Is the Ceremony Sound System Worth It Outside?

[TiffinyKaye]

Hi everyone--

So, I've been out of commission doing homework. I'm DONE! And I have a question, since we're trying to trim our BEO a it.

Is an outdoor sound system worth it at an Epcot ceremony? We've doing a 9 AM ceremony at Epcot with a violinist. They charged us $900 for a sound system and one cent for a violinist. I would imagine that they're included in the same price there. The violinist is like $600-something. So, I would imagine they're included together for that full $900.

The thing is...I'm not sure we need the sound system? We have a very small ceremony with 20 people total. I'm not sure microphones and stuff are necessary. Plus, the idea of having speakers in my photos seems icky....

What has been everyone else's experience?

Tiffiny

 

[lurkyloo]

If you're under the new 2014/2015 pricing, the sound system and the violinist are included in the ceremony fee. Otherwise, $900 is the going rate for a sound system in Epcot.

Disney's rule of thumb is 25 guests or more and you really should have a sound system, so technically you don't need one. However, if you're on the fence, my feeling is that the ceremony is the whole point of the entire day, so I'd make darn sure everyone can hear it.

I was at a Disney wedding in Epcot with 60 guests and no sound system, and I caught maybe 1/3 of what was going on at the altar (couldn't really see either cuz everyone was snapping pix with their phones). That's a lot larger group than you'll have, though.

 

[microgrl]

The sound system was definitely worth it for us. We had around 30 people in our group. The big reason it was worth it for us is that the waterfall in Canada is really loud! However, you may have less of a problem with background noise in Japan. We also used an iPod for the ceremony music rather than having live music.

As to the speakers, I don't remember seeing them at the ceremony or in the pictures. My hubby says he remembers seeing them but he couldn't tell me where they were so who knows. Hope this helps!

 

[elphie101]

If this helps you at all, here is the only pic I have so far of my ceremony space (Italy of course, not Japan). I honestly had to look for the speakers to find them and everyone will be looking at YOU and your nearly-hubby anyway!

I also agree with Carrie - it is the most important part of the day, so why not make sure everyone hears it? Especially if you're under the new pricing and it's included anyway.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Okay. Thanks to everyone for your feedback. We'll probably keep the sound system then and just eat the cost. :/ I'd like to remove it, just because I think everyone will be able to hear what's going on (we have 16 people sitting, and 4 people standing). Not to mention...horrible person that I am...the wedding is for me and my fiance, not my guests. They can complain later that they didn't hear anything, and I'll say, "I'm sorry you had a bad time. Did you get a free party though? Thought so."

As for the most important part of the day...I guess I'm looking less forward to the ceremony than I am to the other aspects. In my head, walking down the aisle is what I'm looking forward to at the ceremony. And the kiss. DF is a boring jerk and doesn't want to do ANY vows other than saying "I do" after our officiant reads some of the general ones. So...all of the really romantic "meaning" in a wedding ceremony won't be there (like yours, Jen--your stuff was GORGEOUS in the video you shared!!!).

Bad person I am...all I am super looking forward to is the walking down the aisle, the major domo, and the kiss. Lots of that doesn't include sound. The rest of the day revolves around food and cake...which is probably why I'm looking forward to it more?

Yeah...I definitely sound like a bad person. It's all the co-habitating that DF and I have been doing for the past three years. I think unlike a lot of couples, we really don't feel like we're 'starting the next chapter of ours lives.' We're just having an awesome event in Disney to commemorate our commitment to each other. We'll have really awesome pictures/video to look back on...which will probably make me look bad more nostalgically on the wedding than I would from memory alone. We'll have Lavalieres from the videographers to pick up the sound for the video.

We'll talk it out...figure out what we want to do. At this juncture, we still owe Disney about $1,200 (and that's with the sound system). I guess it's not too bad. It's only money, right?

 

[bigr3ddog]

We have thirty at our Italy wedding. Our consultant recommended forgoing the sound system and using a violinist to save some money. She also said to make sure our officiant is loud, which he is.

 

[asunnysideup]

Are you under the newer pricing? If so, you won't have to eat any cost - it's included! If you forego it, you'll still be paying the same ceremony site fee.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

We have thirty at our Italy wedding. Our consultant recommended forgoing the sound system and using a violinist to save some money. She also said to make sure our officiant is loud, which he is.

Mushu--we're going to see if we can do that, too, I think. The problem is getting a hold of my planner. Her assistant quit a few weeks back (literally, like two days before my 45-day mark). The assistant was phenomenal. It's not that the planner isn't either (in fact, I love my planner!)--it's just that the "catching up" period for her new assistant is apparently pretty long. I'm getting nothing. :/ I ask five questions, and only three of them get answered.

That's where I am now. I asked the other day about the sound system and how that'd affect the price...and she answered all my questions except that one. Oh well. We might keep the sound system anyway, because DF is super quiet.

Tiffiny

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Are you under the newer pricing? If so, you won't have to eat any cost - it's included! If you forego it, you'll still be paying the same ceremony site fee.

I'm not sure I am under the pricing structure that includes the sound system (in fact, I'm pretty sure I'm not). I've asked if there's a price difference if we forego the sound system, but haven't heard back yet (again, because my planner's assistant quit and getting responses back has been crazy).

 

[bigr3ddog]

If your ceremony venue is $2300 in epcot, you're under old pricing and sound is not included. An outdoor system will run a little over $900. If you're having video, then you'll want it. Both of us are pretty quiet, but we didn't feel that $900 for sound was worthwhile, and we're not doing video.

 

[lthiesfeld07]

My wedding is July 13, 2015 in Italy. I thought I read through my contract fully, but maybe I didn't.

Is it correct that the sound system IS included? That would be wonderful if it is!!

 

[lurkyloo]

It depends on whether your contract is under the new rules or the old rules. If you are required to meet an enhancement minimum, that means you're under the new rules and the sound system is included.

 

[lthiesfeld07]

Excellent! Thanks Carrie! I'm under the new rules!

 

[lthiesfeld07]

Duplicate post..