MCs have two wedding functions, the one you see and the one you don't.
~ Firstly, an MC entertains the guests, welcomes them, guides them to be where they need to be at the right time. He or she opens the speeches, adds flair and uniqueness to the day. An MC is known in England as a Toastmaster. In addition, I bring Highland Traditions: dressed in ancient plaid, bringing to you Highland wedding customs, language and culture. If you're having a Scottish castle wedding, then you can't be without me! At the bottom of the page you will find a list of customs I can bring to your wedding.
~ The second, unseen role, is that an MC works with the venue staff and organisers behind the scenes, knitting it all together, filling in those little gaps, so that the Bride, Groom and guests experience only a seamless day where everything flows just as they have wanted. The MC leads the day as a link between the staff and the guests. I add my own unique, Highland style to that.
The Master of Ceremonies, Fear an Taigh, is a great continuation of tradition after a Handfasting ceremony.
I am a Seanachaidh or Clan Bard, entertainer, oral historian and Traditional Storyteller. I offer a wedding entertainment, often co-ordinating with other musicians, in the form of Traditional Tales of Highland weddings past, clanns and the locale of the wedding. For those of you with Scots ancestry, it may even be possible to hear Tales from your family. This sits very well as entertainment during the photo session, or as part of the evening celebration, perhaps as part of a folk session. Tales can of course fill in those short, unplanned gaps in the flow of the day. This role can be a part of the MC role described above, or stand alone.
In times past in the Highlands, each Clann Chief retained a Seanachaidh who was present at important occassions. It was his role to regail the assembly with their history, to entertain (with harp, as I do), to compose poetry to record important events for the collective memory. This function in a clann is now rare, but a fine development of this Scottish Highland tradition is to have a Seanchaidh at your wedding, entertaining, officiating as an MC, giving a sense of Scottish weddings past.
You can invite me to your wedding as a storyteller only, without the MC function (Note that priority is given to engagements that include a request for handfasting. Storyteller-only requests are usually confined to midweek weddings ).
" We had a wedding beyond my wildest imaginings, and yourself and Sam played a huge part in that, and for that I'm truly grateful. With Love, Alison and Adrian Day. "
The above traditions come at no additonal exchange.
~ Jumping the Besom / An Sguab. I make the Besom/broom especially for the occasion from traditional materials I collect (Ash, Willow, Hazel and so on). The besom is then kept in the marriage home to bring protection and luck. It comes with an "instruction manual" for care of both besom and marriage! Besoms can only be made between June and October.
Listen to Click here for an Audio Clip of a Besom Ceremony~ Family Tales /clann specific Tales. Many I have, but others can be researched.
~ Making St Bride's Crosses (reeds) with the guests / women to present to the couple or to take home for themselves a wee piece of the wedding energy, like a wedding favour. This can be done as part of the reception entertainment (like the one shown) or with the women on the night before the wedding, with a wee drinkie...
The night before...
Pic by Graham Vaughan
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Jenny and Matt Aranha's Bride's Cross making, England
Each of these require preparation so an additonal exchange is asked on top of the Master of Ceremonies role.
MC is often in addition to requesting Hand Fasting ceremony (but doesn't have to be), in which case a reduced exchange is asked.
MC role begins as the wedding ceremony ends (Handfasting or other) and runs for up to 6 hours (usually handing off to the band).
The MC Role includes Storytelling, as required.
For larger guest numbers, more work is required and often a second MC is required (Samantha),so greater exchange is asked for the role.
The MC entertainments happen primarily during the photo session and either end of the wedding breakfast.
Importantly, before the big day, we help you draw up a list of all the things that will happen on the day. You then hand over that control to the staff and ourselves and RELAX.
"We're just doing our thank you notes and we wanted to drop you a note to say thank you very much for helping to make our Wedding day so special. You both really helped the day go smoothly and absolutely everyone loved all the extra special Scottish ceremonies, and for Martin and I it made the day that more personal." Kathleen Clark and Martin MacShane, Glasgow, 2004.
Laura and Paul Curtis, Canada, 2007 Click to see full image
