Article Advise

submitted: Jun 21st 2008 | by: ShelbyWright | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 619 | |

Perhaps you are a wedding couple planning your wedding. Or perhaps you have been asked to be a wedding master of ceremonies. Whichever, you need to carefully understand the role of the wedding MC. It is critical to the success of the wedding reception.

Some people think a wedding master of ceremonies should be an entertainer, and preferably a comedian, to keep everybody thoroughly entertained during the reception. They are looking for a star performer. Others believe the master of ceremonies should remain in the background acting as the host and coordinating each stage of the reception, with attention firmly focused on each speaker and contributor, and especially on the newlyweds.

The traditional role of the wedding master of ceremonies is to oversee the formalities of the wedding reception. A good wedding MC creates an atmosphere of happy celebration. A sound knowledge of wedding etiquette is required, an understanding of the wishes of the couple getting married, and the ability to speak well and with good humor to set the mood and gain everyone's cooperation.

Successful wedding MCs know how to keep in the background and only step forward to keep the wedding reception going as planned, without dominating proceedings. A good wedding MC is traditionally more like a chairman than a star entertainment performer for a wedding reception.

Usually the wedding MC as a volunteer, and is often the bride's father who was traditionally the host of the wedding reception. Sometimes a family friend or relative with the appropriate personality is asked to be the MC, or the role may be performed by the best men. Such volunteers will not often be capable of putting on a star entertainment act, but there will usually be somebody who makes a good chairman among the newlywed's circle of friends and relatives.

The wedding MC will usually have the personality to add some fun and humor to proceedings, especially the introductions to the various speakers. Occasionally the person chosen will be a natural performer and entertainer, but this should not be the main selection criterion. It is more important that the chosen MC is a good chairman, able to make sure the reception goes as planned.

For many weddings it is the best man's speech that generates the most hilarity. At some receptions there will be a specific entertainment item included in the program. A singer, often a talented family member or guest, is a popular choice. The flower girls, pages and others in the wedding party should each have their moment in the limelight. The danger of having a wedding MC who dominates the reception with his personality as an entertainer is that he will detract from the contributions of the other less professional and outgoing participants. The wedding couple needs to be very clear with their chosen MC about the role they would like him to play.

An option is to hire a professional wedding MC. That is often an expensive option, and favored mostly for celebrity or society weddings. The ironical thing is that a professional MC is usually expected by the guests to provide an entertaining act, while professional MCs often see their role mainly from the traditional chairman or coordinator perspective.

The wedding reception's master of ceremonies plays an influential role in how the event will be remembered by the newlyweds and their guests. A successful wedding MC will ensure that he is very well briefed and prepared about the couple's expectations for the wedding reception. He will focus more on smoothly linking together the formalities, speeches and items of the reception, and maintaining a happy atmosphere, than on putting on a performance of his own. His responsibility is to make the newlyweds the stars of the reception, not himself as the wedding MC.

About the Author

Shelby Wright recommends a Wedding Emcee uses professionally prepared wedding etiquette checklists, speech outlines, suggested jokes and other wedding speech ideas and examples to plan the Wedding Emcee duties at the wedding reception. This and other unique content 'wedding master of ceremonies' articles are available with free reprint rights.

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