Picking Out the Right PA System for a Wedding

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Naturally, everything has to be perfect when it comes to wedding parties. This includes the toast, the speeches given by best men and women, and of course the music — in other words, the sound system on location has to be up to snuff. Not sure what you need or where to start? No worries, wedding DJ Sebastian is here to give you some pointers and a couple of recommendations.

The Booth: Mixer, DJ Gear and Microphones

Every big party needs a proper command centre which, in the case of wedding parties, is the DJ booth. This is where the magic happens, but what do you need to weave those sonic spells in the first place?

» DJ Booths

Mixer and DJ Gear

If you’re a wedding DJ, you probably know exactly what you need. Most DJs prefer a Pioneer-based set-up with a DJM mixer and at least two CDJ decks. If you’re the wedding planner, the groom or the bride, then ask the DJ you’ve hired what they need. Every DJ will prefer slightly different gear and it’s important that they’re comfortable with the set-up made available to them.

» Pioneer DJ DJM Mixers
» Pioneer DJ CDJ Decks

Picking Out the Right PA System for a Wedding

Microphones

For most wedding parties, you’re going to need at least two microphones for announcements, speeches and MC’ing, including at least one wireless microphone (like this Samson Stage wireless microphone system). If you have any artists or bands booked for the big day, then be sure to request a technical rider so you can properly accommodate their needs, and consult with your MC to make sure that all of the technical requirements are met.

» Vocal Microphones
» Wireless Vocal Microphones

Picking Out the Right PA System for a Wedding

Setting Up Your Audio Gear

It sounds obvious, but the way you position your speakers has a huge impact on the general ambience and the way the guests experience the night.

Mistake #1: Not Creating Separate Areas for Dancing and Chatting

The average wedding crowd can be roughly split into two groups: people who love to let loose on the dance floor and people who prefer to sit back and chat. As such, it’s important to create designated areas to accommodate both groups. A good way to do this is to create a mingling area with some tables and seating near the bar and create a (square) dance floor on the other side of the room, marked with a PA speaker on every corner that projects the sound towards the centre of the dance floor.

Mistake #2: Placing Two Speakers Next to the DJ

A common mistake when designing the dance floor is to spend a lot of time choosing the right music, only to then set up the two speakers right next to the DJ. This forces you to turn the volume up to max in order to reach the entire dance floor, resulting in uncomfortably loud sound right next to the speakers and poor sound quality at the back.

To avoid the risk of an empty dance floor, it’s best to spread out the PA speakers, preferably placing one in each corner of the dance floor, facing inward. This way, every inch of the dance floor is covered, and you won’t have to turn the volume up to eleven for everyone to enjoy the music.

Better yet, mount the speakers on top of speaker stands so the middle and high frequencies can be carried further. If the sound travels above everyone’s head, it can’t be absorbed or blocked by the crowd. I do recommend paying special attention when picking out speaker stands because you want them to be sturdy, stable and safe.

The devil’s always in the details, but if you get the gear properly set up, there’ll be a great atmosphere for both the avid dancers and the chit-chatters among your family and friends.

Picking Out the Right PA System for a Wedding

Picking the Right Kind of Speakers

Speakers come in various types, shapes and sizes. Here’s what you (probably) want for your wedding party:

Active Speakers

Active speakers are the most popular option for wedding DJs. These speakers feature a built-in amplifier module that eliminates the need for a standalone amp, keeping the sound system more compact and making it easier to set up swiftly. In fact, active speakers are ideal for any event or party where set-up efficiency matters.

High-Low Frequency Balance

You can only get rich, full-range sound from a system that’s able to properly reproduce both the high and low frequencies. As such, you’ll want to go with full-range speakers combined with one or more subwoofers.

Het kiezen van het juiste geluidssysteem voor trouwfeesten
Two full-range speakers on top of a subwoofer

The Right Number of Speakers

Generally speaking, it’s better to have too many speakers than too few. After all, speakers that aren’t pushed to their maximum output usually deliver clearer sound than speakers that are straining to deliver enough volume. Here, the number of guests at the party is a good indicator for what you need.

Recommended set-up for up to 50 guests: at least four full-range speakers set up in the corners of the dance floor.
Recommended set-up for 50 to 75 guests: the same set-up as above with the addition of an active subwoofer for fuller sound.
Recommend set-up for 75 to 100 guests: the same set-up as above with the addition of two active subwoofers for fuller sound. More subs might be worth adding if the number of guests exceeds 100.

A helpful rule of thumb is to factor in 7 or 8 Watts of output power per guest. With output power I’m referring to the RMS power capacity, not to the peak power limit.
If possible, always go for speakers and subwoofers from the same series (e.g. a Devine Axeo full-range active speaker and matching subwoofer). This way, you’re assured of fully optimised sound and compatible inputs and outputs.

» Active Full-Range Speakers
» Active Subwoofers
» Speaker Stands

Configuring the ideal speaker system for parties and weddings can be difficult when you aren’t versed in audio gear and the various different specifications. I hope my tips have pushed you in the right direction, but feel free to leave any questions in the comments below!