The Master of Ceremonies

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The Role of the Master of Ceremonies

The Master of Ceremonies is an important person for tying everything together so that the reception runs smoothly. The Master of Ceremonies will:-

Announce the arrival of the married couple.
Introduce the speakers.
Announce the cutting of the cake.
Announce the bridal waltz.
Inform the guests when it is time to say farewell to the bridal couple.

The Master of Ceremonies (or M.C. as it is often abbreviated to) is also responsible for liaising with the function coordinator and the reception venue to make sure they are prepared for the next activity (for example, that the champagne has been poured prior to the toasts.)

Who Can Be Master Of Ceremonies?

The Master of Ceremonies should ideally be someone who:-

Is well known to the bride and groom - and ideally to the bride’s family as well.
Has the “gift of the gab” so he can move things along with a humorous comment where appropriate.
Has a great sense of humour.
Is a confident public speaker and is used to such occasions.
Has a strong voice and an extrovert personality.

The M.C. can be male or female. Often the best man also acts as M.C. but the Matron of Honour or Chief Bridesmaid could do the job if they have the right characteristics.

If you don’t know someone appropriate for the role, the reception centre often has a member of staff who can take on the responsibility. Or you can hire a professional M.C. or ask the DJ to double up as M.C.

What the Master of Ceremonies will Need

A good M.C. should be supplied with a list of speakers and the order in which they will be speaking. You should also provide a bit of background on each speaker to enable the M.C. to introduce them properly.

The M.C. should make a point of meeting all the speakers early on at the reception so that when he introduces them, he knows who they are and does not look aimlessly around the room. The M.C. also needs to know who are the key people at the reception venue so that he can make sure that they are ready at the right moment. For example he will need to cue the musicians or the D.J. before he announces the bridal waltz.

The Master of Ceremonies Speeches

The Master of Ceremonies’ job is to start the speeches on the right note and then ensure the smooth flow from one speaker to another. His comments should be very short and he should not try to take over from the main speakers.