Usually when we are hired to provide sound and music for a ceremony, it is because it is outdoors or in a non-standard location that does not have a PA system built in, unlike a church. Because of this, ceremonies are complex from a sound perspective. We will usually try to get a very accurate description of the venue from you or we will visit it ahead of time to plan out any details. We make sure that the equipment and speakers are as invisible as possible, usually so far to the sides that they are not in the pictures. We prefer to run sound from behind the congregation and out of the way of foot traffic. This is so we can hear what it actually sounds like to the guests. The only times we do not set up behind is if the layout of the venue does not permit this or it is impractical for whatever reason and we have to run sound from the side. There will be a few cables, but we take extra care to hide them and make sure they do not cross any important areas. Regardless of the set up, we take time to make sure that the cords will be out of the way, if not completely hidden.

Every location is different, but we usually try to place a speaker on either side of where the ceremony is taking place facing the crowd from the front. We do not set up speakers in one place in the back or side. We make our speaker positioning decisions based on firstly the pictures and the venue, and secondly our sound engineering experience in order to avoid feedback from the minister’s microphone and making sure everyone can hear clearly. We realize one speaker on the side will probably be loud enough, but loud is not what we intend. The best sound quality and coverage is what we are trying to optimize.

We setup very early because of the large amounts of time is takes to set up in such a way where cables are nearly invisible and everything else is out of view. The ceremony maybe only 25 minutes long, but these are some of the most memorable moments of your life, and we spend lots of time making sure that there will not be feedback interruptions in the middle of your vows.

If there is an archway that the minister will be standing under, we try to install overhead microphones in the archway in addition to a lavaliere microphone worn by the minister. We will only set the overhead microphones up if they can be hidden from view. We usually have a backup microphone hidden nearby and will have a microphone on a stand if someone besides the minister will be talking or singing.

We have at least two CD players to play the songs you select for the ceremony, as well as some formal music for before the ceremony. If there are musicians playing at the ceremony, we prefer to mic them up into the PA system. Even if they might be hearable alone, it usually sounds better when we provide a little extra boost and control.

There are usually additional charges for providing a separate ceremony PA system because of the extra time and care that must be taken. In most circumstances we recommend a separate PA system for the ceremony, rather than try to re-aim or move the main DJ system towards the ceremony area. We have been asked to try this in the past, but pointing speakers out a window or trying to project over 100 feet away will not provide good quality sound or even coverage. The speakers can usually go loud enough to be “heard”, but the lessened sound quality or sound delay might be bothersome, at best, to you and the guests.