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Sample Welcome Speech - Let the Party Begin

A sample welcome speech - one less thing to worry about as you plan your amazing party celebration!

Your guests will expect a welcome speech and they will be pleasantly surprised... and grateful... if you focus on the quality and not the quantity of your words. 

So, prepare a simple, short and effective welcome wish - and then focus on planning all the other great party celebrations - music, excellent food, creative decor, dress code and the theme!

A warm welcome - done!

Let's party!

Good Evening,

A warm word of welcome to everyone tonight as we celebrate [ insert event or occasion ].

Tonight is a exceptional evening -  I am so glad that so many special  people have been able to join us this evening.

As, always, to absent friends - we still miss you.

But, tonight is all about celebrating!

It brings to mind the all too true words, that at times, we should "dance like no-one is watching"!

And tonight is one of those nights!

Let's capture some magical moments, let's create happy memories and let's surround ourselves with laughter and friendship as we celebrate this special occasion.

Have fun, thank you for joining us and go on…dance a little...like no one is watching!

An example of a welcome speech for a party - short, to the point and most importantly... welcoming !

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Welcome Speeches for Parties

Drafting welcome speeches can be a task sometimes as it can be difficult to tread the line between being too formal and too casual. In this article, we will tell you how to draft a welcome speech for a party.

All of us are familiar with the necessity of a welcome speech. At any party, it is important to welcome the guests and familiarize them with the reason for the party. Most welcome speeches are given at extremely formal events, but even for informal parties like birthdays and anniversaries, there may be a necessity to give a welcome speech. In this article, we tell you how to draft welcome speeches and give you an example of a welcome speech.

Tips to Write Welcome Speeches

Many people often tend to get worked up while writing speeches because for most people keeping others entertained can be quite a task. But, writing a welcome speech is very easy as long as you keep some simple tips in mind.

• Always start the speech by wishing your guests and welcoming them to the party. If there is a guest of honor, then mention him specially.
• Before you start writing the speech, it is important that you decide the tone of the speech. If it is a black tie affair, then it is important that you keep the speech formal. At the same time, if the event is a retirement party or a birthday party, keep the speech simple and humorous.
• At a welcome speech for a party, it is important that the speech be brief and precise. The guests are sure to be looking forward to enjoying the party and a long speech can often play spoilsport.
• While you will not have a speech topic dictating the terms of your speech, it may be a good idea to have a recurring theme throughout the speech. This will ensure that you do not ramble or bore the guests.
• If you are including anecdotes in your speech, ensure that either the guests are familiar with the same or that these anecdotes are actually funny and sure to amuse the audience.

Always try and rehearse the speech before you deliver it. Stand in front of the mirror or read it out to your friends and family. It is always important that you end the speech by thanking the guests for their presence.

Example of Welcome Speech for a Party

With any welcome speech for a party, it is important to ensure that it suits the demand for the day. For a farewell party, it is inevitable to dwell on the past and the same holds true for a retirement party or an anniversary party. For a birthday party, it is all about celebrating the person whose birthday it is. The one thing that you need to keep in mind while drafting welcome speeches, is to ensure that it comes from the heart. Given below is a welcome speech sample for a party celebrating the anniversary of an organization.

Hopefully, the example of a welcome speech given above and the tips for writing welcome speeches has helped you understand how this speech should be drafted. With any welcome speech, it is important to ensure that the speech is never too long or too boring for the audience.

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70 Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event

May 3, 2022

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A big hello to my chivalrous crowd. How about that for a mind-altering beginning to Short Welcome Speech Samples ? Welcome – the most paramount gesture to make your guest feel attended and addressed and respected! Yes, the host is loaded with uncountable responsibilities to make their guests feel special and counted on. And all of it starts with a nice, heart-warming “#Velkommen” that you mark the event and tell what that day is all about. If you are preparing for an event and need someone to tell you that you are doing great, let it be you. Check on this list of Powerful Quotes to Boost Your Self Confidence , It helped me a lot, see if it could do a little magic for you as well.

Feeling stuck and not being able to find just the right words to introduce events is so irritating that it could make you smash your own head (by personal experiences; wink). A welcome could either cheer them up or make them leave the event and rather have cozy sleep at home . Martin Luther King, in 1943, delivered a speech “I have a dream” and that still doesn’t fail to inspire people.

Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event

Welcome speech for annual day.

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I am extremely overwhelmed to get this opportunity to address you all on this auspicious occasion of 50th Annual day of our elite institution. Children are the future of tomorrow. All these students we witness today, receiving honours for their talents will grow up to be the responsible citizens of tomorrow. May they grow up to make us proud and achieve the highest human values.

I feel proud to be a part of such an elite institution where we are taught by such great teachers, whose teaching goes beyond the classroom. Also, they are the ones to be thanked for organizing such a huge function. We all have assembled here today, today to motivate and cherish the young minds present among us. Apart from it, this is a great occasion to welcome our Chief Guest of today.

Welcome of the Chief Guest

On behalf of the school, I welcome our chief guest Mr. James, who is a dean of the most renowned institution functioning under the government of India. She is working towards connecting young minds to strive toward success and achievement. We are grateful to him for accepting our invitation and becoming a chief guest of today’s event.

Our chief guest doesn’t require an introduction as he is a well-recognised figure in our city. She is known for his wonderful administration and high achievements of the Institution she is in charge of. Apart from this, she is a Philanthropist and renders selfless services to society. She has moulded the life of students and served people with her kindness.

We are so honoured to have her as the Chief guest for the evening. I am certain that all the parents present here are also moved and assuredly want their children to be like him.

Welcoming Parents

Parents are the world for children. Not to overlook that we are here, joined by the wonderful parents who have raised the best students this school possesses. With immense admiration and affection, we welcome all the parents who made the efforts to join this ceremony.

At last, I would like to thank all the teachers, other staff members and all the students present here to make this ceremony worthwhile.

Welcome Speech for Freshers Party

Good Morning to everyone present here!

We all have gathered here today on the occasion of a Fresher’s party. Welcoming people is part of Indian culture, followed for centuries. We maintain this custom and welcome today the fresh faces in the college with a fresher’s party.

I thank all my teachers and everyone who gave me this opportunity to welcome all my fresher’s today. It’s a moment of great pleasure for me to welcome you all.

My dear friends, studying in our institution is pure joy, the professors, students, and other staff members are an epitome of compassion and we are quite sure you will be perplexed by their sagacity.

All in all, I would like to say that you have made an absolutely secure decision to be a part of this institution. Our college welcomes all the students joining us today. I hope all of you will operate along with the values of the college and magnify its reputation at every go of life.

Now, I will halt my words and start with the programmes for the day which includes some astounding performances by the students of our college.

I guarantee, your next few hours will be delightful and memorable. Thank you for being a patient audience and hearing my thoughts.

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Welcome Speech for a Farewell Party

I welcome you all on this occasion of the farewell party, for which we have assembled here today.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who gave me this opportunity to welcome all my seniors and teachers on this memorable occasion.

School life is undoubtedly the best phase of life for everyone. Our parents, teachers and friends all have made this phase of life so memorable for us. We learned so many things, from our inspiring teachers. Made mistakes, made memories with friends, and whatnot. It was a long journey in itself.

Today marks the end of this school life of sweet and bitter moments to cherish all our lives. We do feel a touch of sadness but it is the nature of life, to move forward. So, today we will celebrate this moment with our beloved teachers and friends to bid a good farewell to all who have to leave now, with a smiling face.

Welcome Speech for College Function

Good Morning to all!

Honourable Chief Guest Mr. Swamy, Principal Sir Dr. Reddy, Staff Members, and all the students present here. I welcome you all to the annual function of our esteemed college.

My name is Lakshita Kumar, a student of B.Sc. and also a secretary of cultural programs organized under our college authority.

I feel extremely proud to announce that our elite college has completed 25 years and we all have gathered today to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the same. Behind huge success over the years are the dedicated teachers, motivated students, and helpful staff who give their best to make the college achieve great heights of success.

Also, It is a great honour for me to pronounce that today we are joined by a lady who hardly needs an introduction. She is well known for her work in educating poor children. Besides, he is a published and extensively read author of the contemporary world. (the title of his book) is one of her treasures that have gained a huge international acknowledgment.

Moreover, she is extremely loved and respected by her readers which include the youth population of the country, whom she has influenced the most with her writing. With that being said, let us call upon none other than Miss/ Mrs. (name of the chief guest).”

Welcome Speech for Teachers Day

Respected Principal Sir, Teachers and dear students!

We welcome you all today, to celebrate this auspicious occasion of teacher’s day. We celebrate teacher’s day every year on 5th September, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

Teachers are our ideals. They inspire us each day and make us strive towards the route of success. They equip us with the power of knowledge and propel us with endless wisdom to become better citizens of the future.

