We're trying to decide if we need to set up a microphone for toasts at our small wedding (less than 50 guests). Our officiant is bring a mic/PA system for the ceremony, but she will be leaving with it afterwards and not staying for the reception. We are not having a DJ, but are bringing in speakers from home which will play music from an iPod during the reception. Unfortunately we can't easily hook up a mic to this system.
Dinner will be outside; dancing and cake-cutting will be inside. The way I see it, we could either have toasts during dinner (outside), OR right before the cake-cutting (inside). If done during dinner, some people would be as far as 40 feet away from the person speaking, so I'm afraid they may not hear without a mic.
So my question is, do we need a microphone? And if we go mic-less, would it be best to have toasts indoors to minimize ambient noise?