My bread and butter is weddings...it's how I make my living, pay my mortgage and afford holidays. Jim will say the same as me as well (and he's a LOT more expensive than me for doing essentially the same job!).
Brides and grooms/grooms and grooms/brides and brides really
don't want to see every single fixture ever made at their wedding these days. The presentation of the rig is important, but the number of lights really doesn't impress them nowadays I'm afraid
. Add to that, they want the lighting "tamed" by DMX to create different atmospheres (i.e. romantic first dance, club type last dance)
And it's not just about the evening party either! I do a LOT of ALL DAY weddings where I'm there early doors to provide the music and mic's for the ceremony, the background for the wedding breakfast (and trust me....Sweet Caroline is a belter randomly played during the afternoon in the right place and Oh! the games!!!!), and only THEN the evening party.
The "industry" and customer expectations have changed a LOT over recent years. There IS a market for the "turn up and press play" DJ, but you'll be competing with £60 Sid in that market sadly.
The big money is in being able to host a wedding as a master of ceremonies and still pull off the evening party using a lightweight and understated rig. It's an 18 hour day, but for £1k plus...it's worth it to realise that less is more!