Here in New Zealand, it’s expected that the wedding MC (master of ceremonies) should be a family member or close friend of the bride, groom, or both. However, just because that’s what everyone else has always done, it doesn’t mean YOU have to as well. As has been mentioned already, there’s no such thing as “Wedding Police“.
A few years ago, I joined Wellington Wedding DJ Richard Mills and attended the MarBecca Master of Ceremonies workshop in Las Vegas. The two day workshop was amazing, reinforcing many of the things I was already delivering to my clients, while teaching me a whole new way of looking at what I was doing and how.
One of the details I already knew but didn’t realise it’s importance was the role of the wedding MC. A great MC doesn’t need to tell jokes sourced from the web. An effective MC doesn’t need to tell stories about the bride and groom – in fact that’s the job of those delivering speeches. The presenter and talent behind the workshop Mark Ferrell drummed three key words into us over those two days – the role of a wedding MC is to inform, guide, and direct. Pretty simple huh?
Your guests will look to your MC to see what’s happening next, although a good MC will ensure guests already know what’s happening, and when, and where. The wedding MC shouldn’t tell jokes for the sake of telling a joke.
I handle the role of MC for more than 75% of my wedding clients. Guests have no idea nor any need to know that I am a hired professional. They assume I am a friend of the bride or groom. They assume that because it’s the done thing like every other wedding (but your wedding isn’t going to be like anyone else’s, right?). They assume that because I seem to know them so well. Again, if the MC is doing their job right, they don’t HAVE to talk about the bride and groom.
Why do my clients hire me as a professional wedding master of ceremonies? Usually because they don’t want to put that kind of pressure on a guest – they want their guests to relax as much as possible. Another reason is because they know it’s important and don’t know anyone that would be able to make it work.
If you’ve never considered using a professional master of ceremonies for your wedding, it’s certainly worth looking into. You don’t HAVE to use someone that knows you well, and can instead get someone who knows what’s happening next at all times.
A professional master of ceremonies will help maintain the flow of the reception (and ceremony if required), ensuring everything happens when you planned without you or the guests having to wonder what’s happening next. An efficient wedding MC will liaise with other members of your support team (photographer, caterer, videographer and so on) so that they also know when speeches are about to begin, or checking that the dinner is actually ready before announcing it. Lastly, using a professional MC means none of your friends or family have that responsibility put upon them, leaving them free to enjoy every moment of your wedding day as a guest.
On the down side though, there are more and more New Zealand DJs hearing about the concept of offering MC services, and throwing their hat in the ring. Just because they offer the service, it doesn’t mean they will do a better job (or even equal to) than one of your guests. Ask them what experience they have, what they’ve done to improve their MC skills, and what they’ll do for you that none of your guests can do already. Interview them like they were applying for a job! Experience is fine, but do they have confidence? Do they have too much confidence?
I hope this helps! Comments are always welcome.
Regards
Nick Logan
Wedding DJ and MC
