Are you considering having a family member or friend MC your wedding reception? The following may be useful to ensure that your wedding MC addresses all of necessary components of your reception as well as bringing to light some of the unseen duties often overlooked when a family member or friend MC's an event.
Australian Wedding Entertainment: MC guidelines
Australian Wedding Entertainment have some suggestions that may help with having a family member or friend MC your wedding. As obvious as some of the points mentioned may seem, it may avoid a mishap from occurring if items have been addressed prior to your reception. This is a guide and will need to be adjusted to fulfill the individual requirements of your reception.
Prior to the reception:
- Complete a running order for the MC including specific times, names and pronunciations (if required). You may wish to meet the MC to go over these details. Please see the example below
Run-sheet-(including names and pronunciations if required)
5.40 pm Requests guests to enter and take a seat
5.45 pm Bridal party’s entrance to the reception, Please ensure guests are seated.
Introduce bridal party as follows:
Entering first we have the beautiful flower girl with her handsome partner Abbey and Jacob
Entering second: ……….
Bride and grooms entrance: Request patrons to stand: We now have the couple of the moment, Mr and Mrs Harris.
6.00 pm MC welcomes guests and addresses housekeeping
6.10 pm Introduce the best mans speech to be given by Matthew Smith.
Etc
On the wedding Day:
➢ The MC should arrive approximately 1 hour prior to the reception so that they can meet the venue manager prior the reception to discuss the event. For this reason it may not be appropriate for a member of the bridal party to MC the event.
➢ The MC will also need to do a Microphone check to ensure sound levels are clear and adequate.
➢ The MC should also meet the band and/or DJ as the MC will need to liaise with these services during the evening.
The running of the reception: The MC’s duties include:
➢ Direct the acts to pre dinner drinks area as this is often in a foyer or on a balcony prior to the reception commencing.
➢ Ask the patrons to take their seats
➢ Introduce the bridal party, all pronunciations of names should have been addressed to avoid embarrassment. It is customary to ask the patrons to stand for the bride and grooms entrance.
➢ The MC should then inform the congregation about housekeeping procedures such as the location of amenities/bathrooms, designated smoking areas, etc
➢ The MC will announce meals, Some clients may wish to say grace or a prayer prior to the meals being served. The MC will need inform the venue of this as it may cause embarrassment if meals are served prior or during a prayer.
➢ Introduce each person who is giving a speech by name and/or relationship
➢ -Prior to announcing the cake cutting the MC should ensure that the venue have the cake ready to be cut and that a knife has been provided, the MC can then announce the cake cutting,
➢ The MC will introduce the bride and grooms bridal waltz or first dance. The MC may welcome the bridal party to join the bridal party at a particular part of the song. (for example after the first chorus). The bride and grooms parents may also join the dance floor.
➢ The congregation is then invited to join the dance floor.
➢ The MC should then announce the Bouquet and garter throw
➢ The MC will organise the guests to form a circle/guard of honor prior to the bride and grooms departure.
➢ Announce the departure of the bride and groom.
Would you like more information, please feel free to email us and we will send you a run-sheet template as a word document for you to fill out with your MC,
All we ask is that you like our facebook page by clicking on the link below:https://www.facebook.com/australianweddingentertainmentPlease feel free to call Australian Wedding Entertainment on 0487 807 771 if there is anything we can assist you with for your wedding.
Songlist