The words "I'd be honoured to be master of ceremonies at your wedding!" are more often than not followed by second thoughts. Such as: "Wait a sec. Am I funny or clever enough to pull this off?" Or: "Geez, what if I embarrass myself or let down the bride and groom?"
Before you call up the happy couple to back out, read through this primer on being a master of ceremonies.
It's not Your Show! Contrary to what you might fear, the master of ceremonies doesn't have to be the entertainment; he or she merely has to direct the entertainment. At a wedding, a planned schedule for toasts and speeches, orchestrated by the master of ceremonies (MC or emcee), lends formality to the proceedings and keeps things moving along.
Two Main Duties. Being an emcee usually involves two main functions: the first is to make sure the "formal" part of the event runs smoothly, which includes introducing each speaker; the second, especially if you are also the best man, is to give a speech. (You may also be called upon to give a toast.)
Brief is Better.The wise emcee lives by the words "short and sweet." As a general rule, brevity and sincerity should guide the nervous or inexperienced. Most emcees take no longer than one to two minutes to introduce each part of the program.
Do Your Reconnaissance. In the weeks before the wedding, make time to talk to the bride, groom, their best friends, their families; ask them lots of questions about the couple and they'll supply the stories you'll relate throughout the reception. Keep notes; you never know what gems you'll decide to use later.
Know the Setting. Find out all you can about the wedding itself. How many guests? Are they mainly students? Middle-aged business people? Seniors? Close relatives? Will children be present? What about the reception hall? Is there a story behind why it was chosen?
Compile the Schedule. Help the bride and groom finalize the schedule of proceedings. How many toasts will be given and when? In what order and by whom? What relationship do these people have to the bridal couple? When will you be expected to speak, and for how long?
Prepare for the Logistics. Will you be speaking from a platform or the head table? Will you have a podium? A microphone? Where will the guests be seated?
Starting if Off. Begin by introducing yourself. Then highlight the reason you are all gathered together - to celebrate a wedding, of course - and explain that it's your job to guide everyone through the program. Take care of any "housekeeping" that guests need to know, for instance, where they can go to smoke, when dinner will be served, or what to do instead of clinking glasses to get the bride and groom to kiss. If you have a lot of information to give them, try to intersperse a few anecdotes with the facts.
Talking Points. There are three rules to remember when telling stories and jokes: timing, taste, and tact. Some embellishment is good, but a story that runs on for more than three minutes is too long. Jokes and stories must be in good taste and suitable for your audience. Don't let a joke or story go beyond gently poking fun and end up hurting someone.
Fine Finale. Come the end of the proceedings, you will have the last word. This is no time to get carried away; a short story, joke, or prediction of future marital happiness followed by a thank-you works just fine.