Music that’s too loud, will be uncomfortable to listen to. Your guests comfort is priority one. Weddings have many guests from young to old. Everyone will have a different opinion of what is too loud.
Lot’s of event locations have restrictions on how loud you can be. “Maximum Loudness”
All event halls will have a maximum sound level. Many contracts will outline how loud your DJ can be (or) at what time in the evening you have to reduce the sound level. Indoor events are more forgiving to loudness than an outdoor event.
Once the party is pumping, it is a total bummer to be told to turn down the music.
SPL “Sound pressure level” can be uncomfortable when it’s too high. Weddings and regular events do not need to be “rock concert loud.” The sound level at a rock concert can range from 100db to 115db. Near a speaker stack it could be 125db.
I like to run an SPL db meter app on my tablet during the event so that I can monitor loudness in real time during the event. The meter app is also great for sound quality. I can see a frequency spectrum of the sound being played and I can adjust EQ levels to shape the sound to fit better in the event space. Not all event spaces are the same. The size of the room can impact how sound bounces against the walls, floor and ceiling. Outdoor events are more challenging because you do not have the reflection of sound from walls.
Let’s take a look at some basic sound levels at a typical wedding.
Guest arriving to the event: This level will be very soft, just loud enough to be noticed. The sound system is primed and ready to go. Anyway people are mingling, hugging and talking. They do not need music yet. Sound level is at 10% or less
Ceremony: This is a task-driven loudness. The seating music will be soft so guests can talk with each other. This is a gathering time. Loudness will increase for the bride and groom entrance and exit. Sound level is at 15-20%
Cocktails: Music will be loud enough that people can here the rhythm and feel the bass. This is a social time and everyone is talking, sharing war stories and catching up. The music may get the guests to tap their feet to the beat or move around to the beat. No dancing yet. Sound levels are around 35%
Wedding party entrance: This is a task-driven loudness. Songs for the wedding party entrance will range in loudness. Sound levels are around 45%
Bride and Groom entrance: This is going to be louder than the bridal party entrance. Fanfare for the newly weds is a big thing, so it will be louder. Sound levels can reach as high as 75%
Dinner: Dinner time is going to be around the same levels as the cocktail hour. Maybe just slightly lower, depending on how guests are reacting at the tables. I am always monitoring the room. Sound levels are around 30 -35%
Reading the room is part of the event flow.
Wedding dance tasks and Cake cutting: This is going to be right around 60% of maximum sound levels. You will feel the music, but can still be social during the activities.
Open dancing, it’s time to party: Ok, it’s time to turn up. I start at 75% of maximum loudness and build up over time. The reason for this, is to build up the overall sound level over 4 to 6 songs. Think about this part of the event like a boat throttle. If I go wide open throttle right at the start, I will knock guests off of the boat. I do not want guests to start leaving before we get started.
A slow rise in levels will keep the guests happy.
If you have ever worn head phones you will know about being desesitized to loudness. After 20 minuets of listing most people will turn the volume up, more if the song is a banger.
Take off the head phones and return back 10 minuits later and you will notice the music is way too loud in your head phones.
Music loudness can cause guests to have a bad time at your event. No one wants guest to be unhappy. I want all guests to go home with great memories of an awesome wedding day.