Many of the couples I plan with choose to have a wedding reception Master of Ceremonies rather than just having the DJ do it (some DJ companies charge extra, so be sure to ask!). Often times, I tell couples that a friend or family member as an MC leads to a more personalized, intimate, and often humorous reception experience…. so if you have someone that’s up for the challenge, let them do it!
I’ve also been asked, numerous times, about how a wedding MC begins to put together his/her list of duties…. so it’s definitely time for this blog to be written.
Who is the MC?
If the DJ doesn’t end up being your event’s MC, typically you can ask any member of your friend or family to deliver these duties. Sometimes couples will opt to have 1 or 2 members of their wedding party act as the MC’s for the evening, while others like to designate someone who is special to them, but who isn’t a part of the wedding party.
How to pick an MC?
I always suggest that you choose an MC whose personality fits the desired feel of your wedding reception. If you want a funny, casual, interactive reception, choose someone who is outgoing, funny, casual, and interactive! If you’re looking for something more reserved and formal, choose someone more reserved, formal (usually older, but not always!) – pick someone you can trust not to embarass you or your guests (alcohol tends to play a role in this, so someone who doesn’t drink – or who monitors their drinking, is usually ideal!)
What does an MC do?
As a Day-Of Coordinator, it’s my job to make sure that the timeline of the wedding day is accurate, concise, and runs as smoothly as possible. It’s my job to make sure that hair and makeup are done on time, that flowers get to the hall when they’re supposed to, that the cake is set up properly, and that the groomsmen know when it’s time to stop drinking mimosas and start getting ready. After the wedding ceremony, once all the vendors have done their jobs, it’s my job to make sure that the timeline we’ve created for your Wedding Reception is executed seamlessly. If the timeline is like the play script, and you and your wedding party are the actors, I end up being the director… and your MC is the stage producer! Based on the timeline that you and I put together, your MC is the one who “delivers” your reception to your guests via microphone and (hopefully) some humour and entertaining antics!
Typical MC responsibilities include:
1) Introding themselves to guests as the MC for the evening (sometimes a background story on why the MC was chosen is a nice, personalized touch)
2) Inviting guests to be seated and delivering any house rules the venue may have stipulated (or the bride and groom have asked to share)
3) Introducing the wedding party + newlyweds into the hall
4) Saying grace or delivering a blessing before the meal (or introducing the person who will do this)
5) Introducing wedding speech speakers
6) Announcing reception “events” – i.e. cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter toss, first dance, the bride and groom’s departure
7) Thanking guests for attending at the end of the night and officially “closing” the ceremonies
Where does the MC go?
If your MC is not a part of your wedding party at the head table, be sure to seat him or her near the head table, somewhere close to the podium. If you don’t have a Day Of Coordinator to help you with your seating plan, make sure to remember details like putting the podium near the DJ (if possible) – just in case there are problems with the sound system, microphone, etc. Seat your MC in an area where he or she isn’t interrupting many guests to make their rounds to and from the podium.
If you have Day-Of Coordinators, seat them near the MC as well, so that they can cue him or her when it’s time to make an announcement (this allows your MC to still enjoy being a guest at your wedding and not sit there the whole time, looking at their watch).
- on behalf of all MC’s, I say this…. if you can get your DJ to toss in a wireless microphone, it’ll make a world of difference!! – this allows for flexibility and creativity in delivering MC duties and speeches.
When does the MC speak?
The MC speaks throughout the evening – timing based on a reception itinerary that you’ve provided or that they have created (with your approval). Because the MC needs to be “around” throughout the entire night, do not choose someone who needs to leave the reception early. Avoid choosing someone who will be consuming large amounts of alcohol (unless, ofcourse, you’re comfortable with this!)
Tips for Wedding MC’s
1) Be humorous! – tell appropropriate jokes (use sites like THIS to get inspired!)
2) Keep it short! – when we get nervous, we tend to ramble… have a script and stick to it!
3) Be interactive! – don’t read from your script… make sure you use that shining personality that the bride and groom love about you :)
4) Give “well-chosen” advice…. (a special thanks to Kevin for this!)
Some advice for Him:
Never let her go to bed angry – you’re defenseless when you sleep.
If she says, “Do whatever you want to” – You’d better figure out what it is she wants you to do.