On that note, I would now like to invite our Principal mam on the stage and to deliver her thoughts on the day.

Welcome Speech for Children’s Day

Good Morning Everyone!

We welcome all the students as we celebrate Children’s day today.

It is true, the imagination of a child is incomparable. Children are a creation of God and their smile is irresistible to not make us smile alone. Their innocence is overwhelming.

For children, school is a second home and teachers are equivalent to the parents in times when students need them the most. This day is celebrated with many events which cannot be possible without the contribution of our lovely teachers.

Thanking you all, I would like to start the events for the day without any further delay. 

It is simply not possible for everyone to come up with the right kind of words to use in a welcome speech. It is something that one has to plan and think about so that the right tone is set for the person you are welcoming to make his or her speech. Plus care has to be taken to ensure that none of the vital details are missed but at the same time, the speech cannot be too long. It is not as simple as writing a heart melting long distance relationship quote and requires a lot more consideration.

Focus on the FOCUS and TONE While Delivering the Introductory Speech For an Event

Understanding the basic idea and being able to think about the feel is really important in order to make the listener feel connected. Make sure they don’t yawn or even doesn’t end up rolling on the floor laughing too! Your speech should be making them feel eager to know what going to come up next. If at all it is the professional conference that you are conducting, you can’t pour in too much fun in your speech but a family function demands the same. Choosing tone and focus on how you talk to the audience will vary with the different types of event. Decide if its “Howz it going peepz?” event or “Blesses morning, ladies and gentlemen.” event. A few Maid of Honor Speeches if at all you are thinking to make the #Bigday special for your BFF.

Important Points to Consider while Giving  Welcome Speech For an Event

• What is the purpose of the event and what it aims to achieve out of it? The objective, unless made clear to the audience, leaves the speech incomplete. Be specific as you introduce the event and its significance ’cause being brief helps people register it seriously. Tempting them is all you have to do and then stop – make them feel excited about the event.
• Welcome speech must address all the guests and the chief guests of the event (if any) thanking them for being present and giving the auspicious event their valuable attention.
• Make proper introductions of the Chief guests and hosts along with the motive of the function to achieve more attention and appreciation. Make sure you have all the names beforehand and you know how to pronounce them correctly.

SSS Mantra for Appreciable Hosting

Short-Simple-Sincere, it should be! The speech better not exceed a minute or two. Use simple and understandable language along with a sincere tone and vocab as to make sure your audience gets impressed by your way of expression.

Please Rehearse Welcome Address!

Standing in front of the mirror before actually standing in front of the crowd and speak your thoughts make a huge difference. When you rehearse, yo register the mistakes and make necessary alterations to the accents, tone, gesture, body language and choice of words and changing the vocabulary. Self-confidence indulges therein and then, when you walk up to the dais you inspire as you go on talking to your audience. You can also use these Amazing Ways to memorize faster and easily like never before.

Welcome Remarks Samples For any Program

• Have you wondered what makes a welcome speech the weather vane that indicates how the function is going to be like? It is because we feel if the start is interesting, then what follows is also going to be great. In view of keeping the welcome speech interesting, I am going to say welcome and direct you to start enjoying the rest of the program.
• I welcome you to what I hope what is going to be one of the interesting experiences of your life . The program we have planned for you is based on the inputs that we collected from you before the program.
• I declare the function open for your participation in the hope that you will enjoy the event as much as we enjoyed organizing it for you.
• I welcome you warmly to a very enjoyable and different experience. What I ask of you is to keep an open mind and enjoy each part of the function in the spirit of which it has been conceived.
• I am not going to go on and on about the way this function is about to pan out because the buffet is full of warm food and the bar awaits those who want a drink. Which is why I welcome you to join me in taking a moment or two to ponder the importance of the cause we are all supporting before we get down to the business of having fun.
• It is our pleasure to introduce ____ as the speaker for this evening. We cannot think of a single person more qualified to address the current audience.
• When I was growing up , I could not wait to grow up and become an adult , but now that I am one, all I want is to have the halcyon days of childhood back. What I am trying to say here is that we need to enjoy the here and now rather than longing for the past and future. Here’s a toast to the present.
• When it comes to molding the young mind, there is no one better than______ as he/she has a snapshot of the way today’s youth thinks. When the audience is as elite as this, the person who addresses you has to be somebody you all look up to. We are proud to say that today’s speaker is someone that everyone looks up to!
• Welcome to the wedding party , and I must say that we are honored to have you here. We are sure that each one of you are connected in some way or the other to the groom or bride. Let us all make sure that the celebration begins now. ( If you are planning a wedding then we insist you check on this unique list of  Wedding Guest book ideas. )
• Every time I step in front of people to welcome them to a function such as this, I cannot help but feel the sense of wonder and gratitude that I have an audience. I welcome you all with warmth in my heart and hope you enjoy the proceedings as much as I have enjoyed having you as my audience.
• We would like to extend our warm welcome to ______ to this forum. Our gathering takes on a special meaning and moves to the next level due to his/her presence.
• They say that every setback you have in life and every mistake you have committed adds to your wisdom. By that notion, I must be one of the most learned person anywhere. But jokes apart, do make it a point to learn from all your mistakes, they are really teachers in disguise.
• There are no words which can convey our awe and respect for _____. We would like to, however, take this opportunity to tell him/her that it is our honor and privilege to welcome you here.
• No party is complete without all the guests getting together gazing up at someone in front of them wondering when he will finish speaking so that they can get along with the person. I am that person, and you are the poor people wondering when the fun can start. Well, here I am and let is get over with this speech so that we can all have fun.
• Welcome speeches are as difficult to start up as they are to wind down because once you get going, it is difficult to apply the brakes. Which is why, I will keep it simple, sweet, and short. A warm welcome to all of you who have made an effort to come here.

Opening Remarks Samples and Quotes

• Young minds are like sponges and they are looking for the right input to soak it in. We cannot think of a person more suited to this than __________ to whom we extend a warm and hearty welcome.
• We are delighted to announce that we have a very special program planned for you and your enjoyment. Let us first start with the ground rules for our enjoyment so that we can have fun without causing any problem to anyone.
• With a spring in my step, anticipation in heart and a lilt to my heart, I welcome ________ to this gathering. Join hands to extend him a warm welcome.
• Let me start by asking you why you are here besides the fact that you were invited. Have you come here for the sake of honoring the invitation or because you want to. I am here to ensure you have to have a great time no matter what the reason you are here.
• In life , it is important to pause and take a long hard look at what you have done till now. Doing this can put things in perspective and you would be surprised how much doing this can help. The beginning of this session will consist of just doing that, and I cannot think of a better way to invite people to a function.
• We have all waited for a long time to have __________ speak to us. Let us waste no more time and welcome with warmth in our hearts and with a resounding round of applause.
• We welcome our guest of honor to this forum. Because as the word suggests, the guest is indeed honorable and someone we are sure that you will enjoy his address as much as he will enjoy speaking to you.
• This is an august gathering where each one of you has earned their place and it is with pride that we invite all of you. You are welcome to express your feelings and we also extend a hearty welcome to all the events.
• Any gathering comes alive when we have the right start to it, and we have ensured that you have just that. If anyone can bring the right amount of enthusiasm, humor, and fun to this gathering.
• Welcome to the gathering and before we get into the serious business of having fun, resolve to ensure that we will not only have fun ourselves but will ensure that others do too.
• A warm welcome is never incomplete without warm words. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you all to this venue. Our endeavors have been to ensure that you feel at home and we leave you with a request to let us know if you need anything else.
• What makes any gathering fun? Is it the venue? Or is it the food and drinks? Or is it the entertainment on offer? I think it is a culmination of all the factors but what adds an extra dimension to this is the way the ceremony is conducted. Let us all start by welcoming one and all and go ahead with the proceedings.
• Great things happen when there is a gathering of great minds. It is with great anticipation that we welcome all of you to this forum. Hope you will enjoy our hospitality!
• I would like to start by stating that it is an honor to be standing here. It saddens me to tell you that while we have some good news for you, we also have some grave news. I beg one and all to listen with an open mind and appreciate the context in which we are imparting the news.
• I would like to tell you that I have addressed many gatherings in my time but every time I do it, it is an honor to be given this opportunity. My heartfelt thanks for all of you for being here and giving me the chance to speak to you.

4 Comments - Add Comment

Wonderful, very Nice, super…..

awesome content. really worth!

It’s really wonderful and meaningful it will help for others who is really In need……

dear sir/madam greetings.very useful tips.thank u… regs veerabadran guna

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15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

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How to Write a Welcome Speech

Last Updated: July 29, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,638,263 times.

Are you on welcome speech duty for an upcoming program or event? You’ve got nothing to worry about—with the right format and tone, it’s super easy to write and present a welcome speech for just about any occasion. We’ve outlined everything you need to know, from your opening greetings and acknowledgments, to establishing the right tone and nailing your closing remarks. You’ve got this in the bag!

