Being an MC is an important job. It's not just about standing up and introducing a couple when they walk in a room, or saying "mic check, 1... 2...". 
I was honoured to be asked to MC my brother's wedding and next month, I'm up to the task again while holding a dual hat of being a bridesmaid also. Exciting!
It's made me go back to the Googles though (and the bride!) to check to see what exactly they envisage the role to be.
As I mentioned in this post, a big part of the MC's role is to make a couple of speeches that include 'housekeeping' and the like.
But there are often other roles too - almost like an extra member of the bridal party - and the MC can be called on to act as an assistant in photos, hold things, deal with unruly guests and yell at certain guests to make themselves available for certain photos. "SCHOOL FRIENDS, Can I PLEASE get all of Jane's SCHOOL FRIENDS over here NOW?"
If there's one thing I've learnt from being a guest at previous weddings it's that it becomes quickly and blindingly obvious when a couple have failed to choose the right person to MC.
It's usually typified by the majority of guests kind of milling around, never knowing where to be, where to go to, what to do, where to sit, what to drink and what's even going on. Wedding guests take on a sheep-like quality, herded together waiting for someone to make the move or direct them to the next location or situation.
So I guess when it comes to picking an MC, you really have to consider how that person is likely to act at the wedding (Drunk Uncle Gary might not be best), their tone (vulgar and inappropriate friend from high school? Maybe not) and their public speaking ability skills (sweats and passes out when giving a speech in front of 10 people? Give them a miss).
I actually just randomly thought of this MC vowel checklist:
A - An important person to you - This is up for debate. Some people hire in MCs but to me, it's a job for someone who knows you as a couple. I personally think that's the way to go, but others may disagree. Thoughts? I guess some people may find it easier to outsource the job but I dunno, it's not for me.
E - Engaging - They have to have a bit of spunk, a bit of life in them that makes the guests drawn to what they're saying and how they're delivering information to them. Nothing worse that a quiet, disorganised MC who makes the organised folk want to grab the microphone out of their hand.
I - Informative - So much of an MC's role is giving out information. You'd hope you could choose someone trustworthy enough to pass on the correct information, and who has the ability to ask the right person if they don't know the answer.
O - Outspoken - They have to have the ability to talk loud, talk clearly and talk to anyone and everyone from all backgrounds, age groups and awkward corners of the room. In fact it's their job to go get those awkward people being wallflowers and drag them in to proceedings. Not everyone has the ability to do that.
U - Understanding - Their wedding day experience as an MC rather than just a plain ol' guest means they're going to have to understand the fact that they literally have a job to do - and because of that the experience may not be how they imagined it.
But they are SO important. They steer the wedding day ship and add a crucial element in to the day - one that is not always recognised but whose hard work really should be.
How did you or do you plan to choose your MC? Any positive experiences or cringeworthy MC moments to share?
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We have gone with a really good friend for our MC, he is the same age as us but he has so much charm and will just be fantastic. He has a baby due around the time of our wedding so i have to be organised incase someone else has to step up to the mark. FH did warn me that this could end up like having two bestmen, but he was too good to pass up.
We had the best MC ever, a friend of the hub who has known us as a couple since we first got together. He herded the guests, threw in a few funny stories when he was sorting out housekeeping that had everyone in stitches, and helped us make up time when family photos were taking too long. He was so impressive my boss tried to recruit him.
I chose mine partly based on the fact that as a close friend for many years, I wanted to give him a role in our wedding but wasn't sure how and partly because he gave an amazing speech at my best friend's wedding where he was man of honour. I was surprised how naturally it seemed to come to him (though he is organised so he had probably put in lost of prep when we weren't looking). The only problem is he lives in Auckland and he's a Doctor. Our wedding is in early December and the Hospital won't confirm his leave yet. I'm also not sure what info he needs me to give him and how early he'll need it? For examply, we don't want to have an open floor for speeches (cringe) but we're not sure who we do want to have speaking and then we have to confirm with those people and make sure they want to speak...
Our MC at our wedding was my wife's uncle. I don't remember how we decided this (it was just under 30 years ago! 2 weeks to the anniversary!!), but it was probably because we were both so fond of him, and he was so personable and funny. As it was so long ago, I don't remember much of the evening, apart from one thing: he included some 'anecdotes' about me, which were really just jokes reworded to include me as the butt of the joke. That was OK, but they were rather crude, which was very embarassing, cringeworthy and unexpected, and also rather inappropriate. My mother is from Oxford, and she and her relatives were somewhat shocked.
Reading your 'AEIOU' list, I guess he met most of the requirements, but probably not 'I' and definitely not 'U'.
My Mc was recomended to me by my dad. he was my dads cousin but had always been my uncle. At first i was a little hesistant but as there was no one else we thought that we would ask him. He ended up being amazing he kept everything running smoothly, had us in laughter and i was left wondering how he found out our stories.
You really need to consider your MC it makes all the difference.
I've been an MC a couple of times and I agree that it's more that just mic work - you are an extension of the wedding party and help to make the day go a smooth as possible without annoying the bride or groom. In fact, at one wedding the bride told the venue to not bother her that they should go through me first. However in respect to mic work, the biggest mistake an MC can make is to do a full speech themselves. They should of course introduce themselves and perhaps provide a LITTLE back ground as to their relationship with the couple, but that's pretty much it. Just my 2 cents.
We had orginally chosen my cousin to be the MC for our wedding, but then found out our DJ does MC work as well, so we're going for that instead. We don't know our DJ (we're getting married in Hawaii), so it's going to be different having someone be MC when they don't know us. This guy comes highly recommended & we'll be meeting him a few times before the day. My cousin likes a drink, so to be honest, we can't really trust that he won't get wasted before the reception even started! Anyone else using someone they don't know?
We had the my husband's father (i.e. Groom's Father) He was brilliant, didn't show boat and it was a nice way to include that side of the family more as the wedding and reception were at my parent's house.
First wedding we had the groom's uncle. Made it a tad about him but again nice to include someone from the groom's side.
Totally agree with BuckoNZ - introduce yourself, don't waaa on for 10 minutes about yourself!
My hubby has been MC about 7 times and does put alot of thought into his role leading up to the wedding. But the strange thing is he is rather quite person but once he gets going he has guests laughing. He even gives the odd gift as well to the bride/groom he thinks they have a habit about/interested in/or might need it
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My MC is a friend who didnt want to be a bridesmaid as she is not at all girly but she is still very very close to me and i wanted her to have a role. Our wedding is very informal and we will not be doing formal speeches or anything but she will be there to direct traffic on the day and order everyone arond while we get our photos taken and make sure the food is being sorted, after that she is free to be a regular guest. I have named her the chief, she is in charge of everything! The role might even come with a chief feather headress ;o)