TOO SOFT, TOO LOUD. EITHER CAN PUT A DAMPER ON YOUR WEDDING DANCE PARTY.

Jun 24, 2011 03:51 PM Back

Louder doesn't necessarily mean better at weddings. Likewise, if you're envisioning a rocking dance party in a venue that gets persnickety about noise, you may also be disappointed by choosing the wrong spot.

Based on our experience spinning hundreds of weddings for music-loving couples coast to coast, this post aims to provide couples with hints on how to turn your wedding music aspirations into reality with minimal stress.

VOLUME
Unless you are planning a Woodstock-style wedding on Max Yasgur's 600-acre farm in Bethel, N.Y., you probably don't need the excessively loud sound system being touted by some traditional wedding DJs.

Our approach to making sure the audio is perfect for a wedding is to gain a thorough understanding of the size, shape and acoustics of the room where a wedding reception will be held. Speaking with the maitre d' about what works, and what doesn't work, is part of our planning process. Because people absorb sound, we also add speakers for larger parties.

What we don't do is try to knock the building down with excessive bass or an audio setup more appropriate for a Bon Jovi concert at the Meadowlands.

Venue owners appreciate the care Scratch Weddings takes to match our professional sound system with the unique characteristics of their properties – which range from 19th century mansions and converted foundries to chic hotels and country club ballrooms. Our dedicated event managers, who come standard with all of our wedding packages, ensure that your wedding DJ and your audio system are the right fit for the venue.

We've all been stuck in traffic next to a car equipped with a woofer capable of causing hearing loss for anyone within 500 yards. If that audio engineering recklessness was applied to a venue, the result could be a ruined evening for all but a few hearty guests and maybe worse.

"This chandelier has been hanging here for 150 years," said the banquet manager at one Long Island Gold Coast mansion. "It's my job to make sure no DJ vibrates this room too much, so we can have weddings here for another 150 years."

VENUE RULES
That said, if a couple seeks a rocking dance floor for their wedding reception, certain venues may be entirely incompatible.

For example, if there are guest sleeping rooms above the reception room, chances are you won't be able to party into the wee hours of the morning – at least with loud music. Venues located in residential areas may also be unwilling to grant carte blanche to the couple and their DJ.

Here are a few questions to ask the venues you are considering:

- Are there noise restrictions that would require volume to be limited to a certain level?
- Do we have to stop the music at a certain time? When is that?
- Will we be required to utilize the venue's "house sound" system, how much extra does that cost, and when can we test it to see if it is adequate for the dance party we are planning?

Thanks to the Internet age in which we live, it will be pretty easy to check reviews on sites like Yelp to determine how satisfied guests are with a particular venue, and what the vibe is like for parties held there.

Careful research and asking the right questions will make sure you aren't planning a rock concert inside a china shop.

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