Greeting the Audience

• Keep the tone more serious if it's an important occasion. Use more formal language and don't crack any inappropriate jokes. For example, at a wake, you might say, "We're so glad to have you all here tonight. We appreciate your presence at this difficult time."

• For an event with close friends and family, more informal language might be appropriate. Include a few jokes and keep your speech more lighthearted.

Patrick Muñoz

Grab your audience's attention with a strong opening. Start with a loud voice and a strong presence that welcomes everyone and gets them involved. Ask a question they can respond to or tell a joke — anything to connect with the audience. Do something that grabs their attention and excites them and makes them thrilled about the event.

• Special guests include any people of honor, those that may play a particularly important part in the event, or those who have traveled a long way to be there.
• Make sure that you practice all of names, titles, and pronunciations of the special guests before your speech.
• For example you could say, "We'd like to extend a special welcome to our guest of honor, Judge McHenry, who will be speaking later tonight."
• Alternatively to welcome a group of people you might say, "While we're excited to have you all here tonight, we'd especially like to say welcome to the students from Johnson Middle School."

• For an informal event such as a birthday party, you could say, "We're so happy to have you here tonight to eat, drink, and celebrate another year of Jessica's life. Now, let's get to it."
• For a more formal event such as one run by an organisation, you could say, “We are so excited to have you all here to participate in our 10th annual pet’s day, organised by the Animal Rescue Group.”

Forming the Body of the Speech

• An example of acknowledging individual people is saying, “We couldn’t have pulled off this fundraiser without the hard work and dedication of Grace and Sally, who worked tirelessly from day 1 to make today a reality.”
• Avoid reading off a long list of people or sponsors, as your audience will begin to get bored. Stick to just a handful of highlights.

• For instance, at a conference, you might point out when the dinner will be held, or where particular sessions will take place.
• At a wedding reception, you might note when dancing will start or when the cake will be served.

• Alternatively, you could end the body of your speech during an informal gathering by saying, “I can't wait to see you all out on the dancefloor!”

Ending the Speech

• You could also say that you hope that the audience takes something away from the event. For example, “I hope that today inspires ideas and discussions around the ways that we can make our city a better place!”

• At a formal event, you might say, "Now, for our speaker. Rebecca Roberts comes here from Montreal, Canada, and she is a leading expert in the study of the human brain. She'll be speaking tonight on what drives humans to make decisions. Let's welcome her."
• For a more informal event such as a party, you could say, “Next up is Sam, who has been Kyle’s best friend for 10 years strong. He has a decade of embarrassing stories about Kyle to share with us tonight!"

• Alternatively you might say, “Thank you again to everyone for being here tonight to celebrate Joe and Kathleen’s 50th wedding anniversary! Let the celebrations begin!”

• If you are unsure, ask the organiser or host what an appropriate length of time for your speech will be.

Writing Help

Community Q&A

• Practice your speech in front of trusted friends and family in the days leading up to the event. [12] X Research source Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

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• ↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/effective-welcome-speech
• ↑ https://www.examples.com/education/speech/welcome-speech-for-conference.html
• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/how-5574707-write-welcome-speech.html
• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/write-after-dinner-speech-8035341.html
• ↑ https://uark.pressbooks.pub/speaking/chapter/closing-a-speech/
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-delivery

About This Article

To write a welcome speech, start with a greeting to your audience that’s appropriate to the situation. For example, you could try “Good evening ladies and gentlemen” if you’re introducing a formal event, or “Thank you everyone for coming on this sunny day” for a more relaxed occasion. After you’ve finished the greeting, introduce the event by talking about who organized it and what its purpose is. In the main body of your speech, acknowledge 2 or 3 people who played important parts in organizing the event. You should also emphasize special parts of the event that people should pay attention to, such as where dinner will be or where a conference session will take place. When you’re ready to conclude your speech, tell the audience to enjoy the event by saying something like “I hope you all enjoy the exciting speakers to come.” Finish your speech by thanking the audience for attending. For tips on how to introduce people at a special occasion, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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15 Ways to Start a Speech + Bonus Tips

You have heard the saying “First impressions are lasting; you never get a second chance to create a good first impression.”

The same is true when talking about how to start a speech…

The truth is, when you start your speech, you must focus everything on making a positive first impression on your audience members (especially if you are doing the presentation virtually ). The introduction is basically the formal greetings for speeches, so let’s be sure to get this right to really hook the audience.

Here are 15 different ways to start a speech as well as 2 extra BONUS tips at the end.

1) Thank the Organizers and Audience

You can start by thanking the audience for coming and thanking the organization for inviting you to speak.

Refer to the person who introduced you or to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience.

This compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and connects you to the audience like an electrical plug in a socket.

2) Start With a Positive Statement

A presentation tip at the start is to tell the audience members how much they will like and enjoy what you have to say.

For example, you might say:

“You’re really going to enjoy the time we spend together this evening. I’m going to share with you some of the most important ideas that have ever been discovered in this area.”

Remember that  speaking is an art,  so be an artist and take complete control of your performance,

3) Compliment the Audience

You can begin by complimenting the audience members sincerely and with great respect.

Smile as if you are really glad to see them as if they are all old friends of yours that you have not seen for quite a while.

You can tell them that it is a great honor for you to be here, that they are some of the most important people in this business or industry, and that you are looking forward to sharing some key ideas with them.

You could say something like:

“It is an honor to be here with you today. You are the elite, the top 10 percent of people in this industry. Only the very best people in any field will take the time and make the sacrifice to come so far for a conference like this.”

4) Start Your Speech By Referring to Current Events

Use a current event front-page news story to transition into your subject and to illustrate or prove your point. You can bring a copy of the newspaper and hold it up as you refer to it in your introduction.

This visual image of you holding the paper and reciting or reading a key point rivets the audience’s attention and causes people to lean forward to hear what you have to say.

5) Refer to a Historical Event

For many years, I studied military history…

Especially the lives and campaigns of the great generals and the decisive battles they won. One of my favorites was Alexander the Great.

One day, I was asked to give a talk on leadership principles to a roomful of managers for a Fortune 500 company.

I decided that the campaign of Alexander the Great against Darius of Persia would make an excellent story that would illustrate the leadership qualities of one of the great commanders in history.

I opened my talk with these words:

“Once upon a time there was a young man named Alex who grew up in a poor country. But Alex was a little bit ambitious. From an early age, he decided that he wanted to conquer the entire known world. But there was a small problem. Most of the known world was under the control of a huge multinational called the Persian Empire, headed by King Darius II. To fulfill his ambition, Alex was going to have to take the market share away from the market leader, who was very determined to hold on to it.

This is the same situation that exists between you and your major competitors in the market today. You are going to have to use all your leadership skills to win the great marketing battles of the future.”

6) Refer to a Well Known Person

You can start by quoting a well-known person or publication that recently made an important statement.

One of the subjects I touch upon regularly is the importance of continual personal development.

I will say something like:

“In the twenty-first century, knowledge and know-how are the keys to success. As basketball coach Pat Riley said, ‘If you are not getting better, you are getting worse.’”

7) Refer to a Recent Conversation

Start by telling a story about a recent conversation with someone in attendance.

For instance, I might say:

“A few minutes ago, I was talking with Tom Robinson in the lobby. He told me that this is one of the very best times to be working in this industry, and I agree.”

8) Make a Shocking Statement

You can start your talk by making a shocking statement of some kind.

For example, you might say something like:

“According to a recent study, there will be more change, more competition, and more opportunities in this industry in the next year than ever before. And 72 percent of the people in this room will be doing something different within two years if they do not rapidly adapt top these changes.”

Click here If you want to learn more techniques to wow your audience.

9) Quote From Recent Research

You can start by quoting a recent research report.

One example is:

“According to a story in a recent issue of Businessweek, there were almost 11 million millionaires in America in 2018, most of them self-made.”

10) Start Your Speech By Giving Them Hope

The French philosopher Gustav Le Bon once wrote, “The only religion of mankind is, and always has been hope.”

When you speak effectively, you give people hope of some kind.

Remember, the ultimate purpose of speaking is to inspire people to do things that they would not have done in the absence of your comments.

Everything you say should relate to the actions you want people to take and the reasons that they should take those actions.

11) Be Entertaining

Bill Gove used to walk onto the stage after his introduction if he had just finished talking to someone on the side and was breaking off to give his talk to the group.

The audience got the feeling that his entire talk was one continuous conversation, devoid of meaningless filler words .

Bill would often go to the edge of the stage and then drop his voice in a conspiratorial way, open his arms, and beckon the audience members to come a little closer.

He would say, “Come here, let me tell you something,” and then he would wave them forward as though he was about to tell a secret to the entire room.

