WEDDINGS
I ensure the smooth running of your wedding breakfast by taking care of the following:
Dressed in the full red tailcoat uniform, I will be on hand in the leadup to your perfect day, offering advice and assistance on all aspects of wedding protocol and etiquette. I will be your fountain of knowledge in the months, weeks and days in the run up to the big day, and then on the day itself:
- Be at the venue well in advance of your grand arrival, checking everything is exactly as you planned it.
- Welcome you as you arrive in style
- Be on hand throughout the photographs and drinks reception to ensure everything is slick and smooth, running to time, also assisting the photographers to help keep things running as smoothly as possible.
- Quietly ensure that all your guests are kept fully informed of what is happening now and next, maintaining a friendly atmosphere throughout.
- When the photographs are complete, arrange the receiving line for your official welcome of your guests.
- When all guests are seated and happy, I will announce the top table guests into the room, followed by your magnificent grand entrance!
- If required, I am fully competent to say grace before meals.
- On hand throughout the wedding breakfast, I will liaise with caterers to ensure that all is running as you expect it to. Generally I will make sure all your guests take the opportunity to complete your guest book at this point.
- After the main course, I will ensure every camera in the room is flashing as you perform the ceremonial cutting of your wedding cake.
- When all is complete and you and your guests are ready, I will announce the speakers
- Following a no doubt embarrassing by the father of the bride, a tear-jerking by the Bridegroom, and hilarious stories at his expense by the Best Man, I will conclude proceedings and announce guests to retire with the Bride and Bridegroom while the room is prepared for the evening reception.
- Finally, I will say my farewells and wish you well as you start out together as Husband and Wife.
“Just turn up, relax and let me run your perfect day exactly the way you planned it!”
LITTLE EXTRAS I PROVIDE
CIVIL CELEBRANT
A graduate of the UK College of Celebrancy and a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants, I am also fully competent to conduct the wedding ceremony itself!
When you arrange your Registrar, all you need to do is inform them that you have arranged your own Celebrant, and I will then be able to conduct your marriage!
This is an additional service but well worth it as it gives the day an amazing sense of continuity.
Visit my Civil Celebrant Web site for More information
A TOUCH OF SCOTLAND
As a proud Scotsman living in England, I enjoy upholding traditions and customs from both great nations, and as such, can inject a little more of the Tartan into your day should you so desire!
Examples of this are:
Grace before meals. I can say the traditional Selkirk Grace. This is always a surprise to guests but they always love it!
The Ceremony of the Quaiche. During the speeches I can arrange the ‘Ceremony of the Quaiche’ when the Bride’s father welcomes the Groom into his family by sharing the ‘Welcome Cup’, a lovely touch and very moving.
Highland Attire. I can wear the full Bonnie Prince Charlie Regalia as an alternative to the red coat if you prefer. This will be accompanied by either the Scottish Toastmasters Sash or either The AUKSPT or Executive Guild Insignia.
Highland Piper: I can organise a highly reputable piper to really bring that unique musical touch to the day!
TESTIMONIALS
I can provide a list of happy couples whose days I have made that bit more special;
These are just a select few of the venues who have benfitted from my services
The MacDonald Marine Hotel and Spa
Ramada Grange Hotel
The Holiday Inn Glasgow City West
Maitlandfield Country House Hotel
Dalziel Park Hotel
DeVere Cameron House Resort
Holiday Inn Bristol Filton
MacDonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club
The Hilton Edinburgh Airport
Kilworth House Hotel
Oxenfoord Castle
Ramada Bowden Hall
Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel
The Gables Hotel
PERSONALLY RECOMMENDED BY EASTNOR CASTLE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How much do you cost?
A: My fees are not complicated. I charge £325 during 2010 and that covers anywhere in Britain. (No additional charge for distance) I review my fees at the end of the financial year. Last minute rates are also available!
Additional Services you may wish to consider.
If I am conducting the wedding ceremony as well as Toastmastering, I charge a mere £75 supplement.
