I was recently at a 500-person wedding. And one thing I should say is that 500 doesn't always feel like 500. If you want to (and they wanted to!), you can cram a lot of people in a small space.
But I do think that, with that many people, having projector screens all through the venue was a good idea. There were definitely guests who couldn't see the action with their own eyes clearly, so they just stared at the screen all night instead.
So, should you get projection screens for your ceremony or reception? Well, to be honest, I think... no? For most weddings anyway.
Here's why.
Firstly, most of the guests don't care that much, and that's the brutal truth.
I'm eagerly watching them -- during the speeches, say -- and usually they're happy to just eat their food and listen. They're not facing the screens.
The novelty quickly wears off.
Secondly, the guests that are interested often prefer to face the actual person, not the screen -- even if that person is in the distance or blocked by bodies. I don't know why.
Thirdly, screen rental costs extra. The venue will probably charge you per screen per hour.
Fourthly, the quality is often questionable. The images are kind of washed out and difficult to see.
Really good projectors are really bright, and then it's like watching a television. But most of the time these venue projections are like watching a faded slideshow.
All that said, yes, there have been times when I've loved the fact we had a live projection going. I can remember a wedding where the bride walks in -- camera shows her coming in the door, walking up the aisle. And then I press a button and cut to a different angle of the groom crying, and everyone in the room goes, "Aww."
That gave me a real buzz -- the ability to get an emotional response from people in real time.
But like I said, yeah, most of the time the guests just don't give a crap.
