Skipping the mc

So I haven’t technically attended a wedding without an MC, but I did attend a wedding who had some sort of DJ/acoustic guitar player person who I guess was supposed to be the MC but he was TERRIBLE. Things happened and we had no idea so it was really hard to follow what was happening throughout the reception. The wedding was also buffet style and I think the caterer ended up calling tables to go up. I think if you’re not going to hire a band or DJ I would suggest at least assigning someone the MC responsibility so your guests know what is going on.

Twice when we had bandleaders, they took the mic. My Dad announced us as we entered and were seated at the reception, FIL announced the first few dances. He added one for him and his wife, and my parents, but the bandleader called everyone to join them after a minute and pics taken, so unexpected but charming.
No one got long winded, no one took the mic and was a problem. A few times someone came up for a problem announcement foor a minute, and all tined out but the cop and owner, some stranger trying to get in. Desk calling a parent with their kids issue with relative. So people showed good judgement since it was live 7 pm to 3 am.

Been to more than one wedding without an MC (or rather, had a DJ without MC skills,) and they were terrible. No one knew what was happening.

In every scenario, it was a couple who had a "DJ friend" - someone who maybe played a club or two before or knew how to play around with mixing software. They had no clue how to handle a wedding. This is fine if you are having just a dinner party and aren't having ANY formalities that need announcing. No formal dances, no cake cutting, etc. But that was never the case. These were always couples who wanted to be announced when they came in, first dance, both parents dances, speeches, cake cutting, garter and bouquet tosses, last dance, grand exit.

I saw people standing around on the dance floor during the father-daughter dance because they had no idea it was a "special moment" dance, no one coming over for the cake cutting, really awkward entrances of couples into receptions that didn't even know they were coming in (again, this is fine if you are specifically not doing an entrance and just quietly walking into your reception, but if you've picked a special song and you're planning to burst in dramatically, it needs to be announced). At least two weddings, I actually watched my husband - who was a videographer, mind you, but he used to be a stage entertainer - take the mic and make the formality announcements for a totally clueless DJ.

There are definitely reception styles that don't need MCs, but a typical dance party wedding reception with formalities really needs an MC. Guests don't know what's going on otherwise - they get caught up in their conversations, or their food, or whatever else.

I have. It was very confusing. No one knew when to head to the buffet. No one knew that the first dance was about to happen. It just made the whole evening feel very unorganized.

View Quoted Comment I completely agree, it depends on the type of wedding. If it is a very small wedding, plated meal, there is no dancing or traditional formalities, then an MC really isn’t needed. Otherwise, an experienced MC is a must for a smooth-running reception.

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We want it to be fun and keep the formalities to a minimum. We don’t want introductions (ceremony at the same location so is redundant), skipping speeches we don’t care about. We will have dinner. Cake cutting doesn’t need an audience. While we will have dancing with a dj, we’re not having spotlight dances beyond first dance.

I was just curious because I’ve always heard how bad/cheesy mcs are and the ones I’ve seen on YouTube sound like they’re announcing an episode of WWE which is not what we want.

The weddings we’ve attended with dancing (provided by local Djibouti companies) etc didn’t have anyone on a microphone saying ‘this is happening now and then that later’ and no one seemed confused and they talked about everything else though. The cake was eaten, dance floor was packed, etc.

I dont know why you would need an MC at a wedding. We didn't have introductions (people know who we are, they're at our wedding). Pretty sure my sister or my dad grabbed the mic to let people know that they buffet was ready as the bridal party started to go through it, and then H and I took the mic and thanked everyone as people were finishing dinner, then passed the mic for couple toasts. Then the music started.

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That sounds like the ones we’ve attended and no one seemed confused. They were the type to give their opinion on everything else

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If that's how you feel, then skip it.

In my personal experience, after dozens of weddings, no MC only worked in a restaurant-style, dinner only, no dancing reception. Any kind of dance party-style reception, guests benefit from an MC.

Also, a good MC will know how to mesh with the event's style. I know MCs who are definitely WWE announcer-style, but that's what the couples who book them want - big, loud, and dramatic. But I also know MCs who are understated and cool as cucumbers, and it's more like being spoken to by a smooth jazz radio host.

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The more subdued ones are definitely harder to locate. That is good to know though