To engage my services in announcing the bridal dances and evening buffet, I charge a £100 supplement
Book all of these services together, and receive £100 OFF!
If you have a question that has not been answered here please ask me and I will be happy to help.
Q: We had not thought about having a Toastmaster at our Wedding, are Toastmasters becoming more popular, and why?
A: Toastmasters at Wedding Receptions have increased over the recent years, This being due to Bride and Bridegrooms wanting their special day to be stress free and knowing that should a problem occur there is a Toastmaster in attendance to help you. A Toastmasters presence will impress their friends and guests, and adds that touch of class to the occasion.
Q: Are you a Professional Toastmaster, and if so, to what organization do you belong?
A: I am a Graduate of the UK School of Professional Toastmasters, a Member of the Association of Scottish Toastmasters, The Association of the UK School of Professional Toastmasters and the Executive Guild of Professional Toastmasters and Town Criers. My governing body is the Toastmasters General Council.
Q: Do you have insurance?
A: I have full public Liability Insurance to the value of £5,000,000. A certificate of this is readily available
Q: Do you have references or testimonials I can see?
A: I am very lucky to have many references and testimonials, though under data protection laws, I must seek permission from past clients before releasing their contact details to potential clients. With their permission, I will gladly pass this information on.
Q: The hotel say they offer Toastmaster services, why do I need you?
A: Check with the hotel that it’s a real bonafide toastmaster and ask what Guild or Association he or she belongs to. It may be that the hotel is only providing the duty or banqueting manager to announce. Generally they are not trained to anywhere near our level and are not as interested in etiquette as operations
Q: How long in advance should we book a Toastmaster?
A: Usually about 12/18 months, but my advice would be that once your date and venue have been booked, it would now be an ideal time to book your Toastmaster.
Q: How far would you travel?
A: I will travel all over the country within my fee price. I only add travel and accommodation cost when I am required to stay out of the UK
Q: Do you attend the church service? If not, what time will the Toastmaster arrive at the venue?
A: There is normally no need for me to attend the church ceremony. I will arrive at the venue at least an hour prior to the reception to give enough time to acquaint myself with the surroundings, staff and be ready to receive you upon your arrival. If I am conducting the ceremony, I will arrive about half an hour prior to the ceremony.
Q: What do you, as a traditional Toastmaster, wear?
A: I wear a red long tailed coat, Marcella fronted white dress shirt, marcella white bow tie, and Marcella white bib waistcoat, white gloves, black dress suit trousers and black patent leather shoes, unless you have a preference!
Q: How long will you stay at our wedding reception?
A: My duties will normally be complete at the end of the table formalities, but if you want me to stay to the end of the first dance or to announce the evening buffet or late cake cutting it can be arranged.
Q Do we supply you with a meal, and where would you sit during the meal?
A: I do not insist on it, but if you choose to it is gratefully received, and would be taken at a single table right next to the Top Table so that I can still observe proceedings and be on hand if you need me.
Q What are your duties as a Wedding Toastmaster?
A: My Toastmaster duties are to ensure all the correct procedures are carried out and the Bride and Bridegroom, together with all the top table guests can relax and enjoy their special day. Quite literally, I assure that all you have to do is turn up and enjoy yourself, leave the rest to me!
Q. What is a receiving line?
A: A Receiving Line is where all the Wedding Guests are introduced by the Toastmaster to the parents of the Bride and Bridegroom, together with the Bride and Bridegroom. The order of a Receiving Line would normally be: Brides Mother, Brides Father, Bridegrooms Mother, Bridegrooms Father, Bride and Bridegroom, or as advised by the Bride and Bridegroom. It is entirely up to you!
Q We want a Receiving Line, but can we just have the Bride, Bridegroom, Best Man, and Chief Bridesmaid?
A: It is your day and therefore any request about your receiving line is completely down to the Bride & Bridegroom.
