GreatRateDJs

Posts by GreatRateDJs:

Birthday Party DJ

February 25th, 2019

First time in my career being asked to DJ without shoes 🙂 Everyone else was shoeless as well and had a blast, check out this feedback!

Event Date: Saturday, February 23, 2019
Event Location: Redmond
Event Type: Birthday Party
Event Staff: Erik de Klerk

Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
System Appearance: Excellent
Sound Quality: Excellent
Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
Music Selection: Excellent
Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
Lighting Effects: Excellent
Equipment Appearance: Excellent
Overall Customer Service: Excellent
Planning Assistance: Excellent
Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
Overall Performance Rating: Excellent

Additional comments or suggestions?

Great DJ experience!

Name: jana butler

#partydj
#birthdaydj
#birthdaypartydj
#greatratedjs
#seattledj
#affordabledj
#cheapdj
#djreviews
#greatratedjsreviews

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Renton Wedding DJ – Wedding DJ at Renton Community Center

November 6th, 2018

Event Date: Saturday, November 3, 2018
Event Location: Renton Community Center
Event Type: Wedding Ceremony & Reception
Event Staff: Erik de Klerk

Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
Entertainer's Performance: Excellent
Entertainer's Appearance: Excellent
System Appearance: Excellent
Sound Quality: Excellent
Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
Music Selection: Excellent
Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
Lighting Effects: Excellent
Equipment Appearance: Excellent
Overall Customer Service: Excellent
Planning Assistance: Excellent
Entertainer's Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
Overall Performance Rating: Excellent

Is there anything specific we can improve on?



Additional comments or suggestions?

Erik was awesome! he was so engaging and really kept the pace of the event moving smoothly. He was engaging and kept people on the floor and dancing, couldn't have asked for a better DJ!

Would you recommend our service to others? Yes
May we share your comments with others? Yes
May we add you to our list of references? Yes

Name: Nicole Luton

If you are looking for an affordable DJ in Renton for your wedding, look no further. Wedding DJs from Great Rate DJs are truly an affordable option for your wedding at the Renton Community Center in Renton, WA.

Compared to other venues, the Renton Community Center is a well maintained, modern facility that costs less than venues that only target wedding couples. It is centrally located so it’s not far for many local guests, it’s also a quick driving distance from SeaTac airport, it has ample parking and the community center in Renton, WA can accommodate most guest counts small or large. The Renton Community Center also has large glass doors overlooking the Cedar River which can be raised on nice days allowing a continuous indoor/outdoor flow. Even on colder days, the floor to ceiling glass doors can remain closed and still provide a beautiful outdoor landscape.

Our Wedding DJs live in and around Renton and serve all surrounding areas including Tacoma, Kitsap, Bellevue, Federal Way, Renton, Kent, Puyallup, Olympia, etc.

Great Rate DJs Wedding DJs will pack the dance floor and set the tone for your wedding. We offer an updated guide to the best wedding songs of today and all time including wedding reception entrance music ensuring only the best wedding music will be played at your wedding. Hands down the best, affordable DJs in Renton and surrounding areas is through Great Rate DJs. Our DJ’s are familiar with most venues including the Renton Community Center.

If you’re looking to hire an affordable wedding DJ in Renton or surrounding areas, you’ve come to the right place. The best rate on a wedding DJ is definitely with Great Rate DJs serving Kitsap & King County, Puget Sound, Seattle + more. Find your Wedding DJ in or around Renton, WA today by calling 1-877-888-9933 or clicking the QUOTE tab.

Find DJ prices and costs today and learn how to hire an affordable DJ in Renton, Bellevue, Kent, Seattle, Federal Way and surrounding areas on our website or by calling.

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2018 Newlywed Report

March 14th, 2018

2018 Newlywed Report

The most comprehensive snapshot of modern wedding journeys in the U.S. based on data from the largest, most inclusive report of its kind, with insights from nearly 18,000 newlyweds married in 2017.

