Travelling with music equipment - How do I declare it?

Funqi

We're having our wedding reception in Spain in the summer. It was originally booked for 2020, but Covid meant we got married here, but we're still going ahead with this, since we have family in Spain & South America who are coming.

Since I and most of my friends are professional musicians, we're gonna do the music ourselves. It's quite common at a musician's wedding that all the friends just take turns to play a few songs. So I want to take a small PA system. We're travelling by ferry, so it will all go in the back of my car.
The thing is, since it's not for touring or work, I can't find any information about how, or with whom I need to declare my equipment? I don't want to arrive at the port and have problems with customs just for some speakers, amps and some instruments etc.

I found this on gov website, but it kinda looks like it's saying "Just tell the bloke at customs it's for your own use and you might not need an "ATA Carnet", but I don't want to rely on "might", I want to be sure I've done it right.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-performing-and-touring-in-europe-guidance-for-musicians-and-accompanying-staff#transporting-musical-instruments-or-equipment

It's so confusing even trying to find out how to get an ATA Carnet and gov website says I'll even need software to submit an application. Really cofused!
Hugely appreciate if someone could point me in the right direction, thanks.

SiliconChip

This is the part of the gov.uk website that you need:

https://www.gov.uk/taking-goods-out-gb-temporarily 

However, if that doesn't give you the full answer that you're looking for and nobody else can help I would suggest looking at photography websites and forums as I would expect that the expensive equipment most frequently taken abroad is cameras and lenses, so they have almost certainly faced this issue many times before.

theoretica

If any of you have *any* ivory on your instruments (eg on violin bows) do remember to get that certificate.  https://www.ism.org/news/how-ivory-act-affects-musicians

Funqi

SiliconChip said:

This is the part of the gov.uk website that you need:

https://www.gov.uk/taking-goods-out-gb-temporarily 

However, if that doesn't give you the full answer that you're looking for and nobody else can help I would suggest looking at photography websites and forums as I would expect that the expensive equipment most frequently taken abroad is cameras and lenses, so they have almost certainly faced this issue many times before.

Oh that's a great idea, thanks, I'll have a look. The gov site seems to be saying just get to the port and see what they say, but that just sounds mad to me. If they say no I can't take it, then I end up missing my ferry. I'll see what the photographers say.

@theoretica Thanks for that. I'm only taking a guitar, microphones, speakers & cables. Nothing with any ivory or exotic materials.