Q: There will be a member of the Clergy attending our Wedding, would he/she be able to say grace before our meal?
A: I would usually say grace if requested. But should there be a member of the Clergy in attendance he/she should be given the option to do so first. It is entirely up to you whether Grace is said at all!
Q: Will you announce us both into the dining area?
A: I will enter the room first and ask all your Wedding Guests to stand to receive the Bride & Bridegroom. I will then escort you both to your places at the top table. I will make sure you make a VERY grand entrance!
Q: Would you be able to inform the guests that they may remove their hats and jackets, if they wish, during the meal?
A: Once everyone is seated I will then make this announcement for you.
Q: We have cameras on each table, how can we make sure all our guests use them and know where to leave them after they have used them?
A: I explain to all your guests how to use the cameras and flash and also where to leave them once they are finished.
Q: We would like to toast all our guests, when should we do this?
A: Whenever you like! I would suggest this toast is done before the starter course is cleared, though generally you will find this will happen at some point during the main speeches.
Q: We have a Wedding Guest Book for all our guests to sign, where should we leave it to ensure everyone can sign it?
A: The Wedding Guest Book should be given to me and I will ensure all your guests sign it during the wedding breakfast.
Q: Do the speeches come before the meal for after?
A: Usually the speeches happen after the meal, but it is becoming more popular to have them before to enable all the speechmakers to enjoy their meal without worrying. You should inform the venue beforehand that you intend to do this.
Q: When it comes to the speeches whose speech is first?
A: Usually the Brides’ Father or whoever has been appointed in his place speaks first. The Bridegroom normally responds and the Best Man concludes.
Q: How many toasts should we have?
A: Usually there are three toasts. Firstly, to the Bride & Bridegroom, proposed by the Brides Father or whoever has been appointed in his place. The second toast should be to the Bridesmaids and Best Man, proposed by the Bridegroom, and then the Best Man may propose the final toast to the parents of the Bride & Bridegroom, or, as is more popular these days, again to the Bride and Bridegroom. He will also read out any telegrams or cards.
Q: Should the Best Man include any humorous Wedding Toasts?
A: Generally, it is not thought a good idea to embarrass any of your Wedding Guests in any shape or form. However, providing everything is kept clean and bad language is avoided at all costs, some light banter is more than accepted to finish off the speeches in style.
Q: We have been told that the Best Man toasts the Bride and Bridegroom at the end of his speech. Is this correct, as my Father would prefer to do this at the end of his speech?
A: The Brides Father or whoever has been appointed in his place, usually toasts the Bride and Bridegroom. However, if the best man wants to do it again – why not? As I tend to say rather a lot, it’s your day!
Q: When should we cut our Wedding Cake?
A: Should you wish your Wedding Cake to be served with coffee, you would normally cut this after the main course plates are cleared. However, if you wish your Wedding Cake to be served later, perhaps with the evening buffet, then it is normally cut just before the speeches.
Q: At our friends Wedding, the Wedding Cake was served with coffee and not a lot was eaten. Do you think it’s a good idea to have it served with the evening buffet instead?
A: Wedding Guests have usually just eaten a large meal, and therefore will not always want any Wedding Cake. Therefore, there is a chance that most cake served with coffee will be wasted. However, you can always put out the remainder on the evening buffet.
Q: After all the Table Formalities are complete, what happens next?
A: I will ask everybody to stand, and then escort you both from the Top Table and out of the Dining Area. The room will them be prepared for the evening reception.
LINKS
Below are some suppliers I am proud to recommend
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Blenheim Photography
www.blenheimphotography.co.uk
Suzie Davidson-Kelly Photographer
www.sdkphotography.co.uk
VENUES
Eastnor Castle
www.eastnor-castle.co.uk
Alan Feeney, 11 Bodiam Close, Berkeley Beverborne, Worcester, Worcestershire WR4 0EL
T: 01905 453 356 M: 07949 382 469 E: alanfeeneytoastmaster@hotmail.co.uk
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