What wedding is complete without a host? Only if it’s truly a small, intimate celebration. But if that’s not the case for you, then you need a competent wedding host. Specifically, a host and not a “tamada,” as I believe the concept of a “tamada” is outdated and meaningless. You want a dignified, modern wedding, an evening of celebration and not just a collection of speeches and auctions, right? Then keep reading – this article is for you. Make sure to also read the first part of this article to stay well-informed. Your Fasol team is here to help.
Don’t let anyone tell you, “Why bother putting it in writing? I’ve been hosting weddings for 20 years.” And even if you think it’s an unnecessary waste of paper, a contract is necessary to address the following:
The host doesn’t sell your date to a more lucrative client three days before the wedding. The contract establishes financial responsibility for such capricious behavior. Agreement on penalties in case of the host’s delay to the wedding (yes, it happens!), non-compliance with the dress code, failure to provide the agreed-upon (and recorded) services, appearing in a drunken state, insulting the participants of the celebration (yes, that happens too!). Agreement on providing a replacement host in case the main host is unable to fulfill their duties due to health reasons.
Discuss with the host the games and traditions that you absolutely do not want to see at your celebration (decide together with the groom in advance). Ideally, include the No-Go list in the contract or at least provide it to the host in writing. Also, create a rough list of music (or music genres) that you don’t like and don’t want to hear at your wedding. In case guests request music from the No-Go list, arrange with the DJ for them to consult with you regarding the controversial melody. If there are personal topics that the host should not discuss at the wedding (e.g., if the groom has only one parent or if one of the couple has had a previous marriage), create a No-Go list for those as well. It happens that the host fixates on exactly the topic that the couple wants to avoid, which significantly spoils the celebration. If the host is clearly disappointed with your No-Go list (“How can we do without a caravan? Let’s get started!” “Wedding rings”? That’s a classic song!), say goodbye to them and look for someone else. That person simply isn’t the right fit for you.
Let me explain what this means:
Start time for the host Contests (specific ones!) and their order Traditions and approximate time for their execution (e.g., first dance of the couple at 8:00 PM) Performances by artists with exact timing (artists sometimes have up to 3 weddings in one evening, they need to be punctual everywhere and shouldn’t delay) End of the entertainment program (departure of the host) End of the celebration (departure of the DJ – as the celebration almost never ends with the departure of the host) Make sure the host writes down everything regarding the time, venue of the wedding, dress code, and even better – include these parameters in the contract.
Specifically:
Guest list with photos, brief descriptions, and information about who belongs to whom Information about you that the host may need for contests (date and circumstances of meeting, engagement, etc.) Order of congratulations Schedule and order of traditions Seating arrangement No-Go lists Music list Dress code for the host Naturally, you need to compile all this information first to pass it on. Many couples, for some reason, are convinced that the host knows better than they do what to do and that it’s unnecessary to develop schedules, timelines, and the flow of the evening, settling for general statements like “Well, we’ll have the outdoor ceremony first, then the banquet. And we need to toss the bouquet at the end.” This is a surefire way to be disappointed with your wedding, as the host cannot read minds, and their ideas of what to do at each stage of the evening may fundamentally differ from yours. Exercising control over professionals and providing them with as complete information as possible are necessary conditions for an ideal wedding!
As I mentioned before, the host is the face of the wedding, and this is exactly the case where a mistake can ruin the entire day. If you’ve heard many suspicious “alarm bells” during the wedding preparations and are sure that you made a wrong choice, look for another specialist. Trust me, it’s better to lose the deposit than to remember your wedding with horror.
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