Preferred Vendor Fees: A Heartfelt Message to Couples Choosing Their Wedding Venue
From Doctor D, Professional Wedding DJ – 40+ years serving Ohio & Pennsylvania
This topic is personal to me, and I want to speak from the heart.
More and more reception halls are charging couples extra fees when they choose their own vendors—especially DJs—rather than using the venue’s “preferred list.” As someone who has been a professional wedding DJ in Ohio & PA for over 40 years, I’ve seen the industry change dramatically, and not always for the better.
There was a time when a reception hall simply offered a beautiful venue and a great meal. Couples were free to choose the photographer, DJ, officiant, florist, and caterer that best fit their vision.
Today, many venues have shifted to “all-in-one” packages where they subcontract vendors — and penalize couples who select their own professionals.
Here’s why that matters.
1. Package Deals Aren’t Always Cheaper
Venues often market their packages as convenient and cost-effective. But convenience comes at a price.
Recently, two of my couples booked the same venue. Each chose the package deal, but when they asked to use their own DJ, the venue offered a $900 discount — then added a $3-per-guest surcharge for using an outside vendor.
For a 150-guest wedding, that’s a $450 penalty just to hire the DJ they actually wanted.
The “discount” disappears — and the venue profits either way.
2. You Lose Control Over Your Own Wedding Day
When a venue chooses your vendors for you, they are choosing based on:
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Their partnerships
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Their financial arrangements
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Their convenience
—not your vision.
If something goes wrong, you may end up stuck between the venue, the coordinator, and the subcontracted vendor, each pointing to the other. When you hire your own vendors, accountability is simple: you deal directly with the professional you hired.
3. Your Vendors Should Be Your Choice — Not the Venue’s
Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. You deserve the freedom to choose the DJ, photographer, caterer, and officiant who fit:
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Your taste
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Your personality
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Your budget
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Your expectations
A surcharge for choosing your own vendor isn’t about quality — it’s about revenue.
And that’s not fair to couples who want the best experience possible.
4. This Isn’t About Being Anti-Venue — It’s About Being Pro-Couple
Some venues truly act in the couple’s best interest. Others use preferred vendor lists as a guaranteed income stream.
I’m not saying package deals can’t be helpful for couples who want a simplified planning process. They absolutely can.
But couples deserve:
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Transparency
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Freedom of choice
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No financial penalties for choosing trusted vendors outside the venue’s list
That’s simply fair.
Final Thought — Choose What’s Right for YOU
From one professional to another (and from one human being to another), I encourage every couple to:
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Ask questions
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Read the contract carefully
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Understand all surcharges
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Protect their freedom to choose
Your wedding vendors should be people you trust — not people you were forced into because of a penalty.
If you want a DJ who puts your experience first, I would be honored to be part of your day.
Doctor D
Professional Disc Jockey – Ohio & Pennsylvania
Liability: if something goes wrong, who is responsible in a package wedding deal?
