A wedding MC script you can actually run the night from.
Here is the run-of-show and the words I use for each moment of a reception. Fill in your names, read it out loud once, and hand it to your MC.
Key takeaways
- Build the order first, then add the words.
- Keep every announcement shorter than you think it needs to be.
- Check how every name is said before the night.
- Give the same timeline to the venue, the kitchen, the photographer and the DJ.
Before dinner
This timeline runs about four and a half hours from doors to last dance. Move the clock to fit your day.
- 5:30 Guests arrive and sit
MC“Folks, please find your seats. We'll get started in just a few minutes.”
- 6:00 Grand entrance
MC + DJ“On your feet! For the first time as a married couple, [Name] and [Name]!”
- 6:08 Welcome
MC“Welcome, everyone. The bar's open, the washrooms are that way, dinner's on its way.”
- 6:15 Blessing or first toast (optional)
Family member“Before we eat, [Name] would like to say a few words.”
- 6:20 Dinner
Kitchen + MC“Tables will be called one at a time. Enjoy your meal.”
After dinner
If dinner runs forty minutes late, use the gap before speeches to protect your dancing.
- 7:20 Speeches and toasts
MC“As the plates clear, let's hear from a few people who know the couple best.”
- 7:55 Cake cutting
MC + DJ“Grab your phones. [Name] and [Name] are cutting the cake.”
- 8:05 First dance
Couple + DJ“Clear the floor, please, for the couple's first dance.”
- 8:12 Parent dances
Couple + parents“Staying on the floor: a dance with the people who raised them.”
- 8:20 Open dance floor
DJ leads“That's it for the formal stuff. The floor is yours. Let's go!”
- 9:45 Last call
MC + DJ“Last call at the bar. Let's make these last few songs count.”
- 9:55 Last dance
DJ + MC“One more. Everybody in close for the last dance of the night.”
Confirm every name before the night. Keep three or four speakers. Keep a buffer between courses. Protect at least 90 minutes of open floor.
Make the lines your own
Swap in the real names and add one true detail about the couple. Then they stop sounding like a template.
Read each line out loud once. If it doesn't sound like you, rewrite it. Keep the brackets until you have filled them.
Who should read it?
A friend or family member who knows both sides of the family usually works best for intros and speeches. I take the announcements, so they aren't working all night. Or I take the mic all night if you want.
Read more on my Ottawa wedding MC page. Still choosing a DJ? Start with how to choose a wedding DJ in Ottawa, or look at my wedding DJ service.
He met with us beforehand, arrived early, and ran the night flawlessly: ceremony, timing, and his MC intros all perfectly placed.
Questions people ask
Can I use this wedding MC script word for word?
Yes. Read it out loud, add your names, in-jokes and one true detail about the two of you, and cut anything that doesn't sound like you. Print the run-of-show with the names and song titles filled in, then rehearse it once. Never read an empty bracket into the mic.
What should a wedding MC say for the grand entrance?
Ask guests to stand, introduce the wedding party in pairs, then give the couple the biggest welcome. For example: For the first time as a married couple, put your hands together for Alex and Sam! Keep it short and full of energy. Confirm every pronunciation with the couple beforehand.
How long should a wedding reception run-of-show be?
Most receptions run four to five hours from entrance to last dance. This one runs about four and a half. Plan three or four speakers, a buffer between courses and at least an hour and a half of dancing. Share the final timeline with the venue, the kitchen and the photographer.
Should a friend or the DJ be our MC?
A friend or family member who knows both sides of the family works best for intros and speeches, because they can tailor them. I take the announcements so they aren't working all night. If you'd rather not ask anyone, I take the mic all night. Both work fine.
When does the MC cue the DJ?
Write in the seating music, the entrance track, the dinner music, the first dance and the last dance. When I'm on the mic, I time the music to my own words. When a friend is on the mic, I cue the music from the booth, so agree on the cues and write them down.
What if our friend MC has never done it?
Have them read the whole sheet out loud the week before. Knowing the order helps them move to the next moment calmly. Use the sample lines as a safety net, and keep the names and the speaking order on one printed page. I can build their run sheet with you on the planning call.
Do we really need to print the timeline for the venue and photographer?
Yes. Give the chef, the coordinator and the photographer the same sheet. Then you can thank your parents without answering ten timing questions. I also tape a separate MC copy next to the mixer, so the next cue is right there if a mic battery dies or someone goes off script.
How do we change it for a smaller or shorter wedding?
Cut moments, but keep the buffers. Even a four-hour wedding needs a 15-minute cushion between dinner and dancing. Skip the blessing or the parent dances if they don't fit. Keep the last call and the last dance, because they close the night well and cost almost no time.
Want me on the mic?
MC is part of my DJ booking. Check the live calendar for a quick call. No deposit to talk. I reply within 48 hours.