Back from the cutoff
I ask for your venue's music hours on our first call and build the timeline back from them, so your dance floor gets its full stretch instead of the leftovers.
Napa Valley wedding DJ
Ceremony and reception from $3,000
Afro and tribal house, soulful electronic, hip-hop and the classics, played live and planned around your venue's hours. Twenty-five years behind the decks, from Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford to the Carneros Inn.
Napa Valley
A Napa wedding
A Napa wedding
runs on the clock
Napa County rules keep most wineries from hosting weddings, so most Napa weddings happen at resorts, hotels and inns, and many of those end amplified music by 10 p.m. Some outdoor spaces allow only acoustic music. That gives the night a hard edge, and the music has to be built for it.
So I plan backwards from your cutoff. The entrances, toasts and first dance land early, dinner breathes, the dance floor opens on time, and the last song is the one you chose, not whatever was playing when the clock ran out. If you want the night to keep going, the after-party picks up where the venue stops.
How I plan it
Built for
Built for
the valley
Vows the back row hears
Outdoor ceremonies get their own setup: a speaker aimed at your guests, a wireless mic for the officiant and your vows, and backup gear within reach. One couple's review remembers the wind taking out a mic, and the backup that was already set.
Dinner you can talk over
Cocktail hour and dinner are for catching up. The music sits under the conversation, then builds as the plates clear, so the room is warm when the dancing starts.
Your music, shaped together
A planning questionnaire, a curation call, your must-plays and do-not-plays, and the exact versions you love. By the time I arrive, I know your night.
What it costs
Starting prices,
Starting prices,
stated plainly
Every wedding is built by hand; these are the starting points. Your estimate follows your date, your venue and the night you want.
Your wedding
Ceremony, dinner and dancing
Your story, your must-plays and my read of the room, from the processional to the last song, built around your venue's hours so the best part of the night never gets cut short.
Included
- Ceremony sound: a speaker for your guests and a wireless mic for your vows, with backup gear on hand
- Cocktail hour and dinner music your guests can talk over
- MC for every entrance, toast and first dance
- A timeline built back from your venue's music cutoff
- Weddings from $3,000 ceremony and reception, up to 8 hours
The weekend
Welcome party, rehearsal dinner, after-party
One sound from Friday to Sunday: a Selector Session for the welcome dinner the night before, or for the after-party once the venue's music ends.
Included
- A set built for the room, your guests and the hour
- My own programming: Afro and tribal house, soulful electronic, hip-hop and the classics, reworked
- A wireless mic for a welcome or a toast
- Selector Sessions from $1,500 a set up to 4 hours
The Journey
Sound bath into ecstatic dance
A live sound bath that settles everyone after a long day, then a dance that opens the room wide. The moment in a wedding weekend nobody forgets.
Included
- A DJ set that flows into a live sound bath, then a facilitated ecstatic dance
- Crystal singing bowls, gongs and other instruments, indoors or out
- The Journey from $3,000
Starting prices are for ordinary dates. Holidays and holiday weekends start at $3,000. Travel, when there is some, is added to your estimate.
Prefer to talk it through first? once the starting points feel right.
The Sound
Hear it
Hear it
before you book
People book me for a feeling: warm, rhythmic, a little unexpected. Press play and keep it going while you read. The player stays with you at the top of the page.
What couples say
Word of
Word of
mouth
Rated 5.0 on WeddingWire and The Knot.
“
★★★★★
Wayne is an expert, and willing to share not just his lights and music, but his knowledge. Through careful preparation, he helped us craft an event that felt seamless, and maybe most importantly, uniquely "ours." I highly recommend Wayne for those planning a party, or a wedding as we were.
“
★★★★★
On the day-of, Wayne arrived very early and put out a number of fires before they got out of control. ... When the microphone wasn't working due to wind, Wayne had a back up already set which he seamlessly transitioned to. It is this attention to detail which makes Wayne a true professional.
“
★★★★★
We are incredibly picky and he was definitely accommodating to our requests. ... Finally, dance music (our favorite part) was PERFECT. Everything we wanted, plus a few new additions and nothing we didn't want.
See all the reviews
Good to Know
Napa wedding
Napa wedding
questions
What time does the music have to end at a Napa Valley wedding?
It depends on your venue. Many Napa venues end amplified music by 10 p.m., and some outdoor spaces allow only acoustic music. I ask for your venue's rules on our first call and plan the whole night around them, including an after-party if you want the night to keep going.
Do you travel to Napa Valley?
Yes. Napa Valley is part of my regular area, from Carneros and the city of Napa through Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena up to Calistoga. Travel, when there is some, is added to your estimate.
Can our wedding include a sound bath or an ecstatic dance?
