Getting a Projector

While more and more weddings are putting up presentations, getting the projecting equipment remains a little problematic. As you could be talking about a couple of hundred dollars more when you engage a projector service, couples begin to look into some other alternatives. Here's how you can get your projector:

• Whether you need it or not, bargain for projector from the restaurant or ballroom before booking.
• If the restaurant does not provide projectors or their contacts are too expensive, try borrowing from your company or a friend's company.
• If neither you nor anyone you know could help in getting the projector, well, it will be the yellow pages then.

Which Projector is Suitable for Wedding?

There are two main criteria for projectors:

• Brightness
  • measured in ANSI Lumens. At least 1000ANSI Lumens is good for wedding presentation (the higher the measurement value, the brighter it is). For better effects, dim the restaurant or ballroom lights as much as possible during presentation.
• Sharpness
  • affected by its resolution. SVGA or XGA would be suitable.

Other factors to take note of:

• No. of Guns
  • a projector with three lenses (guns) may look more macho than a one-gun projector. BUT three gun is an old technology and is thus inferior. Three-guns also require calibration - the technician will need to aim the three guns to exactness or multiple images will occur.
• Size
  • it is natural to wonder if a small size projector will be up to the job as it looks like a toy. But that's the way technology goes, it keeps getting smaller and more powerful. Focus on the specifications listed above rather than deciding on the size.
• Testing
  • If it is feasible, doing a test is the best solution to see for yourself how the presentation will turn out.

Which Media to Use for Playing?

After you've got your projector, you could choose the media you wish to use for playing. The followings are some of the options:

• Video Cassette Recorder (VCR)
• VCD Player
• Handycam
• Notebook

A digital handycam will give the best input among the four. VCR is the next recommended (see VHS vs VCD). Both VCD player and notebook produce similar quality if VCD is used. However, a VCD player would be more stable. Remember to off your screen saver, auto-power off function and all applications when you use a notebook. Also, copy the mpeg file into the harddisk and run from there rather than from the CDRom.

Setting Up the Projecting System

Projectors can support the various players because connecting them up requires only a few steps and it is similar for the different players. Please see the following illustrations.

Convention
Yellow plug - video line
Red/White plug - audio (left/right) line
Black plug - video and audio combined

VCR/VCD to Projector

Handycam to Projector

Notebook to Projector

The hotel technician would be familiar with the setting up (esp the location of the connection to the hotel speakers) and he would be able to assist you in it.

Getting a Rental Service

To do away with all the hassle, you may wish to engage a rental service and leave everything to them. The followings are often provided in the rental package:

• Projector
• VCR
• Delivery, setup and collection
• Testing on the wedding day before commencement

Pressing the play button is normally not included. This could be done through the help of a friend or hotel staff. Note that if your restaurant does not provide a screen, you'll need to rent one. Finally, inform the restaurant manager that you'll be putting up a presentation to ensure that table arrangement does not get in the way.

May you enjoy putting up your presentation to share your love story with your loved ones...

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