How to choose the most amazing MC for your wedding

To host the event with love, caring and pride"

You have been given the honour of being the Master of Ceremonies or wedding MC, a happy dance you will have! It is not an easy role to fulfill and if you are not comfortable taking on this very important role, rather say so up-front. This will enable to bridal couple to approach someone else timeously. You may be thrilled that you can help to make the happy couple’s wedding flow smoothly, while at the same time terrified that you will mess everything up.

It is normal to feel a bit terrified, but the bride and groom had faith in you to handle this important task, so feel honoured and embrace the role of being the host. It is up to the couple to explain exactly what it is they would like you to do on the day, therefore, you will have many meetings with them leading up to the event. A programme or schedule of events needs to be drafted to ensure the smooth flow and order of the day.

As the MC, you need to ask them to share some stories about themselves, that you can relate to the guests, but keep in mind that these should be short and sweet, no rambling on. Boring, long drawn-out stories are a crowd killer and the guests will start to get restless. At the reception you are going to be one of the focal points, bear that in mind.

Ahead of time, try and meet with the vendors, as many as you can, the caterer, the waitron’s, the bartenders, the venue owner, the band or the DJ, just about with everyone that you can. As this will help you to feel more comfortable on the day of the wedding, as you will have already introduced yourself to the key players. The vendors, will also then know to whom to come on the wedding day, if they need to know anything, or if there has been a slight delay with something.

You will have to be two steps ahead of everyone else, always aware of what is happening, and what is going on around you, what is happening next, and what is happening after that. Anticipate the flow and the possible things that could interrupt it. You will need to introduce yourself to the vendors that are around on that day, also make sure that everything in the Church is as it should be, are the groom’s parents and the bride’s parents seated where they should be etc.

At the reception, you will have to make sure that the flow of the event runs smoothly, are the people making speeches around, is the knife at the cake ready for cutting, is the photographer ready for specific moments, has the DJ or band been given their queue? The MC’s duties do not just end there, you have to be a good communicator, and after all, this is why you were asked in the first instance.

At the wedding there will be a big range of ages among the guests and you will have to handle managing all this as well. You will have to be able to connect with them all. There is always so much going on at a wedding that your role is that of a central link point. You will act as a buffer, after all the months of preparation the bridal couple do not want to be bothered and pestered every few minutes or so, by guests asking the order of the reception, or to answer seating questions, that is your role.

Obviously your behavior will be noticed by everyone, so limit your own alcohol consumption so that you stay focused on what is important. You will also need to be fairly articulate and be able to get names right, you do not want to stumble over the bride or groom’s names. On the day you will probably be called upon to calm the nerves of either the bride or groom, interact with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, as well as keep an eye on both sets of parents.

At the very start of the event, you need to introduce yourself, so that guests know who you are, establish control, set the mood, explain any housekeeping and prepare the guests for the arrival of the bridal party as well.

I suggest that you meet as many people as you can before you make your opening speech.

Be around and be visible, so that a more relaxed atmosphere prevails. Set the mood!

A key factor in your role, is to keep the guests informed, let them know what is going to happen next, the finding of the garter, the throwing of the bouquet or the cutting of the cake. Remember that the day does not revolve around you, so keep explanations and announcements short. Plan where each announcement will be made to avoid any uncertainty.

Get the tone right, speak clearly and loudly, but this should not be interpreted as bossy and deafening. You are giving announcements, not barking orders at an army. Keep humour to a minimum, you have not been employed to be a stand-up comic. So, bearing all this in mind, you are surely getting the overall picture, that you have been picked as “the chosen one”, by the bridal couple, and your role is vital. So, forewarned is forearmed, go and do your homework, meet beforehand, plan the sequence of events and you will be known as the MC who “rocked”.

Remember, while it can be nerve wracking to know that two people have asked you to make their wedding special, you will be fine. After all they would not have asked you if they did not trust that you would do an awesome job!

Essential Groom Issue 18 Print and digital Out Now !

Buy Issue 18 Now