Outdoor wedding sound system guide: what you actually need in Spain

Most sound problems at weddings aren't the band's fault. They're the PA's fault. A great DJ through a bad PA sounds worse than a mediocre DJ through a good PA. This is the single most under-specced item in almost every wedding budget.

The minimum for 100 guests outdoors: 2x 12 inch tops on sticks plus 2x 15 inch subs. Below that you will have volume but not body. The dancefloor will feel thin no matter how many guests are on it.

The sweet spot for 150 to 200 guests: 2x 15 inch tops plus 2x 18 inch subs, mounted on proper stands or flown from rigging. This is what pros bring. Anything less at this guest count and the peak hour collapses at 80 percent volume because the speakers can't deliver more without distorting.

For 250+ guests or multiple dance zones: line arrays. Two small line array hangs of four elements each plus 4x 18 inch subs. This is festival-grade equipment and it costs accordingly. Most wedding vendors don't own this and subcontract it. That's fine as long as your contract names the rental company.

Power requirements: a serious wedding PA draws 15 to 25 amps at peak. Most Spanish venues provide a 16A or 32A single-phase connection. If your venue can only provide a single domestic circuit, your PA is capped at about 1000W usable and your night is capped with it.

dB limits: most Spanish venues license sound at 95 dB SPL at the mixing position. That's plenty loud for a peak dancefloor. The problem is venues that claim 95 dB but throttle at 85 dB in practice because of complaints from neighbours. Ask for the actual limit in writing before you book.

The vendor test: ask what PA they bring to a 150-guest outdoor wedding. If the answer isn't 'at minimum 2x 15s and 2x 18 inch subs', they're underspecced. If they can't name the brand (RCF, d&b, Meyer, L-Acoustics, DAS), they're renting from wherever is cheapest that weekend. The sound system is the backbone of the night. Pick a vendor who treats it that way.