No two weddings are alike, which is what keeps the wedding industry so fascinating year after year. From celebratory hashtags and social media announcements to mixed-gender wedding parties and the inclusion of local food, it’s no surprise that personalization is the one constant theme. In this year’s Newlywed Report, you’ll notice a continued shift in the traditional wedding season and how couples are relying on technology from the engagement through their wedding day. Planning is also starting earlier than ever before. Based on the largest survey of its kind, WeddingWire gives you the truest look into modern day engagements, ?planning, average cost and more.

Engagement

‘Tis the season for proposals, as nearly 40% of all engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. While 52% of individuals are surprised by the ring, 1 in 3 show their partner photos of the ring and/or style they like. Though the average couple is engaged for 13 months; couples are quick to pick a date – the majority now setting their sights on a Saturday in the fall.

$5000 average cost

Popular Female Ring Styles

74% diamond 53% halo setting 50% 1-2 carats

Top Engagement Dates

Christmas day is the most popular day of the year to pop the question; with Christmas Eve rounding out the top 3.

86% of couples announce their engagement on social media

Where Couples Post the News

76% Facebook
35% Instagram
12% Twitter

Fall is now the most popular season to get married, with roughly 40% of all weddings taking place during these months.

Top 5 Wedding Dates

1 October 7
2 October 14
3 September 30
4 October 21
5 November 11

Wedding Month Distribution

Planning

Setting budgets, finding vendors and knowing you’re on the right track are some of the biggest challenges couples face while planning for their wedding. In fact, 3 out of 4 millennials are doing some type of wedding planning before they’re even engaged. The majority of today’s planning is done online where couples utilize planning tools (think: checklists and budget trackers) and a broad array of technology to help manage the process.

83% of planning is done online

The Planning Process

42% on mobile/tablet

41% on desktop

The Role of Technology in Weddings

Couples rely on technology throughout the entire wedding journey, from mobile apps to wedding websites. However, when it comes to the big day, 1 in 4 couples ask guests to ‘unplug’.

36% send online save-the-dates
52% use a wedding planning app
62% create a wedding website
19% set up a group chat
54% generate a wedding hashtag

Top Sources for Finding Vendors

Couples largely utilize wedding-related websites to help find potential vendors, then rely on recommendations and online reviews to make their hiring decision.

1 Wedding-related websites
2 Online searches
3 Pinterest
4 Wedding shows/expo
5 Facebook

Social Media Used During Planning (Used weekly or more)

While Pinterest and Facebook are the top two social media sites most frequently used for wedding planning, couples utilize Pinterest 2X more than any other social channel for inspiration.

Pinterest 69%
Facebook 60%
Instagram 44%
YouTube 42%
Twitter 29%
Snapchat 27%

Top Vendors Hired

13 on average hired

86% photographer

80% venue

75% hair + makeup

74% wedding dress

71% florist

70% cake

Couples

The average age of today’s marrying couple is 32. With a new generation redefining cultural and societal norms, we’re seeing new behaviors grow in popularity – such as couples meeting online, a 16% increase in interracial marriage and an increase in mixed gender wedding parties.

33 average age of grooms
31 average age of brides
56% plan to buy a home within next 2 years
70% change name to partner’s
1 in 4 meet online
54% dated less than 2 years

Interracial Newlyweds

According to PEW Research Center, there has been a 5X increase since the legalization of interracial marriage 50 years ago.¹ Today, 19% of all WeddingWire couples identify as having an interracial marriage.

Although no two couples are alike, there are unique nuances to be found amid newlyweds of similar backgrounds. For instance, when compared to all couples, Asian couples tend to invite more guests to their weddings, LGBTQ couples are more likely to live with their partner prior to getting married and Gen X are least likely to spend the night apart before the wedding.

Today’s Couples by the Numbers

32 average age of couple
127 average number of guests
9 number of wedding party members
79% lived with partner prior to marriage
67% asked for parent’s blessing
71% spent night apart before wedding

Calculations based on partners with equal identifiers (i.e., same reported race).

