Why a Professional MC Means So Much To Your Wedding

The master of ceremonies plays an essential role at a wedding. He or she is responsible for coordinating vendors, preparing guests for the next part of the proceedings, and ensuring that everyone is following the same schedule. Far from being the job for a friend or family member, the master of ceremonies is a role best performed by an experienced professional.

Couples, however, don't always see it this way. The master of ceremonies can be looked at as something that any family member or friend could do with no issues. Unfortunately, being a master of ceremonies is a lot harder than the majority of people think. Vendors need answers to ever-changing schedules, guests need to be directed and entertained, and the MC needs to know how to address a crowd to raise excitement levels. It's not just something most people can pick up on the day. Effective professional MCs have years of experience and still learn something new every time they work.

If you're planning a wedding, it's vital that everything goes smoothly and without any major catastrophes. After all, you've spent a considerable amount of money putting your big day together.

But coordinating proceedings is a significant undertaking - something that even experienced project managers might balk at in a different context. Performing the role of MC involves providing instructions to dozens, if not hundreds of guests, and ensuring that each knows their role and what they should do next. It's not enough for the master or ceremonies to have a schedule in his or her head; he or she also needs the communication skills to convey this to other guests. If an MC doesn't have the requisite skills, there could be confusion, delays, and awkward moments during speeches when people don't know who should be speaking next.

By contrast, professional masters of ceremonies have amazing planning and communication skills. They fully understand what they need to say to guests and how they should say it, taking any burden of responsibility off the shoulders of the couple themselves.

Like it or not, weddings frequently involve a lot of waiting for the next thing to happen, whether it's the introductions, first dance or the speeches. The job of the MC is to make these pauses more bearable, mingling with guests and providing them with entertainment, usually humour. Masters of ceremonies, therefore, need to have a naturally jovial demeanour and the ability to get people excited about what's happening next.

It takes an extraordinary personality to create this kind of excitement and get people buzzing for the next step. But with a professional, you can ensure that long pauses don't take the magic out of your wedding, keeping people hyped for the next stage, even if you have to take an hour out of proceedings for transport or photographs.

The original purpose of the master of ceremonies was to manage wedding proceedings on behalf of the couple so that they could enjoy the romantic elements of their big day, without getting bogged down in administration. But choosing an amateur MC could backfire. You may find yourself repeatedly dragged into administrative issues or having to direct your guests ad hoc - not what you want when your main focus is on the love you share with your partner.

Professional MCs help you avoid this. With their experience and knowledge of your schedule, they provide the direction your guests need and help the entire event go smoothly. What's more, knowing that you have a professional on your side reduces the stress you experience on your big day, allowing you to enjoy it for all it's worth.

Most vendors are loathed to ask the couple themselves for direction: it's just not the done thing. They would always prefer to ask the master of ceremonies where they should be and when they need to act.

Caterers, for instance, often require the assistance of the MC to know when they should serve food whenever things go slightly off schedule.

The transition between the wedding ceremony and the reception can be messy if held at separate locations. The job of the MC is to tell guests how they can move from one place to another, without getting lost. Transporting dozens or hundreds of guests is an enormous administrative undertaking and something that's best left to professionals. Professional MCs create ways of ensuring that people find the right venue and track down anyone who doesn't make it.

As we've discussed, the role of master of ceremonies is much more complicated than it first appears. It's not something that you want to leave to an inexperienced family member or friend. Family members and friends have the right to enjoy your big day with you. But having to shoulder the responsibility of MC can make them feel stressed, anxious, nervous, and possibly awkward - the last thing you want when trying to rouse a crowd. Professional MCs are used to the pressure and can improvise effectively if things go slightly off plan. They're also much less likely to be heckled by a family member.

Conclusion

Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event - something that you want to be special, not just for you, but also all of the people you care about. For large weddings, an MC is essential, but it's a job that requires a professional - amateurs need not apply.

MCs know how to work a room, raise excitement levels, and improve the experience of your guest. Professionals liaise seamlessly with vendors and others in supporting roles, taking away any administrative burden from you, allowing you to enjoy your day for what it is: a celebration of your love.