The Elite Toastmaster, based in the West Midlands, offers couples a timeless touch to their wedding day. Stephen Townsend has been a professional toastmaster for over 20 years. He works with each couple to coordinate their celebration with an experienced approach, adding to the charm of their long-awaited celebration.

Services Offered

Couples interested in the services of The Elite Toastmaster are welcome to organise an informal consultation. Stephen works with each client to offer a personalised experience for their occasion, ensuring that he can faithfully cater to their desired services. From introducing the happy couple to seamlessly announcing speeches, he is here to cater to you.

Remember it would be nice to think that after all the planning your special event would just roll along without a hitch, each participant being where they should be at the right time, and each stage of the proceedings leading seamlessly to the next. It doesn’t quite happen like that, which is why most Weddings require someone to co-ordinate and direct proceedings, announcing each different stage and making sure that everybody’s in the right place at the right time.

Enter the Toastmaster. Wearing the Red coat and looking rather dapper. Should you wish for further information regarding my services please contact me

Wedding Etiquette

The guidance notes below are for your information but need not be followed in full should you prefer less formality at your reception if you so desire:

The Top Table Seating Arrangements

The top table should comprise of the wedding party only but should you wish any other guests to be seated here they should be seated on either side of the wedding party.

From left to right facing your guests: Chief Bridesmaid, Bridegroom’s Mother, Bride’s Father, Bride, Bridegroom, Bride’s Mother, Bridegroom’s Father and Best Man, it is recommended that you limit your table to 12 people.

• The Bride should always be at the left side of the Bridegroom.

The Receiving Line

It is advisable to limit the receiving line to: Bride’s Mother, Bride’s Father, Bridegroom’s Mother, Bridegroom’s Father, Bride and Bridegroom.

Guests move along the receiving line after being announced, by myself the Toastmaster, shaking hands with each member of the wedding party in turn. To make a softer approach to formality I advise that only first names are used. It should be remembered not to stage a full blown “Reunion” at this time as the meal, having been set for an agreed time, may be spoilt.

The Wedding Breakfast

When all the guests have passed through the receiving line and made their way to the appropriate tables, I will request everybody to stand to receive the Bride and Bridegroom with my own special announcement.

I will then lead the Bride and Bridegroom to their places at the top table. If required, I will say grace or introduce a reverend or family member to do so.

I will then ask everybody to sit. The meal is now served. During your Wedding breakfast some background music will help your guests to relax.

The Cutting Of The Wedding Cake

If you require your wedding cake to be served with your coffee it is normally cut after the main course has been cleared. Once cleared I will make an announcement that the Bride and Bridegroom wish to cut their wedding cake and invite the professional photographer to take the principle photographs first and then invite all your guests to follow. If, however, you would prefer your wedding cake to be served with the evening buffet it should be cut after the Best Mans speech.

I suggested you think carefully about having the wedding cake served with the coffee. After a buffet-style or sit-down meal wedding cake sometimes gets wasted as diners are, by this time, too full to enjoy it.

The Speeches

When liaising with your speechmakers it is worth remembering that the most popular speakers are those with the shortest speech, i.e. no more than five minutes per person.

Once the coffee and champagne is served I will announce: The Speeches.

1) The Bride’s Father, a relative, or close family friend to say a few words about the Bride, and to welcome the Bridegroom into the family. Before finishing the speech they may call on a toast," The Bride and Bridegroom”.

2) The Bridegroom replies on behalf of his wife and himself, thanking all guests for attending and for all the gifts and cards they have received. He should also include special thanks to any guests that may have traveled some distance

Thanks must also go to the Parents, Bridesmaids, Pageboys, Best Man and Ushers for their contributions to the day; not forgetting to thank your wife for turning up looking so wonderful, and marrying you. You may, at this point, wish to propose a toast to your Bride.

When thanking the relevant persons, should you have a gift for them, ask them to make their way to the top table to receive it on behalf of you both.

The Bridegroom, before sitting down, should propose a toast to the Bridesmaids and Best Man.

3) The Best Man then stands and thanks the Bride and Bridegroom on behalf of the Bridesmaids and himself for asking them to be part of their special day and for the gifts they have received. He may then talk about the Bride and Bridegrooms younger years!

Before closing his speech any messages of congratulations may be read. Should you wish any cards to be read, it is advisable to have no more than six. Finally your Best Man should then propose a toast to the parents of the Bride and Bridegroom.

4) Should the Bride wish to thank anybody personally, now would be the time the I would announce her. She may wish to propose a personal toast.

Once all the speeches are completed , I will ask all guests to stand, whilst I escort the Bride and Bridegroom from the dining area. I will then return to the dining area and ask all guests to retire from the tables and to join the Bride and Bridegroom to allow the venue staff to reset the room for the evening continued celebration.

My recommendations for a smooth running of the day.