FAQ

Pricing begins at $1899 for my "Stress-Free Wedding DJ Package," so-named because it includes everything that most weddings need.  No need to worry about choosing between complicated packages  -- my stress-free package eliminates the guesswork so you can be confident everything will just run smoothly on your wedding day.

For many weddings, $1899 is THE price -- no service charges, no sales taxes, no 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 pricing up front when you contact me.  Once you sign a contract, the price is locked-in unless you later change any aspect of your wedding that would trigger a price change.

The only additional cost is to include me in your meal count, but that's paid to your caterer.  If you haven't already, ask if vendors are discounted -- I don't partake in the open bar or cocktail hour.  I just need dinner (due to the length of time I'm on site) and water.

Check out my availability calendar to see if your date is open.

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

Once you confirm your wedding date and location(s), try to book your DJ (and all your other vendors) as soon as possible.

Like many wedding professionals, I book dates on a first-come, first-serve basis.  To ensure top-notch service for each couple, I book just ONE wedding per weekend.  Once I book a specific date, any other inquiries for that entire weekend will be declined.  The sooner you contact me, the better the chances I'll still have your date available.

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

Most of my meetings are video calls, but if you prefer to stick with email, go old-school with a "regular" phone call, or even an in-person meeting (in the Fayetteville-Manlius area), just let me know!

First, 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.  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.  A signed contract and $500 retainer will officially secure my availability for your wedding date.  The $500 retainer is applied toward the wedding DJ package.  The balance is due 15 days before your wedding.

Good news! When you hire someone who owns their own business -- like me -- you don't need to tip!  That's because those who own their own business have full control over their own prices.  I've already established a price which I feel is reasonable for the equipment, skills and experience I'll bring to your wedding.  If I wanted or needed to make more, I would just charge more.

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 price!

If you're impressed with my wedding DJ services -- which is always my goal -- here are two priceless ways you can help me without spending a single cent:

1. A positive review. If you liked my performance, a positive review (even a brief one) posted on any or all of your favorite review sites is always appreciated.  Google, Zola, Yelp, TheKnot and WeddingWire are just a few examples.
   
   
2. Personal Referrals. If you know of any friends, relatives or co-workers planning a wedding in Central New York, I'd love if you could put in a good word for me!

Thank you!

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, all music must be legally available for purchase and download.  I cannot "scrape" songs which are only available via streaming on YouTube, Spotify or other streaming-only platforms.

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.

I understand 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, and they will definitely 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 "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.

If any guest (even your parents) should request a DNP List song, I'll politely tell them I can't play that song... and just in case they don't believe me, I always have a printed copy of the list so they can see it for themselves.

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.  Right?

A jukebox will just play anything people request, with zero regard for how well one song flows into another, or whether people are actually dancing.  

A professional DJ is always considering the overall flow between different songs and genres throughout the night, as well as timing and other factors.  When guests request a song, a pro DJ will know whether it's a good song to play "next," a song that should be held until a better point later in the evening, or if it's a song that shouldn't play at all.  

I love to accommodate requests that would fit in with your wedding reception dance floor crowd, but I also have no problem declining a request if I suspect it could clear the floor.

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, the focus is on the music and the dance floor.

I'll still make occasional announcements when there's a purpose, 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 party!  And the best way to keep the dance floor packed is to keep the music flowing.

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

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.

Yes!  All the reviews clients have posted on various sites have been gathered 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: typically either a suit or "business casual."

However, at venues without climate control (e.g., most barn venues, outdoor tents, etc.), 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. 

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... but I usually only bring it upon request, so I just need a heads-up to bring it.

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.

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. 

That being said, if your venue requires DJs to use the in-house equipment, that's fine -- I'll comply 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 the proper cables to connect from RCA to whatever input their recording device has.  Sometimes I have spare cables available, but I can't guarantee I'll have the exact cable your videographer needs.

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

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.