THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES (MC) GUIDE - Bala Bay Inn

THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES (MC) GUIDE
What’s the purpose of an MC
The MC plays an important role in how the reception and dinner unfold. They are in charge of keeping
guests engaged, entertained, and make sure that all parts of the program take place in proper order.
There are many wonderful online resources for tips on how to be a successful MC. The following is a list of
some tips for success:
-Don't forget your notes and reading glasses if you need them;
-Take some long deep breaths beforehand. As you exhale tell yourself to relax;
-Hold your head up, look around the room and give everyone a big smile;
-Don't mumble. If there is no microphone speak loud and clear so everyone can hear you. In the days and
weeks before the reception practice projecting your voice. If using a microphone make sure you know how
it works.
-Establish eye contact with a person, hold for a few seconds then find someone else to look at;
-Keep your introductions short;
-Wedding mc jokes must not offend or embarrass anyone;
-Speak naturally and in terms all the wedding guests will understand;
-Try to look confident even if you are not feeling it; and
-Accept it is natural to feel a little nervous
The Wedding Couples Expectations
Every wedding couple has their own expectations on what an MC should do for them throughout the day of
the wedding. Make sure you take the time to sit down with the couple and ask them for a layout of the
day, and how the envision it unfolding. Ask them what exactly it is that they expect from you.
Working with the hotel
As an MC you are the eyes and ears for the staff that are working that day. You will be the liason with the
Head Waiter and/or Banquet Manager. After the ceremony and before dinner, introduce yourself to the
Head Waiter and/or Banquet Manager. They will show you a few tips and tricks. These include:
-How to turn on the microphone
-Where the wedding bridal party entrance will occur
-Review with you the flow of dinner service – example Appetizer, speech, entrees, 2 speeches, dessert,
final speech.
During the service of dinner, if there are speeches, the head waiter and/or banquet manager will come and
inform you once the room has been cleared of dishes so that you may introduce the next speech. It is
etiquette that staff not to be clearing plates while a speech is happening.

The Bridal Party Entrance
The entrance of the newlywed couple into the dining room is very important to many brides and grooms.
Once all the guests have sat down for dinner, the head waiter and/or banquet manager will close the doors
to the dining room. This will give the bridal party time a chance to finish their cocktail, straighten their
dresses, organize how they will enter, and lock up any gifts from the gift table. While they are doing this, it
is important that you keep the guests engaged. A suggested flow of topics while the bridal party is getting
ready is:
-Welcome all the guests to coming out to celebrate the couple’s marriage.
-Inform guests of where to find items in the hotel, and housekeeping item – suggestion on wording “If you
have not found them yet, facilities is located in the lobby – ladies to the right, gentlemen to the left. If
there are any smokers in the crowd, the smoking area is located outside the front doors at the bottom of
the steps, or on the outdoor patio off the main bar. This evening we have a private bar set up for everyone
on the Lux Lounge. The bar will be closed during dinner and will re-open after. However, please do not
take any open alcoholic beverages out the front doors of the hotel, or up the stair case and the bedroom
hallways, as these area’s are not licensed.
-Inform the guests of what the kissing game will be for the evening. (The hotel recommends that people
not tap wine glasses as we have seen it happen where someone taps the glass to hard and it breaks.)
Once you have gotten these housekeeping items out of the way, you will see the head waiter and/or
banquet manager at the door. If they give you a thumbs up, then everyone is ready to enter the room.
They will then open the door, and you can introduce everyone in.
Other resources for tips on how to be a great MC
The internet has many great websites with information on how to be an entertaining MC. The following are
some recommended links.
http://www.groomgroove.com/other_players/wedding_MC_guide.php
http://www.weddingmcjokesonline.com/
http://www.foreverwed.com/entertainment/mc.htm