Professional Toastmaster serving Chester and Cheshire

Ian Wynne-Smythe is the founder of Chester Ceremonies.  He is a trained professional toastmaster, offering master of ceremonies services, speech writing and personal event management.  He is also a qualified and certified independent civil celebrant offering bespoke wedding celebrant and other milestone ceremonies.  

Ian’s passion for caring for the needs of others has been underpinned by his being fortunate enough to have travelled the world as a hotel manager on cruise ships for over thirty years.

In this unique environment, he has encountered many situations that have equipped him to deal respectfully, caringly, and professionally with all manner of people, across all cultures, nationalities, and beliefs.  He draws on this experience in his professional toastmaster and celebrant work in Chester (where he has lived for over twenty-five years) and in the whole north west of England and north Wales.  Following graduation with a BA degree in Music & Drama, Ian maintains his interest in theatre and the arts and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA).

To gain recognition as a professional toastmaster, Ian has successfully completed a course of training and examination with the UK School of Professional Toastmasters (UKSPT), attaining Membership recognition (MUKSPT) also being elected Junior Vice President in 2025, and is certified to be competent to practice as a professional toastmaster at functions nationwide.  He is honoured to also be a Member of the Northern Guild of Toastmasters (MNGT), a Member of the Institute of Hospitality (MIH), a Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management (FInstAM), and a Member of the Institute of Event Management (MIEM).  

To become a qualified celebrant, Ian undertook a course of training through the Fellowship of Independent Celebrants (FOIC) gaining a National Open College Network/Ofqual Level 3 Certificate in Civil Celebrancy in the UK.  He is a proud member of the Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC), the only registered trade association representing professional celebrants in the country.

Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends!  Pray silence and ‘click’ on the image to learn more about the Chester professional toastmaster, wedding toastmaster and master of ceremonies services that Ian can offer you.

In his role as a trained professional toastmaster, he is present to ensure that everything that has been planned goes exactly as it should (the 'glue that holds it all together'!) and also to bring an element of class and distinction to any occasion.

As a trained professional toastmaster, Ian’s promise to you is that you will always be respected and treated with care and professionalism - from the initial point of contact right through to the conclusion of your event.  You can be assured of a professional attitude and approach, attention to detail, exceptional organisational skills and a good-humoured, genuine, and personal, commitment to you so that you can be as worry-free as your occasion allows.  This commitment has been recognised with Ian being nominated by his couples as a Finalist in the 2025 County Brides North West Wedding Awards. 

By way of reassurance, as a professional toastmaster, Ian is also covered by Public Liability Insurance to the value of £10m for all functions and has been DBS checked (certificates for both are available on request).

To see how Ian can assist you, click on the button below.