Scot AnSgeulaiche, Traditional Scottish Highland Master of Ceremonies, Storyteller and wedding entertainment, Handfasting and Campfire Weddings

What is a Master of Ceremonies?

Master of Ceremonies presenting the Cuach MCs have two wedding functions, the one you see and the one you don't.

~ Firstly, an MC entertains the guests, welcomes them, guides them to be where they need to be at the right time. He or she opens the speeches, adds flair and uniqueness to the day. In addition, I bring Highland Traditions: dressed in ancient plaid, bringing to you Highland wedding customs, language and culture. If you're having a scottish castle wedding, then you can't be without me! At the bottom of the page you will find a list of customs I can bring to your wedding.

~ The second, unseen role, is that an MC works with the venue staff and organisers behind the scenes, knitting it all together, filling in those little gaps, so that the Bride, Groom and guests experience only a seamless day where everything flows just as they have wanted. The MC leads the day as a link between the staff and the guests. I add my own unique, Highland style to that.

MC storytelling, Canda 2007

Storyteller / Seanachaidh

I am a Seanachaidh or Clan Bard, entertainer, oral historian and Traditional Storyteller. I offer a wedding entertainment, often co-ordinating with other musicians, in the form of Traditional Tales of Highland weddings past, clanns and the locale of the wedding. For those of you with Scots ancestry, it may even be possible to hear Tales (click for audio example)from your family. This sits very well as entertainment during the photo session, or as part of the evening celebration, perhaps as part of a folk session. Tales can of course fill in those short, unplanned gaps in the flow of the day.

Why have a Seanachaidh present?

MC storytelling - Skeabost, Skye In times past in the Highlands, each Clann Chief retained a Seanachaidh who was present at important occassions. It was his role to regail the assembly with their history, to entertain (with harp, as I do), to compose poetry to record important events for the collective memory. This function in a clann is now rare, but a fine development of this Scottish Highland tradition is to have a Seanchaidh at your wedding, entertaining, officiating as an MC, giving a sense of Scottish weddings past.

" We had a wedding beyond my wildest imaginings, and yourself and Sam played a huge part in that, and for that I'm truly grateful. With Love, Alison and Adrian Day. "

Traditional Highland Wedding Customs brought by the MC role at no extra charge

~ The Sharing of the Cuach as the guests give their Blessings to the couple. This is normally done at the begining of the speeches. And No, you don't have to drink the whisky!
See Photos and Audio page for cuach ceremony. Also, you can commission your own Cuach, see Favours page.
~ 1715 Jacobite Muster Roll. Sung for the gathering of the Clans, perhaps to dinner.
~ Fling the Ring. Yes, the wedding ring! Into a bath of soapy water. The first maid to find it will be the next to marry.
~ the Fèileadh Breacan. Dressing a member of wedding party in REAL Highland dress -the belted plaid - as an entertaining demonstration during the reception.
To know more about Traditional Highland Clothing for your wedding party, click here

The above traditions come at no additonal exchange.

A wedding Quaich / Cuach, handmade in wood Cuach / Quaich Ceremony Fling the Ring Wearing the Plaid Sharing the Cuach, Photo by Louis Flood
Hover your mouse over pictures for title

Additional Wedding Customs with additional exchange

A handmade Besom in the old way. No metal, just woods and greens ~ Jumping the Besom / An Sguab. I make the Besom/broom especially for the occasion from traditional materials I collect (Ash, Willow, Hazel and so on). The besom is then kept in the marriage home to bring protection and luck. It comes with an "instruction manual" for care of both besom and marriage! Besoms can only be made between June and October. Click here for an Audio Clip of a Besom Ceremony.
~Dance Calling. Traditional Scottish Country Dances called by a member of the RSCDSociety. As well as the common and easy ones, a few more challenging, including traditional wedding dances.
~ Family Tales /clann specific Tales. Many I have, but others can be researched.
~ Making St Bride's Crosses (reeds) with the guests / women to present to the couple or to take home for themselves a wee piece of the wedding energy, like a wedding favour. This can be done as part of the reception entertainment (like the one shown) or with the women on the night before the wedding, with a wee drinkie...

Cross made at a wedding by a guest Bride and Maid making Cross as part of reception Entertainment Bride and Maid making Cross as part of reception Entertainment

Each of these require preparation so an additonal exchange is asked on top of the Master of Ceremonies role.

"We're just doing our thank you notes and we wanted to drop you a note to say thank you very much for helping to make our Wedding day so special. You both really helped the day go smoothly and absolutely everyone loved all the extra special Scottish ceremonies, and for Martin and I it made the day that more personal." Kathleen Clark and Martin MacShane, Glasgow, 2004.


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To see a summary of the services offered and the purse of gold asked in return


visit the Exchange page