Yes. A live sound bath can settle everyone before the ceremony or after dinner, and an ecstatic dance journey can open up the last hour of the night, inside your venue's music hours. Add the sound bath in the estimate on this page, or book a short call and we'll plan the dance together.
How much does a Napa Valley wedding DJ cost with you?
Weddings start at $3,000 for the ceremony and reception, up to 8 hours. A welcome party, rehearsal dinner or after-party is a Selector Session, from $1,500 a set ($3,000 on holidays and holiday weekends). The estimate on this page gives your price in a couple of minutes.
Can you play our welcome party or rehearsal dinner?
Yes. That's a Selector Session: a set of my own programming built for the room and the hour, at a restaurant, your hotel or a private dinner. If you're hoping for a winery, ask it first: Napa County's rules limit what wineries can host, including amplified music outdoors, and I'll build the set around whatever your venue allows.
What if it's windy, or there's no power where we say our vows?
I bring backup gear to every ceremony, and outdoors I set up for the wind. If there's no outlet near where you say your vows, tell me on our first call: the estimate asks about power and adds a generator if you need one, so it's planned and priced before the day.
How do we hold our date?
Get an instant estimate on this page, or book a short call once the starting prices feel right. A 50% deposit reserves your date, and from then on it's yours.
Is this a fit?
Are you available on our date, and do you book another event that same day?
I book one event a day, so your wedding date is never shared with another booking.
How many weddings do you DJ a year, how long have you DJed them, and is weddings your main work?
I DJ about 16 weddings a year now. I also DJ clubs and music festivals, which I love. About 15 years ago I did around 40 weddings a year. I'm very good at weddings, and I also enjoy the creative freedom of the other events I do now.
What makes you different from other wedding DJs, and why do you like doing weddings?
Every couple is different, and so is every connection. What matters most to me is that we feel like a good fit and genuinely enjoy each other. I'm personable, adaptable and flexible, and I bring care and experience to every event. I love weddings because they celebrate love and a deep commitment to another person, and I'm honored to be part of that. Let's talk and see if we feel a good connection.
Have you worked at our venue before, and will you visit or check the sound limits beforehand?
Some venues I know well, and others I'm meeting for the first time. Either way, I check the space and its sound requirements ahead of time, so the music sounds great and fits the room. I'm a detail-oriented perfectionist. A wedding happens only once, so I give it my full attention to make your day as special as it can be.
Who you'll work with
Will you personally DJ our wedding, do you bring an assistant or second DJ, and can we meet or call you before we book?
It's just me. I'm not part of a large company that sends DJs you've never met, so you get my personal attention from our first conversation to the last song. Sometimes I bring a set-up assistant, depending on the event and the venue.
Proof of quality
Can we see a video of a past wedding, read reviews, and speak with recent references?
Yes. You can see video of past weddings, read reviews, and speak with recent references.
Can we watch you perform at a live wedding before we book?
I don't invite visitors to other couples' weddings. Every couple deserves a private, special day, and I want each one to feel safe and comfortable. I'm glad to share recent videos and reviews, and we can talk on a call so you get a feel for my style.
Your music
How would you describe your style, which genres do you play best, and do you blend songs live?
I play a wide range of music and blend songs live, so the night can move from Afro and Latin house to soulful disco, hip-hop, R&B and more. I shape the mix to your guests.
How do we build the playlist with you, and can we send our own songs or links?
Usually it's a combination of all three, depending on you, your guests, and what works best for your vision. You can fill in a shared form and send me your own songs or links. I can draft the playlist for you to review and approve. And we can go through it together, live, on a call.
Can we give you must-play and do-not-play lists, and what happens when a guest asks for a do-not-play song?
Yes. I follow both lists. If a guest asks for a do-not-play song, I politely decline.
Will you help choose the first dance, processional and other special songs?
I suggest, you choose. I'm happy to offer ideas, and the final choice is yours.
How big is your music library, do you play from local files or streaming, and will you learn songs we want that you don't already have?
I play from local files, so your set doesn't depend on Wi-Fi. I'm also happy to learn songs you want that I don't already have, at no extra cost.
Do you play cultural, religious or non-English music?
Yes. Send me a list of the music you'd like, and I'll make sure it's part of the night.
What happens if we don't like a song you're playing?
I swap it right away. Just let me know.
The dance floor
How do you get guests dancing, and what do you do when the floor is empty?
I use many approaches depending on the moment, but I always start by reading the room. When guests respond, I follow their energy. If your request list isn't getting a response, I'll check with you first, because I'd love your permission to play what I know works. Then I'll switch things up to keep the floor moving.
What makes a great dance party, in your view?
There's no single formula, because every wedding and every guest list is unique. One week I might celebrate with an all-Indian group, and the next with guests from Manhattan on the groom's side and San Francisco on the bride's side. What matters most is being present, reading the room, and staying flexible so the music serves the people in front of me.
