Wedding DJ at Firelight Camps Ithaca, NY
A beautiful property in the woods behind La Tourelle, with a ceremony site set back into the forest along a winding trail. I have worked it, so I know what that walk asks of your equipment, and that the venue will drive guests down who would rather not make it on foot.
What I know about this room
A DJ walking into a room for the first time spends the first hour learning it. Where power is, how the ceremony space carries sound, where the booth can sit without blocking a sightline, how long load-in actually takes when the parking is full.
None of that is difficult. It is just time, and on a wedding day time is the one thing nobody has spare. Having worked Firelight Camps before means that hour is already spent, and it was spent on a day that was not yours.
I arrive two and a half to three hours early regardless. At a venue I already know, that margin goes toward testing and detail rather than orientation.
The ceremony is a walk into the forest
A real walk down a winding trail into the trees, uneven underfoot and not level. The spot itself is genuinely beautiful. The walk is the thing to plan around, and it is worth thinking about now rather than on the day.
Think about your older guests
Most guests will make that walk, over uneven ground, usually in wedding shoes. The venue does accommodate for it: they run a UTV to drive guests who would rather not walk down to the ceremony site. Worth arranging in advance so anyone who needs it knows before the day rather than being asked at the trailhead.
Power has to be carried in
There is no practical supply at the ceremony site. The alternative to bringing your own is a long cord run through the woods, which looks exactly as bad as it sounds and takes a long time to recover afterwards. I bring a 2000-watt Anchor power station, which also acts as a UPS.
Dinner sits across from the booth
Reception and dancing are under the pavilion tent, cocktail hour spreads across an open area with tables, and dinner is in a larger tent across the way. At the wedding I worked I sent sound wirelessly from the booth to a speaker in the dinner tent for the toasts. If you want music or introductions during dinner, that becomes a second setup, and it is better decided in advance.
“Steven was so fun to work with. He is really talented, creative, and fun. Highly, highly recommend.”
What couples ask about Firelight Camps
Answers from having actually worked the property, not from the venue’s brochure.
How far is the ceremony site from the reception?
Far enough into the forest that it is a genuine walk, along a winding trail that is uneven and not level. Once you are there it is a lovely spot. Ask the venue for the actual distance when you tour, because it is worth knowing precisely rather than approximately.
Is the ceremony site suitable for older or less mobile guests?
It is a real walk: uneven, unpaved, and long enough to matter in formal shoes. The venue handles this well, though, and runs a UTV to drive guests down to the ceremony site rather than expecting everyone to make it on foot. Raise it with them while you are planning so the people who need a ride know in advance, and so it is organised rather than improvised at the trailhead.
Is there power at the ceremony site?
Not practically. The alternative is running extension cord the length of the trail through the woods, which looks poor in photographs and takes a long time to pick up while your guests are moving to cocktail hour. I bring a 2000-watt Anchor power station instead, which also works as a UPS, so ceremony sound does not depend on a cord run.
How are the spaces laid out?
Reception and dancing are under the pavilion tent, cocktail hour uses an open area with tables where guests move around freely, and dinner is in a larger tent across the way from the booth.
Can we have music or announcements during dinner?
Yes, with planning. Dinner is in a separate tent from my main setup. At the wedding I worked, the couple only needed the toasts amplified, so I sent sound wirelessly from the booth to a speaker in the dinner tent. If you want music or introductions in there as well, I would build a second setup near dinner rather than leaving the booth mid-service.
Is this the same property as La Tourelle?
They sit directly next to each other, with Firelight Camps out back. If you are considering one, it is worth looking at La Tourelle too, since they suit quite different weddings.
Do you charge extra to travel to Ithaca?
No. Standard travel extends up to 180 miles from the Finger Lakes with no travel fee. Destination events beyond that are accepted, with travel arranged per event.
Getting married at Firelight Camps?
Tell me your date and I will reply with availability and a real number. I read every inquiry myself.
Check Your DateAll Wedding inquiries are coordinated through my booking partner, Washburn Entertainment.