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Your Essential AV Hire Guide for a Flawless Wedding

When planning a wedding, the audio-visual (AV) details are often the ones left until last. Yet, they are the elements that ensure your guests share in every key moment.

From the heartfelt speeches to the first dance, the right AV setup is the invisible thread that ties your perfect day together. As audio hire specialists, we know that a little planning goes a long way. Here’s our essential guide to ensure your wedding's sound and visuals are remembered for all the right reasons.

1. Don't Just Plan the Music—Plan the Speeches

The most critical audio element of any wedding isn't the DJ's playlist; it's the speeches. You only get one chance to hear the father-of-the-bride's toast or the best man's heartfelt (and hopefully humorous) stories. If guests at the back can't hear, it's a moment lost forever.

  • Microphones are Non-Negotiable: Even in a small-sounding room, voices do not carry over the sound of dinner and quiet chatter. A simple PA system with microphones is essential.
  • Choose the Right Mic: A handheld wireless microphone is perfect for the MC and for passing around during speeches. A lectern microphone is a great, stable option for anyone doing a longer reading.
  • Outdoor Challenges: If your ceremony is outdoors, you must hire a PA system. Wind, traffic, and even a gentle breeze will carry your vows away. We can provide discreet lapel mics for the officiant and couple, along with windshields to ensure every word is captured clearly.

2. Create the Atmosphere: Sound and Lighting

Beyond the speeches, your hired AV is what creates the mood.

  • Reception Sound: A high-quality sound system is vital. It needs to be capable of providing clear, subtle background music during dinner and then delivering the energy and bass needed to get the dance floor started. Let us know your venue size and guest numbers, and we can advise on the right speaker package.
  • Lighting Sets the Scene: Never underestimate the power of lighting. A few simple uplighters, set to your wedding's theme colour, can completely transform a generic function room into a warm, romantic space.
  • Showcase Your Story: Hiring a projector and screen is a popular and simple way to add a personal touch. You can run a photo slideshow during dinner or play a video message from family members who couldn't attend.

3. Key Questions to Ask Before You Hire

A successful event depends on good planning. Before you book your gear, find out the answers to these key questions:

  • What can the venue really provide? Many venues will say they have an "in-house PA," but it may only be suitable for basic announcements, not for music or dynamic speeches. Ask to see and hear it.
  • Where are the power sockets? You need to know where you can plug equipment in. This will determine where your DJ can set up and where speakers can be placed.
  • Who will run the equipment? Are you designating a tech-savvy friend to manage the music and microphones? If so, make sure they are comfortable with the setup before the guests arrive.

4. Consider Hiring a Technician

The most valuable item you can hire for your wedding day isn't a speaker; it's peace of mind.

If you are running the AV yourselves, you are responsible for any troubleshooting. What happens if there's a feedback squeal? What if the laptop with the music fails?

By hiring one of our AV technicians for the event, you have a professional on-site to manage everything. They will conduct all the sound checks, balance the microphone levels, play the music cues, and fix any issue before you even know it happened. You get to focus on your day, and your guests get a flawless experience.

Meticulous AV planning is the key to a stress-free celebration. Talk to us about your venue and your vision. We are specialists in turning your plans into a beautifully sounding and visually stunning reality.