A wedding sound checklist comes down to three questions: will every word of the ceremony be heard? Are all the mics planned? And what happens if it rains?
What should you check for the ceremony?
That there is a headset mic for the officiant, a handheld for readings and speakers placed in front of whoever is speaking.
- Headset mic for the officiant and handheld for readings
- Entrance, signing and exit music prepared and tested
- Speakers in front of the altar to avoid feedback
- A second pair of speakers for more than 120 guests
- Wind protection for outdoor ceremonies
What should you check for dinner and speeches?
The order of speeches, who is speaking, whether there will be video and when the couple makes their entrance.
- Running order shared with the technician
- Spare mic switched on at the technician’s desk
- Connection for videos or presentations with audio
- Dinner music at a volume that allows conversation
What should you check for the dancing?
That there is a subwoofer, dance-floor lighting and an agreed handover from dinner to party.
The move from dinner to dancing is when most parties lose momentum. We agree an opening song with the DJ or playlist and dim the general lighting as the dance-floor lights come up. To make that moment stronger, see LED wedding lighting.
What should you ask the venue?
Available power sockets, loading times, volume curfew and a covered area in case of rain.
These are the four questions we include in the technical Rider we send to the venue. If the venue already has equipment, ask which model and whether it comes with a technician: often it is a background-music system that can’t cope with outdoor speeches. Everything about the service is on wedding sound in Barcelona and Catalonia.
The question most often missing at weddings isn’t technical: it’s who gives the cue for the couple to walk in.
— Sindy, founder and technical lead