Emcee, timeline and the people around the day
Will you be the emcee, and do you bring microphones for the ceremony, toasts and speeches?
Hosting means different things to different couples, so I'm happy to do as much or as little talking on the mic as you'd like. Some couples prefer no announcements, and for those celebrations I can keep things DJ-only. If you'd like a relative or friend to host, I'm open to that too.
How do you move from dinner to speeches to dancing, and do you run our timeline?
We agree the cues together on a call.
How do you work with our planner, photographer and videographer?
It's always a combination of three approaches, depending on what works best for you and your team. I take cues from your planner, who runs the day, and I follow their lead. I coordinate directly with each vendor, talking with your photographer and videographer myself. And I work with whoever is running the day, following the person who is coordinating.
Will you coordinate with our wedding planner ahead of time?
Yes. I always coordinate with your planner in advance and adapt to their process. We work as a team: they manage the master timeline and logistics, and I bring expertise on entertainment, energy, and reception flow.
This partnership works best when the relationship is collaborative. I've DJ'd more than 1,000 events. I am a professional hired for my experience and judgment. I treat planners as colleagues with the same level of experience and expertise that I bring, which supports a smooth day. Establishing this early keeps the focus on your celebration and prevents unnecessary friction.
If you already have a planner (or when you hire one), feel free to send them this note:
Hi [Planner's Name],
We're working with Wayne Noel as our DJ. He coordinates closely with planners and adapts to their process. He views the relationship as a partnership: the planner manages the master timeline and logistics, and he brings professional expertise on entertainment, energy, and reception flow. He's DJ'd more than 1,000 events.
He finds that when this collaborative relationship and roles are clearly established early on, they produce the smoothest days for everyone. Looking forward to collaborating with you.
How many breaks do you take, how long are they, and what plays during them?
I'm fully focused on your event all evening. The only time I step away is a short restroom break of five to ten minutes, and I start a long song first so the music never stops. I'm happy to eat at my table. If you or your planner would prefer otherwise, I'll have a pre-mixed set playing while I eat away from the setup.
How many hours are covered, and does that include the ceremony and cocktail hour?
It depends on the package you choose, and I'll walk you through what each one covers.
Equipment and the day itself
What equipment do you bring, and what must the venue provide, such as power, space or a table?
I bring all of my own gear. The venue provides power and space.
What is your backup plan if equipment fails or the power goes out?
I carry a spare of each key piece.
What if you get sick on the day? Who covers for you?
I know how important the right vibe is. I have a few trusted local DJs, and I'm glad to introduce you so you can find one you connect with. If their rate is higher than mine, I cover the difference.
How early do you arrive, how long do setup and breakdown take, and do you do a sound check?
I prefer to arrive at least three hours before guests arrive, and I'll take more time when it's available. If there's less than three hours, there is an additional fee for extra set-up assistance. I always do a sound check before guests arrive.
Do you carry liability insurance?
Yes. I can send a certificate of insurance on request.
If the wedding is outdoors, what is your plan for weather and sound?
It depends on the venue, so we'll review the weather and sound plan together ahead of time.
Do you offer lighting, uplighting, a photo booth or a screen?
Lighting is the only extra I offer.
Do you need a meal provided, and do you have a dress code or conduct policy for your team?
No meal is needed. For dress, I keep to business casual.
Money and contracts
What is in your package, and what costs extra?
My pricing starts at $3,000, and every wedding receives a custom quote based on your day. Use my estimator to see a sense of your investment: Get your estimate
Does the price include setup, breakdown and travel, and if not, what do those cost?
Use my estimator for the setup, breakdown and travel details. It shows what's included and what can add to the cost: Get your estimate
What is the overtime rate, and what happens if the night runs late?
Overtime is a flat fee per extra hour, written into your contract before you sign.
What is the deposit, when is the balance due, and do you offer payment plans?
The deposit holds your date. The balance is due before the wedding.
Do you provide a written contract?
Yes, every booking has a written contract.
What is your cancellation, rescheduling and refund policy?
The deposit is nonrefundable, and it can be applied to one rescheduled date. No final payment is owed if you cancel more than 30 days out.
How far in advance should a couple book?
As early as possible, because dates fill fast.
After booking
What do you need from us, and by when?
Everything is due 30 days before your event. We'll have a phone call then to go over everything.
What happens after the wedding, such as feedback, and do you keep our set list for anniversaries?
It depends on what you'd like. I always keep your set list. If you have a brunch, daytime or pool party the next day, we can talk about that too.
Your date
Tell me about
Tell me about
your Napa wedding
Your date, your venue and the feeling you want in the room. I'll take it from there.