The old TV ad, “Can You Hear Me, Now?”, was cute, but you want to ensure that the important family members and friends who have come to share in your wedding ceremony can hear what’s being said. While indoor ceremony spaces can prove a challenge if there are more than 30 guests, outside ceremony spaces have built in obstacles.
There are a number of noise issues, both natural and man made, that need to be considered. Stand in your ceremony space at about the time of your wedding. Listen carefully. Even if the space is secluded you might have issues with road noise from unseen but nearby roadways. Even the sound of wind in large trees can be a problem. And the sound of water from fountains or rivers can provide great white noise… that totally drowns out the sound of voices. And don’t forget the birds. They can be quite noisy, especially at certain times of the day. The trickiest one to plan for, though, is the wind. If it is strong, and blowing toward your officiant, their voice will be whisked totally away from the guests. And there is no way to plan for or avoid it if it happens.
The solution for all these situations is to make sure that the officiant and any readers, along with the two of you (especially if you’ve written your own vows for the ceremony) all have access to microphones. I have a number of audio systems available for the ceremonies I perform; one that can be plugged into electricity and two of different sizes that run on batteries. I also have a microphone headset that I prefer to wear, along with a hand held wireless microphone for readers and the couple.
Not all officiants have their own equipment, so make sure you ask when interviewing them. Other possible sources for audio equipment are your DJ, if he/she is providing ceremony music, and the venue itself. Audio equipment can also be rented from local rental stores, but if you go that route, make sure there is someone at the wedding who knows how to set-up and run the equipment.
Your wedding ceremony is special. It is the time when you cross the threshold into marriage. It is often something you’ve worked hard on, to ensure that it represents you as a couple. It is the beginning of the celebration on your wedding day. For all these reasons, you want to ensure that you and your guests can all hear the words that voice your commitment to each other and mark the beginning of your marriage journey. Happy listening.