Rent a speaker for a communion

Once the church service is over, the day really opens up. The family heads back to the house or a hired hall, grandparents settle into chairs, aunts and neighbours arrive, and a swarm of children immediately needs something to do. A communion celebration has two moods running through it. In the afternoon it is about the child, the family, and a drink in the garden; later on, the little ones want to dance. Both call for decent sound. Renting a speaker for a communion means the parents' toast carries across the room and the kids' disco actually lands when it is time to move.

We hire out speakers and microphones across Utrecht and the villages around it, and communion parties come through our doors every spring. This page covers which box suits a quiet family afternoon versus a lively children's party, how a microphone helps with the speech, and how the practical side of hiring works.

Why sound matters at a communion

A communion is no thumping late-night event, but do not write off the audio. There is a toast to the child of the day, someone gives a short speech, the children want to dance to songs from their favourite film, and between all that a gentle playlist keeps the adults company while they catch up. Each of those moments asks something different of a speaker: clear enough for speech, warm enough for background, and with enough punch for a spontaneous dance.

That is exactly why a proper standalone box beats the phone speaker rattling on the table. The speech reaches the far end of the garden, and when the kids' disco kicks off you are not stuck begging a tiny unit for more volume.

Choosing the right speaker for your celebration

Three things guide the choice: where you are celebrating, how many guests are coming, and whether it is indoors or out. A back-garden communion for fifteen is a world away from a hired hall with sixty guests.

A relaxed afternoon at home

Keeping it small, somewhere between fifteen and thirty people? The JBL PartyBox 310 makes a fine companion. Built-in battery, wireless over Bluetooth, and loud enough for a garden or living room. No outdoor socket? You do not need one; it plays on battery. Perfect for shifting the box between the patio and the children's corner as the afternoon moves along.

A larger party in a hall

Booked a hall or a big barn for forty to sixty guests? The JBL PartyBox 710 has the muscle. Its 800 watts fill that kind of room with ease, whether it is the speech or the children's disco stealing the show. It runs on mains power, so keep a socket within reach. In a hired venue that is seldom a problem.

A big family with lots of children

Guest list creeping toward eighty, with plenty of cousins ready to storm the floor? Consider the 50-person speaker set: 730 watts with a 12-inch subwoofer, stands and cables included. Raised on stands, the boxes spread the sound over everyone's heads instead of blasting only the front row.

Celebrating outdoors

Planning a garden party where the music stays outside all afternoon? The Soundboks 3 is strong here: fully wireless, battery-powered, and surprisingly forceful in the open air, where sound otherwise fades quickly.

Two kinds of moment in a single day

What sets a communion apart is how many generations share the room at once. In the afternoon grandma is catching up with the neighbour, and you want gentle background music that does not bulldoze the conversation. An hour later ten children are bouncing to songs from their favourite cartoon, and the volume can climb. The same speaker therefore has to move smoothly between whisper mode and party mode.

That is precisely where a good box with headroom pays off. A little phone speaker already strains on quiet background music and has nothing left when the kids' disco starts. A JBL PartyBox or a speaker set runs at a quarter of its ability in the afternoon and simply opens up later, with no distortion creeping in. Nobody has to ride the volume knob, and your hands stay free for the party itself.

Where to position the speaker

For background music, keep the box out of the main walkway so people do not knock into it and the sound spreads evenly through the space. When the children's disco arrives, nudge it toward the open area where they will dance and give the little ones room. On a speaker set with stands the boxes sit up high, which helps in a busy hall where you would otherwise only reach the front row. Celebrating in the garden? Keep the box out of direct sun and away from any water. Describe your location when you reserve and we will advise on placement.

A microphone for the speech and the kids' quiz

Nearly every communion has a moment where someone speaks up. A few words from the parents, a poem read by the child, or a games round where the host needs to reach the whole room with the questions. A wireless microphone set with two mics is ideal: easy to hand around, with no cable for small feet to trip over. Prefer something solid in a fixed spot, say beside the speaker where the speeches happen? The wired Shure SM58 is a dependable pick. Just let us know when you book whether you want a microphone included.

Pickup or delivery, and what it costs

You can collect the gear yourself if you happen to be near Utrecht and have a car that fits a box or two, or have it delivered to the venue. For a communion with small children underfoot, delivery is usually the calmer route: no lifting on a day that is already full. We can bring the equipment the day before and collect it afterward, so there is nothing to think about on the day itself.

Cost follows the model and how long you keep it. A compact PartyBox 310 comes in below a full speaker set, and a single day is cheaper than a whole weekend. Rather than leave you guessing, tell us the date and the model you have in mind and we will quote a clear figure in advance, microphone included if you want one.

How hiring works

We deliver in Utrecht and the region, or you collect the gear yourself. For a Sunday communion, delivery on Saturday often works best, so the day itself is all about the party. Reserve the speaker online through the website, or send a message if you are unsure about the size. We are happy to weigh in on guest numbers and the space, so you avoid ending up with a box that is too big or too small.

Communions tend to cluster in spring around the same weekends. Book early once the date is set, because those weekends fill up.

Frequently asked questions

Isn't a big speaker overkill for a children's party?

Not really. This is not about being deafening; it is about clarity and the ease of handling both the speech and the kids' disco. For a small party a PartyBox 310 is usually plenty, run at a comfortable volume.

Can we play our own playlist?

Absolutely. The JBL PartyBoxes and the Soundboks pair wirelessly over Bluetooth, so the children's dance tracks and the calmer background music for the grown-ups are ready on your phone in moments. With the speaker sets you connect a phone or laptop using the supplied cable.

We are celebrating outside the city, will you come?

Yes, we cover the whole region and the surrounding villages. Give us the venue address when you reserve and we will agree on a delivery slot.

How long may I keep the speaker?

For an afternoon communion you usually hire the gear for the day, returning it or having it collected the following day. Want it for a full weekend because a second party is attached? That is possible; just raise it when you book.

Does the speaker work in the garden without a socket?

The JBL PartyBox 310, the PartyBox Ultimate, and the Soundboks 3 have batteries and play wirelessly, so they head straight into the garden. The PartyBox 710 and the speaker sets run on mains power and need a socket.

Can I get advice on which box to choose?

Of course. Message us your guest count, the location, and whether it is indoors or out, and we will suggest a fitting model. That way you neither overspend on power you do not need nor come up short.

Sort the sound for the communion

Make the communion a day where both grandad and the youngest cousins feel at home. Choose the speaker that suits your party and lock it in through the website. Not sure which size, or want to talk through the layout in the garden? Send a quick message on WhatsApp and we will make sure the speech comes through clearly and the kids' disco lands.