The amazing thing was that everyone in the room would lean forward to hear this “secret” that he was about to share. People would all suddenly realize what they were doing and break out in laughter. It was a wonderful device to get the audience into the palm of his hands.

12) Ask a Question

You can open by making a positive statement and then ask a question requiring a show of hands.

Try something like this:

“This is a great time to be alive and in business in America. By the way how many people here are self-employed?”

Raise your hand to indicate what you want people to do. I have used this line, and after a number of hands go up, I then say to someone who raised their hand in the front, “How many people here are really self-employed?”

Invariably, someone will say, “We all are!”

I then compliment and affirm the answer:  “You’re right! We are all self-employed, from the time we take our first jobs to the day that we retire; we all work for ourselves, no matter who signs our paychecks.”

13) Open With a Problem

You can start with a problem that must be solved. If it is a problem that almost everyone has in common, you will immediately have the audience’s complete and undivided attention.

For example, you could say:

“Fully 63 percent of baby boomers are moving toward retirement without enough money put aside to provide for themselves for as long as they are going to live. We must address this problem and take action immediately to ensure that each person who retires will be able to live comfortably for the rest of his or her natural life.”

14) Make a Strong Statement, Then Ask a Question

You can start by making a strong statement and then ask a question. You then follow with an answer and ask another question. This gets people immediately involved and listening to your every word.

Here’s an example:

“Twenty percent of the people in our society make 80 percent of the money. Are you a member of the top 20 percent? If not, would you like to join the top 20 percent or even the top 10 percent? Well, in the next few minutes, I am going to give you some ideas to help you become some of the highest-paid people in our society. Would that be a good goal for our time together today?”

15) Tell a Story

You can start your talk with a story. Some of the most powerful words grab the complete attention of the audience are, “Once upon a time…”

From infancy and early childhood, people love stories of any kind. When you start off with the words, “Once upon a time…” you tell the audience that a story is coming. People immediately settle down, become quiet, and lean forward like kids around a campfire.

When I conduct full-day seminars and I want to bring people back to their seats after a break, I will say loudly, “Once upon a time there was a man, right here in this city…”

As soon as I say these words, people hurry back to their seats and begin to listen attentively to the rest of the story.

The story technique is very effective.

In fact, its probably one of the best public speaking tips I’ve learned to this day.

Bonus Tip: Tell Them About Yourself

Very often, I will start a speech to a business, sales, or entrepreneurial group by saying:

“I started off without graduating from high school. My family had no money. Everything I accomplished in life I had to do on my own with very little help from anyone else.”

It is amazing how many people come up to me after a talk that began with those words and tells me that was their experience as well.

They tell me that they could immediately identify with me because they too had started with poor grades and limited funds, as most people do. As a result, they were open to the rest of my talk, even a full-day seminar, and felt that everything I said was more valid and authentic than if I had been a person who started off with a successful background.

Building a bridge like this is very helpful in bringing the audience onto your side.

Bonus Tip: Get Them Talking to One Another

You can ask people to turn to the person next to them to discuss a particular point.

For instance, you could say:

“Tell the person next to you what you would like to learn from this seminar.”

Whatever you ask your audience members to do, within reason, they will do it for you. Your commands and your thought leadership will easily influence them, as long as you ask them with confidence.

By following any one of these tips for starting your speech, you are sure to grab your audience’s attention every time. How do you start a speech? Let me know in the comments.

« Previous Post 9 Tips to End a Speech With a Bang Next Post » 15 Ways to Overcome Your Fears of Writing a Book

About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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Five of the Best Speech Opening Lines

Great opening lines to a speech get us curious and can set the direction for a powerful talk.   In those first few seconds you have the chance to gain your audience’s attention, earn their trust, and persuade them you are someone worth listening to.   The best introductions to speeches are a mile away from the standard welcomes and thank yous that set the snoozometer to max. Get it right, and those initial words can captivate the crowd from the off, creating a connection with every individual in the room.   But how do you go about opening your speech with something different and memorable? A great place to start is looking at examples of introductions to successful speeches to see what you can learn from them.   To show you what we mean, we’ve picked some of our favourite opening lines from TED talks, home to some of the best conference speeches in the world. From funny stories to hard-hitting introductions, TED talks show the art of the possible when it comes to getting your speech off to a kick-ass start.   Have a go at guessing the speaker, or the focus of the rest of their talk (hint…we give you the answers later on).  

Do you want to improve your public speaking? Why not view our  Public Speaking Courses !

Guess the Speech: Five of the best speech opening lines

Speech A:  Good morning. How are you? It’s been great, hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.

Speech B:  For a long time, there was me, and my body. Me was composed of stories, of cravings, of strivings, of desires of the future. Me was trying not to be an outcome of my violent past, but the separation that had already occurred between me and my body was a pretty significant outcome. Me was always trying to become something, somebody. Me only existed in the trying. My body was often in the way.

Speech C:  Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat.

Speech D:  Okay, now I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar. (Laughter) Also, the person to your left is a liar. Also the person sitting in your very seats is a liar. We’re all liars. What I’m going to do today is I’m going to show you what the research says about why we’re all liars, how you can become a liespotter and why you might want to go the extra mile and go from liespotting to truth seeking, and ultimately to trust building.

Speech E:  Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.

Answers: Who delivered these great opening lines?

These examples pack a punch for very different reasons. There’s absolutely no chance of the audience zoning out when the speaker goes straight in with such a powerful start.   So, who gave these speeches, and why are the introductions so good? Time for the big reveal….

A:  Sir Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

Deceptively simple, the opening lines for this speech set the tone for what has become the most viewed TED talk of all (currently nearly 57 million views). Far from being just ‘throat clearing’, Sir Ken’s funny introduction cleverly paves the way for a talk that will gently but profoundly show us a new way of looking at education. It’s as if we are at a dinner party, being hosted by Sir Ken – he makes us feel comfortable, interested and open all at once. We are not being lectured to (which is always a possibility when education is the subject matter of choice), we want to learn and hear more. Very skilful indeed.

Ginger tip: funny introductions

Using humour in your introduction can be a great way to get your speech off to a flying start – but only if you do it in a way that feels natural. This example shows how you can make people laugh without telling a joke. It’s about finding your own funny and feeling totally comfortable with what you’re saying. If it feels a bit forced to you, it definitely will to your audience. You don’t have to make people roll around on the floor laughing, but light-hearted and amusing anecdotes can add energy and engagement to your talk – which is especially needed if you’re in the dreaded after-lunch slot . Remember, when you open your speech with something funny, you are setting the tone for the rest of your talk – so you’ll need to pepper humour throughout.

Extra Ginger nuggets

How to write a funny speech Funny inspiring speakers talks 

B:  Eve Ensler: Suddenly, my body

As you’d expect from a the writer of the Vagina Monologues, the start of this speech opening was profound, stark in its honesty and inviting. We empathize and want to know more. Unfortunately this speech suffered from a common affliction that writers face; in getting focused on the precise words of the speech (in this instance, Eve Ensler read her speech), we can get disconnected from the full power of the material. Whilst the words were powerful, we would have enjoyed the rest of this speech more if Eve had given herself permission to find the right words in the moment, rather than needing to be perfectly scripted.

Ginger tip: going unscripted

You want it to be perfect. You’re worried about forgetting something vital. You’re scared of doing it wrong. These are common and perfectly understandable reasons why people opt to script their speech and read it word for word. But rather than delivering a foot-perfect performance, you’re more likely to lose the vital connection with the audience. Not to mention risking plunging yourself into the dreaded ‘I’m sorry I’ve lost my place’ scenario. More than anything, people want you to be human and to speak from the heart. It takes confidence to ditch your notes, but with some simple techniques, you can prepare and remember your speech in a way that allows you to deliver a clear, compelling and authentic talk.

How to start a speech with power and confidence How to remember a speech without notes

C:  Jamie Oliver’s TED Wish: Teach every child about food

This is one of our favourite ever TED talks, and it doesn’t pull its punches from the very first line. Jamie Oliver manages to balance preparation (statistics, stories, well-developed ideas) with heart in his TED talk. This speech opening line both makes our jaws drop to the ground in shock at such a statistic and opens our hearts to the human side of the story. Powerful stuff.

Ginger tip: punchy facts

Opening your speech with a hard-hitting fact can quickly add credibility to your talk and demonstrate the scale of an issue. It’s best to keep statistics simple and make them as relevant to the audience as possible, so it feels memorable rather than dry. Resist the urge to stuff the rest of the speech with stats. Try to stick to a few powerful facts and bring them to life with real examples.

Extra Ginger nuggets:

The key to presenting data…is not to present data How to make a powerful point with your speech

D:  Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar

We love talks that balance humour and connect us to the subject matter in hand – and Pamela Meyer does this perfectly in her TED talk opening line. By bringing a challenge straight to us, in our very seats, Pamela engages us and makes sure the talk is about ‘me’ the audience member. We’re laughing and ready to listen. Great job.