When you say “I do” she owns you from the nose down. What you think, and look at, is your own business.
What you think, and look at, can still get you in trouble – if she catches you thinking it, or looking at it.
“Do it when you get a minute” – Means “It should have been done already, and without me telling you.”
If you go shopping with her, she will inevitably leave you alone in the bra and panty section – Don’t Browse.
Then some advice for Her:
“Would you be mad if I decided to…….” – means he already did it, and doesn’t know how to hide it.
If you ask his opinion, and he says “I don’t care”, or “I don’t know” – he really doesn’t care, or know.
Men don’t have to know the rules of a sporting event to enjoy watching it.
Men really believe that: mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage, and reading the paper, is doing their fair share.
Men don’t spend money on expensive toys just to make you mad – it’s genetic, they can’t help it.
Criteria for stopping while channel surfing: 1) women in bikinis, 2) a karate fight scene, 3) a beer commercial.
Another favourite “speech” of mine…. (Thanks to Mary for this!)
Women are often misunderstood by men. That’s why men should know the words used by women to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminologies..
Here are the top 9 words women often use to hide their feelings:
#1. “Fine”
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
#2. “Five Minutes”
If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
#3. “Nothing”
This is the calm before the storm. This means something,and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
#4. “Go Ahead”
This is a dare, not permission. Don’t do it.
#5. “Loud Sigh”
This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
#6. “That’s Okay”
This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
#7. “Thanks”
A woman is thanking you, do not question or faint. Just say “you’re welcome”. (I want to add in a clause here – this is true, unless she says “Thanks a lot” – that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say “you’re welcome” … that will bring on ‘whatever’).
#8. “Whatever”
Is a women’s way of saying F-YOU!
#9. “Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it”
Another dangerous statement, meaning you knew it had to be done but you were lazy to do it and had to wait till i came home to do it. Men should automatically know it has to be done, also, this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘what’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to #3.
… in any case, you’ve chosen your MC to officiate your wedding reception because you love them…. so as an MC, know that there are very few things you can do “wrong” (though there are a few!) – relax, enjoy yourself, stick to the schedule, and have fun… after all, it’s all about the Bride and Groom :)
(and if you have questions about specific MC duties, feel free to email us at info@weddinggirl.ca!)
Last night I met with an amazing couple who has asked me to help them polish and refine their final wedding-day details and coordinate their wedding day next month! While we chatted about the details of their big day and I was asking about Wedding Ceremony details, the Bride-To-Be mentioned some uncertainty about wedding ceremony programs. She knew she wanted to have programs at the ceremony, but she didn’t know what to include in the text and how to make / display them in a way that will suit their Eco-Chic / Green / Environmentally-friendly themed wedding (to be held next month at a local Conservation Authority).
I realized that, as a wedding planner and coordinator, I have the opportunity to see countless wedding program ideas and read/re-read dozens of program templates and wording ideas… but as a bride, most of you are creating these for the first time! I decided a blog post is in order to help out !
WeddingGirl Tip #1 – Less Programs
First and foremost, I always suggest that brides create one ceremony program per couple rather than one per person. I say this mainly because on the day of the wedding, I’m the one going through the ceremony space after the festivities, picking up (and throwing out) all the extra programs left behind. Definitely a waste of time and waste of money to have too many floating around!
WeddingGirl Tip #2 – Make Programs Interesting!
Standard wedding programs include the basic following information: Program Title (usually the Bride and Groom’s names), order of ceremony service, acknowledgement of ceremony participants, and special messages / notations.
Standard information includes a descriptive phrase (i.e. “Today I marry my best friend…) and the date, ceremony location and start time. Sometimes, music selections are listed (i.e.” Bridesmaids’ Processional, Pachelbel’s Canon”, or “Signing Of The Register, Ave Maria, performed by Cindy Smith – Sister of the Groom”).
Often, programs are concluded with instructions for the remainder of the day…. “While the Newlyweds take photos with their family, please make your way to the cocktail reception on the verandah”, or driving directions to the reception hall.
