Organising a wedding is no small matter. But to make this event a success and unforgettable, it is essential to choose your wedding sound equipment correctly to create a fantastic atmosphere with the right music. Let’s see how to choose the sound system for your wedding!

1. Define your sound needs

Organising a wedding requires careful, detailed preparation. Before you start looking for suitable equipment, it is important to determine your needs and your budget for the event. To do so you can

Sound equipment for how many guests

Establishing the approximate number of guests who will attend your wedding will help you estimate the size of the room and therefore the quality of sound and lighting equipment needed to cover the reception.

The sound system will depend on the venue and the type of reception

Knowing the number of guests helps you choose the venue where the reception will take place. Whether it will be outdoors, in the open air or in an indoor function room, this will greatly influence your choice of sound equipment and suitable lighting systems to find those that fit the dimensions of each venue perfectly.

What type of music is planned?

Without necessarily preparing the playlist in advance, it is preferable to know what type of music to plan so you know which sound equipment to go for.

Indeed, each type of music requires suitable sound equipment to deliver better performance. There are several technical criteria to take into account, such as maximum volume, the acoustic frequencies of each type of music or the size of the space.

Have you planned any special entertainment?

Entertainment such as karaoke, DJ for the evening, musical games, VJ-ing may require a specific type of equipment. You may as well plan for it from the start.

What budget should you plan for my wedding’s sound system?

The budget allocated for hiring sound equipment must be set in advance. Company rates vary considerably, and the more options included, the higher the price. In France in 2023, the average cost of hiring a basic pack for sound at a wedding of 50 people was around €300 excl. VAT / evening with deposit (source: toulevenement.fr)

List of equipment to plan for your wedding sound system

Once these first questions are settled, it will be time to choose the equipment. Here are the main types of sound equipment to plan to set the mood at your wedding:

Speakers: speakers are the heart of your sound system. You will need quality speakers to broadcast music throughout the reception room. Speakers should be placed strategically to cover the whole area. Avoid placing them too close to the tables so as not to tire guests or damage their eardrums.

Mixing desk: the mixing desk is essential equipment for mixing and adjusting the sound of the different instruments and sound sources. It allows you to adjust volumes, bass and treble as needed.

Microphones: microphones are needed for speeches, announcements and entertainment. It is important to choose quality microphones that offer good vocal clarity.

Music player: A music player is needed to play recorded music. You can use a laptop, an MP3 player or a smartphone, and connect it to the mixing desk to play your playlist.

Cabling: cabling is essential for connecting all the equipment together. Make sure you have enough cables to connect all the elements to each other.

Lighting : A lighting system can add extra atmosphere to your wedding. You can opt for static lights or dynamic lights to add movement to the evening.

This equipment forms the basis of a standard wedding sound system. If you want to organise a live concert to surprise your guests, you will need to plan for much more.

How do you find a wedding sound company?

If you want to handle your wedding’s sound yourself, then you will need to look for local companies offering a professional service to guarantee the quality of the equipment provided. Here are a few leads to help you find the right professional.

Search for local companies

Searching for local companies is probably the best option for a professional service at the best possible price. You can start your search via a search engine, by asking your town hall or chamber of commerce, or on social media.

Compare services and rates

You have found a list of local, competitive companies offering a sound equipment hire service; now it is time to compare prices and services. Pushing prices down is not always a good idea, as you may get bad surprises on the big day. The best option remains to request one or more quotes from your providers, explaining your requirements as clearly as possible.

Quote requests

When you request the quote, make sure to define the service clearly to avoid nasty surprises. Quotes should include everything you need, such as the number of hours, the type of equipment and any extra options you want to include.

Questions like “what time do I have to return the equipment” or “what happens if the equipment malfunctions” help you frame the service as well as possible. Finally, also think about the guarantees announced by the wedding sound provider.

Check customer reviews

Make sure to read the recommendations of customers who have already hired sound equipment for their event. To do so, you can look at former customers’ reviews on Google, Facebook, etc. Reviews are often an excellent source of information for knowing whether a service is reliable or not.