usually include the extras that matter at a luxury venue, such as wireless day sound or uplighting. Use them as a guide, then compare what each quote actually includes.
What do you get at each price level?
The difference between a cheap quote and a professional one is rarely the music alone. It's everything around it.
Budget, professional and luxury
At the lower end you may be booking someone part-time. That can work, but check the basics: backup equipment, public liability insurance and PAT-tested kit. Your venue may ask to see them.
A professional DJ brings proper sound and lighting, a contract, and a plan agreed with you before the day. A luxury service goes further. The setup is designed to suit the room, the music is planned around your timings, and the person behind the decks has the experience to read a high-end crowd.
I hold full Public Liability Insurance and all relevant equipment is PAT tested. I can send the certificates straight to your venue, and they're also on my FAQ page.
How much does ARDJ charge?
There are two packages. Both include a music consultation. Anything you add is ask for a quote.
| Package | Price | Music | What's included | Add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening | From £1,150 | Up to 5 hours, until midnight | Music consultation, FBT Ventis sound system, DJ booth, intelligent & programmed lighting, 2 wireless LED strip lights | DJ x Sax, upgraded lighting (10 wireless uplighters), extra hours: ask for a quote |
| All-day | From £1,750 | Ceremony, drinks, wedding breakfast, cocktail hour and evening party | Everything for the evening, plus wireless day sound, wireless microphone for speeches and 10 wireless uplighters | DJ x Sax, extra hours: ask for a quote |
| DJ x Sax | Ask for a quote | Usually 3 × 30-minute or 2 × 45-minute sax sets | A live saxophonist playing alongside the DJ | Add to Evening or All-day |
Prices and inclusions from /wedding-dj-cotswolds, /dj-sax and /faq. A 20% deposit secures your date.
Evening Wedding Package
For couples who already have the daytime music covered. It's built around the main party, from the first dance to the final song.
All Day Wedding Package
One trusted supplier for the whole day, with a fully wireless setup for ceremonies, gardens, courtyards and terraces.
What affects the cost of a wedding DJ?
Every quote I send is based on your actual day. These are the things that move it.
- Date and season. Peak-season Saturdays are in highest demand, and I'm getting booked up two to three years ahead.
- How much of the day you need. Evening only, or ceremony to last song.
- Venue access and setup. Access times vary by venue, and I agree them with your venue before the day.
- Sound limiters and room layout. Some venues control volume or where kit can go, which shapes the setup.
- Travel. There's no travel charge anywhere in Gloucestershire. Elsewhere, including Oxfordshire, ask for a quote.
- Finish time and extra hours. The Evening package runs until midnight. Extra hours can be added: ask for a quote.
- Add-ons. Live sax and upgraded lighting. Ask for a quote.
Evening or all-day: which is better value?
If your venue or a musician already covers the ceremony and dinner, Evening is the simple choice. You get up to five hours of the main party with full sound and lighting.
All-day costs more, but it replaces separate playlists, venue systems and multiple setups with one person. It includes wireless day sound, a microphone for speeches and the 10 wireless uplighters, which are an add-on with Evening.
DJ, live band, or DJ x Sax?
A DJ is usually the more affordable choice. Bridebook puts a live wedding band at £1,500 to £3,000 or more. Weddings Hub gives £1,500 to £4,000. A DJ plays continuously, can play almost anything and takes up less space.
A band gives you a live performance, but plays in sets with breaks. DJ x Sax sits between the two: the music keeps flowing, and a saxophonist improvises over chosen tracks for live moments on the dance floor. House, disco, funk and Ibiza classics suit it best.
What hidden costs should I check in a quote?
When you compare quotes, ask each supplier the same questions.
- Is travel included, and is accommodation needed for a late finish?
- What happens if you want to run past the agreed finish time?
- When can the supplier get into the room, and is that included?
- Are lighting, uplighters and a speeches microphone included?
- Does the supplier hold the public liability insurance and PAT testing your venue asks for?
- What deposit is needed, and when is the balance due?
For my packages, the inclusions are listed above. There's no travel charge in Gloucestershire. Travel elsewhere, extra time and add-ons are quoted clearly at the enquiry stage, before you book.
What do I get for my money?
I'm Alistair Rutherford, a resident DJ at Soho Farmhouse and at The Fox at Oddington, with over a decade of professional experience at weddings, private parties and events across the UK and abroad. I'm rated 5.0 from 123 Google reviews.
My sets are open-format and properly mixed. I move through soul, disco, house, R&B, pop and classic party tracks, and tailor the music to the crowd, the venue and the moment.
Every couple who books gets their own private music planning portal. You add songs, moments and timings at your own pace, choose your first dance, set songs, must-plays and do-not-plays, and I see every update as you make it. You can send guests a QR code or link for requests, and choose which ones are accepted.
How far ahead should I book a wedding DJ?
As early as you can. I'm getting booked up two to three years ahead, especially for peak-season Saturdays. Once your venue and date are confirmed, it's worth getting in touch.
A 20% deposit secures your date, and the balance is due around four weeks before the wedding.
What else do couples ask about DJ costs?
How much does a wedding DJ cost in the UK?
Published guides vary. Hitched says prices start at around £500 for the evening, and Bridebook gives £500 to £2,000 or more. My Evening package starts from £1,150 and All-day from £1,750.
How much is a DJ for 5 hours?
Most evening packages cover four to five hours. My Evening package includes up to five hours of music, finishing at midnight, from £1,150. Extra hours can be added: ask for a quote.
Is a DJ cheaper than a band?
Usually, yes. Bridebook puts a live wedding band at £1,500 to £3,000 or more, against £500 to £2,000 or more for a DJ. A DJ also plays all evening without set breaks.
How much does a DJ and sax cost?
Live sax is an add-on to my Evening or All-day package. Ask for a quote with your date. FixTheMusic lists DJ plus live acts at £1,600 to £5,000 or more.
Is an all-day DJ worth it?
If you want one person looking after the music from ceremony to last song, yes. My All-day package adds wireless day sound, a microphone for speeches and 10 wireless uplighters.
Do wedding DJs charge for travel?
Many do. I don't charge travel anywhere in Gloucestershire. For venues elsewhere, including Oxfordshire, ask for a quote.
How far in advance should I book a wedding DJ?
As early as you can. I'm getting booked up two to three years ahead, so get in touch once your venue and date are secured.
How do we secure our date?
A 20% deposit secures your date. The balance is due around four weeks before the wedding.
More answers in the general FAQ.
Ready for a quote?
Send me your date and venue. I'll confirm whether I'm free and send a tailored quote for the Evening or All-day package, plus anything you'd like to add.
or email Hello@ARDJ.co.uk · Instagram @A.Rutherford.DJ
Planning a wedding at one of these venues?
Each guide covers the room, the finish time and how I set up.