I WOULD rather hire a friend to be the emcee at my wedding than pay for a professional. I understand the need for jokes to entertain the guests but at times, it is important to connect with the people whose occasion you are emceeing at. Besides, I am sure I have some friends who won’t act as sleep enhancements and can throw in a funny line or two.

Initially the Master of Ceremony’s role was to make sure the event moved swiftly, and also introduce the key people at the event as well as make sure that the audience is entertained. 

I understand people who hire emcees at corporate events because no sentiments are needed but for weddings, one needs to get an emcee who is a friend of the family because they will know how to make the day more meaningful considering the fact that they know the bride and the groom. 

Comedians or professional emcees at weddings will not only mispronounce your guest’s names because they are not familiar with them, they may end up cracking inappropriate jokes.  In short, it can be disastrous.

I once attended a wedding where the bride’s ex boyfriend slipped a note to the emcee through someone else requesting to be part of the people to make a short speech. Unknowingly, the emcee called him to give his speech thinking it was a family friend. On handing him the microphone, he started assuring the bride’s parents how they had made a mistake giving away the love of his life; he even accused the parents of being opportunists. 

People do crazy things for love but this guy was a class apart, he was carried away screaming and kicking. During his minute speech, I just wanted to hide somewhere as I was embarrassed on the couple’s behalf. 

If I felt that way, I could not imagine how the bride, groom and their parents felt. The bride cried uncontrollably and the reception had to be stopped.  

The moral lesson from the story is that if the emcee was a family friend, there is no way they would have let that man speak. Sure, they might not know every disgruntled ex but they are in a better position to permit who speaks.

It would be wise to read a publication by Chris King "How to Be an Effective Emcee” before choosing an emcee.

King stresses that an emcees’ job is to warm the audience and prepare them for other speakers. 

He writes that: "Your part is extremely important to the overall flow of the meeting, but you must remember that you are not the ‘show’. You should not tell a joke, as I have heard many emcees attempt to do, or give a mini-presentation. It is your goal to make the speaker(s) look good. And, this leads us to the next topic of introductions.”