Wedding MC Tips
Wedding MC tips are a common Google by Mc’s and speech givers alike! The formalities of any event live and die by the emcee. If you’ve been to a wedding where the speeches drone on and no one knows where to be, they were probably lacking in some wedding MC tips!
We’ve attended over 20,000 events at In the Booth since 2009. That gives us a fair bit of insight into what goes well at a function and what doesn’t. First and foremost, every event needs an MC or someone responsible for the ‘flow’ of the event. You want to avoid your celebration falling victim to a lack of management! A large group of guests cannot manage themselves (trust us on this!). People want to be told what to do and what comes next at a function. That is where our wedding MC tips come in handy.
Wedding MC tip #1: hire a professional
Firstly if the budget allows, hire a professional emcee. Managing crowds and keeping an event moving forward is not the right job especially for Uncle Kevin. A professional knows how to keep on task, keep on time and manage and sticky situations that arise. Ask a friend with professional speaking experience at the very minimum if your budget won’t stretch. Ideally you want someone who does not also expect to be considered a guest. This blurs lines – are they meant to be keeping on top of being an emcee or partying? We cannot recommend a professional enough to keep your timeline on track.
Tell guests the basics
Announcing where to find the bathrooms and a rough timeline of what to expect are all essential wedding MC tips. Guests like to feel familiar about what’s happening. You also don’t want a flower girl having an accident because they couldn’t find the loo!
Wedding MC tips for photobooths
Include information for your MC such as when the photo booth closes too so people know when they have to get their snaps by! Have your attendant introduced by name so people feel more comfortable asking he or she questions. We always encourage our clients to have their emcee announce information about our awesome app too. Perhaps snap a Guest Cam photo of your emcee that he or she can use to tell guests about Guest Cam! A polite “please leave your drinks at your table” is super appreciated too.
Make sure there’s a clear timeline
Ensure your MC has a printed timeline that they can adhere to. Moreover you don’t want to have to catch each other’s eye through the night when it’s time for the next event. Make sure the preferred time for meals, speeches, cake cutting and the first and last dance are all written down. That way your emcee can be free to keep things on track while you just enjoy your day.
Keep a tight timeframe for speeches
We’ve all been there. The family member that needs the music to start playing like at the Oscars when they’ve gone on too long! A professional will know how to handle these situations and respectfully draw a speech to close if need be. Speech givers mean well! They’re not professional speakers and are trying to convey their love for the couple in their time at the microphone. As lovely as this is, it can easily wreak havoc on an event timeline. The venue will need to close and running half an hour late may cut back on your cake cutting or sparkler exit. You definately don’t want that!
Another favourite of our Wedding MC Tips: have an official close
Last but not least, people don’t know what to do if you don’t announce the end of the night. In addition your venue will be needing to start clearing. If guests understand the frivolities are over and it’s time to head home it’s much better! A thank you and polite goodnight will set this part of the evening in motion.