Wedding Traditions

While certain traditions, like having a first-dance, have been embraced by couples for generations – others like walking down the aisle to non-classical music are on the rise. Regardless of the exact details couples decide on incorporating into their wedding day, couples are focused on finding way to make their big day a direct reflection of their personal style.

Follow the timeline below to see when couples hire their vendor team and the role each one plays in bringing the couple’s personalized wedding day details to life.

12 Months

CEREMONY/RECEPTION VENUE

77%of wedding receptions are indoors

CATERER

54%have food served buffet-style

68%have an open-bar

PHOTOGRAPHER

42%of couples do a “first-look”

SELECT DRESS/ATTIRE

80%of brides wear white

63%of grooms dress in something more casual than a tuxedo

BAND/DJ

52%of couples say they’ve seen their band/DJ perform in person prior to booking them

6 Months

FLORIST

50%of couples do a bouquet toss

CAKE

82%have a cake-cutting ceremony

37%weddings include a dessert bar/table

CREATE REGISTRY

2 in 3 millennial’s create a traditional registry

CREATE WEDDING WEBSITE

62%of couples create a wedding website

1 in 2 add accommodations into their website

ROOM BLOCKS

63%of couples book at least one hotel room block for their guests

3 Months

BEAUTY AND HEALTH

31%started a new exercise routine or diet to prepare for the wedding

1 in 2bridesmaids pay to have their hair done by a professional for the wedding

DISCUSS REHEARSAL DINNER

43%of the groom’s parents pay for the rehearsal dinner

OFFICIANT

39%of couples create their own vows

Wedding Day

Adding a Personal Touch

Now more than ever, couples are steering clear of the cookie cutter wedding and adding unique elements that highlight their relationship and impress guests.

40%

had unique musical choices during ceremony

(ex. bagpipes)

21%

Added local elements based on city where couple met or grew up

(ex. food or decor)

18%

Included ceremonial customs related to race/religion

(ex. jumping the broom)

17%

hired special entertainment for guests

(ex. fortune teller, caricature)

Cost

On average, couples budget nearly $16K for their wedding ceremony/reception but spend approximately 40% more once they begin to understand the true cost of each element. Varying attributes like age, region and marriage number also play a significant role in the fluctuation of spend – as Millennials spend nearly $10K more than Gen X on their wedding and those getting married for the first time spend 2X more than those on their 2nd+ marriage ($30K vs. $15K).

All-in Average Wedding Cost

$5,000 Engagement Ring

$27,000 Ceremony/Reception

$4,000 Honeymoon

$36,000 Total Wedding Cost

Budget vs. Reality

Couples underestimate how much they’ll spend on their wedding by roughly 40%.

Percent Contributed to Total Wedding Cost

On average, millennials (who account for approximately 80% of today’s marrying couples) are paying for roughly 40% of their wedding, while their parents and other family members are contributing the remaining 60%. In fact, 20% of millennial couples don’t spend a dime of their own money and get their wedding fully paid for. The majority (56%) of parents pull money out of their savings account to help pay for the wedding and nearly 1 in 10 dip into their retirement!

	All	Millennials	Gen X	LGBTQ
Couples	45%	39%	66%	59%
Parents	46%	51%	29%	36%
Other	9%	10%	5%	5%

