How to choose a wedding host - 20 questions for the toastmaster

What is a wedding without a bride, groom and... without a host. It largely depends on him what impressions you and your guests will have about this important and solemn day. It doesn’t matter whether 15 people or 150 people come to your wedding. Therefore, for most newlyweds, the question of how to choose a good wedding host is very pressing.


To ensure that the guests do not get bored, it is important to have an experienced toastmaster who will hold the banquet at the highest level and bring to life the pre-conceived scenario.

In the West, a host is not always invited to weddings. Many people do without it. This is due to the fact that the wedding feast in Western countries, as a rule, does not last very long and does not include a long entertainment program. In Russia and the CIS countries it is difficult to imagine a wedding celebration without a toastmaster.

Responsibilities and Competencies

The toastmaster at the wedding must hold a banquet in a restaurant after registering the marriage according to an agreed upon scenario, including competitions, announcements of toasts and dances, jokes and involving guests in everything that happens.

The last point is very important - the host should not just joke and have fun, but, if possible, encourage guests to take part in competitions, dances, make toasts - in other words, he should create a festive mood for those present.

The full list of responsibilities is below.

  • Timing. The banquet lasts a certain amount of time - during this time you need to have time to eat, dance, congratulate the newlyweds, take part in competitions, cut the wedding cake, etc. The toastmaster makes sure that the entertainment program does not drag on or, conversely, end too quickly.
  • Meeting the guests. By the end of the evening, a good host will definitely introduce all the guests to each other and create a warm atmosphere even at the most lavish and crowded wedding.
  • Organization of a meeting of young people. This is where the work of the toastmaster at the banquet begins - he must beautifully greet the newlyweds at the entrance to the restaurant.
  • Toasts. The toastmaster himself must give beautiful and original toasts, and also give the floor to the guests in a timely manner.
  • Entertainment. None of the invitees should be bored. Defusing the situation, finding the best moments for competitions and games is the main task of a specialist.
  • Help the DJ. Usually the toastmaster and the DJ work in pairs. This combination works much more efficiently.
  • Resolution of conflicts and force majeure. A script is good, but rarely does a wedding go off without a hitch. If an unexpected situation arises, the professional must be resourceful.
  • Guest control. Usually at a wedding, alcohol literally “flows like a river,” and not all guests can calculate their strength. Of course, the toastmaster will not count the number of glasses or glasses, but he has the power to increase the interval between toasts if necessary.
  • End of the holiday. The ceremonial farewell of the newlyweds is the final chord of the evening. The professional must say farewell words and thank those present.

Considering the huge number of responsibilities of a specialist, young people do not always decide to do without him at a celebration. Therefore, the question of how to choose a host for a wedding will always remain relevant.

Types of presenters

There are 3 main types of wedding celebrants. The choice of newlyweds depends on the planned format and type of holiday.

Entertainer.

The compere leads the wedding evening, announcing concert numbers, giving the floor to the next speaker for congratulations and filling short pauses between performances by professional artists.

This type of host is suitable for lush and festive weddings, with a large number of guests and an extensive show program.

Note: only a showman, a professional of the highest category, who knows how to improvise on the go and work with different audiences, can perform a high-quality entertainer. His presence will give the event additional status. But you need to take into account that such a presenter will not be cheap.

Single leader.

It can be a man or a woman - gender does not matter. The bottom line is that the single host does everything himself: he writes and brings to life the entire wedding evening script, thinks through clear timing, competitive and congratulatory blocks, and musical breaks.

Note: at the few youth weddings, the role of such a host is often taken on by one of the friends or even the groom himself.

Leading duet.

Couples conducting a wedding - men and women - is another common type. It can combine both the functions of an entertainer and a classic evening host.

Note: since the semantic load and manner of conducting in this case can be completely different - from the jokey Stand Up style to the prim classics - the newlyweds should discuss all the details in detail with the hosts.

What should it be


The toastmaster who will hold your wedding at the highest level must meet the following requirements:

  • be an open, sociable and cheerful person;
  • have a great sense of humor;
  • be able to improvise and navigate the situation;
  • have a pleasant voice, diction and correct speech;
  • have experience in holding weddings.

