Tamada / toastmaster: a wedding guide
The tamada leads the feast at Georgian and Russian weddings. They give each toast in turn.
When couples book this
Usually booked about four months out. It moves with your date. An honored guest is asked, not booked — the earlier the better, for the toasts.
Still deciding the wedding
Your wishlist
Answer these before you meet anyone.
Which tradition is your table?
Related crafts, not the same one; name yours so candidates know which table they're being asked to hold.
Which languages do you need at the table?
A tamada's craft lives in the language.
How much of the evening would you like the tamada to carry?
Comparing your options
What to ask each one
Languages at the table
A tamada's craft lives in the language — toasts land differently translated. Record the mix your families need so every table follows the important ones.
How it’s usually priced
Usually priced as one flat amount.
Possible extras: Program extras (games, interludes), Travel fee.
Booked and settling details
What you settle once booked
Which tradition is your table?
The Georgian tamada leads a supra's ordered toasts; the тамада of the Russian-speaking world hosts the whole evening — toasts, program, games. Related crafts, not the same one — name yours so candidates know which table they're being asked to hold.
Who serves as tamada?
In Georgian tradition the tamada is often a gifted elder or friend honored with the role — a professional is one path, not the default.
How much of the evening does the tamada carry?
Toasts only is the classic supra shape; toasts and program adds the interludes, the games and the Gorko! calls of the тамада tradition; hosting the full evening makes the tamada the room's single voice.
The order of toasts
At a supra the first toast is to God and to peace — in Svaneti and Samegrelo, to the Trinity. After it the order is the tamada's and the family's: the couple, the parents of both, the mejvare, those no longer at the table, Georgia, the guests. Each is a short speech the table answers, and the tamada may name a guest with alaverdi to carry it on. Couple-curated lets you set who is toasted; discretion trusts the tamada's read of the room.
People to honor, toasts to include
The toast to those no longer at the table is part of the tradition — tell the tamada who is remembered so it's done with care, and flag any subject the families would rather leave alone.
How do toasts and courses share the evening?
At a Georgian supra the glasses are filled before each toast — by the merikipe, the pourers, if the family brings its own; otherwise by the venue's staff, who need to know the cue.
One voice in the room
The week of the wedding
The day-of sheet
Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.
Across the whole day
Choose which moments to include.
- Toasts & program
- Tamada arrival
For businesses
The brief a couple sends you has these sections:
- The event
- The program
- Logistics
- Contacts