Personally, I prefer when ceremony programs are less formal, and more a reflection of the bride and groom (and wedding party) instead! I love to see programs that entertain guests while they are waiting for the ceremony to begin. This can include stories like How We Met, How He Proposed, or even Bride and Groom trivia! If you make multi-paged wedding program booklets, you can write about the reason for your theme / colour selection (i.e. Welcome to our Eco-Friendly, Green-Themed wedding….) and tell your guests about the reasons for the wedding planning choices you made or cultural traditions you are abiding by.
TIP: if your wedding ceremony location doesn’t have air conditioning, turn the multi-paged programs into personal fans!)
You can also include specific details about the following wedding reception, i.e. “To make us kiss during dinner, please give generously – all proceeds will go to the local Humane Society” (which promps guests to take some money out of the bank between ceremony and reception!). Some brides choose include wedding vendor details on the program as well, i.e. A Special Thanks To…. page.
For more details on wording for your wedding program, chat with your officiant (who can provide you with the Order of Service), and visit sites like THIS for lay-out and template details.
WeddingGirl Tip #3 – Create and Display with style!
Once you’ve settled on your program wording, make your programs reflect the overall theme of your wedding. Use similar colours and design (not forgetting to use a large enough type-font that even elderly guests can enjoy what you have to share!). If you’re planning a vintage themed event, embellish your programs with lace and pearls. For Eco-Friendly/Green weddings, use plantable paper or recycled products:
When your programs are created, displaying them at your ceremony can be just as unique and creative as the wording and design itself! Whether you choose to make a themed basket….
….. or you personally display each guest’s program on their chair……
… your wedding programs can become just as much an integral part of your ceremony decor as your floral altar arrangements and aisle runner!
If you have any questions about ideas for your wedding ceremony programs, feel free to send an email and ask away!!
The skyline in Niagara Falls is growing yet again! The Niagara Convention & Civic Centre (NCCC) is a brand new convention facility in Niagara Falls, expected to open in April of 2011. The Centre is just 500 yards from the Canadian Horseshoe Falls in the fashionable Fallsview Tourist District.
As you can see on their website, this 288,000 square foot Leader in Energy and Evironmental Design (LEED) Silver designed Niagara Convention & Civic Centre will be home to:
An 80,000 square foot free-span Exhibition Hall
A distinctive 17,000 square foot Ballroom
26,500 square feet of flexible Meeting & Breakout Space
An intimate 1,000 seat Theatre with live performances
Exciting regional and seasonal Food and Beverage Offerings
| Niagara Convention & Civic Centre |
Design Your Day Wedding Contest
A few months ago, I had the distinct pleasure of being introduced to Missy Hirons, the Sales Manager at the Centre. Missy told me about an exciting upcoming Wedding Contest, Design Your Day, that they are hosting in October of 2010, where one lucky bride will win over $20,000 in wedding prizes! The Grand Prize winner’s package includes a Wedding Reception & Dinner at the Niagara Covention & Civic Centre, wine, photography, bridal gown, limo, cake, tuxedo, invitations, hair & makeup & more! On top of that, everyone who attends the Design Your Day event will walk away with all kinds of goodies, treats, and prizes!
The fabulous Food Network Canada celebrity Chef Anna Olson will be at the event as a speaker and a judge in the Make-Your-Wedding-Cake contest and I’m lucky to be working alongside my beloved Anne from Inviting Elegance and the incredible Theresa at Allure Hair and Makeup (two of my favourite vendor referrals!). I’m also super excited to be meeting and working with all the other amazing Niagara wedding professionals that will be contributing to this exciting event!!
I’m so completely honoured to be a part of the Design Your Day event and wanted to extend my personal invitation to all of YOU to join us!
Just fill out a ballot at the Design Your Day page and invite all your bridesmaids, friends and family to come out!
I’m going to delivering a seminar on creating Luxe On A Budget and will be giving away Wedding Planning Packages as well as Day-Of Coordination prizes, so who knows? we may end up working together on creating your picture perfect Happily Ever After :) Can’t wait to see you!!
Ever wondered whether the difference between cinematography and videography was worth the investment? Let me tell you… there is no magic more than what Wanda and Brian can capture on your wedding day… and show your guests before the night’s out!!
Take a look at this amazing split-screen shot of the newlyweds’ reaction to their Same Day Edit (SDE).
…. there’s something beyond words that’s captured on an ordinary wedding day…. and recreated into something extraordinary with cinema. For more of what Studio67 does, visit their website! (Warning: it’s addictive!!)
