I officiated my first wedding this past Friday. It was a lovely event, but quite unscheduled and chaotic in setup. Everyone knew there would be a wedding, and who the happy couple were. But there was no schedule, no rehearsal, and I had only my original 'script' for the vows with many penciled-in last minute requests.

I had no control over the setup, venue, attendance, or start time. But I did know that, at a certain time, the event would start. And for that brief period, I had to run the participants through 'the Wedding Ceremony'.

First came the obligatory flavor text to set the adventure's stage. Next, I had to minimize my role and maximize the participant experiences, and ensure the spotlight was on them. Yet I also had to strongly control the pacing and ensure certain checkpoints (dedication, vows, rings, kiss) occurred.

Finally, to wrap it up, I had to make sure everyone could transition from the ceremony back to the outside world... and sign off on the paperwork/certs for the winning couple.

In short, it was a lot like running an RPG scenario at a convention. Indeed, after the wedding, someone who knows me well told me I had done a good job GMing the event.

Compare to a Con scenario: You arrive a new venue amidst a mess of scheduling hassles knowing only your time slot and adventure premise. You are delivered a mix of friends and random people. You introduce the scene, then move back a bit and let the players interact, nudging them to ensure events move towards the goal. Then you give it a big wrap-up and sign their certs.

There is little difference between the two events. Gaming is more useful than you might think.

So the next time you are thrust into a chaotic situation, in which you have to manage the group's expectations while ensuring events proceed towards a desired goal along an ill-defined path, do not panic. Remember your GMing talents, and bring that adventure to a satisfying conclusion.

You may now kiss the bride.

Until next month,
Sandy