Ginger tip: setting up a problem

Setting up a problem at the start of your speech immediately creates a reason for listening and a direction for your talk. And if you involve the audience in the problem, it’s even more powerful. It doesn’t have to be something completely new, in fact telling us what we already know and explaining why that’s a problem can be a really engaging way to start. Depending on the subject matter, you can frame the problem in different ways – from serious to humorous. And it gives a natural structure to the rest of your talk as you explore how to solve the issue.  

The best way to engage your audience Five methods to master audience interaction

E:  Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed

Wow, what an opening! Who wouldn’t want to know more? Ric Elias showed here how powerful it is to jump straight into a story, with no fussing around with thank yous and throat clearing. Unfortunately after the winning start, the rest of the talk lacked some of the gusto and drama of its opening lines. What can we learn from this? Start with power, but make sure you structure your talk to include a journey that will continue to keep us involved all the way through.

Ginger tip: start with a story

Stories are one of the most effective ways to inspire others. We’re hard wired to connect with stories and your experience of the world is one of the most valuable speaking tools that you possess. Telling a story is a popular way to open a speech because it can quickly build that all-important human connection with your audience. If you have a message that’s personal, or if you’re trying to influence your audience to make a change, a story is a great place to start.

Why is it so important to tell your story? 3 storytelling secrets for public speaking

Creating the best introduction for your speech

We hope these examples of great opening lines demonstrate that you don’t have to conform to the ‘safe’ introductions we’re all used to hearing at corporate conferences. In fact, at Ginger, we dare our speakers to rip up the ‘rulebook’, to be courageous, and to take a different approach to setting the scene. You can find even more tips in our free guide,  The 10 best ways to start your talk .   We’d love to hear your thoughts on these and other examples of great opening lines – so please share your ideas in the comments below.

Beyond introductions

Of course, it’s all very well creating a captivating introduction, but you don’t want the rest of your talk to fall off a cliff edge after you’ve built it up so spectacularly. Maintaining the audience’s attention for the rest of your speech is just as important.   We’ve developed the  TED-style Talk Guidebook  to help you through the process of writing a brilliant speech. Whether you’re crafting a short talk or a keynote, it will help you create a speech that’s as good as a TED talk – so you can wow your audience from the first word to the final thank you.   If you’d like to get hands-on support with becoming a better public speaker, then take a look at our  training courses.  There’s something for every level, from nervous beginners to becoming a leading speaker on the world stage. We’d love to welcome you along.

UK based? Here’s some courses that you might enjoy: 

• Presentation Skills and Essentials
• Leadership and Communications
• TED Talk Presentations

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Introduction speech for a guest speaker 

How to write a good introduction speech step by step

By:  Susan Dugdale  

If you've been asked to give the introduction speech for a guest speaker you're in the right place.

Everything you need to prepare it is here. Follow the steps and you'll have an introductory speech you'll be proud to deliver.

What you'll find on this page:

• an overview of the purpose of an introduction speech for a guest speaker
• the content you're expected to cover
• an organizational pattern or template to follow  
• an example introduction speech
• 6 important tips to use to ensure your speech is a success

The function of an introduction speech

Let's start with the purpose of the speech. When you understand what the speech is supposed to achieve you'll find it much easier to write.

The job of an introduction speech is to:

• introduce your guest speaker,
• give them a warm welcome, 
• and create ready-and-motivated-to-listen anticipation in the audience.

Essentially you are the warm-up act. Your task is to focus and unite the audience members, to get them ready for what is to come.

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To prepare your introduction speech you'll need:

• the guest speaker's name and, if they have one, their title. For example; Judge, Sir, The Right Honorable... Do make sure you can say their name properly and easily! If you're in doubt get the correct pronunciation from your guest speaker and practice. Also ask if they have personal pronoun preferences. Eg: they/them, she/her, he/him... 
• the guest speaker's biography or the credentials of the speaker Sometimes you'll be given what the guest speaker wants said about themselves. If that isn't provided select events, achievements and qualifications to support establishing him/her as an authority within the context of the occasion. And do check that your guest is happy with what you are preparing to say about them.
• attention getters or a surprise to delight the audience, something that is not commonly known, and something revealing the personality or humanity of the person. 

How to organize your material

• Build excitement or interest by adding one piece of information after another.
• Make the speaker's name and their speech title, the climax and end of your speech.

To show you how it's done I've put together an...  

Introduction speech example

Let's put the speech in context to help you make sense of it.

The setting for this fictitious introduction speech is a conference for an organization called " Women in Leadership" . The audience are primarily women drawn together through an interest in leadership roles. 

At the end of the speech, the speaker will lead the clapping as Rose Stephenson, the keynote speaker being introduced, takes center stage.

Now here's the introduction speech text.

Now here's the introduction speech text

" She's been a stalwart member of "Women in Leadership" for the last ten years. Over that time she's served in every office: secretary, treasurer, chairperson, chief fundraiser, education officer... to name just a few, and in some roles several times over.

Her passionate dedication to promoting public speaking as an important component of empowerment is inspiring. We estimate that she has personally mentored at least 100 new speakers and has set an extraordinary "yes, you can" example for many more. We see her as capable, confident and fluent: never at a loss for words. But what you probably don't know is that this women once stuttered, stammered and blushed.

Yes, she was often temporarily paralyzed, struck dumb by the mere thought of standing in front of an audience to speak.

How she got from awkward tongue tied silence to becoming an eloquent front line spokesperson is the story she will share with us tonight.

Ladies, without further ado, it's with great pleasure, I give you... Rose Stephenson on "Speaking To Lead!"

Say the speech out loud! Use it as a template!

Try saying it out loud to get the flow of it.

If you like it, use it as a model for the introduction speech you need to write.

6 tips to make your introduction speech successful

1. consider tone and language use.

Is what you've prepared appropriate for the occasion, audience and your guest speaker? Have you avoided using a string of clichés?

2. Check the length of your speech

Pertinent and pithy: a short speech is what you want. One to two minutes should be enough.

Test it out loud with a timer and trim if necessary.

My example speech is 171 words long. That will take approximately 1 minute 30 seconds to say depending on the speaker's rate of speech.

For more on: the number of words per minute in a speech . (This page has estimations for the number of words per minute spoken at a slow, medium and fast rate for speeches from 1 - 10 minutes long.)

3. Resist exaggerating or "puffing up" the speaker's achievements

First impressions count. You don't want to talk about your guest in a way that may embarrass and cause the audience to question their right to be there.

4. Always check your facts 

Beware the horror of getting your facts muddled and, if you wish to mention something that may be sensitive, ask permission before you announce it in front of an audience.

5. Remember you are not the main speaker, or the star of the show

You've done a good job when you cover just enough to make the coming speech eagerly anticipated. 

Please do not stray into telling the audience what the guest speaker's speech will cover in detail. That's terribly unfair on the speaker!

6. Rehearse your speech

Practice out loud until you are confidently fluent and able to convey the pleasure or enthusiasm the audience needs to get them in the right frame of mind.

For more: how to rehearse a speech well

For more: how to use your voice expressively

Other related pages you may find useful:

• How to give a self-introduction speech  (with an example of a brief speech to introduce yourself to fellow workshop participants)
• How to write a welcome speech (with an example of a short welcome speech to open an event)

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How to Introduce a Guest Speaker (with Examples)

May 25, 2023

Introducing a guest speaker is an important responsibility that sets the stage for their presentation and creates an atmosphere of anticipation. A well-crafted introduction not only provides essential information about the speaker but also captivates the audience and builds excitement. In this article, we will explore the art of how to introduce a guest speaker and how to craft a brilliant script for introducing a guest speaker.

From the best way to introduce a speaker to example speeches and tips for making a memorable impact, we will equip you with the tools to deliver introductions that engage, entertain, and leave a lasting impression.

What Is the Best Way to Introduce a Speaker?

Introducing a speaker effectively requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some key elements to keep in mind for how to introduce a guest speaker successfully.

1. Research and gather information.

Before introducing the guest speaker, conduct thorough research to gather relevant information about their background, achievements, and expertise. This will help you create an introduction that is both personalized and impactful.

2. Establish credibility.

Highlight the speaker’s credentials and accomplishments to establish their credibility in the eyes of the audience. Share their relevant experience, expertise, and any notable achievements that are relevant to the topic of their presentation.

3. Create a connection.

Find a compelling way to establish a connection between both the speaker and the audience. This can be through shared interests, experiences, or values. For example, if you’re introducing a guest speaker at your university who happens to be an alumnus of your school, make sure you draw attention to that in your introduction. Creating a relatable connection helps the audience connect with the speaker right from the start.

