No amplified sound at ceremony/reception - need advice

What do you mean by amplified sound? I too am getting married outdoors at a park that has regulations, but they are just that we have to keep the music down after 10:00 PM. If anything you really need a PA system when you are reciting your vows because no one will be able to hear you. I have been to a few outdoor weddings and everyone was upset that no one could hear the bride and groom

The property manager said they are very strict about noise so we could only use a CD player or iPod dock, no live music with amplifiers or DJ. I'm looking into purchasing a microphone that we can use when reciting our vows and for speeches but I was more concerned about the music for the reception and the ceremony. I've been to parties where we used an iPod playlist for the night but having a DJ makes a world of difference. I'm really torn. :-/

I cannot believe they will not allow you to *project* the sound in any fashion. You have to think that if you are using a laptop - and the laptop speakers - if people are talking and eating they probably will not be able to hear it at all. I guess it depends on how many guests you are going to have because that will determine the noise level of the guests. If your wedding is taking place outside, the sound will also have no walls to bounce off of, which is something you do have during like a house party or whatnot. My main concern would be if the guests would be able to hear the music from an iPod dock or whatever you planned on using.

We're in the same boat. I have a small, $100 iPod speaker that I used to use when I taught aerobics-- it was loud enough/good quality for that, so I'm hoping it could work for the wedding, too. We're only having about 80 guests, so it would need to reach too far.

That's my concern too. I feel like no one will hear the music and won't dance or have fun.

Can you do a trial run? Like take a CD player to the venue and crank up the music just to see how loud it will be?

A trial run is a great idea. The venue is in Hawaii and we live in California so we won't be able to do a trial run before the week of the wedding. We live near a beach though so maybe we'll test something out here. Thanks Jennifer!

I just know when we have backyard parties we have an iPod dock on the deck and the bonfire is at the back of the yard. When we are back there with the fire going you cannot hear it at all.

I am in the same boat. We are getting married at a state park and can't use any speakers, microphones, iPods, etc. (Sound carried down the river to the camp sites). We 're allowed one acoustic instrument (we are hiring a guitar player). We are going to just have to really project our voices during our short ceremony. We are not having a dance or any reception music.

Deal breaker.

The tron monster iPod/audio dock is not bad. I am using that one at my ceremony. Or the Harman Kardon® Soundsticks III 2.1 Channel Multimedia Sound System