After the Wedding
After the wedding, I wait until all the visitors have left the sanctuary before I start putting up any stage equipment.
I also take down typical onstage equipment such as microphone stands and music stands because that’s where the wedding party will have photographs taken.
Once everything is put away, I hand the wedding coordinator an audio copy of the wedding.
If they have a videographer, I hand it to them instead.
Even if the videographer had an audio patch into the system, a separate audio copy might be helpful. They have their own horror stories.
Finally, I check in with the wedding coordinator. This usually is a simple “I’m done and I’ve put away all the equipment. Do you need anything else?” I’ve never been needed further but it’s best to ask.
But Wait, There’s More
Weddings are ripe for problems of any nature. I don’t know why, they’re just like that. So, you need to plan for emergencies during the wedding. These can include:
• A spare wireless microphone behind the pulpit
• A spare XLR cable hidden on the stage
• A baseball bat to stop any ringing cell phones
• A plan if the power goes out
You know, just the usual…
The last one is very important. The wedding coordinator helps with the wedding. You help with the audio. If something happens with the electricity, who is in charge?
We’ve all been to a beautiful summer wedding but storms happen and tornadoes can pop up out of nowhere. Establish who will be in charge.
If the power goes out, does the service go on from the light of the exit lamps? If so, do you have a backup system that powers the sound system?
Usually the pastor for the wedding is the pastor of the church, so they take charge when emergencies occur. However, that’s not always the case, so by knowing who is in charge, emergencies can be managed properly.
In the End
Remember a wedding service is a unique experience between two people. You want the service to be flawless.
You don’t get a second chance.
What Bad Wedding Audio Experiences Have You Witnessed? What Wedding Audio Advice Can You Share? Let us know in the comments below!
Ready to learn and laugh? Chris Huff writes about the world of church audio at Behind The Mixer. He covers everything from audio fundamentals to dealing with musicians. He can even tell you the signs the sound guy is having a mental breakdown.