4. Build anticipation.

Engage the audience’s curiosity by giving a glimpse of what the speaker will later cover in their presentation. Tease key points, intriguing anecdotes, or unique perspectives that the audience can look forward to during the talk. This builds anticipation and captures attention for the following presentation.

5. Keep it concise and engaging.

Aim for a concise, but also interesting, introduction. Use short, direct sentences that convey information clearly. In addition, avoid lengthy biographies or unnecessary details that may lose the audience’s interest. Finally, craft your words carefully to maintain a lively and engaging tone.

How to Use AI to Practice Introducing a Guest Speaker

When it comes time to practice your guest speaker introduction speech, Yoodli , an AI-powered communication coach, becomes your invaluable practice partner. With Yoodli’s cutting-edge technology and generative AI , you can rehearse and refine your introduction in a virtual, judgement-free environment. Its personalized feedback helps you fine-tune your tone, pacing, and overall delivery, ensuring that you make a powerful impact when introducing a guest speaker.

Furthermore, Yoodli automatically generates a transcription of your speech, analyzing it for keywords. This means you can get a sense of how your audience might interpret your speech’s overall message and main points. With Yoodli’s assistance, you can gain confidence, practice your high income skills (like your storytelling skills, for example) and create an introduction that captivates as well as energizes the audience.

Examples of How to Introduce a Guest Speaker

To illustrate the power of a great guest speaker introduction, let’s take a look at an example of how to introduce a guest speaker.

Example of a general introduction for a guest speaker

Good morning, all! Today, we have the privilege of being in the presence of a true visionary and leader in the field of environmental sustainability. Our guest speaker has dedicated her career to finding innovative solutions for a greener and more sustainable future. [Speaker’s name], the CEO of [organization/company name], has successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives that have had a profound impact on our environment. Under her leadership, the company has revolutionized the way we approach sustainability challenges, pushing boundaries and inspiring change. With over two decades of experience in environmental engineering, [Speaker’s name] has been at the forefront of designing groundbreaking technologies and implementing sustainable practices in industries ranging from renewable energy to waste management. Her expertise has earned her international recognition and multiple prestigious awards. But it’s not just her professional achievements that make her special. [Speaker’s name] is a passionate advocate for educating the next generation on the importance of environmental stewardship. Her engaging speaking style and ability to connect with audiences of all backgrounds make her an inspiration to many. Today, [Speaker’s name] will be sharing her insights on how we can create a more sustainable future through innovation and collaboration. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and empowered to take action. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to the exceptional [Speaker’s name]!

This example highlights the speaker’s credentials, builds a connection, creates anticipation, and sets the stage for an engaging and informative presentation.

Example of a personal anecdote for a guest speaker introduction

“Picture this: It was a sunny afternoon in the heart of our city, and I found myself walking through the bustling streets, surrounded by the sound of honking cars and the hum of conversation. Amidst the chaos, I stumbled upon a small park nestled between towering buildings — a hidden oasis of greenery and serenity.

As I entered the park, I noticed a group of children huddled around a captivating woman who stood in front of a majestic oak tree. It was none other than our esteemed guest speaker, [Speaker’s name]. She was engaging the children in a lively discussion about the wonders of nature and the importance of preserving our environment.

What struck me most was the way [Speaker’s name] effortlessly connected with these young minds, sparking their curiosity and inspiring them to take action. I watched as she shared stories of her own childhood adventures exploring forests, climbing trees, and discovering the beauty of our natural world.

In that moment, I realized the profound impact [Speaker’s name] had on these children: instilling a deep love and respect for the environment. Her passion was contagious, and it reminded me of the power we all possess to make a difference, no matter how small.

From that day forward, I became an avid follower of [Speaker’s name]’s work. Her commitment to environmental stewardship and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life is truly remarkable. Today, we have the incredible honor of welcoming her to this stage to share her insights and inspire us all to join the movement for a greener and more sustainable future.

Please finally join me in giving a warm welcome to the extraordinary [Speaker’s name]!”

What Do You Say First When Introducing a Guest Speaker?

The first few sentences of a guest speaker introduction are crucial in capturing the audience’s attention and setting the tone for the entire introduction. Here are some effective opening lines to consider adding to your script when introducing a guest speaking.

1. Engage listeners with a thought-provoking question.

Start with a thought-provoking question related to the speaker’s topic or expertise. This immediately grabs the audience’s attention and, what’s more, encourages them to actively participate in the introduction. For example: “Have you ever wondered how a single individual can make a significant impact on global environmental issues?”

2. Begin with a captivating anecdote or story.

Introduce the speaker by sharing a captivating anecdote or story that relates to their work or accomplishments. This narrative approach instantly draws the audience in and also builds an emotional connection.

3. Use a powerful quote.

Start with a powerful quote that encapsulates the essence of the speaker’s message or expertise. Quotes are attention-grabbing and can also convey a sense of authority and relevance. For example: “As Albert Einstein once said, ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.'” You can find some powerful quotes from the best motivational speeches , too.

4. Make a bold statement.

Begin your script to introduce your guest speaker with a bold and impactful statement that immediately captures the audience’s attention. This statement should be concise yet intriguing, sparking curiosity as well as setting the stage for the speaker’s presentation. Attention getters are perfect for this. For example: “Today, you’re about to witness a groundbreaking approach to tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change.”

Remember, the opening lines of your script to introduce a guest speaker are the gateway to engaging the audience and setting the stage for a memorable presentation. Choose an approach that aligns with the speaker’s personality as well as the event’s atmosphere, and don’t be afraid to be creative and captivating.

The Main Takeaway

Giving an introduction for a guest speaker is an art that requires careful planning, research, and an understanding of the audience’s expectations. By following the principles discussed in this article and using examples as inspiration, you can deliver introductions that engage, entertain, and leave a lasting impression. Remember, the goal is to set the stage for the speaker’s presentation and create a sense of excitement and anticipation.

So, go ahead, embrace the power of a well-crafted introduction, and make every guest speaker’s presence an unforgettable experience for your audience.

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Getting better at speaking is getting easier. Record or upload a speech and let our AI Speech Coach analyze your speaking and give you feedback.

Master of Ceremony Opening Speech

3 step guide to writing a great master of ceremony opening speech.

Over the last 20 years I’ve had to write an Opening Speech for hundreds of large events where I have been engaged as the MC.

Some have been relatively easy, while others have required many hours of effort and thought.

Rather than reinvent the wheel each time, I now have a 3 Part Formula or Process I always follow. This both saves me time but also ensures that all the elements of a great opening speech are there.

Ingredients of a good Opening Speech

I like to cook when I’m at home and in many ways putting together a great Master of Ceremony opening speech is like cooking a great meal.

Firstly you have to understand what you are trying to make, then the ingredients you are going to use and finally, how you are going to combine them!

We are going to dive in deep into each of those areas but I hope you can see how the metaphor works.

Understanding the outcome you are aiming for, the why, is important because your role as an MC is to help your client achieve their aims for the event. If you are not aware of those aims you could in fact hinder the process with ill considered comments or wrong emphasis. To go back to the planning of your meal, are you making sandwiches and finger food or designing a 5 course sit down banquet?

Secondly, while the ingredients of each opening may sometimes be very similar, often, like a good cook, you can substitute different things. You might change the spice to create a slightly different flavour or double the amount of another ingredient to add more kick or emphasis.

And lastly you can combine those ingredients in different ways. Some elements work better going in early, sometimes just a pinch near the end is all that’s required.

So for a Opening Speech, the 3 Steps are …

• Why is this Happening and What are you trying to Achieve?
• What needs to be Included
• How to put that Together

Preparing a great Master of Ceremony Opening Speech.

It’s unlikely that you are the organiser of the event itself, though this formula is just as useful if you are and are writing your own opening speech.

In most cases as an MC  you will have an organiser, who is then your client. This is the person who has asked you to be the MC. It could be a business owner, CEO, your headmaster, the President of the Association etc. They have specific reasons why this event is taking place and it is your job to ascertain what they are.

In every situation you want to have a briefing session with this person either face to face or over the phone. This Briefing of course will cover your involvement in the whole event, but in this article we will just focus on the Opening.

Pro Tip –  Check out the full list of Briefing Questions on page 102 of the Expert MC Toolkit & Resource Manual .

Part One   –   Reason for the Event

Knowing “why” the event is taking place will get you firmly on the right track to writing a great opening speech!

Is it a Celebration, an Information Night, a Product Launch, Team Building or an Awards Night?

And don’t take a simple answer like “oh, we have it every year” as an answer. Drill in a little deeper. The next question will open it up a bit more.

What are they trying to Achieve?

Building on the “why” question, I usually then ask … “how do you want the audience to Think or Act after the event?” This can be immediately after or when they get back to work etc.