One of my latest obsessions is modern vintage, and with that said, I absolutely fell in love with silhouette-themed weddings. When I was doing research for my July 17th couple on caricature artists to have at their reception (as a favour for their guests), I came across silhouette artistry.
Silhouette Artists create instant portraits using scissors and paper. Kathryn, a silhouette artist from Florida, has a tremendously helpful website about this creative talent.
For more pictures of this insanely classy wedding theme, visit the WeddingGirl.ca Get Inspired | Wedding Gallery and select “Silhouette Themed Wedding” from the list on the right hand side.
Every bride is looking for that new, unique touch to add to their special day, something to help make their wedding stand apart from the others. Designer Delights can help add that distinctive touch to your wedding day! We specialize in anything and everything cupcakes – but what sets us apart from other cupcake shops is our one-of-a kind cupcake bouquets!!
Our signature cupcake bouquets are the perfect finishing touch to your tables. Acting as a beautiful centrepiece AND your dessert, it is also an economical choice – and who doesn’t want to find ways to save money while wedding planning?
…..And, it doesn’t stop there! We can make individual cupcakes in any theme or colour you like. Replace that traditional wedding cake with a stunning cupcake tower that is sure to act not only as a gorgeous focal point but also a tasty treat for all your guests. With a dozen flavours to choose from Designer Delights really does have something for everyone.
Wedding showers, stag and does and bachelorette parties amoung many other occasions are also a great opportunity to dive into our delicious cupcakes. Again, we can work with you to make sure our cupcakes represent the theme your are looking for.
Chelsey Cook and Jenna Bissonnette are the cupcake girls behind Designer Delights and will work with you to customize a design that fits your vision. Please visit the Designer Delights website for more information!
Enchantment Makeup Artistry is a mobile service dedicated to you. We provide hair and makeup for you on your special day. With that being said we go above and beyond to help you achieve the look you want. Why? Simple!
We believe that your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life. Finding a style you like to add the finishing touch to your day should be easy, and with us it is!
About Meagan
Makeup has always been my passion. I love having the ability to transform a face and create a breath-taking look. I enjoy every minute in this business and being able to meet all the wonderful people that I do. I am a certified makeup artist including a certificate specifically catered to bridal makeup and also hair design.
Bridal Beauty
What makes a glowing bride? Follow these pre-wedding wellness tips to get the prettiest you! And remember, beauty starts from the inside!
Eat Smart
Choose whole grain, fresh greens and fruits, and clean proteins such as chicken, fish, and beans.
Hydrate
Drink lots of water daily to hydrate the skin and flush out toxins.
Move Your Body
Exercise at least three times a week to strengthen your body and calm your mind.
Take a Relaxing Bath
Add soothing Epsom salts or skin softening powdered milk to your bathwater.
Be Present
Slow down and appreciate what’s around you rather than rushing to get from start to finish.
Bridal Beauty Do’s and Don’ts
1) DO complete a makeup trial.
2) DO get as much sleep as possible on the night before the big day.
3) DO drink plenty of water before your wedding day, and properly prepare skin with moisturizer and eye cream.
4) DON”T go to a tanning bed right before your wedding. If you want more colour use a self-tanner. Test the product weeks before the date. Apply it several days before the wedding in case you need to make corrections.
By Laura || married on May 29th, 2010 || Bridal Bootcamp Survivor
As a reality TV junkie, I applied (pleaded) to get on Slice TV’s “Last 10 Pounds Bridal Bootcamp”. For the 3rd (and final) time, I received the same email stating that they only accept people who live in Vancouver. Time for Plan B. I now had to find a personal trainer, buy my own shiny new set of workout gear, and resign to the fact that a camera crew wouldn’t be following me around. I belonged to a gym in the city, but they would only allow me to buy personal training packages that included at least 24 sessions. This bride didn’t have that kind of cash.
Enter Tamara Brouwer.
I knew of Tamara because she was a personal trainer at the gym I was a member of. She not only had a reputation for making you sweat but also being able to speak to what a person should be eating to maximize their health and workout. I knew she was the one that I needed to help me with my personal ‘Operation: Bridal Bootcamp’. Tamara had started her only personal training business, so I met with her to chat about my goals. I wasn’t looking to lose a certain amount of weight, as I was already fairly active. Rather, I wanted someone who could be tough but fair so that at the end of 6 weeks, I felt amazingly confident when all eyes were on me.
