Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions to the Wedding Toastmaster
Frequently Asked Questions
How to enjoy your Wedding and Relax -
Let the Toastmaster Take the Strain...
By leaving all the worry to a Toastmaster, allows you to relax and enjoy the day. Here are some of the frequently asked questions that help you understand why we make the difference to your day...
What does a Toastmaster do at a wedding?
My duties as a Toastmaster is to effectively run the day, to liaise with the venue management and to help make it a very special day for everybody, taking the stress away from the families, especially the Bride and Bridegroom.
Why have Toastmasters become more popular at weddings?
A wedding is a very special day and the Bride and Bridegroom want it to be as stress-free as possible, allowing them to enjoy the occasion. A Toastmaster is there to ensure the reception runs smoothly and to time, at the same time adding a touch of class to the occasion.
What do Toastmasters wear?
I wear a red long tailed coat , starched fronted white dress shirt, white bow tie and a starched white waistcoat, white gloves, black dress suit trousers and black patent leather shoes. This is the customary livery for all toastmasters.
Do you attend the church or civil ceremony?
I would not normally attend the church or civil ceremony but would be at the reception venue to greet you, having arrived at least 1 hour prior to the reception to acquaint myself with the surroundings and to liaise with the Banqueting Manager and staff.
I am getting married at the venue - will you be in attendance?
I would be present and would ensure that your Guests are seated in the room licensed for the marriage, liaise with the registrar and let the Bride know that everything is ready for the ceremony to start.
The Hotel says they have a Toastmaster service -
why do I need you?
I would advise you to check with the hotel/venue that it is a bonafide toastmaster and to ask which Guild or Association he or she belongs to. It may be that the hotel/venue is providing only a duty or banqueting manager, if so, ask if he will annouce to your receiving line.
It is then your choice whether you hire me or not.
How long will you stay at our wedding?
My duties are normally completed at end of the wedding breakfast formalities. However, if you want me to stay until the end of the first dance or to the end of the evening reception, perhaps an agreeable fee can be arranged.
What is a receiving line and should I have one?
A receiving line is where all the wedding Guests, some of whom may never have met the hosts, are formally announced by me to the parents of the Bride and Bridegroom, together with the Bride and Bridegroom.
What is the order of the receiving line?
The order of a receiving line would normally be the Bride's mother, Bride's father, Bridegroom's mother, Bridegroom's father, Bride and Bridegroom.
A receiving line can take time for guests to pass through it, so you should allow about 15 minutes for each 50 Guests attending.
If we have a receiving line when would it take place?
It was in the past customary to greet the Guests on arrival at the reception but, due to photography taking longer, it is now more usual to have a receiving line prior to your guests taking their places for the Wedding Breakfast
Does it matter if we do not have a receiving line?
No, it is your choice, but you should mingle with your Guests, trying to ensure you have greeted everybody during the reception and possibly during the meal when time allows.
Will you announce the Wedding Breakfast to our Guests?
Yes, it is part of my role to ensure all your Guests are assembled in the Banqueting Suite before I announce you.
Will you announce us and escort us into the Wedding Breakfast?
Most definitely - for many Brides and Bridegrooms this is the highlight of the day, being announced as the new Mr and Mrs to their guests and being escorted into the Banqueting Suite to an ovation.
Who would say Grace?
I would normally say Grace if requested and I have a selection of formal and less formal Graces. However, you may have a family friend who you may prefer to ask. If you have a member of the clergy at the Wedding Breakfast it would be usual to ask him/her to say Grace.
Do the speeches come before the meal or after?
Normally the speeches come after the meal, but it is not unusual to have them before to enable the speechmakers to enjoy their meal without having to worry. The downside to this is that, if the speeches over-run there is a chance that hot food waiting to be served could be spoilt. My personal view is to have them AFTER the meal and avoid any disappointment.
How many toasts should we have?
