FAQ

Pricing begins at $1899 for my "Stress-Free Wedding DJ Package" which is so-named because it includes everything that most weddings need.  No need to worry about Package A being too weak and Package B being overkill -- my stress-free package eliminates the guesswork so you can just be confident everything will run smoothly on your wedding day.

My Wedding DJ Pricing page lists everything included with the package.  For many weddings, $1899 is THE price -- no hidden service charges, no sales taxes, no gratuities or tips.  The only situations where you might pay more are:

• If you need more than 6 hours of performance time
• If the drive time is significantly over one hour each way between my home and your venue

In either case, I'll confirm the pricing up front when you contact me, so you'll know the pricing up-front.  Once you sign a contract, that pricing is locked-in for good unless you later change any aspect of your wedding that would trigger a price change.

When you complete the brief form on my Wedding DJ Packages & Pricing page, I'll respond within 48 hours (usually MUCH sooner) to let you know if I'm available for your wedding date.

Although some couples have booked me well over a year in advance, there are usually a few dates every year that never get booked at all... so even if your wedding is only a few months out, it never hurts to ask if I'm available!

Ideally, it's best to book your DJ (and all your other vendors) as soon as possible once you have your wedding date and venue locked-in.  Like many other vendors, I book weddings on a first-come, first-serve basis... once a particular date is booked, it's no longer available to anyone else.

And a personal note about me: I work full-time during the week and I have a wife and three young sons.  So, to ensure top-notch service to every couple -- and to leave some room for quality family time every summer -- I only book ONE wedding per weekend, and starting with 2026, I am booking no more than 2 wedding weekends in a row.  Anytime I get 2 wedding weekends booked, I block out the weekends on either side.

Yes, this means my calendar fills-up fast.  But it also means you don't have to worry about a DJ who's arriving to your wedding burned-out after doing another wedding the night before, or confusing your wedding with the 2-3 others they are doing that same weekend.

Absolutely! The DJ can "make or break" a wedding, so I understand you want to be confident I'm a good fit before you make any decisions. Just tell me a little bit about your wedding plans ... and if I have your wedding date open, we can schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Since 2020, most of my meetings have been video calls, but I still offer in-person meetings (in Fayetteville) or "regular" phone calls if you prefer either of those options.  I'm also happy to answer questions via email if that's more convenient for you.

The first step is to complete the brief request form on my Wedding DJ Packages & Pricing page. 

I'll respond within 48 hours (usually sooner) to confirm availability and pricing.  Optionally, we can also schedule a live consultation to discuss things in more detail, or I can answer any questions you have via email.

If you decide to book, I'll prepare a contract for you.  A signed contract and $500 retainer are required to officially secure my availability for your wedding date.  The $500 retainer is applied toward the total price of the wedding DJ package.  The remaining balance would be due 15 days before your wedding.

Good news! When you hire a wedding "solopreneur" (someone who owns their own business and works alone) -- like me -- you don't need to tip!  That's because those who own their own business have total control over their own prices.

Also, wedding DJ services aren't subject to sales tax in New York State, so when my Wedding DJ Pricing page says "all-in pricing," that really is the true all-in price!

If you're impressed with my DJ services -- which is my goal with every wedding -- here are some great ways to show your appreciation that won't cost you a single cent:

1. A positive review. If you liked my performance, share it on Google, Zola, Facebook, TheKnot, WeddingWire, Yelp or any other website where you like to share your praises for businesses who provide great experiences for you.
   
   
2. Referrals. When you hear about friends, relatives or co-workers getting engaged, I'd be thrilled if you sent them my way. If they mention you and they book me, I'll give them a deal and I'll even send a modest token of thanks your way as well!

Again, neither of these things will cost you a single cent... but if they help convince other couples to book me in the future, your reviews/referrals could potentially wind up being worth more than a one-time cash tip.

