From Celebrant to Wedding Host

Are you a celebrant looking to take your skills to the next level? Or perhaps you’re just someone with a natural flair for the dramatic, outgoing personality, and a penchant for making people laugh and cry (in a good way, of course)? Well, it’s time to consider stepping into the spotlight as a wedding host!

But why would you want to be a host as a celebrant? Is it a natural progression? Let’s dive into the exciting world of combining these roles and see if it’s the right fit for you.

Celebrant and Wedding Host

As a celebrant your primary role is to design, create, and lead the ceremony, making sure it’s a unique, memorable, and personal experience for the couple and their guests. As a wedding host, you get to take it up a notch and add a touch of entertainment to the mix. Imagine being the master/mistress/person of ceremonies, guiding the event with style and flair, ensuring the day is as unforgettable as the love between the couple.

From Celebrant to Wedding Host

Transitioning from celebrant to wedding host can indeed be a natural progression for those with the right qualities. Not all celebrants can be hosts, though. This role is for the creative, outgoing, theatrical, and fun-loving souls. If you’re the life of the party, and people often tell you that you’re the perfect blend of fun and sophistication, this transition might just be calling your name. If, however, you’re more inclined to sit back and not take charge of a situation, it likely isn’t for you. It is imperative that if you want to take on the role as host, you are confident at commanding what can quite often be many people who all generally just want to party.

Being a wedding host is about taking your celebrant skills to a whole new level while keeping the focus on the couple and their special day. It’s not and never will be ‘The You Show’, but rather ‘The Couple’s Extravaganza’. Your aim is to keep the spotlight on them, ensuring their joy and happiness take centre stage.

Wedding Hosting, Fun and Guest Engaging

Here is where the fun kicks in. If the couple requests some light entertainment, which is often, you have the freedom to infuse creativity and fun engagement with the guests to get the party going. Think of yourself as the ringmaster at this point. You can orchestrate games, drop in some funny anecdotes, and all manner of things to get the party started whilst displaying your own unique personality.

Whether it’s getting the crowd to join in a group dance, sharing stories about the couple’s journey, or simply leading a toast with theatrical flair, your role as a host is all about making the celebration feel like a showstopper. This is the only time through the day that a lot of the focus will be on you. The client and indeed guests will need clear instructions on everything that is going to happen within that 20 minute time slot.

Hosting Isn’t Toasting: The Distinction Between a Toastmaster and a Host

While it’s true that both toastmasters and hosts play crucial roles in ensuring a smooth and memorable wedding experience, it’s important to recognise that they serve different functions. Albeit as a host, you can often combine the two roles to make everything run as smoothly as can be!

Let’s look at the distinction between the two:

The Toastmaster’s Role:

A toastmaster is there to ensure that all the elements of the wedding, especially the formalities, are orchestrated with precision. Their primary duties revolve around maintaining order and tradition, making sure that the event flows seamlessly, and the couple’s special moments are properly celebrated. Here’s what a toastmaster typically does:

  • Protocol and Formalities: A toastmaster is responsible for adhering to traditional wedding protocols and etiquette, such as announcing the entrance of the couple, organising speeches, and coordinating the cake cutting.
  • Timing and Schedule: They keep a watchful eye on the schedule, making sure that events happen on time and as planned.
  • Announcements: Toastmasters make important announcements, guide guests to their seats, and ensure everyone is aware of what’s happening throughout the day.
  • Speeches and Toasts: They play a key role in organising and introducing the speeches and toasts, ensuring that the speakers are well-prepared and that they have the floor at the appropriate moments.

The Host’s Role:

On the other hand, a wedding host is much more theatrical and outgoing. Their mission is to entertain, engage, and infuse the event with personality, often creating an atmosphere filled with joy and laughter. All the above points as a toastmaster remain here, but there are of course the extra bits you must include.

 Here’s what a wedding host typically brings to the table:

  • Entertainment: A host goes beyond formalities and adds a touch of entertainment to the event. They may engage the audience with games, stories, and humorous anecdotes to keep the energy high and the guests entertained.
  • Theatrics: Hosts are known for their theatrical flair. They can command the stage and captivate the audience with charisma and charisma.
  • Crowd Engagement: Hosts interact with the wedding party and guests, encouraging participation and creating a fun and lively atmosphere.
  • Flexibility: While they respect the schedule, hosts have the creative freedom to adapt to the mood and needs of the moment, ensuring that everyone is having a blast.
  • Announcements and Formalities: Hosts are responsible for a few big moments through the day such as announcing the entrance of the couple, introductions to speeches, organising confetti throws and rallying the crowds for cake-cutting and first dance. As a toastmaster would, it is also beneficial to help with getting people seated and letting everyone know what’s going on through the day.

If you’re ready to take your celebrant game to the next level, becoming a wedding host might be for you. It’s about adding that extra touch of magic, theatrics, and laughter to an already awesome occasion. After all, who wouldn’t want a host that can turn a wedding into an unforgettable experience?

Letting your creativity shine and your outgoing personality flourish as you embark on your journey to become an in demand and awesome wedding host. Get ready to make memories for those each ceremony is for be engaging with and entertaining them and their guests, to help ensure the couple’s special day is nothing short of spectacular.

Have you got what it takes to transition from celebrant to wedding host? If so, why not take a look at our wedding host course

Blog by Glenn
Wedding Celebrant Trainer

Header image: DMC Photography