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The Wedding Toastmaster
Hello Again,
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that it is not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year!
Well, winter is well and truly here; January has been so cold with snow and ice everywhere just to make our journey really treacherous. Weddings have been fun though with my brides wearing coloured wellies in the snow!
But I am really looking forward to the Spring and a warm, even hot Summer. Let's hope 2013 is lucky for all my brides and that they have a wonderful wedding day
I hope you all have a wonderful year.
Warmest wishes
Eric
For those of you that still don't know me, some Introductions are in order:
My name is Eric Gill, I am a Professional Wedding Toastmaster also an occasional house husband, hopeless at golf, not very good at DIY, and can't cook, but I definitely make a wedding less stressful.
If you have a bit of spare time please read the thank you cards, emails and letters sent by happy newly-weds - you will find these in my testimonials. Here is a snippet:
"We just wanted to thank you again for making our day so wonderful... we feel so lucky to have had you as part of our day and for that we are truly grateful"
I am a member of the National Association of Toastmasters and Fellow of the Executive Guild of Toastmasters and Town Criers. I have been a Professional Toastmaster since 1994 and attend up to 100 weddings a year.
Loads of Experience
I have over 18 years experience (with over 1500 weddings under my belt) so you have my assurance that your wedding will have my utmost attention, right from our first phone call (or Email), down to helping with speeches and giving advice (when requested) on how the day will unfold.
It is my pleasure as your wedding toastmaster to look after you all, and do it with a friendly smile and a calm but assured confidence. I believe that it's that touch of class that only a trained experienced toastmaster can deliver
Whether we meet face to face or discuss your special day on the telephone, my role in your plans is informal yet professional. My duties include but are not limited to:
* Advice on etiquette and protocol before and on the wedding day
* Liaison with venue management, photographers and other wedding professionals
* Organizing the receiving line and announcing guests to the wedding party
* Make announcements regarding matters of the day to the assembled guests
* Announce the Bride and Bridegroom and escort them to their place at the top table at the wedding breakfast.
* Announce or say Grace
* Announce the speakers and assist with gifts and/or flowers
* Arrange the ceremonial cutting of the cake
* Conclude the formalities and advise guests of arrangements for the evening
I guarantee that you will enjoy your celebrations knowing that your plans and wishes are being attended to by me at every step.
How do you know if I am available and how do you book me?
Booking deposit
If I am available for your date, I request a £50.00 deposit. This secures the booking. The final balance only becomes due 2 weeks before the happy day.
I will either email an agreement form, or post it. It is your choice. Most clients prefer an email attachment, thus once completed the document can be posted to me with a Cheque.
I usually allow 14 days to receive this, depending on the date of your wedding. - see my Fees page for details
Easy as that
That's it really, apart from phone calls re advice on all things from speeches, protocol and procedure, but that's just part of my job - looking after you both before and on your special day.
Call me, the telephone number is :
01380 871784 or 07770 625378
If I am not available please leave a message on my answer phone
Thank you for the visit
Eric Gill -
Professional Toastmaster & Master of Ceremonies
Incidentally, Please read - The Weddings (Best of Martha Stewart Living) You will thank me...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weddings-Best-Martha-Stewart-Living/dp/0609604260/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Now please read the other pages - they're interesting - Honest..
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What Does a Toastmaster do at a Wedding
Toastmasters at Weddings
Years ago, a toastmaster was almost unheard of attending a wedding, normally being hired as the Master of Ceremonies at Society's Banquets and Balls. Nowadays, it is almost unheard of not to have the Man in Red looking after a wedding.
Toastmasters and Weddings are inseparable and I spend many hours on post- planning so each wedding becomes a labour of love. I love to look after people. Seeing it slowly take shape on the day is perhaps the most rewarding part for me.
So, do I hear you ask the following questions?
What are a Toastmasters Duties?
What does a Toastmaster do?
Why do I need a Toastmaster?
AND... do I really have to have a Toastmaster?
So, why is this Master of Ceremonies perfect for your special day?
Wedding Toastmaster's Duties
- I will be at the reception venue well before the arrival of the couple to liaise with the Banqueting or Catering Manager about the way the reception will be run.
- I greet the happy couple on their arrival and ensure their needs are catered for.
- I also greet the main members of the wedding party & check with the Best Man that he is aware of his responsibilities during the reception.
- I liaise with, and co-ordinate activities of, caterers, photographer, video operator, entertainers and band leader/DJ.
- I offer to assist the photographer in gathering the required groups together.
- I organise and arrange the receiving line, ready to announce guests to be received.
- I announce the grand entrance of the couple
- I can announce, or say, Grace. (if required)
- I am always delighted to make any announcements required, eg. cameras on tables, circulation of guest book, etc.
- I announce the ceremonial cutting of cake.
- I announce speakers and toasts.
- I announce details of evening entertainment.
- I announce the departure of the Bride and Bridegroom from the banqueting room.
- And undertake any other duty required of me.
I adapt to any changes from the traditional format to fit in with the way the special day has been planned. Having been engaged for hundreds of wedding receptions, I have the experience of every variation from the traditional norm.
That experience will assist should the organiser seek my advice at any time on any aspect of the event.
Above all I will be Happy! AND I promise that I will make the difference
Convinced? Still not sure? Why not call me for a chat on 01380 871784
I am ever so nice to talk to and promise not to be pushy... Can't say fairer than that - eh?
Experts For You
Other Pages on this Site
To help you find all the other relative pages, I have listed below links that will take you to those pages. Hopefully it will help you answer these questions
How much does a Toastmaster Cost?
