Sound system for wedding venue

Marmiter

I am looking for some advice for the best way to play music for the ceremony and meal at my wedding in June.

The venue has no music system, we have a DJ booked for the evening so we just need a way of playing music:

a) during the ceremony (i.e. entrance music & whilst signing the register) so would not need it to be too loud.

b) some background music during the meal, which is in a large dining room so would need to be heard at a similar level across the whole room.

There is WiFi available, and apparently plenty of power outlets. So I was wondering if we would just be able to use an ipod, or mobile phone connected to a number of bluetooth speakers, or if we would need to hire a Sonos type of system?

Am grateful for any advice, particularly as MSE as possible

Robin9

Is the evening do with the DJ in the same room as the meal ? If so your DJ might be able to provide.

For the ceremony use a CD player

Marmiter

Unfortunately, the DJ is in a different room to the ceremony and the meal so he will be set up for the evening reception only.

We don't own a CD player so I was thinking that if we were having to buy or borrow a sound system, we might as well get one that will serve a dual purpose for the ceremony and the meal.

If we had a number of bluetooth speakers, could they all be connected to one source?

Looking at the JBL Flip 4 for example, it would appear that we could connect several - but they are around £80 each.
Are there any similar speakers which are cheaper, but still offer a good sound?

alan_d

Marmiter wrote: »

If we had a number of bluetooth speakers, could they all be connected to one source?

Generally - no - unless it's a multi-speaker system like the Sonos - which has clever tricks built in to keep the sound from each speaker in-sync with each other.

You may be better going old-skool with an amplifier and several wired speakers - maybe talk to a professional audio hire place.
If buying this (probably) won't be cheap!

Cisco001

How big is the room?
Will a 40W little speaker do the job?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Tronsmart-Powerful-Portable-Waterproof-black/dp/B07KWQD6HV/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1550845599&sr=1-2&keywords=Portable+Wireless+Subwoofer+Speaker

Instead of bluetooth, you may just get a phone/ mp3 player and use 3.5mm aux

Cash-Cows

Unless you really are on a budget then you are better leaving this to the pros or the sound could be simply awful or worse you get equipment failure. Get an experienced sound engineer from a good local music shop. It will be something you won't have to worry about.

parking_question_chap

We need dimensions of the room to provide appropriate suggestions. But if this is an average sized reception then really you are either going to need some hifi seperates as a minimum not some small bluetooth device. A small set up in a large room will sound awful, the size of the room couples with a low power set up without any decent mid range or low frequency is not worth doing, you would be better off with no music at all.

Please dont waste money on the speakers you have mentioned with a power of 16watts and a frequency range of 70 - 20,000 Hz they will sound awful. When it comes to audio you really do get what you pay for.

Suggest getting some second hand seperates on ebay. Maybe spending £200 for cd player, amplifier and floorstanding speakers. If you stick to decent brands you should be able to sell them on after for about the same amount. Suggest mission speakers and either NAD or marantz cd player and amplifier. At that price they will probably be about 10 years old but will sound miles better than that JBL speaker. You could even get a phono to 3.5mm jack cable and use your phone as the source instead of a cd player.

Marmiter

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, and apologies that I haven't been back sooner to respond!

Am not sure of the dimensions of the room, but the ceilings are quite high so over people's voices then the music may get a bit lost.

Will go back to the venue and see if they can offer any advice on what other weddings have done.

RumRat

Don't bother, no one will be listening to it during the meal and speeches. As you say, it will be lost over the general noise of the guests. You'll either try ramping it up and annoying people or no one hearing it anyway.
Best let them enjoy the music via the DJ in the other room at the appropriate time IMO.....
Whatever you choose, have a great day.