15/10/2024
A wee edit - just to put all this into perspective:
Up here in Scotland. It's pretty tough if you want to make a career of being a Toastmaster. There are only about a dozen "Red Coat wearing folks" here.
Not all are affiliated to an organisation but are free lancing.
Most though are pretty good at their craft. Like everything, some not so good!
Sadly, there are only about say 6 venues in Scotland that employ a Toastmaster full time at their weddings. Some examples being: The Dalmahoy, The Balmoral, Carlowrie, Ingliston, Virgin Edinburgh to name some.
All it takes is for one wedding coordinator, hotel manager or General Manger to say "no more external weddings MCs are required" for those venues to stop using the service. Afterall, it is they (the hotel) that are paying us!
There is often a misunderstanding about the role of a Professional Scottish Toastmaster at a Wedding and there are some venues that try and discourage you from hiring one, because they say they include it in their package. That's cool and that's their perspective.
So why would you want the additional expense of hiring an ‘independent’ professionally trained Toastmaster, when someone from your venue is offered as an alternative?
A Professional Scottish Toastmaster differs from a venue MC, by providing help and guidance, if required, in the build-up to your special day, because they are independent, their interest is your interest, they concentrate on you, to ensure your day runs the way you have planned and dreamt it, where a venue MC, will, generally make announcements and corral guests, but aren’t personal to the Bride & Groom/ Same S*x Couple.
So how will you know that the Professional Scottish Toastmaster you hire, has the training and expertise to make your Wedding that special day you have dreamed of?
Most Professional Toastmasters will have attended formal training at a Toastmaster training school and will likely be affiliated to the Association of Scottish Toastmasters or another one, such as the many organisations in England. By being affiliated and a member of a Toastmaster Association, your Toastmaster MUST have Public Liability Insurance, which will be a requirement of most venues.
Being a member of a Professional Toastmaster Association with many members will ensure, that in the event of illness or accident, your Toastmaster will be able to call upon a colleague to cover him/her and avoid spoiling your special day.
Because they are independent, Toastmasters will all charge slightly differently depending on requirements, but a guide would be somewhere from £400+
Why is it so expensive? The Toastmaster in normal circumstances will leave their home at say 10 am in order to get to your venue. They will be there, performing their duties, no less than 1 hour before any guests arrive, and up to and including the 1st Dance - circa 8 pm/ 8.30 pm. It's a long day, working as your Toastmaster, hence the starting price!
I provide Toastmaster and Celebrant services for weddings.
Never the two together at the same wedding am afraid. This is due to the legal license to marry in Scotland.
Must be separate events due to caveats of the license.
https://fuzeceremonies.co.uk/.../portfolio.../brian-baxter/
https://www.scottishtoastmasters.com/brian-baxter.../