When thinking about how to choose the right host for a wedding, consider these criteria.

Interesting! We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with how to choose a photographer for a wedding and find “your” decorator.

How to search

The traditional way of finding a wedding host is “word of mouth.” Another option is to contact a wedding agency. They probably have contacts of trusted presenters.

The last option is an independent search. Most presenters probably have websites with examples of work; you can find them online yourself. You can also search through newspapers or websites with free classified ads. If you have friends whose wedding you attended and you liked their host, you can simply ask them for this person’s contact information.

Alarm Signals

After the presenter has been found and selected, another important moment comes - a personal meeting. It is she who ultimately determines everything: will you trust the person you found with your wedding?

There are several alarm bells that cannot be ignored.

  • The presenter was late for the scheduled meeting.
  • He imposes his point of view and vision of the wedding evening.
  • Gives inappropriate advice and recommendations.
  • He persistently tries to “bring in” “his team” - photographer, DJ, videographer, stylist, artists - as additional services.
  • Refuses to discuss the dress code and his suit at the wedding.
  • Doesn't sign the contract.
  • Does not give a receipt for prepayment or does not take advance payment. Both cases are very suspicious and should alert customers.

But if, during a personal meeting with the presenter, you felt sympathy for him, fell under the influence of his charisma, were imbued with his easy disposition and wit, felt “on the same wavelength” with him, listen to your inner voice and trust it. There is a good chance that you are lucky and you have met the one you were looking for, and your wedding will be an unforgettable event!

Other interesting articles:

Advice to the groom from the Prince Park Hotel in Moscow. Best friend's wedding, or Upcoming expenses for someone else's wedding. All about the wedding ceremony. Wedding: what would you like to drink?

How to know if a specialist is right for you

To understand whether this presenter is right for you, it is best to see him “in action.” If you haven't personally attended a wedding where this person worked, watch videos online. Be sure to meet the presenter in person. Pay attention to how he speaks, how attractive he is, and whether he understands your requirements and wishes. You need to check whether he is available on the date you need. Good presenters are worth their weight in gold and can be scheduled months in advance.

It is important to establish personal contact with the presenter. You should enjoy his company. In this case, we can hope that he will be able to create the right atmosphere at the wedding. A good host should understand what kind of wedding you want, who your guests are and what entertainment they will enjoy most and which should be excluded from the program.

The search for a leader should begin as early as possible. Once you have decided on the date and location of the wedding, as well as the number of guests, immediately start looking for a host. Otherwise, you may not find a suitable candidate for the date you need. This is especially true for those who are planning a wedding during the “hot” time – from May to September.

Portfolio

Having selected several candidates who are close to you and your future husband in spirit and style, start looking through their portfolio:

What a person publishes on his page characterizes him better than any video reports. Do not make a choice only based on the availability and quality of videos, because:

  1. • The video can be edited to order, which means that the presenter’s mistakes or failed moments will be cut out of it.
  2. • The main picture in such cuts is laughter and dancing - blocks that have nothing to do with the direct work of the presenter.
  3. • The video can be the result of one well-executed wedding, while 9 more low-quality celebrations will remain behind the scenes.
  4. • Each wedding is an individual mood, jokes and traditions. You may not like the video simply because the couple from this wedding has different tastes from yours.

Therefore, after watching the videos, be sure to pay attention to photo reports, descriptions of weddings and reviews of real couples. If you want more thorough comments and details, contact brides who have already ordered the celebration from one or another host

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Preparation for the celebration


The host should take an active part in preparing for the wedding. Here's what he has to do:

  • Agree on the scenario with the bride and groom, taking into account all their wishes. To do this, the host must understand how they see their ideal wedding.
  • Prepare all the necessary props for competitions. He can use his own props or buy a new one.
  • Coordinate your actions with the DJ. Musical accompaniment is an important part of the wedding: hosts often suggest familiar musicians with whom they have already worked.
  • Learn the names of the parents of the bride and groom, as well as witnesses. This is the required minimum. Well, of course, he should know the names of the heroes of the occasion - the bride and groom.

What to ask?

On the wedding day, the host will spend about 8 hours with the young couple and all the guests, so the person must be very pleasant to communicate with so that the guests can have fun and enjoy the holiday. And all organizational work is transferred to the toastmaster.

