Would Be Spammer?

Firstly, ? brainfart, not heard that in a long time!

Master of ceremonies- no you don't need one. You could ask your dad or best man or even DJ to do the announcing

Dj can play music whilst you're eating then kick off after the speeches. Depends what time you have him booked for!

Visiting the venue- you'll be far too busy to do this! Ask your ushers to go and sort stuff out. That is part of their job!

Photographer- you should ask them if they bring their own dinners. If not then ask if they would like a snack. It's cheaper and you don't want them away too long incase they miss ay good photos

So for us...

Master of ceremonies...Do you *need* one. My venue hasn't got one. They'll like £300?! Who introduces you etc?

Our venue doesn't have one either, I've been to wedding with one and others without anyone introducing etc. We're not having one but making it one of the usher's job for the day!

What time does the DJ start after the speeches or later?

During the meal we are going to have background music playing on an iPhone, then the DJ will only start when we all head outside for the venue to change it's layout for the evening. This will be when our DJ arrives, then when our evening, officially starts we are going to cut the cake and have our first dance so that's when he'll start.

Do people (brides) go to their venue in the morning of the wedding? We've a 2pm service so I wanted to go, but the venue dresser is telling me no?

We are leaving all the bits there with a detailled description of how I want it set up (to calm the perfectionist side of me). I'm not going to see it set up until everyone else. But as our reception venue is attached to a pub and just across the road from the church. OH and the BM/Ushers are going there for a drink first and will check everything is looking good!

Are you buying your photographer a wedding breakfast meal too? I've just been told that it's 'the done thing'?

My photographer will be getting the meal too but that's because they are one of our friends so a guest, that happens to be our photographer too. I know she usually (nearly always) gets food served, but there have been the odd occasions when not.

Hope that helps and gives you some ideas...

Master of ceremonies...Do you *need* one. My venue hasn't got one. They'll like £300?! Who introduces you etc? You don't need one, just need someone with a gob on them to shut everyone up for the speaches!

What time does the DJ start after the speeches or later? Whenever you want them to but usually around the beginning of the evening reception, your venue will probably want time to turn the room around and for your DJ to set up.

Do people (brides) go to their venue in the morning of the wedding? We've a 2pm service so I wanted to go, but the venue dresser is telling me no? You do whatever you want, not what the dresser tells you to do, if you are getting ready at the venue then go when you want to, if you are getting ready at home then will you have time to go?

Are you buying your photographer a wedding breakfast meal too? I've just been told that it's 'the done thing'? Ask your photographer what they expect, most will have it in their terms and conditions, my photographer does not expect one but the venue provides a meal free of charge for him.

Master of ceremonies...Do you *need* one. My venue hasn't got one. They'll like £300?! Who introduces you etc?
We thought long and hard about an MC, but in the end we thought that the best man could do the job just as well and later we'll get the band to do a couple of announcements.

What time does the DJ start after the speeches or later?
We are having speeches, cutting of the cake, then the band will start up and then the first dance.

Do people (brides) go to their venue in the morning of the wedding? We've a 2pm service so I wanted to go, but the venue dresser is telling me no?
Why would you need to? With last minute decorating, and getting a few bits there such as gifts and the cake we've nicely asked our ushers to do the work.

Are you buying your photographer a wedding breakfast meal too? I've just been told that it's 'the done thing'?
My photographer will be there 8 hours, and he politely explained that if he is there 8 hours he needs to eat something as its a full day. He said he didn't mind what it was, even if it was just a sausage sandwich, as long as he gets something to keep him going. I can respect that.

My photographer specifies in his contract that if working the full day we will provide him with a hot meal. Our venue offers a reduced rate for meals for the photographer and DJ if needed.

Your DJ can start whenever you want. We plan to do a couple speeches during the wedding breakfast (traditional), then a couple during the evening after the DJ has started. We will have him stop the music and introduce the speaker, then the music will start again after.

No one needs a master of ceremonies. At least not a hired one. My uncle was MC at both my brothers' weddings and did a fab job! He basically grabbed the microphone to introduce people for speeches in the evening, and introduced the couple for the first dance.

I assume brides only go to the wedding early if they get read there. I'm staying at my venue the night before, so that's that for me. Otherwise, isn't it common for the bride to show up all dazzling and walk straight into the church/civil hall?

MC - You need someone who will coordinate the day and tell people what to do whem intoroduce things etc.

Our caterer does this as part of the package (he enjoys it so doesn't charge!) But we are actually asking OHs brother to do it for us as he's good at that sort of thing and its nice to have him involved. Our caterer sent me his 'script' for what he usually does as MC so I might be able to send that to you if you wanted a friend to do it.

