Avoiding glitches and embarrassments - that's how it works
Wedding planner Petra Schuldt
Do not worry: with the right planning, such situations can be avoided. We asked an expert for advice, the wedding planner Petra Schuldt www.elfen-events.de. She explains from B like Band to Z as Master of Ceremonies, what you should pay attention to on the way to the dream wedding.
Band / DJ
Take your time for the selection. Get prizes and get demo CDs sent to you. Be sure to meet with the band or DJ first to discuss the wedding. You should get to know the musicians personally. If you are not sympathetic, you can cancel if necessary. If so: Often the professional suggestions, which music fits when, for example, the champagne reception.
Hochzeitswalzer
At the thought of the wedding waltz you get sweats? Do not worry, everything is so bad! Many dance schools offer special wedding dance classes. These can be found on the homepage of the Allgemeiner Deutschen Tanzlehrerverband (ADTV)
The alternative: The ChroniquesDuVasteMonde dance school on CD. There you will find basic steps for the most important dances and the right music.
By the way: The opening dance does not have to be a waltz. If you feel more comfortable with the foxtrot - then just dance foxtrot.
speech
Generally speaking, not everyone can speak in front of many people, so no one should be obliged to do so. If parents or groomsmen want to give a speech, that's a nice gesture, if not: also okay. Important: keep the speeches short, and preferably install them before eating or between courses.
The wedding couple should thank the guests for coming and open the buffet. A few short sentences are enough, such as, "Thank you very much for coming, we are very happy that you are celebrating our wedding with us, now the soup is served, we wish you all a nice celebration."
restaurant
You should discuss with the restaurant operator not only the food and drinks, but also the room layout. Clarify beforehand: How are the tables set up with 120 guests? Where is the buffet? Where is the dance floor? Are there photos of the room layout with the same number of guests? If not, arrange a trial. Also do a seat test. Are the seats comfortable? Do the guests have enough space or will it be too tight? Important in summer: Does the room have air conditioning or are there windows that you can open? Inquire in advance if there is a second wedding in the restaurant - the music of another party can be very disturbing.
seating
You decide! Which seating arrangement you choose is a matter of taste, and also a matter of food planning: if there is a buffet, guests will rather switch places in between, as if a menu is served. Design a plan with the arrangement of the tables and the names of the guests who will sit there. Tip: Place the plan at the entrance, for example on an easel (arrange with the restaurant).
Since not all guests will find their way immediately, it would be good if the master of ceremonies could be available as a helper. Plan that especially older guests will turn to you when searching for a place. The seating arrangement generally applies: the closer the guest sits at the wedding, the higher he is viewed. Especially older relatives often attach importance to sitting close to the wedding couple. So take good care of where you place Aunt Erna.
gratuities
Do not forget the tips for the service staff. Depending on satisfaction and your own budget you should estimate about 10 to 20 euros per waiter. It's best to prepare an envelope with the tip for everyone. A good time to hand over is right after the celebration, when you say goodbye to everyone. The alternative: Hand over the tip when you come to the restaurant for billing.
If you marry church, think of the collection. The most elegant variant here too: put in an envelope, and give it to the pastor after the wedding ceremony. Of this money is usually paid at a wedding, among other things, the organist. If you are getting married in your home church, keep in mind that in foreign churches fees of 100 Euro and more are often charged for a wedding ceremony. You can use this amount to orientate yourself for the collection.
Master of Ceremonies / Toastmaster
At a larger wedding, a friend or girlfriend is helpful in keeping track of the process - traditionally a master of ceremonies. He or she has a timetable in mind and makes sure that it is respected, he or she announces contributions from friends and family (the announcements can alternatively take over band or DJ). And is available to guests for questions and relieves the bride and groom.He or she can tell you in advance which actions the guests want to know in any case excluded - for example, photo shows with embarrassing teen pictures.
Important: So that the master of ceremonies can enjoy the wedding party better, he should coordinate games, speeches or performances before the festival. Therefore best to call on the invitation name, e-mail address and phone number.
