When you hire sound for a wedding, the questions you ask up front decide whether the day runs smoothly or whether you spend the morning of the wedding fighting a microphone. The good news is that there are only a handful of questions that matter, and a decent hire company will answer all of them happily.
Here is the wedding sound system checklist to run through before you book.
Is there a wedding-specific package?
A company that does a lot of weddings will have a package built for them, rather than handing you a random PA and wishing you luck.
A wedding has specific needs: speeches, the first dance, and music through the day. Ask whether they have something designed for exactly that. Our wedding package is built around those three jobs and nothing you do not need, which is part of how we keep it affordable.
What does it actually cover, and are microphones included?
Check that the package covers the whole day, not just one moment, and that microphones are part of it.
Ours is two speakers on stands wired to a simple controller box, with inputs for a phone, an iPod, or a laptop for music, and two built-in wireless microphones for the speeches. That covers speeches, first dance, and background music from a single, simple setup. Always confirm that mics are included rather than an extra you discover later.
Is it simple to operate, and do you get training?
This is the question that saves the day. Ask whether the system is genuinely simple to use, and whether they show you how.
We deliberately keep our wedding package dead simple, and we give whoever collects it a quick in-house training session so they know how to set it up and run it. That single thing removes most of the worry. You should never be handed equipment and left to work it out from a manual on the morning of a wedding.
Can someone other than the couple collect it?
You will have enough on your plate, so check you do not have to do this yourself.
With us, it does not have to be the bride or groom. A groomsman, a parent, or any responsible family member can collect the kit and take the training. Delegating this is exactly the kind of small thing that takes pressure off the couple.
How long can you keep it, and what does it cost?
Ask about the hire period and the pricing model, because this is where weddings can quietly get good value.
We run three-day week pricing, so if you hire for more than three days you are only charged for three and can keep it for up to seven. Collect on the Thursday, return on the Monday, and it is a three-day charge. There is also no minimum spend, so a single microphone is fine, and our wedding package starts from £70 plus VAT. My advice is always to collect a few days early and have a five-minute test, so there are no surprises.
How does collection or delivery work?
Finally, check the practicalities. We deliver and collect locally, you can self-collect from our base in Llay, Wrexham, and for further afield we can arrange a courier. For the full picture, see our guide to mic hire for weddings and our wedding sound and lighting hire.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a wedding sound hire company?
Whether they have a wedding-specific package, what it covers, whether wireless microphones are included, whether it is simple to operate, whether they provide training at collection, the hire period, and any minimum spend.
Does a wedding sound system include microphones?
It should. Our wedding PA package includes two built-in wireless microphones, two speakers on stands, and a controller box for music.
How long can we keep a wedding sound system?
With three-day week pricing, collect a few days before and return a day or two after for a three-day charge. Collect Thursday, return Monday.
Do we get shown how to use it?
Yes. We give whoever collects a quick training session, and it does not have to be the bride or groom.
Planning the sound for your wedding in North Wales?
We keep wedding sound simple and affordable, with everything on this checklist sorted before you leave with the kit.
Get in touch and we will help you tick every box.
Darren Hughes is Director of Pivotal Sound & Lighting, an AV and event production company based in Llay, Wrexham, North Wales. PSL provides wedding sound and lighting hire across North Wales and the wider UK.