[newbride2be]

Here is the deal...we were going to have destination wedding but decided on local. Originally just MOH and BM but that seems lame since now we will have ceremony here as well..so decided 3 others per side. One attendant is his cousin who is in band and is also a DJ. Groom wants him to DJ and play in band so we have both, but he is a groomsmen.I love his band and they are great but all will be guests at wedding/reception as well. How should we handle this? Obviously this will save us tons but what do we do w/bridal party dance/etc. Should we just keep it MOH/BM instead?Thank you!

[The Video Pros]

It is not polite to ask someone who will be your guest to provide a service as well, and then not pay them. Family members should be allowed to help you celebrate the moment, not work during the entire event. Being a DJ during a wedding reception is time consuming, and requires very good coordination to ensure all flows smoothly, announcements are made at the proper time, and the music continuity is not lost. Good DJ = GREAT MEMORIES!

Case in point: My father-in-law was a master plumber and didn't mind helping friends or family with fixing their roof or doing carpentary work. But, to ask him to donate his livelihood service made him very angry.

Most wedding budgets on the average allocate very little toward their entertainment, barely 5% of total costs. Statistics show that 40% is spent on food and beverage. Consider cutting back on the cost of your cake or other area, and hire a DJ who can provide MC services as well.

You will not "save tons" by having your cousin DJ for you. Most good DJs can be hired from $500 to $1,500, depending on the services you need, and worth every penny you spend.