Usually there are 3 toasts. Firstly to the Bride and Bridegroom, proposed by the Bride's father or whoever has been appointed in his place. The second toast should be to the Bridemaids and Best Man, proposed by the Bridegroom. Finally the Best Man would propose the toast to the parents of the Bride and Bridegroom or, as is more popular these days, to the Bride and Bridegroom.
Should the Best Man include any humour in his wedding speech?
Generally it is not advisable to embarrass any of your wedding Guests, remembering the different generations who will be present, and of course the use of bad language should be avoided at all costs. However a little light banter from the Best Man towards the Groom is more than acceptable and expected!
When should we cut the wedding cake?
Should you wish the wedding cake to be served with the coffee after the meal, you would normally cut the cake after the main course has been cleared. However, when Guests have eaten a large meal they do not always want wedding cake, so if you have an evening buffet it may be better serve the cake then, in which case the cake would be cut before the speeches take place.
We would like to have a Wedding Book for all our Guests to sign - who should we leave it with to get everyone to sign it?
The Wedding Guest Book should be given to me and I will ensure your Guests sign it during the Wedding Breakfast.
Will we need a public address system for the speeches?
This depends on the size of the room, but normally the answer is "Yes". Some venues will offer you a sound system, others do not, so always check. If you are holding your reception in a marquee you will almost certainly need a sound system, as sound gets absorbed under the canvas. Remember, your Guests want to be able to hear the speeches, as they are an important part of the occasion.
We will have cameras on the table - how can we make sure our Guests use them?
I will explain to your guests prior to the Wedding Breakfast how to use the cameras and where to leave them.
After the Wedding Breakfast and speeches have finished what happens next?
I will ask the Guests to stand and then I will escort the Bride and Bridegroom from the top table and out of the Banqueting Room.
How to plan a wedding - an article by Jane Slingo
Happy Brides
I think that being a Bride is one of the most memorable occasions in a woman's life. It was for me.
On her special day, every bride will want to look her best and takes care that everything about her is perfect. The glow on the bride's face is natural and comes from within.
It all starts with those nice smelling bathing salts, the herbal treatments, the beautifully created wedding dress, the coiferred tresses, the enhancement of the facial features with the required make up, and finally the perfect jewelery to adorn the femineity of the bride completes the bridal look.
Falling in Love - Such a Romantic Time.
Whether you are the bride to be, or the proud Mother of the bride this is an exciting time for you both!
Congratulations, to you and your fiancé on your engagement. It all starts here. The planning, the organising and the celebration; making it into the happiest day of your life.
But, when do you start to plan?
NOW. Begin straight away. Start a wedding folder to keep all the correspondence in. Get organised and make a list of everything. It's more fun if you do it with your Mother or a very close friend. : Remember to stay friends with Mum. She is as exited as you are and will be dreaming of you on your day. Regularly ask her for her opinion and make her feel special too. Get exited together, with lots of hugs and cuddles. This will make it lovely for both of you.
Don't rush anything, have endless discussions over the shape of your dress, the colour of the table linen, the booking of the hotel, deciding on the menu, who to invite, the seating plan and lots of other things; like what colour dresses the bridesmaids will have to match the theme of the day. Don't forget your friends. You will need your girlfriends around you too. These ladies will want to share their thoughts and ideas with you, so let them. The time will come when you will be helping them with dreams of their own. Above all, make the planning fun for everyone. This way you will get so excited that you will begin to tingle in anticipation.
Involving the Bridegroom
Now this could be tricky. Many of the wedding articles and guides you read will recommend that you involve your 'husband to be' at the planning stage, ie right at the beginning.
True, some men are extremely organised and can absorb lots of planning detail without being confused. Generally, however, they can't, they just switch off. Nearly all the best weddings are organised by the bride and/or her mother. Naturally, it is important that you both view the reception venue together, and regularly attend church, if it is to be a church wedding.
