Saying ‘I Do’ With Portable Audio Install
Picture Bilsington Priory, an elegant wedding venue tucked into 400 acres of Kentish countryside. Once an Augustinian priory, the medieval venue is freshly refurbished and ready to welcome the first of many happy couples to celebrate their big day.
They can choose to be married in the historic Priory Room, the new marquee, or outdoors beneath a gazebo in the gardens with widescreen views over Romney Marsh. They’ve personalised their vows, written the speeches, decided on the first dance, and compiled a playlist of party tunes.
No bride or groom, however, wants to shout their vows. Nor does the best man want his punchline to fall flat because guests at the back can’t hear. This is why AV is so integral to a celebratory, raise-a-toast day.
Bilsington Priory is the fourth, and newest, member of the Glow Group, which also includes an orangery, a castle, and a country garden. All the venues are expertly kitted with sound, lighting and power for wedding ceremonies with Panache Audio Systems as their AV partner and technical service provider of choice.
Dave Ong, Sound Engineer/Consultant, has almost three decades of experience in the industry. He has installed the tech across all the group’s sites and, in May 2025, completed the set-up for the new venue. He’s wedded (pun intended) to a template that’s evolved and been fine-tuned. Essentially, it’s a pick ’n’ mix of Martin Audio ADORN speakers, Apart Mixer Amps and a Shure GLXD body pack paired with a gooseneck microphone. This ensures that the vows and speeches are clearly audible throughout the venue, while minimising cable clutter to keep the space clean and tidy. Using a similar blueprint for each install within the Glow Group also makes life easier for staff members. They’re familiar with the setup and confident that the PA system will operate in the same way whenever they're called to move from one wedding venue to another.
Martin Audio ADORN speakers
Sitting within Bilsington Priory’s lush green grounds, the brand-new Tree Marquee is a permanent tipi-shaped structure available for receptions following the wedding ceremony. Because it’s a place for background music and speeches, Panache Audio Systems has distributed passive speakers here, and in the adjoining bar area, corridor and bathrooms – 13 in total. Finished in black, the A55T 5.25” 2-Way Speakers include wall brackets and are small and compact enough to be unobtrusive yet still emit excellent sound quality.
APART Mixer Amps
The speakers are operated and controlled by two MA240 100V Mixer Amps. These particular APART amplifiers are lightweight and highly mobile – must-haves as they often need to be moved swiftly from an al fresco ceremony in the meadows to a reception in the marquee. In addition, the front panel of the units are intuitive and user-friendly, featuring sound adjustment and selection only. Any non-technical or inexperienced members of staff can simply plug in, choose their sound source (pre-sets can also be installed), and turn the volume up.
Shure GLXD Body Pack
When couples choose to wed in the thatched wooden gazebo, it’s possible to hang a gooseneck microphone from the ceiling unobtrusively to ambiently pick up sound without having to worry about cables. Out in the open or in the ceremony room where the roof is lofty, a clever use of the GLXD Body Pack answers the call for crystal-clear sound and robust wireless audio transmission.
A cardioid gooseneck microphone is mounted on a round base telescopic speaker stand and plugged into the wireless belt pack at the base, which transmits back to the half-rack receiver and APART amplifier. The microphone stand is placed between the couple getting married and the registrar and the cardioid pattern is able to pick up all the words and ‘I do’ responses with minimal background noise. Accompanying this speaker system, small speakers can also be moved around the space.
Time to Party – RCF EVOX Column Speakers
For the evening entertainment in another space in the main building, the EVOX 8 sound system from RCF is equally as portable, inviting DJs to set up in any number of orientations, then plug in and play.
Completely Mobile System
Despite Bilsington Priory being an historic building, there are no installation challenges as the PA system is highly portable. It allows for ceremonies to be conducted indoors or outdoors, and for locations and orientations to be changed at the eleventh hour depending on the wedding party’s preferences and the vagaries of the great British weather. It also means that the majority of the install can be completed off-site. For this job, Panache Audio Systems have spent five days prepping speakers and building racks in their workshop before then transferring the kit to the venue and installing it in a single day for minimal disruption.
Leisuretec as Supplier
Dave from Panache Audio Systems says: ‘I’ve always had a relationship with Leisuretec, the go-to for the majority of my kit. They’ve always been a very easy company to deal with, pricing is reasonable, and we get looked after. I use trusted brands that all work together. I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years and have got to know the brands that work for me and also the back-up and the people behind these brands. All four of the Glow Events venues offer very different settings and are unique in their feel, look and atmosphere. However, all the sound systems and the sound quality are the same. Portability is what the client wants. I’m a systems designer and this is my solution.’
