Over the last say 10 years, we have to admit doing all this has become a lot easier...especially physically.
Yes. The biggest difference these days is exactly what Ross described. I'm a one man show 95% of my events, and I will set up for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, and tear it all down. I usually tear down ceremony set up during cocktail hour. 20 years ago I was setting up my Numark CD Mix 1 then the 2 around 2004. I started with 5 travel CD cases with 30 CDs in their jewel case in each case. So 150 CDs, then I eventually had a 6th one plus a binder style CD case. I had two speakers on stands...the speakers weighed 70 lbs until I got the 12" SE12 Yamahas that weighed maybe 45 lbs each. I purchased a JBL 18" Sub in 2004. It was the least used speaker I ever owned. I hated transporting that thing around. Used it 5 times at events until I got rid of it.
No Up Lights back then. I didn't have to set up a sound system for a ceremony in a different location until 2007. Most ceremonies were in the same room, OR I would be able to run a speaker cord with a speaker right outside of a door to blast music towards the ceremony area LOL. (But it worked back then!).
No laptops. Now I bring two plus a tablet!
Some events today are still a single sound system set up, but not the norm for me.
I would take today over back then though. I spend much less time downloading music typically. I don't have to go to a music store to search for music, or buy a whole album. We have way more options for lighting today compared to back then too.
Today, I don't have a single piece of gear or bag that weigh over 45 lbs. Although, I bring about 340 lbs worth of equipment, bags and tables with me to the typical wedding today with no up lights. 20 years ago, I had less equipment, but weight wise for the equipment was probably around 325 lbs (with the subwoofer) and I didn't have tables with me back then, and that was for a single set up (with back up amplifier) vs 3 set ups today. with multiple speakers.