Wedding DJ at The Haven of the Wild Chittenango, NY
A zoo and animal sanctuary with one of the most striking modern reception rooms in the region, and optional animal interactions your guests will not forget. I have worked it, so the layout and the walk between the pavilion and the reception building are accounted for before I arrive.
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 The Haven of the Wild 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.
Your guests will feed a giraffe
It is an animal sanctuary, and the animals can be part of the day rather than scenery. At the wedding I worked here, staff stood handing out carrots to anyone who wanted to feed the giraffes, and donkeys wandered the grounds carrying bottles of beer for guests to help themselves to. Both are paid add-ons rather than part of the venue rental, so worth pricing early if you want them.
The reception room is modern and generous
Barn in form but thoroughly modern: wide open, very high ceilings, a genuinely large dance floor, and plenty of room for tables without crowding it. The bar sits at the back of the room. It is one of the better-looking spaces in the region.
Cocktail hour is in a pavilion
A separate structure a short walk from the reception building, which means a second sound setup and a guest transition to plan. Straightforward, but it belongs in the timeline rather than being sorted out on the day.
Guests can stay on the property
There is lodging on site that the venue runs as an Airbnb. Some rooms have an entire wall of glass, so depending which side you are on you may wake up with a lion or a tiger asleep a few feet away.
“From our grand entrance to the very last song of the night, they created an incredible atmosphere that kept everyone smiling, celebrating, and on the dance floor.”
What couples ask about The Haven
Answers from having actually worked the property, not from the venue’s brochure.
What makes The Haven of the Wild different?
It is a zoo and animal sanctuary, and the animal interactions are genuinely memorable. At the wedding I worked, staff handed out carrots so guests could feed the giraffes, and donkeys walked the grounds carrying bottles of beer for people to take. Both were add-ons the couple paid for on top of the venue, not something included in the rental, and they are not inexpensive. Ask the venue for current pricing when you tour. Your guests will talk about it for years, which is not something I say about many venues.
What is the reception space like?
Modern, open, and larger than it first appears. Very high ceilings, a big dance floor with real space around it, room for tables without crowding, and the bar at the back of the room. Acoustically it behaves like a large open room, which affects where the booth sits and how the sound is set.
Where does cocktail hour happen?
Out in a pavilion a short walk from the reception building. That means a separate sound setup and a planned transition to move guests across, both of which I handle as part of the timeline.
Can we have our ceremony on site?
The wedding I worked here was a reception only. Abby and Joseph married off site and came to The Haven afterward, so I have not run a ceremony on the property. If a ceremony here is part of your plan, that is worth confirming directly with the venue, and I will build the sound and timeline around whatever they tell you.
Is there anywhere for guests to stay?
Yes. The venue operates lodging on site as an Airbnb, and some of the rooms look directly into the animal enclosures through a full glass wall. For guests travelling in, it is a genuine reason to stay the night rather than drive.
Do you charge extra to travel to Chittenango?
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 The Haven of the Wild?
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.