A professional will always show how educated and competent a person he is. The most basic thing to check is that he must remember the names of the couple from the very beginning of the meeting.

An important point in the work of a presenter is flexibility. The customer must notify him of his wishes, and the toastmaster explains how he sees it. If he manages to deftly combine his working principles with some new ideas, then at the event he will be able to navigate in time in the event of force majeure.

During the meeting, you can even ask the host for advice on which cafe or photographer you should choose. A true professional will be competent in every such issue. He does not have to agree with the customers on everything; sometimes he needs to correct the client for fruitful cooperation.

During communication, future newlyweds should look at the interlocutor as if from the outside in order to understand how he will be perceived by the guests at the wedding. You can discuss upcoming competitions.

If the couple does not want certain events to be held, the facilitator must take this into account when drawing up the script. If he begins to persuade the newlyweds, it is quite possible that an unpleasant surprise will occur at the wedding. That is why the program must be strictly discussed so that customers are satisfied.

In addition to questions from the future newlyweds, the toastmaster should receive all the information he needs. In order for him to find a common language with all the guests, he must be aware of the family and friendly ties of all the invitees. You can also provide him with photos and details about them.

Tips for choosing


In order not to make a mistake in choosing a toastmaster, it is important to follow some recommendations. Below are tips on how to choose a wedding officiant.

  1. Be sure to see a specialist and communicate with him in person.
  2. Do not blindly trust reviews on the Internet - they may be custom-made.
  3. Find people who have already officiated their weddings and ask them to give you feedback personally.
  4. Focus on the contingent of invitees. If you are having a youth wedding, it is better to hire an equally young, cheerful and reckless host. If there will be a lot of middle-aged or older people at the wedding, give preference to a more mature and calm host.
  5. Don’t ignore your inner voice - if you personally don’t like the person, even if there are positive reviews and recommendations, it’s better not to contact him.
  6. Don’t chase cheapness - focus on average prices on the market.
  7. Start looking for a host in advance - a month before weddings, good hosts may already be occupied.
  8. When searching for a presenter, use word of mouth.
  9. Enter into an agreement with the host.
  10. Do not pay in full upfront.
  11. Discuss all the nuances of the wedding from start to finish.
  12. Discuss in detail and record in the contract all the responsibilities of the presenter.
  13. Hold a wedding reception rehearsal with several guests to evaluate the professionalism of the host.
  14. Check the cost of additional hours of work in case your banquet runs longer.

List of questions to ask at the meeting

To choose the right toastmaster for a wedding, find out as much as possible about him. To do this, prepare a list of questions before the meeting, the answers to which will help you make the final choice. We offer several important questions to the applicant:

  1. How many hours of work do the services include?
  2. Will there be cash competitions and fundraisers?
  3. How much will it cost to buy a piece of wedding cake?
  4. How will the couple's first dance be organized?
  5. In what order will relatives congratulate the newlyweds?
  6. How will winning guests be rewarded?
  7. What will be the intervals between his program and the dance one?
  8. When will the newlyweds be given the floor (to prepare)?
  9. How will the end of the celebration be organized?
  10. How, when and where to look for a leader (full list of contacts)?

Summary

A good specialist is a real boon for any wedding, because he is the one who will create the atmosphere of your holiday. If you don’t want your guests to get bored, if you dream of turning your celebration into a real extravaganza, carefully consider the choice of the host. Don’t rush and don’t try to save money: remember that a good toastmaster is the key to a fun and memorable wedding.

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Who is the toastmaster?

So, one of the key points is the choice of a toastmaster - a person who can ensure fun, systematicity and consistency of the wedding feast.

The concept of “toastmaster” came to us from the Georgian language and means a person who manages a feast at a mass event. In Georgia, the toastmaster is the god of the feast; not a single toast is made without his permission. Gradually this word became international.

Today this is the name given to the person who “hosts” the wedding evening. He not only leads the entire feast ceremony, but is also a showman, entertainer, entertainer, actor, director and screenwriter all rolled into one.

So, here are the points that should be taken into account in the process of choosing a toastmaster, so that the celebration is fun and memorable forever.

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