Being a wedding MC can be a challenging role, especially when dealing with loud crowds as wedding MC. It’s your job to coordinate the event and keep things running smoothly, which is difficult when guests are rowdy and not paying attention. You can take control of even the noisiest crowd with the right strategies and preparation.
Here are some of the best tips and techniques for handling loud wedding crowds as a professional wedding MC. Whether during the reception, speeches, or other wedding events, you’ll learn how to get guests to quiet down and keep their focus where it should be – on the newlyweds and the celebrations.
Dealing with Loud Guests Who Aren't Paying Attention - Loud Crowds as Wedding MC
One of the hardest parts of being a wedding MC is getting loud or distracting guests to pay attention during important moments like the first dance, parent speeches, and newlywed speeches. Here are some of the most effective ways to handle loud crowds as wedding Mc who won’t pipe down:
Start with a Loud Cheer
Right before you want guests’ attention, like at the start of speeches or special dances, get the crowd excited with a loud cheer for the couple. Get them clapping, whistling, and shouting. This gets excess energy out and draws focus on you and the couple. Then, transition into asking people to quiet down and take their seats.
Tap on a Glass
Begin to tap on a glass to get the crowd’s attention. This classic technique signals an announcement is about to be made, and it’s time to listen. Consider combining it with the cheer tactic above for extra impact. You can find greater Wedding MC Introduction Tips for grabbing guests’ focus.
Crank Up the Volume
Ensure you have an adequate microphone and speakers’ volume, especially in a large venue or outside. Some rowdy guests simply can’t hear you over the din of chatter, so drowning them out with volume can work.
Use Proximity on loud crowds as wedding mc
If specific guests keep talking loudly, move closer to them. Your physical proximity is often enough to get them to lower their voices without having to intervene directly. You can also station ushers near them.
Managing Noisy Venues Like Marquees
Cocktail events and marquees can be tricky hen it comes to sound management. The fabric walls absorb sound or can create echoey environments. As the wedding MC, there are a few things you can do:
- Invest in a high-quality, powerful PA system and wireless microphones so guests in the back can hear clearly. The mic signal should be strong enough to cut through crowd noise.
- Stage or position yourselves in areas where the acoustics work to your advantage. Some spots in the room allow voices to carry better.
- Remind guests it’s hard to hear in this venue, so they need to keep their voices down during speeches and announcements. Most will oblige if asked politely.
- Use ushers to gently quiet guests around the perimeter who may not realize how loud they’re being.
Wedding MC Tips for Getting Loud Crowds Under Control
Beyond the venue itself, there are some general wedding MC tips you can use to take command of unruly loud crowds as wedding MC:
Befriend Rowdy Guests Early On
Identify loud or rambunctious guests early in the celebrations. Introduce yourself, chat briefly, and get to know their names. Once they see you as more than an authority figure, they may be more inclined to cooperate when you ask them to settle down.
Remind Guests the Night Is About the Couple
If guests get really out of hand, give a gentle reminder that tonight is about celebrating the newlyweds, not guests getting wasted and being disruptive. Most guests will correct their behavior if called out respectfully.
Provide Clear Direction
Before you need guests’ attention, provide clear directions, like “Please take your seats; speeches will begin in 2 minutes”. Don’t assume they will quiet down on their own. Tell them exactly what you need them to do. You can even use a Wedding MC Script Template to plan out directions ahead of time.
Use Your Body Language
Use confident, commanding body language. Stand up straight, make eye contact, and project your voice. This subconsciously tells guests to pay attention to you.
Limit Alcohol Flow During Speeches
Work with bartenders and wait staff to slow down drink service during speeches and special events like dances and cake cutting. The drunker guests get, the louder and more distracted they become.
Have Ushers Intervene When Needed
Designate a few ushers or helpers you can signal discreetly to intervene with extremely loud or disruptive guests. They can ask them to step outside briefly or move to the back.
How to Quiet a Crowd Before Speeches & Announcements
You need the guests’ full attention before beginning important speeches and announcements. Here are some wedding MC scripts and tips to quiet a crowd:
- “Let’s have a big round of applause for the newlyweds as they prepare for their first dance!” (Clapping gets excess energy out).
- “Can I please have everyone’s attention? The father of the bride is about to give his welcome speech.”
- Ring a bell or play a sound effect that signals everyone to be quiet. (May be a bit too school teacher.
- Have the couple kiss. Say, “Let’s see the newlyweds kiss!” Guests will tend to pause conversations when attention shifts to the couple.
- Flick venue lights on and off briefly (if possible). But if it gets to this point you may have already lost them!
- Have ushers walk around hushing guests and asking them to take their seats.
Remember, transitions are key. Gradually shift guests’ energy from loud celebration to focused attention using engaging cues before each speech segment.
Loud Crowds as Wedding MC Conclusion
Being an effective MC means keeping your cool when dealing with loud crowds as wedding MC. Use these tips to take command, get guests’ attention, and keep your wedding event running smoothly, no matter how noisy the crowd gets. The newlyweds are counting on you to make their day perfect.
Some key strategies to remember include first pumping up guests with loud cheers, using robust PA equipment, befriending challenging guests early on, and providing clear direction. You can handle even the most raucous wedding guests with the proper preparation and confidence.
Special Thanks
Photographer: Jason Corroto
Celebrant: Marry Us Gary
Loud Crowds as Wedding MC