Gently Encourage Him
Likewise, encouraging him to attend wedding fairs will make him feel that he has contributed. Other than that though, it might be wise to keep him informed as you arrange it. Maybe the bridegroom will be given the task to arrange the transport; wedding cars and such, and may also be asked to sort out the hiring of the Morning suits or Dress wear, for himself, the best man and the Groomsmen/Ushers etc.
Not always the case though; you may want to co-ordinate the bridesmaids dress colour with that of the Groom and Groomsmen's cravats and pocket handkerchiefs. This may be crucial to the colour of the day and will need careful planning. Nothing should be left to chance, smart brides plan for success.
Most Bridegrooms are either writing their speech or planning the stag weekend with the best man and that will take up a lot of time. Keep him in the loop with the plans on a 'need to know' basis It will be stored somewhere in the memory banks for future recall. Enough said on the subject.
So, what exactly do you have to organise?
In no particular order:
Here are Jane's Top 20 essentials:-
1. Set your budget - a realistic maximum you can afford
2. Set Date, Day & Time - If a church wedding, make appointment to see the Vicar/ Priest
3. The Reception Venue - If it's to be civil ceremony, can you hold one there?
4. The Caterers (if not provided by the Venue) decide your menu choice and drinks order
5. The Band/DJ - they get booked up very quickly, don't leave it too late
6. The Toastmaster - Does the venue provide a professionally trained Toastmaster? I had one - they are brilliant!
7. The Photographer/ Videographer - Recommendation is the best way to choose
8. Decide on the number of Guests - Daytime and Evening, refer to budget
9. Best Man, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen - decide on outfits & dresses
10. Your Wedding Dress - allow 4 months minimum for a made to measure dress
11. Order your Wedding Cake - allow 6 months to marinade if traditional
12. Decide and book your honeymoon - remember to change Passport in your new name
13. Florist - order your flowers, including bouquet, button- holes & arrangements
14. Wedding Gift list - choose a company that satisfies all your requirements
15. Invitations, Order of service booklets, place cards, Menus & Seating plan
16. Book transport - You, your parents and attendants too.
17. Decide on Readers at Church or civil ceremony
18. Buy gifts for Parents, Best man, bridesmaids and other contributors
19. Choose your wedding rings - Allow time to be made or altered
20. Book your hairdresser. Make-up specialist & Manicurist
Then book your Stag and Hen weekend - you will have earned some fun!
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Now, let's take a look at The Brides individual needs.
- The Dress. Exploit your femininity -Bedazzle and impress your friends. WOW!!
- Essential Oils - fill the bridal suite with a wonderful aroma
- Fragrance. 'Love is in the Air' buy a sophisticated scent to waft you down the aisle
- Hair. Choose a stunning style to compliment your tiara & facial features
- Make-up. Have the best. Look a million dollars! Hire a Professional
- Heavenly Spa. A must for you, Mum & the bridesmaids, the day before
- Manicured Nails. Look Perfectly Polished with soft sheer shades
- Shoes. Elegance and style will help you walk on clouds of joy
- Jewellery. Needn't be expensive, but should LOOK Expensive!
Get the book 'How to be Lovely- The Audrey Hepburn Guide to life' - By Melissa Helston - Inspirational!
Below, is a wedding planner It may remind you of something you have forgotten.
Bride and Bridegroom - Wedding Planner
Date & time of wedding:
Church or Civil ceremony:
Bride's name - are you keeping your name?
Reception Venue:
Address:
Arrival time: (if Church Wedding)
Hall / Hotel contact name: Let key people know
Time of Wedding Breakfast: Plan timings
Number of Guests: where will you seat them?
Is Grace Required?
Photographer's name:
Videographer name:
Flowers by:
Usher's names:
Are you having a receiving line?
Are flowers & gifts to be presented?
Band or Disco Name:
Time of First Dance:
Harpist name:
String Quartet's name:
Wedding cameras on tables? Wedding Guest Book
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I hope Jane's view and advice helps. If you want to talk it over without pressure? or just need re-assuring, either way call me on
01380 871784 or 07770 625378