How much does a toastmaster cost to hire is a question most asked. I list my Fees for 2009 & 2010 to help you budget your big day. A Toastmaster's duties are worth the money
Gallery of Photographs
To help you look for a toastmaster happy in his work; here are few of the many Photographs taken attending to my Toastmaster Duties.
Looking for an experienced toastmaster?,
How to write and make a Speech
You don't have to be a Wedding Master of Ceremonies to make a speech . If you want to know how to write and deliver a speech?. How to make Toastmaster announcements too? Here your Wedding Master of Ceremonies explains why it is important to rehearse the words each day in order to professionally deliver a speech. Just part of a Toastmasters duties.
Toastmaster Testimonials
Two pages of ' thank you' letters, cards and emails. All very special to me. They illustrate the benefits of hiring a professional toastmaster - the best Toastmaster in the South West!
Wedding Day DVD
I think it is important to record the day, the speeches, the toastmaster announcements, all the fun on your special day; even if you get a friend to do it - it is something to look back on.
Ideas on how to Plan a Wedding
Looking for some ideas on how to plan a wedding with hints and tips to help you relax and enjoy it all?. It will help to discover the secret of a lovely wedding.
Wedding Readings
If you are looking for some original wedding readings here are five to consider for your ceremony
Other Services Page
Two pages to view of other services you may find interesting, including Wedding Flowers by Stellacflowers - the perfect florist, as recommended by The Elvetham Hotel at Hartley Wintney
Eric Gill Toastmaster does Benny Hill
Filmed at the Elvetham at Hartley Wintney where Benny Hill did the closing sequence of his show. A video clip of Eric Gill re-enacting the famous Benny Hill closing scene where the girls were chasing him.
Eric Gill Presents the first Champagne Cork to the Bride and Bridegroom
It is deemed to be very lucky to receive the first Champagne cork on your wedding day and Eric makes sure the Bride and Groom are presented with it ceremoniously 'The Ceremony of the wedding Cork'
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What Is Modern Wedding Etiquette?
Debrett's Explain..
The wedding season is upon us and here at Debrett's we are frequently asked: what is modern wedding etiquette? Etiquette is constantly evolving and many traditions and conventions don't fit comfortably into the wedding day. Many brides and grooms are throwing the rulebook out of the window in the desire to have the wedding day that they want, rather than one that convention created.
Does this mean that wedding etiquette no longer matters? Not at all. In its purest form, etiquette is about how we communicate and interact with each other. It is how we make those around us feel -- good etiquette lies in consideration for others. So, in the case of a wedding, the care of the guests and the roles of the wedding party -- the best man, ushers (groomsmen) and bridesmaids -- are crucial.
Planning a wedding is, for the most part, the same as organizing a party. Care and attention are required for those who are attending -- they have, after all, often traveled from far a field, bought an expensive gift and forked out for a night's accommodation. Some couples, however, think that merely issuing an invitation and allocating a suitable spot on the seating plan is more than enough provision for the guests.
Good organization and clear communication makes for happy guests and, in turn, happy guests create a better celebratory atmosphere. The couple should think about weddings that they have attended and use their experiences to their advantage. Did they have to wait for endless photographs to be taken of the happy couple and their extended family? Did they know where to park, and were there plenty of ushers on hand to point them in the right direction? Were they well fed and watered? No matter how happy the guests are for the newly weds, all too often they remember a wedding for all the wrong reasons -- delays, bad timing, disorganization, low supplies of drink...
Good advance planning creates the structure of the day, but too many weddings fall down when nobody, apart from the bride and groom, is familiar with the order of events. The key players -- the best man, ushers (groomsmen) and bridesmaids -- must be properly briefed. The bride and groom should be able to relax, safe in the knowledge that everything they've planned is in hand. It is, therefore, good etiquette for the wedding party to understand what's being asked of them, enabling them to fulfill their duties.
The best man has the most important role. He must be a good communicator, a diplomat and work with everyone, from the mother of the bride and the bridesmaids to the caterer and the wedding band. He is also the groom's personal assistant, ensuring that everything runs to plan and that the groom can focus on the important stuff -- such as enjoying the day, rather than worrying that the carefully-chosen canapés aren't circulating.
The ushers (groomsmen) should also work closely with the best man. They are there to help the guests and, in a sense, act as the floor managers of the wedding day. They must make sure that the guests know where to go and that people are in the right place at the right time.
At Debrett's, we recommend that there is one usher for every 50 guests, but most grooms choose more. What many couples also forget is that the ushers set the tone for the entire day as they are the first faces that the wedding guests see when they arrive. They must employ good manners right from the start when they seat the guests and await the arrival of the bride.
The bridesmaids, meanwhile, get off quite lightly. After last minute bridezilla panics, the maid of honor and other bridesmaids should ensure that the bride has her dream wedding. There may be flower girls to keep an eye on, or the odd task here and there, but often the bridesmaids come into their own in the run up to the wedding rather than on the actual day.
So modern wedding etiquette is not about old-fashioned formalities or getting it right (or wrong). Many conventions expected at weddings of yesteryear now seem contrived and awkward. A successful wedding is one where everyone -- not just the bride and groom -- has a special time. So, don't be scared to ignore the rule book as good wedding etiquette lies in successful organization and planning. Just make sure you look after those guests...
Call Today: Professional Toastmaster in Wiltshire
To find out more please call 01380 871784 or 07770 625378.