Whoever MCs I think you need someone who will do the job so people know what is going on. I would imagine they will liaise with the venue coordinator who can tell them whats happening enxt and when things are ready etc.

DJ - depends opn when you want them to I guess. What time will your meal finish? I wouldn't have them start too early, but maybe they could play background music ratehr than party music for a bit? i think this is totally up to you and what you want, and what the DJ will do for the fee.

Venue on the day - my firend and I (CBM) were there for hers, but we stayed in the hotel on the mroning. I certainly won't be as its a fair way away and an early ceremony. TBH my gut instinct would be to let the dresser do their job and trust them that they know what you want because you've told them in advance. Why let yourself get stressed over tiny things that you won't even notice if you arrive with it all done!

TOG - we are feeding ours as he is also a friend (and pro TOG) who is flying abck from NZ to do our wedding on mates rates, so if he had been around we would have invited him anyway.

I think BIL fed theirs - but the caterer did up a plate and they ate separately IYSWIM. I'm sure some cateres I looked at charged a lesser rate for 'supplier' meals as they don't do the full service for them.

HTH

DM

My master of ceremony hardly did anything so not required I don't think, a wedding party member can do it for free.

My speeches were at the start of the meal. DJ wasn't on until evening quests arrived.

I only went to the venue in time for the ceremony. You could get ready there if you wanted to book a room.

If your photographer is there all day some actually state a meal in their contract but some don't. We did but not out of obligation. x

I am going to add our touches to the room the night before.

our DJ is there for the evening guests.

our hotel manager is the MC but most my lot have a big gob any way so i'dget one of your bridal party to do it.

you dont have to for the photograher

Master of ceremonies...Do you *need* one. My venue hasn't got one. They'll like £300?! Who introduces you etc?

Our venue used the hotel manager. Can you get your Best Man/Usher/Confident friend to do it?

What time does the DJ start after the speeches or later?

Ours set up the equipment in the morning, then came back after the speeches at 6pm to start the disco/first dance at 7.30pm.

Do people (brides) go to their venue in the morning of the wedding? We've a 2pm service so I wanted to go, but the venue dresser is telling me no?

I got ready at my venue, but didn't have time to go to the room. I sent my dad's partner to check everything was as I wanted it while I was getting my hair done. But we didn't have a venue dresser, it was just the venue setting everything up. You are paying your venue dresser to do a job, I would leave them to it!

Are you buying your photographer a wedding breakfast meal too? I've just been told that it's 'the done thing'?

It was in the contract to provide them with food - we just paid in advance for bar meals.

Agree with DarkMoomin. An excellent MC or even toastmaster can make allthe difference and let everyone involved in the wedding relax and enjoy themselves. Used to be a wedding co-ordinator at venues and believe me it does make a real difference having someone who is there just to look after everything/help everyone and look after the bride and groom. If you've got a relative who has done this before and loves doing it and it worked then go with them - otherwise if there's no-one in that role at your venue then I think it would be a good investment. Not sure where you are?

Master of ceremonies...Do you *need* one. My venue hasn't got one. They'll like £300?! Who introduces you etc?

If your venue does not provide one, I would say not to bother. In fact I have heard some really negative stories about MCs who, because they have been doing it for x amount of years etc, think that everything has to be done in a certain way and are not flexible and don't fit in with what the bride and groom want. Of course, not all MCs will be like that, but if you do get one, check them out thoroughly. Does your venue have a wedding co-ordinator who will be there on the day? If so, they can make sure the day runs smoothly and if not, your venue will have someone there who has been in charge of weddings before and can liase with the rest of the staff etc. They may even act as MC (ours will, although we are asking the best man to do it)


What time does the DJ start after the speeches or later?

If you are having your evening reception in the same room as the wedding breakfast, unless you book your DJ to come in and do an early morning set up, you will probably need to allow them time to set up their equipment. We are aiming to have speeches over by 7ish, evening guests are invited from 7:30 and the band will start around 8ish after the first dance and cake cutting. It's nice to have a bit of down time, just mingling with guests before the disco gets underway, in my opinion. You can just ask the venue to have some music on in the background before the disco starts.



Do people (brides) go to their venue in the morning of the wedding? We've a 2pm service so I wanted to go, but the venue dresser is telling me no?