For 6 weeks, Tamara came to my house at 6 a.m. She made sure I maximized my effort for each exercise. She changed up exercises to always keep me engaged and interested by using a mix of kettlebells, weights, steps, and her stopwatch.
Her programs were customized just for me. She also gave me a food journal to record what I was eating so that she could provide feedback. It was important to her that what I was eating maximized the effort I was putting into my workouts. She was truly invested in me and my goals.
I can’t always say I was excited to get up at 6 a.m., but Tamara always came with an energetic and great attitude. One of the most important aspects when working with a trainer is connection and she had my full trust. I knew she was making my goals her goals.
On my wedding day, I felt fabulous! I had that final burst of confidence knowing all the work that I put my body through for 6 weeks had paid off. When I stepped onto the scale a few days after my wedding (post-honeymoon), I was 6 lbs. lighter with 1.5% less body fat. At our final session together, Tamara went through a series of testing with me and we discovered that I had gained 30% more endurance and strength than our baseline from the first session. Even though I am not training regularly with her anymore, she is still a support for me, giving me advice and encouragement.
Tamara Brouwer’s credentials include Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor Specialist, and Nutrition and Wellness Specialist.
Her passion and motivation is the baseline for her success with clients.
Since 2006, she has been creating specific workouts and providing strong nutritional guidance to clients so they are able to gain confident, energy, and strength.
She trains boot camps and circuits for Brides-To-Be to maximize results and to ensure they feel absolutely gorgeous on their wedding day.
You can contact Tammy at 905-650-8538, or at tbrouwer2002@msn.com to start making your wedding day dreams come true!
Weight and inches are the only thing you have to lose!
Dolcetto Designs is a relatively new online custom photo card business based out of the Niagara region, shipping all across Canada and the United States. We create modern custom invitations, announcements, thank you cards, etc. We are thrilled that our designs feature the beautiful photographic art of various photographers in the Niagara region, as well as across Canada. You are invited to visit our shop at www.dolcettodesigns.com
We are pleased to offer products to suit all budgets. We offer high quality post cards and fold over cards printed on card stock as well as cards printed on photo paper. We also offer the digital file, allowing the client to print as many copies of the image as they wish. This is the perfect solution for the DIY or bride on a budget.
One of the trends in wedding stationary is more customization. All of our designs can be fully customized. We work with clients one-on-one to ensure that each design is customized to meet their needs. We use your photo(s), colours, font choices, etc to create your perfect card. We can even adjust the layout to work with your photos and written details. Anything is possible. Therefore, if you have an idea we can create it!
The following are a few examples of ways that the “Laura and Shane” wedding invitation can be customized.
Photo cards are the perfect way to add that personal touch when thanking your guests. Sadly, thank you cards get the least attention when it comes to wedding stationary. When you give a photo thank you card, you are giving a keepsake to your guests, a lasting memory of your special day. It’s not surprising, that our photo thank you cards are the most popular item ordered. They’re a great way to give guests a sample of your wedding photographs, while saying thank you at the same time. The collage style is especially popular for destination weddings, since most of the thank you cards are going to people that weren’t at the actual wedding. A personal note of thanks can easily be written on the back of the photo. Another option is ordering fold over cards and writing your note of thanks in the inside. Photo cards are also the most appreciated thank you card, as guests love seeing photos of the bride and groom on their special day.
Ordering is easy and the turnaround time is fast. An electronic proof is always sent within 24 hours of ordering. From final proof approval, there is 48 hours until shipping for photo cards and 8 business days for card stock printed cards. The process is usually 1-2 days for digital designs.
We also have an extensive line of birth announcements, birthday invitations, etc.
Have a question or would like to chat? Shari can be reached by email at dolcettodesigns@gmail.com or by phone at 905-680-6284. All ordering can be done through our website at www.dolcettodesigns.com
Today, I’m showcasing what happens when my favourite cinematographers, Wanda and Brian at Studio67, meet my favourite decorator, Angelica at Simply Beautiful Decor, and create a promotional clip that is nothing short of spectacular…..