Most Expensive Cities to Get Married Including surrounding metro areas

New York
Boston
San Francisco
Washington, DC
Chicago

Average Wedding Cost by Category

Ceremony/Reception

Venue

$9,000

Catering

$6,600

Band

$3,800

Photography

$2,400

Rehearsal dinner +
additional meals

$2,000

Videography

$1,800

Wedding rings

$1,800

Event rentals and photobooths

$1,700

Wedding planner

$1,700

Dress

$1,700

Flowers

$1,700

Lighting and Décor

$1,300

$1,200

Transportation

$1,000

Guest accomodations

$800

Wedding party attire

$750

Ceremony music/musician

$600

Wedding party gifts

$600

Invitations/stationary

$560

Cake/desserts

$550

Hair and makeup

$550

Beauty and Health

$500

Favors and gifts

$450

Groom’s attire

$350

Jewelry

$350

Officiant

$300

Engagement

Engagement Rings

$5,000

Honeymoon

$4,000

Average Wedding Cost in 25 Largest Metro Area Markets

City
New York + surrounding metro area, NY	$45,000
Boston, MA	$37,000
San Francisco – Oakland, CA	$36,000
Washington, DC	$34,000
Chicago, IL	$34,000
Hartford – New Haven, CT	$34,000
Los Angeles, CA	$33,000
Baltimore, MD	$33,000
Philadelphia, PA	$32,000
Miami – Ft. Lauderdale, FL	$31,000
San Diego, CA	$29,000
Houston, TX	$28,000
Detroit, MI	$26,000
Pittsburg, PA	$26,000
Atlanta, GA	$26,000
Raleigh-Durham, NC	$26,000
Sacramento – Stockton, CA	$25,000
Orlando – Daytona Beach, FL	$25,000
Tampa – St. Petersburg, FL	$25,000
Dallas – Ft. Worth, TX	$25,000
Charlotte, NC	$24,000
Denver, CO	$23,000
Cleveland, OH	$23,000
Minneapolis – St. Paul, MN	$22,000
St. Louis, MO	$21,000

View the full report from WeddingWire.com at http://publications.weddingwire.com/i/953286-weddingwire-2018-newlywed-report

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DJ Alex Promotional Video

February 26th, 2018

Here is a promotional video that DJ Alex recently shared. If you are looking for a DJ anywhere from Boston to NYC, he’s there!

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Most Popular Songs in 2017

February 12th, 2018

The list is finally here calculated from thousands of events DJs performed in 2017. Everything from the Top 200 of all time to specific wedding categories. Click the link below to view the full list.

https://www.djintelligence.com/charts/DJIntelligenceMostRequestedAll2017.pdf

When booking a DJ through Great Rate DJs you will have full access to this list and our entire music database using our online request tool. Our tool allows you to search for artists and song titles alphabetically as well as add songs to a Must Play, Play if Possible and Do Not Play list. Pretty neat, huh? Check it our at https://www.greatratedjs.com/music-request-list

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Jeff Haber @ Surprise 60th Birthday Party

February 12th, 2018

Jeff Haber from Manalapan, NJ submitted this video clip from a surprise 60th b-day @ The Brownstone in Paterson. Check him out at https://www.greatratedjs.com/jeffhaber/

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Thomas Wedding DJ Recap @ Environmental Services Building

May 22nd, 2017

With the record rainfall in the Northwest this year, newlyweds Daniel and Mallory have been nervous about their wedding day for a while. Thankfully mother nature got all the rain out of her system and presented them with a picturesque backdrop of the Olympics and Puget Sound.

Despite the pull and draw of wanting to basque in the sun after months of rain, guests still came in and cut loose on the dance floor! Check out the video down below 🙂

Congratulations Daniel and Mallory Thomas and thank you for letting Great Rate DJs be part of your wedding!

FEEDBACK:
Event Date: Saturday, May 20, 2017
Event Type: Wedding Reception
Event Location: Environmental Services Building
Event Staff: Erik de Klerk

Is there anything specific that can be improved upon? Nothing.
Additional comments or suggestions? Erik is great. Me and my wife have seen him at two weddings now and he’s done a fantastic job all around.

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DJ/Emcee, Music and Transition Sample

May 17th, 2017

This is an audio recap captured live during a community event building care packages for the homeless. Guest stars from the Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner showed up to give their support.

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Helping the homeless

May 15th, 2017

Great time with American Life, Mary’s Place, YouthCare, Elite Media, Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks and volunteers creating care packages for the homeless in and around Seattle. Everyone was so into it they crushed their 3000 package goal in less than 30 minutes and felt the need to celebrate with some unexpected dancing!

https://www.facebook.com/greatratedjs/videos/1284189008362798/

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Retirement party DJ

April 30th, 2017

Thank you Captain Douglas Mays Jr for your 20 years of service. We were honored to celebrate with you, your friends and family at your retirement party last night!

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