If your ceremony will be at your your wedding venue (on-site), check to see if they offer amplification as it varies by venue.
The following insight is meant to be helpful…
Why do I need this?
If you have more than a small circle of guests, and don’t want to SHOUT to be heard, then YES you will need to be amplified. A ceremony sound system is exclusively for the marrying couple and the officiant (to be heard). The musician you’ve hired will have an amp for their guitar or piano…string players need no amplification.
What about the musicians amp? Can we use that?
The short answer is no…amps for instruments are not designed for speaking…it won’t sound good…at all.
Can’t you just give us a microphone?
A microphone doesn’t work on its own, it needs to be plugged into a sound system (mixer and speakers), which needs to be run by a professional sound engineer.
Does my venue provide a sound system?
This varies by venue – some have in-house PA systems (like Bowery Hotel, Liberty Warehouse, Clarks Landing), some have coffee-house type small systems they’ll set up and run for you (Inn at Longshore, Tappan Hill Mansion). Check with your venue to see exactly what they offer. If they don’t, then contact your bandleader for options.
Will my officiant have a sound system?
Rarely does an officiant own or provide a sound system, even though it’s a necessary part of the equipment they need to do their job. They’ll say the band is responsible for all sound related service….however….
Why doesn’t the band provide this?
We can, but every wedding is different and not all ceremonies are on site. Also, this is not a park of a standard wedding band package, it’s an add-on for literally every wedding band or agency on the planet.
Exactly what can you provide?
The Storytellers’ sound company provides a small system (which is completely different than the big system for the dinner/dance). Our smaller system comes with a wireless microphone, elevated speakers, and our engineer runs it during the ceremony. As you can see in the photo, there is a microphone – it plugs into the mixing board – which powers the speakers…all of this works together, not independently.
Can I rent a system and DIY it?
Sure, if you know how to run sound and want to do this on your wedding day, then go for it! But don’t expect free services from a professional sound engineer to help you if you can’t figure out how to make the rental work.
When do I need to decide about this?
We encourage our couples to reserve this at 2-3 months out from the wedding date to ensure availability.
This is giving me a headtache!
Don’t consider this to be a problem! However it is a detail that is often ignored until it’s too late and inventory is tapped out, so be sure to set up your rental well in advance.
Want to talk about this? Give us a call at 917-570-6609 or email storytellersnyc@gmail.com