Are they trying to motivate the audience to do something or get them to meet lots of new people. Are they making them more confident about their jobs or are they wanting them to sign up to buy something? Are they gearing up the audience for some hard times ahead?

Theme of the Event!

Is there an actual Theme or Slogan for the Event? We have written about this before but this will give you big clues about what to say and possibly what to wear for the event.

Part 2 –   Details of the Opening Speech

Once you have some of this Big Picture stuff sorted, it’s time to get onto the nitty gritty. Now, sometimes these finer details won’t be known at the time of the briefing, but at least they have been flagged as something you need to know.

Time Available

You obviously need to have a firm idea about the length of time that you are aiming for in an Master of Ceremonies opening speech.

Pro Tip – It’s always good to try and get a longer time allocation than you need or that you will write for. This allows some immediate flex time. If the event starts a little late, and it inevitably will, those extra couple of minutes you asked for may put you back on track.

Are there any official protocols that must be included?

In some countries and with some cultural groups, a Prayer is included at the start of formal proceedings. The National Anthem might also be sung.

Here in Australia many groups have an Acknowledgement of Country at the start of the event, a short few lines recognising the Traditional Owners of the Land.

I use this term to incorporate other things that also must be mentioned in your opening. The more formal an event the more specific you will be.

VIP Guests, Dignitaries etc will probably be mentioned by name in a specific order.

Depending on the type of event, Sponsors my also get a mention here.

Once you know what your client wants or expects, you can then start crafting the opening.

House Keeping

“Housekeeping” is a widely used term that covers all the small bits and pieces of information that may also need to be conveyed to an audience.

Examples are – Where are the Toilets, what is the Wifi Code, what time does the bus leave, etc. I also include in this group – “Please turn your Phones to Silent.”

Now, depending on the type of event it is, you may not need to go through all the House Keeping in your opening speech. I prefer to do it a bit later as I find it dilutes the impact of the opening a bit. In that situation, just mention the Phones before you introduce the first speaker and come back to the Housekeeping after them.

What happens next?

As an MC you should always keep in mind what happens next. So when you are putting together your opening speech you need to be aware of what happens immediately after you finish so you can make the appropriate link. But more importantly, know the appropriate “energy levels.”

For example you might be launching into a facilitated Teambuilding or Networking session, in which case you will be building the energy and fun. Alternatively, you might be introducing someone speaking on a sombre or serious topic that needs focus and respect.

Part 3 – Putting the Opening Speech Together

Now we have the vital information – what we are trying to achieve and what must be included. It’s time for the third part of the formula, putting it all together.

A structure I have found incredibly useful is this …

Closer  /   Link …

This works just as well if you have only 3 minutes or if you have 15. Let’s look at it in more detail.

The Grabber

Getting peoples attention and interest right from the start is vital.

You need to confident and assured in your dress and demeanour and your words need to match.

It’s not a time for chit chat or repartee. Bang, get straight into it!

I’ve attended a couple of sessions with the Patricia Fripp, the British born, now American based speaker coach. (And sister of legendary guitarist Robert Fripp.)

Her advice for speakers is to start with something bold, a phrase or sentence that grabs attention and interest. I think the advice works just as well for MC’s as it does for speakers.

For several events business events I’ve started with …

“Princeton University, 1955.  Professor Albert Einstein is handing out exam papers to his final year students …”

Did that get your attention? Did you want to know what happens next? Of course you do!

That works so much better than “Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, my names Timothy Hyde and I will be your MC for the event..”

After the quick story, (that relates totally to the WHY they are having the meeting,) you can then move into the welcome and greeting.

Remember also the Voice of God introduction. This will also grab peoples attention and let them know your name! It also enables you to move into something more meaty at the start.

Pro Tip – The full “Einstein Opener” mentioned above is found on page 33 of your copy of The Expert MC Toolkit & Resource Manual .  The theme of Rapid Change, Innovation, Creative Solutions is perfect for many business type functions.)

Other great Opening Grabbers include

• “What if ………?”
• A statistic or fact.
• “Imagine that ……?”
• A bold statement.
• A Question.

Once you have got the attention of the audience,  you can do an official type welcome and include any Protocol type things you need to cover. VIP’s, Sponsors etc

You now move onto the Big Picture.

This will emphasis the Theme of the Event and Why are you all here.

This sets the context for everything to follow. You may mention a couple of highlights of the program coming up, the Who and the What.

I then like to move from Big Picture to the Personal.

So what I’m saying relates directly to each and every attendee.

Now, what is included here depends once again on what the client wants for the outcome of the event.

Are you motivating and enthusing them?

Are you planting seeds that they will get lots of information?

Do you need to reinforce the benefits of being here?

Are they here to – Network, Set Goals or Relax?

Pro Tip – Plant a seed of Co-operation!

In my Opening speech I always like to plant a seed of co-operation. This is a message that we need to work together to keep the event running on time. That running on time will enable all the Speakers to do their full presentations and if they do, YOU will gain maximum benefit from being here. You are busy people, it’s a packed agenda, we want you to gain a lot from being here and we want to finish on time etc.

I also reinforce this at certain times during the event by thanking them for their help.

Closer /  Link to next activity

Depending on what’s happening next, this is a good moment to either slip in any urgent Housekeeping or close up your opening and introduce the first activity or speaker.

I often would use an appropriate quote or a mention of the Theme again, taking it back to Big Picture.

This 3 Part Process will give you a good basis to start writing stronger Openings.

Part 1 gives you the WHY, the reason for the event and the outcomes you are aiming for.

Part 2 adds the details that must be incorporated.

Part 3 gives you a structure for the opening.

Timothy Hyde

Widely acknowledged as one of Australia's busiest & best MC's and a global authority on the MC Industry, Timothy Hyde shares his expertise and insights into this fascinating Professional Speaking niche via this site and a dynamic YouTube channel. His best selling book The ExpertMC Toolkit and Resource Manual has helped thousands of people worldwide improve their Emcee skills and in many cases, start earning a living by taking on the role.

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[2024] Samples Of Welcoming And Short Opening Remarks For A Program

Short opening remarks for a program.

If you’ve ever been to a corporate program, you know that everyone pays close attention to the welcome speech.

The opening remarks are what entice the audience to listen with interest or not want to participate at all.

Given this, short opening remarks for a program are quite significant and should be both lengthy enough to appropriately address everyone in the room and concise enough to avoid boring anyone.

Naturally, everyone looks forward to short opening remarks for a program, and the reason for this is that the opening speech for any event or function sets the tone for the entire event.

A compelling first line and introduction can quickly grab the audience’s attention. Therefore, making a good first impression is crucial to maintain their interest and excitement throughout the entire event.

If writing speeches for any program is not your cup of tea, we have prepared short opening remarks for a program in this article.

Opening Speech For An Event

Welcome speech for party, welcome speech for conference, welcome speech for virtual event, short welcome speech for new students, welcome speech for students by teacher, welcome speech for religious gathering, short welcome speech for church, opening remarks sample for different purposes.

Using short speeches is useful when the speaker wants to keep it straightforward, succinct, and impactful without detracting from the main event.

Here are some examples of short opening remarks for a program.

1. You are welcome to [program name]. We’re so happy you could be here with us today.

2. We appreciate your attendance at [program name] and wish you a good [morning/afternoon/evening].

3. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of [organization] to [program name].

4. The launch of [program name] with all of you present today excites us.

5. I’m glad you could join us for [program name]. We are eager to get started since we have a fantastic program of events planned.

6. Today, we have a great [program/event/workshop] planned for you, and we are so happy that you can join us.

7. We appreciate your attendance at [program name]. We have a jam-packed schedule of speakers and events in store for you.

8. Here you are at [program name]. We’re so happy you could join us today to take part and learn.

9. Thank you for attending [program name] this today. We are eager to share with you ideas that will transform your life.

10. I’d like to give you all a warm welcome to [program name] on behalf of [organization]. Let’s get going!

Here is an example of an opening speech for an event that you can use as a model or template if you’re unsure of what makes a opening speech.

1. Hello everyone, I hope we are all well and good. I and _ are your hosts today. We welcome you to this special event. This is this company’s anniversary and it’s a proud moment for us to host such an event at this. We hope you have an explosive time. Let’s begin!

2. Welcome to our award show. I am _. We feel honoured to kickstart our prestigious ceremony. We have a special guest who will be unveiled soon. Meanwhile, sit back and have fun.

3. I _ welcome everyone to our 11 biannual event in our department. It’s wonderful seeing how many people chose to be here. Your enthusiasm is contagious. We have a lineup of events that will surely tickle your toes. Please stay tuned as the events unfold. Enjoy!

4. Welcome! Welcome everyone to the GlamUp party. It’s such a pelasure to stand before you all. Please clap for yourselves for making it early today. We owe _ a huge thank you for supporting this cause. And thann you everyone for taking the time out for this today. We appreciate you. Do have a wonderful time.