I've asked my OH to go with the ushers and Best Man a bit early before the guests get there just to check everything is OK, but I won't be going. My make up lady is coming at 9am so I won't have time, plus I know it would just stress me out. I have full faith in my wedding co-ordinator at the venue to sort things out for me and I would only get in her way in the morning.


Are you buying your photographer a wedding breakfast meal too? I've just been told that it's 'the done thing'?

We won't be buying them a full wedding breakfast meal, but we will make sure they get something to eat although they won't eat it in the same room as where we are having the wedding breakfast with all the guests.

Master of ceremonies...Do you *need* one. My venue hasn't got one. They'll like £300?! Who introduces you etc? No, you don't need one, just someone with a loud voice to introduce you. I've been to 28 weddings over the past 5 years and I've not once seen an official toastmaster/MC or the like. 9 times out of 10 it'll be the best man. I've seen wedding co-ordinators do it. Mr Knees was once MC for his mate's wedding. The groom's brother was best man, but he wasn't very confident in terms of shouting so he asked Mr K. We were originally going to have a friend as MC (basically, the loudest usher!), but our original best man can't make our wedding, so he'll be doing both jobs.

What time does the DJ start after the speeches or later? There's normally a natural gap after the speeches/wedding breakfast, where people go and get a drink, check into their rooms etc, so in my experience the DJ starts a little later. Having said that, it completely depends what time your food ends. Most weddings I've been to end the food around 5.30-6, and the DJ will start at, say, 7, but if your food doesn't end until 8, you may as well start straight away.

Do people (brides) go to their venue in the morning of the wedding? We've a 2pm service so I wanted to go, but the venue dresser is telling me no? I won't be - I'll be far too busy getting ready! We drop off all our stuff at the venue a couple of days before and they set it up for us. Perhaps your venue dresser was just trying to tell you there was no need for you to be there, but I'm sure there's no reason you can't be there if you want to be. If you trust your dresser, leave them to it. If not, send an usher or a friend who's not in the bridal party to check up on things.

Are you buying your photographer a wedding breakfast meal too? I've just been told that it's 'the done thing'? Our venue provides "suppliers' meals" for a lesser cost. I'm assuming it'll just be a main course. I'm going to check with my tog closer to the time whether she wants one of these. Some write it into their contract, others bring their own packed lunch. Completely depends on your particular tog. If they need a meal, you don't need to get them the full on 3 course breakfast, just a sandwich at the bar shoudl be fine.

MC

One thing to realise is that this will depend on the style of Wedding. If its fairly relaxed and informal and you're on a budget, the options are a Wedding Party member (usher?), or ask the DJ to quote.

A true MC can be invaluable, but I for many modern Weddings being fairly informal, its not essential.

As a DJ, I'm happy to speak and introduce the B&G into the main room, and then announce the speeches. This would mean I'm working for perhaps another 2 hours.

Some venues provide their own, or offer the Manager/other - our venue provided the manager to handle the running of the day (including announcements). I was very happy with what he did- we met him before the wedding and he asked all the right questions (how would we like to be introduced etc).

DJ times

This varies. I'd look at the timescales of the day, and where you'll be eating and when you'll be finished, the venue will have this as many of them like to guide you to their timescales.
Depending on the set-up and access, the DJ may need at least 1hr to set-up and change.
If you need the DJ set-up earlier, this may be more expensive, but may have other benefits(background music/mic use for speeches etc).

I would advise not to be too early with your 1st dance, so if you venue suggests the room takes 30mins to turn around, don't be tempted to force the DJ into setting up in 30mins and expecting your 1st dance straight away.

Depending on their pricing, it may be cheaper to spend the extra 30mins chatting to friends.

Venue Dressing

If you're paying someone to dress the venue, you probably should listen to them. I would expect you've checked that they'll do a good job, and you should be spending time with your bridesmaids.

Supplier Catering

We don't insist on this, but if we're providing an all-day service then we will need to get refreshment. This may mean leaving the venue and finding somewhere to eat. Venue food prices are fairly expensive, and we're also buying drinks.
It is very much appreciated when clients realise this any provide refreshments. We also don't assume we can join in the buffet (and so often stand there, watching plates of food when we've not eaten since midday and won't get home until 1am!

For our wedding, we fed our Photographer and her assistant. Our DJ was a very good friend and he joined our guests (the TOG was happy to sit in the foyer and relax). We also supplied soft drinks.

If the supplier is only doing 1/2 day (so TOG providing ceremony and group shots only), or DJ just arriving in evening, then I would not expect food to be provided, even though I may have an 8hr stretch of work ahead.

Most venues are used to providing refreshments for suppliers and normally have a small simple menu.