What should you expect from a Professional Wedding Toastmaster
There is often a lack of understanding about the role of a Toastmaster at a wedding and many venues try and discourage you from hiring one because they say they include it in there package.
So why would you want the additional expense of hiring an independent professionally trained Toastmaster when someone from your venue is offered as an alternative.
The reasons are many and varied and in this article you will see how much extra help and support a professional Wedding Toastmaster like me can offer.
So how will you know that the Toastmaster you hire has the training and expertise to help make your wedding that special day you have always dreamed of? Well there are many Toastmaster training schools such as the UK School of Professional Toastmasters Ltd which is where I received my training.
All reputable schools should be affiliated to the Toastmasters General Council (TGC) and will carry public liability insurance of £5million which will be required by your venue
They will also most likely be a member of one of a number of Toastmaster Associations. The largest of these is The Association of the UK School of Professional Toastmasters. I was a founder member of this association and we now have over 70 members. As members we support each other and in the event of illness or accident I will be able to call upon a colleague to cover to avoid spoiling your special day.
I am sure you will want to know how much a professional Wedding Toastmaster will cost and what level of support you will get. Of course because they are independent they will all charge slightly differently depending on requirements. Like me they will probably offer different packages depending on whether they are needed for just the Wedding Breakfast or for the Civil Ceremony and Evening reception as well. A guide would be somewhere from £300 + which might sound a lot but what will you get with the package?
Your wedding Toastmaster should offer you a combination of the following
4 weeks before your wedding
- A face to face meeting to discuss your wedding day, ideally at the reception venue
- At the meeting we will go through the whole day to ensure that all your requirements are captured
- Provide help and guidance if required, but always remembering that it is your wedding
- Following this meeting a written confirmation will be provided of all the details discussed
- During the weeks leading up to the wedding unlimited email / telephone contact as required to discuss and agree any changes to requirements or timings
On the Wedding day
- I will arrive at the venue ahead of you and your guest to:
- Check the venue is set up as you require
- Ensure that seating plans / place cards etc are as required
- Make sure that the Cake table, Guest Book table and Gift table are set up
- If other suppliers are setting up such as DJ etc that they are finished before the wedding guests arrive
- Liaise with the venue staff to ensure all timings are as agreed
- Receive your guest and help them check in if they are staying at the venue
- Direct them to the appropriate rooms and assist them as necessary
When you arrive
- Assist the photographer get everyone together for any group shots
- If required organise a receiving line and make necessary introductions
- Ensure that all gifts are collected and are shored safely
During the wedding Breakfast
- Escort the Bride and bridegroom into the room
- Say Grace if required
- Introduce speakers and ensure any thank you gifts are easily to hand
- Organise the cutting of the cake
- Ensure your guest book is circulated and signed by all your guests
- Formally close the proceedings
Additionally if required Ican help organise
The throwing of your bouquet
- Meet and greet your evening guests
- Organise everyone to receive you both onto the dance floor for your 1st dance.
So when your venue says that they provide this service you might want to check how much they are charging and whether their duties match up with what an Independent Professional Wedding Toastmaster might offer
I was Wedding Toastmaster for the wedding of Phil and Lorraine at Oakley Hall on the 27th August. Oakley Hall is located in Oakley just a few miles outside Basingstoke in Hampshire and offers a spectacular backdrop for your wedding It has six luxurious rooms and a superb marquee which is where the Wedding Breakfast was held on Saturday..
