Doing it Right When it Counts

The Sound of Music... and Voice at your Wedding Ceremony

Music and Voice to Move Mountains
Audio entails music and voice, an officiant reciting your vows, reading personally prepared vows, a family member presenting a poem,  music for  the processional, signing of the register and recessional.  Maybe pre ceremony music to set the mood before your ceremony begins.
 
Ambient noise can rob your guests of what’s being said, or maybe a reader is soft spoken and not accustomed to speaking before a large gathering.  For the officiant, a mic allows for vocal inflections and tonal gesturing. Imagine your officiant SPEAKING LOUDILY SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR… NOT VERY ROMANTIC, nor moving. 

And what of your music? Ceremonies are an emotional time and rightly so. You’ve spent time and energy deciding which songs to best represent your joy on this day, but when the music plays on that 15 watt Bose Home Music System from  your cousin’s apartment front room, or a house ceiling speaker sound system that sounds more like a tin can…. the moment arrives and nothing magical happens…. no bang, no heart strings resonating with joy and heart felt emotions, O.K.   I’m working it a bit, but you get the gist.
 
When the music plays it should be full and exciting, a fanfare, an announcement that you’ve arrived and are ready to walk down the aisle. To accomplish this you’re going to need a PA with some power. 
Having audio support allows your many guests to hear, appreciate, and most importantly be connected with each moment of your ceremony.
 
Good to Know, Now What?
Great news! Most DJ companies provide wedding ceremony services that should meet your basic needs. Keep in mind though not all companies are equal in this regard. So to help you establish a base line reference point I’ve listed what to look for in meeting a basic criterion:
 
>  Wireless clip mics, at a minimum one for your celebrant or officiant, after that one for you and your fiancée
    (one each or one between you)   
>  A wireless handheld mi, should a family member or other be presenting a poem or verse, (mic stand optional).
>  A PA (two speakers and a mixer) with a enough power (sound output) to provide music at volume without distortion.
>  Speaker stands dressed with nice skirting verses a tripod scratched and dusty from many seasons of use, cables
    neatly managed verses scattered about. (elegance and presentation shouldn’t stop with your audio service provider)
>  If outdoor at a remote location, battery powered system with back-up battery, avoid gas generators  or anything that’s
    going to make noise, or create an odor.
>  Your service provider should be able to provide a pre event planning form to list important songs and their  order.
    He/she should be on hand to manage your audio requirements.
>  Music playback system such as a laptop/iPod and back-up system should the need arise
 
Live Music to Move More Mountains
If planning on live performers discuss with your performers what they may  require, also discuss this with the DJ company as they will need to ensure they have the added equipment to meet any additional needs. Once again sound levels should be such that ALL can hear the music and not just those closest to the performer.
 
A Word about Weather, Mountains and Your Outdoor Ceremony
Have a plan B!
When first I arrived in the mountains I learned this. “If you want to survive while in the back country, be prepared to turn around and accept that you may have to abandon your original plans”. We see many sunny days, but sometimes it rains, this is a good thing or we’d be more like Arizona with many shades of brown. Here in the mountains the weather can sometimes change from sunny to rainy. The last thing you want to do is expose your family and many guests to an afternoon rain shower… especially if your location is removed from immediate shelter.
  
Your guests have traveled far and wide to be with you, recognize and accept plan B if the weather is proving unpredictable, indoor will keep the stress meter at low both for you and your guests.

And… if it’s a sunny, rainy, sunny, rainy kind of day, and your plan is to hit that sunny window, don’t be late because that awesome window of sunshine won’t wait for you before the next rain shower arrives. ​​