A good wedding MC says less than you think. Here is the whole list, what it should sound like, and what never needs to be said at all.
The short list
These are the moments that need a voice. That is it.
- The grand entrance. Your wedding party and the two of you, names said right, timed to the song.
- The first dance. One clear line so every guest turns around at the same time.
- Parent dances. Same idea. Short, warm, then out of the way.
- Toasts. Who is speaking and in what order, so nobody wanders up to the mic early.
- Cake. A heads up so the guests who care get a good view.
- Last call. The room knows the night is ending before the lights come up.
- A shout out when the floor is going. Something like “Jennifer and Jonathan just got married today. Somebody make some noise.” Quick, tasteful and all about you.
- Light floor direction. Dinner by table, where the photo booth is, when the bar closes. Only when the room actually needs steering.
What it should sound like
Clear, warm and brief. Think of the best wedding toast you have heard, then cut it to one sentence. The goal is that your guests always know what is happening and never feel like they are watching a performance.
Your names matter most. We capture every name that gets announced phonetically during planning, the couple, the wedding party and the parents, so they are read, not guessed.
What stays off the mic
- Jokes at your expense, or anyone else’s.
- Inside jokes the DJ does not actually own.
- Running commentary between songs. The music does most of the talking.
- Shout outs to the DJ, the company or anyone’s Instagram. Nobody came to your wedding for an ad.
- Hype that is about the DJ. When we do fire the room up, it is about the two of you.
A good shout out is about you. Never about the DJ.
The part nobody sees
Before every formality, we check that photo and video are actually rolling. Cards swapped, batteries fresh, lighting set. Nobody goes on the mic until they are ready.
Your first dance happens once. A DJ who announces it into a photographer’s card swap has cost you a moment you cannot get back. It is a ten second check, and it is the difference between a great announcement and a great photo of it.