My music library includes thousands of songs: top hits from every decade from the 1950s to present, plus plenty of classical, international and religious selections.  If you request anything that I don't already have, I'll do my best to find it, buy it and add it to my library.

Due to copyright laws, I cannot "rip" or "scrape" or otherwise make copies of songs which are only available on YouTube, Spotify or other streaming platforms.  To ensure the best quality, I don't "live-stream" music off any mobile devices, either. The music must be legally available for purchase and download.

You can request as many songs as you like!  But keep in mind, a major reason for hiring a professional wedding DJ is for their expertise in "reading the crowd" and selecting songs to keep the dance floor going strong.

Still, I know certain songs may hold special significance, so I ask couples to rank their requests among two lists:

• "Must Play" - You may list up to 10 songs that are guaranteed to play at some point during open dance floor time.
• "Nice to Have" - You can make unlimited additional requests and I'll play as many as I can, depending on available time and crowd response.

You'll also be asked to select songs for:

• Ceremony processionals (entrances) and exit (recessional), if applicable
• Wedding party introductions
• First dance and parent dances
• Cake cutting (if applicable)
• Tosses (if applicable)
• Any other "special / key moments" you wish to include in your timeline

You'll also have the chance to request specific songs (if you want) for cocktail hour and dinner hour, so if you have any songs that aren't really "danceable" but still want to hear on your wedding day, cocktail hour or dinner can be good options.

For more advice, check out my blog post on "How to Build a Great Wedding Request List."

Absolutely! The Do Not Play (DNP) list is just as important as your must-play list.  If you put a song on your DNP list, I guarantee I will not play it during your wedding.

Whether it's a particular song you just don't like, or everything by a certain artist -- everything on your DNP list gets tagged in my system so I remember not to play it. 

If any guest (even your parents) happens to request a song from your DNP list, I'll politely tell them I can't play that song.  And if they don't believe me, I'll also have a printed copy of the list so they can see for themselves.  (It's been years since I've had to "prove it" to anyone... but you never know!)

I am always happy to consider guest requests.  But that doesn't mean I will definitely play every request.  After all, that's why you're hiring a professional DJ instead of just renting a jukebox.

A jukebox will just take requests and play them in the order received, with zero regard for how well one song flows into another, or whether people are actually dancing.

A professional DJ knows some requests will work better than others. One request might be an excellent immediate follow-up to the current song.  Another request might get a better crowd response later in the evening, so I might wait an hour or two before it plays.  Requests that don't seem like a good fit for the vibe of the room will be declined.  And sometimes, requests are declined even if they'd be good ones -- only because it's so close to the end of the reception that there's simply not enough time to accommodate any more requests.

Yes, as a former radio personality, I'm right at home behind the mic, ready to act as your wedding's "Master of Ceremonies" (aka "emcee" or MC).

That means I'll make the various "crowd control" announcements needed to help your reception flow smoothly. If I'm covering your ceremony, I'll make an announcement (after you exit) to let guests know where to head for cocktail hour.  I'll get on the mic to let everyone know when cocktail hour is winding down and it's time to get to their seats.  I'll introduce your wedding party, first dance, parent dances, toasts, and so forth.

Once the dance floor opens, I do a lot less talking -- the focus is on the music and the dance floor.

I'll still make occasional announcements when needed, but I'm not the type of DJ who jumps on the mic after every single song "just because."  People don't attend weddings to listen to the DJ all night -- everyone's there to celebrate, to party, to dance!  The best way to keep the dance floor packed is to keep the music flowing!

Peter Naughton Productions officially launched in 2010, with my first weddings taking place during the 2011 wedding season. So, the 2026 wedding season will be my 16th year doing weddings.

Before opening my wedding DJ business, I earned a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and worked full-time in radio and TV in Utica and Syracuse for several years.

I actually did my first wedding in 2005, for some personal friends. I really enjoyed it, and that was one of my main inspirations to eventually launch this business.

