Hiring a DJ typically costs anywhere from $300 to $1,200. It all depends on how long they’ll be working at your wedding and other various factors. The cost to hire a wedding DJ is usually higher than the cost to hire a DJ to play at a birthday party or similar event. 

To find out exactly how much your wedding DJ will cost, ask for a cost estimate from several professionals in your area.

Reviews, interviews and menu tastings will help you find the right catering choice for your big day. Start by screening possible wedding caterers based on past reviews. If a caterer you are interested in has a review that concerns you, ask them about it; how they respond will be very telling. Next, ask about their availability for your wedding date.

If the wedding caterer is available on your date, it’s time to talk about menus and prices. Be clear about what your maximum budget is find out what choices this will allow you. Caterers may custom-create a menu for your event, or they may have menu templates within different price ranges that can guide your decision. A clear budget gives the caterer clear parameters within which to work and offer creative suggestions. Schedule a menu tasting to confirm you love your wedding menu. Once you have a menu and date, and have paid a deposit to reserve the caterer’s services, confirm additional details including when the food will be delivered to the site, what kind of service will be provided, how many servers will be onsite and for how long, and who is responsible for setup and cleanup. The more specific your contract, the fewer worries you’ll have on your wedding day. Get more smart hiring tips here.

First, pull up a list of nearby hairstylists on Thumbtack, and read their profiles to get an understanding of what they specialize in — hair coloring, cutting, extensions, wedding hairstyles, etc. Then, start searching for stylists who have high ratings and customer reviews. You should also spend some time looking at photos that showcase their work. That way, you can determine if a stylist has the experience and skills needed to achieve the look you want. 

When you’ve identified at least three hairstylists you like, ask them for a cost estimate and make sure they have the proper credentials.

Use Thumbtack to find wedding DJs in your area. Here, you can quickly see which local DJs have the highest ratings and best reviews. You can also see how many times each DJ has been hired, whether they’re responsive and if they’re in high demand.

Hourly rates for DJs can vary depending on where you live, the event type (weddings, prom, birthdays, etc.) and many other factors. For an accurate hourly rate, request cost estimates from top-rated DJs near you.

A delicious meal is a critical element of a successful wedding, with happy guests fondly remembering your fabulous wedding food. The right caterer for you will be:

• Available: Even the best caterer is no good if they aren’t available on your wedding date. Ask early before you get your heart set on someone.
• Affordable for you: Find a caterer that you can afford. Having a spending plan ahead of time will mean you won’t overspend on food.
• A good personality fit: Wedding planning is stressful, so work with someone that you can get along with and communicate with easily.
• Experienced and recommended: Ensure the company has a proven track record with events of your size and the references to back it up.
• Transparent about money: Steer clear of shady pricing. Find a caterer who is very clear about costs and is happy to talk you through budgets and pricing options.
• Transparent about food: Find someone who is clear about where they source their food from and where it is prepared.

The cost of wedding catering will reflect the level of service, the menu you choose, the luxury you desire and the number of guests you invite. Where you live also plays a major role in your wedding catering costs. The regional cost to do business and local cost of food will affect your catering bill. There is no set price for wedding catering, because each wedding and each menu is different. This is why many caterers provide a per-person price. This allows you to break down what it costs to feed each person based on the menu you want. Working with your caterer, you can adjust menu items, service level and more to accommodate your budget and guest count. Keep in mind that wedding catering costs are not just for the food. The bill reflects all the components that go into commercial food catering: a commercial kitchen, ingredients, staff, insurance, marketing and more. Here are some examples of average costs:

• Three-course plated meal, moderately upscale, for 125 in Los Angeles: $14,000. Because of staffing costs, a true plated meal costs about twice as much as a staff-assisted buffet.
• Buffet meal, standard menu, for 100 in Los Angeles: $5,000.
• Per-person cost for hors d'oeuvres, dinner and nonalcoholic beverages: $24–$37, depending on menu selection, in Southern California.
• Drop off prepared food for 50: $1,000 in North Carolina. Price does not include any service, setup or breakdown.

There are no rules around your wedding day, and that means it’s your choice whether to have a wedding makeup artist. If you’re on the fence about hiring a wedding makeup artist, consider the pros and cons. Some women decide against a wedding makeup artist to save money. The national average cost for a wedding makeup artist is $70-$100, which is an expense some women prefer to do without. Other women just don’t love wearing makeup. Some brides have friends or family members who are talented makeup artists willing to provide their services. If you choose not to have a wedding makeup artist, be sure to do at least two trial runs of your makeup look well before the wedding day to avoid any morning-of panic.

On the other hand, a wedding makeup artist can make the bride feel pampered and confident, giving her a flawless, fabulous look for the ceremony and reception and in wedding photos. For brides who are uncomfortable with heavy makeup, many wedding makeup artists usually excel at the natural look. Many brides consider wedding makeup part of the ritual and tradition of the ceremony, a shared experience with the entire bridal party. Ultimately your choice of whether to hire a wedding makeup artist should be based on what will make you feel most confident and happy.

Wedding makeup artists ensure you and your bridal party are looking your best bright and early on your wedding day. Tipping a wedding makeup artist for their hard work is standard practice, and is also greatly appreciated. A tip of 15 percent to 20 percent of the total bill is appropriate. You may consider tipping extra if the makeup artist or someone on their team went above and beyond — for example, squeezing in Aunt Martha at the last second or redoing a flower girl’s hair free of charge after she dunked it in the fountain.

A gratuity is a reflection of a job well done, so if the wedding makeup artist was late, did a shoddy job or didn’t provide all the services you negotiated, you are not required to tip. Talk with your wedding makeup artist prior to the event to ask how they prefer payment and gratuity to be handled. Can you pay by credit card the day of the event and include a tip then? Do you need to pay in cash the day of the event? Find out ahead of time how to manage payment for services so you can be prepared with cash or credit cards as needed. Even better, delegate the task of payment to someone in your bridal party so you can just enjoy your day.

A wedding means love, celebration and tons of wedding photos. Professional wedding makeup artists have you looking your best on your big day and forever after in your wedding photos. The national average cost for a wedding makeup artist is $70-$100, although this price can increase based on your location, the extent of the makeup services and the reputation of the makeup artist. Most wedding makeup artists offer discounts to brides who book group services for their maids, mothers and flower girls at the same time. Wedding makeup artists who also do wedding hair usually offer package rates for hair and makeup combos. Here are some examples of average wedding makeup pricing:

• Bridal makeup: $85-$125. Pricing often includes full face, eyes, lips, brows and false eyelashes. Airbrush makeup may be an additional $20 or more.
• Bridal hair and makeup: $150-$200.
• Bridesmaid and bridal party makeup: $50-$100 per person.
• Bridesmaid hair and makeup: $100-$150.
• Flower girl makeup: $25-$35.
• Trial sessions: $60-$120, depending on the makeup artist. Some charge their full rate and others charge a partial rate for trial makeup services.
• Hourly rates to stay on and keep makeup touched up throughout reception: $35-$75 per hour.
• Travel fees: 50 cents to $1 per additional mile beyond a set radius — such as 50 miles.