We’ve heard it a million times – being a mobile DJ is so much more than spinning music. Clients, especially brides and grooms, are looking for a DJ who can offer more than just reception music. When it comes to weddings, that means offering ceremony and cocktail services! Let’s face it, people want to be efficient. If they can get all of their entertainment in one place they’re going to do it. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why DJs are now almost required to be a ceremony and cocktail audio specialists. To that end, building the perfect ceremony and cocktail system is essential!
It’s important to learn the nuances of doing sound for a wedding ceremony. However, it’s just as important to make sure you have the right gear for the job. A good ceremony system involves quality microphones that won’t lose signal in our world of congested airwaves. It also involves a good speaker or pair of speakers, some sort of audio mixer, and a way to connect a music source. While you can obviously go beyond these basics, these components make up the core of a good system.
A cocktail system is similar. Because you aren’t mic’ing an officiant, you may be able to do with a simple wired microphone for brief logistical announcement. You’ll still want a quality speaker or two and a music input. An audio mixer (especially if you work with musicians) can also For both of these systems, many DJs chose to prioritize sound quality and a small footprint over raw power. Ceremonies and cocktail hours and more formal affairs, and blending into the surroundings without drawing attention should be a key focus when designing your system. So let’s dive into the basics of building the perfect ceremony and cocktail system.
Microphones
I’ll be honest, doing ceremony sound is one of my least favorite parts of being a wedding DJ. There’s so much pressure to have perfect and flawless execution. With that being said, it’s much less stressful to provide ceremony audio when you know your equipment is rock solid.
A quality wireless microphone (or even better, a pair) is the best starting point. Nothing else will matter if your microphone cuts out during the ceremony! There are many different types of microphones, but UHF seems to be the standard. Most DJs opt to use a lapel microphone on the officiant to provide the best pickup and smallest visual footprint. Having an additional wireless handheld microphone on hand for vows (and backup) is a smart move. With this being said, a dual-mic receiver with a small footprint is a great choice for a ceremony system. Upgrading the 1/4 wave antennas (the small ones included with most systems) to 1/2 waves or a directional antenna can improve the reception immensely. Microphones can be purchased based on specific frequency ranges, so check with your gear specialist to find the best frequencies for your area.
Like I mentioned earlier, you may not need expensive wireless microphones for your cocktail system. If the only announcement you need to make during cocktail hour is to move to the dinner area, a durable wired microphone can get the job done.
Audio Mixers
Once you’ve tackled microphones, you’ll want a mixer to combine your audio sources. The most basic way to mix a ceremony or cocktail hour would be using the built-in speaker controls. Many DJ speakers have multiple inputs, from RCA to 1/4″ and XLR. Unfortunately, this requires the DJ to be standing directly behind the speaker throughout the ceremony. This may not be ideal if you need the speaker to be closer to the audience while you stand in a more discreet location.
Instead, a small dedicated audio mixer allows you more control over both your location and the audio sources themselves. You don’t need a large 32 channel soundboard! A small 4 or 8 channel mixer is more than enough. This gives you space for a couple of microphones, your main audio input, and a backup music source. Great features to have on board include separate gain and volume controls, EQ settings, and XLR outputs. An additional output to send a signal to a videographer will earn you massive points with other vendors. If you’re building your system within a rack, there are a handful of rackmount options that only take up a space or two.
Speakers
Picking out microphones and a mixer are the hard parts of the process. Choosing speakers is a lot more straightforward! Technically, any good PA speaker can work at ceremonies or cocktail hours. However, something that is worth prioritizing is a sleek, modern cabinet that’s not too big. Because we aren’t providing chest-pounding music for the dance party, a small 8″ or 10″ woofer is more than enough. Many manufacturers, including Bose and JBL, have created compact powered speakers with built-in mixers that are perfect for this purpose. Column array speakers have become extremely popular for receptions, and a small column array can also work for a ceremony or cocktail hour – their wide-angle coverage pattern is perfect for the task.
One decision you have to make is whether you want to use a single speaker or a pair. For this, you’ll need to think about your typical wedding ceremony size and location. For example, in my own business, I normally had ceremony audiences of less than 50 people. These ceremonies usually took place outside in garden spaces, backyards, and on small patios. For this reason, I chose to use a single speaker positioned close to the audience. This reduced my setup time and the visual impact of my system – a win for both me and my clients!
Racks and Stands
In keeping with the theme of low-profile and discreet, assembling the gear in your system is just as important as the gear itself. Plenty of DJs choose to build their ceremony and cocktail systems into a rack to save space and keep things neat. One benefit of putting your microphones, audio mixers, and cables into one box is obvious – it’s completely grab-and-go. When you arrive at the venue, just pop the lids off, plug your cables in, and you’re good to go. You can go with a full depth case for extra space or a half depth case if you don’t need the storage.
You’ll need a place to set your gear as well. A good x-stand (like those used for keyboards) with a scrim is an easy solution. If you’re working with a small rig and say, an iPad, you can purchase a small shelf that attaches to your speaker stand to set your equipment on. Whatever you choose, it’s important to keep those cables tidy. I know, I know, “clean up your cables,” you’ve heard it a million times. Well, when it comes to weddings, clean and professional is key! Keep some cable wraps and gaffer tape in your rack with all your supplies. Oh, and did I mention extra batteries?
Bringing it All Together
If you’re ready to jump into the ceremony audio game or upgrade your setup, you’re going to want to focus on four key components. First off, at least one (or two) quality wireless microphones with frequencies chosen based on where you live. Second, a way to mix your microphones and audio sources as well as shape the sound. Third, one or two compact and powerful speakers with a wide degree of coverage and clean sound. And lastly, a sturdy stand or shelf to hold your equipment.
When building the perfect ceremony and cocktail system, what would you include? Let us know down in the comments!
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