Sure thing... I've gathered all the reviews clients have posted on various sites in one place, on my Reviews page!

Yes! When you book Peter Naughton, you get Peter Naughton.

You'll be working directly and exclusively with me, from the initial response when you inquire about my services, all the way through packing up all my gear at the end of your reception.

That includes assistance along the way with planning and making sure I have every last key song and timeline detail down pat, so you can enjoy a stress-free and fun wedding!

Let me know what guests are wearing, and I'll match their level of formality: tuxedo, regular suit or business casual.

However, at venues without climate control (e.g., many barn venues), I reserve the right to dress "business casual" if I feel it's too hot/humid to comfortably work in formal wear.

No problem!  I've done plenty of outdoor events. 

Just one big thing to consider: overhead protection for my equipment is required for all outdoor performances, rain or shine.  If there will be a tent, gazebo, porch or any other shelter provided by you or the venue, that's awesome!  If not, there is no extra charge for me to bring my own canopy tent... I just need to know in advance.

I usually don't bring it unless I need it, and I'll also arrive a little earlier to include the tent in my set-up time.

If you're planning an outdoor wedding, check my Peter's Pointers blog post, "6 Must-Haves for Outdoor Weddings."

No signs or banners are displayed on my setup at weddings or other private events. And no, I don't have my name plastered all over my tablecloth, either.

I usually just have a small quantity of business cards available for guests to take off the table if they'd like... but if that would be a problem, just let me know and I'll refrain.

Generally, I arrive 1½ to 2½ hours prior to the contracted start time to load-in and setup for an event.

At certain venues, I may need to arrive even earlier.  It depends on a variety of factors.  Let's discuss the specifics of your event, and I can give you a better idea of exactly how early I'll need to arrive.

Yes, I own all of my equipment, and it is never loaned or rented out to anyone else.  In fact, I bring extras of almost everything -- so in the very unlikely event of an equipment problem, I can swap it out with little or no noticeable impact.

If your venue has its own in-house equipment, I still prefer to use my own because I am more familiar with how my own equipment is interconnected and how it all works.  I'm the only person who uses it, so I know it's always "set" just the way it should be. 

With a venue's gear, I might be able to figure things out, but since I didn't install/wire it all myself, it could be difficult to troubleshoot any issues, especially if the previous DJ or band in that venue happened to really mess something up (either intentionally or accidentally).

That being said, if a venue requires DJs to use their in-house equipment, that's fine -- I'll comply with their requirement since it's their property and their rules.  But I cannot be responsible for any delay or loss of services caused by any problems with their equipment.

Yes, I have business liability coverage and proof of coverage is available upon request.

Even if you hire someone else, please make sure they are insured! Hiring an uninsured DJ can put you at serious risk. If you're curious to learn how, see my blog post: "Why You Should Never Hire an Uninsured DJ."

Absolutely!  When I bought my current audio mixing boards, I specifically selected a model which offered a secondary audio output feed for any videographers who might like to record a "clean feed" of the microphones for ceremonies and/or toasts.

If your videographer asks, I have RCA outputs -- they just need to bring their own cables to connect from RCA to whatever type of input their recording device uses.  Sometimes I have some extra cables available but I don't have every single possible combination of cable ends, so I can't guarantee I'll have the cable needed if your videographer fails to bring their own.

Optionally, I can also record the audio on my laptop and send it to your videographer afterward.

And no need to tell them all this -- because when the wedding gets closer, I email all the other vendors to introduce myself and I'll share details like these directly with them so you don't have to worry about it.

If you're considering me for Wedding DJ services, fill out the brief form on my Wedding DJ page, and include your question there. I'll respond within 48 hours (usually MUCH sooner) with availability, pricing and answers to your questions! Or we can schedule a free, no-obligation video call, phone call or in-person meeting to discuss your questions in real-time.

If you have questions about voiceover services or something else non-wedding-related, check my contact page.