Drafting welcome speech for party can occasionally be challenging because it can be hard to strike the right balance between being too formal and being too casual. Use any of the examples below if you’re stuck on writing one:.

1. You are welcome to [party name]. We are very happy that you could share in our celebration.

2. Thank you for attending the [name of the party], and good [morning/afternoon/evening].

3. I’d like to send a sincere greeting to everyone at [party name] on behalf of [host/hosts].

4. We’ve got a wonderful [party/celebration] planned for you today, and we can’t wait to unveil them to you.

5. We appreciate your attendance at [party name]. For you, we have a fun schedule of events and surprises planned.

6. We are so happy to have you all here for [party name] today. Let’s start the celebration now!

7. Welcome to [name of party]. We are looking forward to celebrating with you and having a terrific time.

8. Thank you for attending [party name] and good [morning/afternoon/evening]. We have a ton of entertaining events and surprises planned for you.

9. I’d like to welcome you to [party name] on behalf of [host(s)]. We can’t wait to tell you about the wonderful schedule of events, games, and activities we have in store for you.

10. Welcome to [party name] and good morning. We’re so happy you could join us in our celebration. Let’s make this a celebration to remember!

If you’re hosting a conference, wow your attendees with these welcome speech for conference ideas:

1. Welcome to the conference this year, everyone. It is a pleasure to be with you all today, and we are incredibly appreciative of the chance to gather together and share knowledge. We’re all gathered here with the same goal in mind: to impart our expertise, experiences, and enthusiasm about [the conference topic]. So let’s seize this chance and make the most of every second. I appreciate your presence and wish you a nice and fruitful experience.

2. Welcome to the conference this year! We join together to exchange ideas, insights, and experiences with tremendous excitement and enthusiasm. We’re all here because [conference topic] is something we’re passionate about, and I do not doubt that the coming days will be full of insightful conversations, new connections, and lots of motivation. I appreciate your presence and wish you a wonderful time.

3. Everyone is welcome to our annual conference. We are incredibly appreciative of the chance to get together and share knowledge. This is a unique opportunity to share our knowledge, our skills, and our enthusiasm for [the conference theme]. Let’s take advantage of this chance and leave this conference feeling motivated, inspired, and prepared to face the difficulties that lie ahead. I appreciate you coming, and I wish you a great time.

4. Welcome to the conference this year! We are honored to have you all here with us, and we can’t wait to exchange ideas and experiences, as well as to learn from one another. We’re all here because [conference topic] is something we’re all enthusiastic about, and I do not doubt that the coming days will be full of insightful conversations and fresh connections. I appreciate your coming, and I hope you have a great time.

5. Welcome to the conference this year! We are incredibly appreciative of those who put this program together. Thank you for making time for this. Have a blast!

Make an awesome welcome speech for virtual event with the following ideas:

1. Welcome to the online event for this year, everyone! We get together with a lot of energy and enthusiasm to share our thoughts, views, and experiences. We’re all here because [event topic] is something we’re passionate about, and I know the next few hours will be full of fascinating conversations, new connections, and tons of inspiration. So let’s make the most of this chance and leave this event with the attitude that we can take on the world! I appreciate you coming, and I hope you have a memorable time.

2. Welcome everyone! We are really happy to have the chance to collaborate online and share knowledge. Feel free to ask questions, share ideas and more importantly, network.

3. Welcome to the online event for this year, everyone! We appreciate having you all here with us (virtually, of course), and we can’t wait to share our knowledge and experiences with you all. We’re all here because [event topic] is close to our hearts, and I do not doubt that the coming hours will be full of fascinating conversations and new connections. So let’s make sure to leave this gathering with a sense of empowerment! Thank you again for coming.

4. Welcome viewers! Thank you for joining us as we gain knowledge from one another. This is a unique opportunity to impart our knowledge, our expertise, and our enthusiasm regarding [the event topic]. Have a swell time.

Make every new students feel at home in your school with these short welcome speech for new students:

1. Welcome! We are thrilled to have you here with us and are eager to get to know everyone. We want you to enjoy yourself and get the most out of your stay here at [school/university]. Ask if you need anything or if you have any questions. We’re here to encourage you and support your success. Welcome to the community of [school/university]!

2. Hello there, freshmen! I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to everyone at [school/university]. We are thrilled to have you here with us and sincerely hope you enjoy your stay. Never hesitate to ask for assistance or questions if you need them. We want you to succeed. The [school/university] family is happy to have you!

3. Welcome! We are overjoyed to have you here with us and are eager to get to know you all. We wish you the best of luck and hope you study and develop as much as you can while you are at [school/university]. Please inquire if you need assistance and ask plenty of questions. We’re here to encourage yo your success. Welcome again to school/university!

4. Hello there, freshmen! I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to everyone at [school/university]. We are thrilled to have you here with us and sincerely hope you enjoy your stay.

5. Welcome! We are thrilled to have you here with us and are eager to get to know everyone. We wish you the best of luck and hope you study and develop as much as you can while you are at [school/university]. We are all a part of the same community, whether you are a transfer student or a first-year student. There are many ways to become involved and make the most of your time here, so don’t be hesitant to reach out and do so.

As a teacher, it makes a big difference when your students warm up to you. It makes learning a breeze for both of you. Get started with one welcome speech for students by teacher from this list.

1. Greetings, students! I’m most privileged to be your teacher this year and am eager to get to know everyone. I hope you are as eager to begin this new academic year as I am. We will put in a lot of effort together, learn a lot, and have a blast. Ask if you need anything or if you have any questions. I’m here for you. Greetings from my class!

2. Hello, pupils! I’m glad to have you all in my class today. This year, I’m thrilled to be your teacher, and I’m also eager to learn from you. We’ll be working twice as hard. No room for laziness. Ask if you need anything or if you have any questions. I promise to be your biggest support.

3. Greetings, students! I feel privileged to be your teacher this year. Tell me your name and what you do in the comments. We have a lot to learn and do together, and I am sure we can accomplish a lot. If you have questions or reservations, feel free to spill. Have a nice day.

4. Hello, pupils! I’m pleased to see a lot of new faces. I hope your holiday went well. My name is _ and I’m about to become your favorite teacher. Don’t be afraid. This year promises to be fun. I hope we get to know each other better with time. Send me your questions.

5. Hi students and welcome to another session ! I feel pleased looking at your warm faces. I hope we get to learn, relearn and unlearn. I’ll be your teacher as you will teach me too. Let the introduction begin.

If you feel overwhelmed writing a welcome speech for religious gathering, check the following for ideas:

1. Good morning everyone. Welcome to _. We feel blessed to have you hear today. Thank you for choosing to honor God. If you’re worshiping with us for the first time, you’re welcome to this big family. Enjoy the service.

2. A big welcome to service today . To our first-timers, thank you for making a wise decision. You’re our new brothers and sisters. Have fun to the glory of God.

3. It’s a wonderful thing to be alive, and it’s more wonderful to behold your lovely faces. If you’re just joining us, welcome to this part of the Kingdom. You are loved.

4. We thank God for bringing us today. We’re overjoyed to celebrate with the brethren. To every newcomer here, we say our biggest welcome to the family of love. Let’s worship God today with our whole hearts.

5. Good afternoon everybody. It’s great to behold you all again. I see some new faces in the crowd. Thank you for joining us. We have some special gifts for you. See the ushers after service. Now, let’s rise to the reading of the Word.

6. Hello and welcome again to God’s house. As we’ve gathered, let God’s spirit dwell within us. Allow yourself to enjoy God. If there’s a new person beside you, tell them welcome to church.

7. It’s a thing of joy to be present before the Lord. There couldn’t be a better time than now. Thank you for attending this mass. May your labor of love be rewarded.

8. You’re welcome to our second home on Earth. I thank God for bringing us together today. I lift thanks to all our consistent church comers and guests. I pray Christ touches you all.

9. It makes my heart glad that you’re all here. To the newbies, you have a special place in our hearts. I pray that God’s love overwhelms you in worship today.

10. Welcome everyone as we glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I am pleased to welcome every brethren new and old to church. I hope you came prepared. The Lord is about to make mighty moves. Be blessed.

A short welcome speech for church can be a great way to make your church me

1. A big welcome to church. Thank you for choosing to worship God in this place. We hope you have a great time here.

2. Happy Sunday everyone! Thank you for respecting the Sabbath day. I’m glad to see a repeat of those who attended the last time, and I’m happier to see new faces. May this be the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Christ.

3. As we have gathered to honor God, may you all be honored as well. Thank you for worshiping with us today.

At times, there will be need to make opening remarks sample for different purposes. You don’t want to be stuck when those periods come.

Prepare ahead with these samples below:

1. Everyone is invited to the conference this year. We are grateful for the chance to get together and share knowledge. We’re all here because [conference topic] is something we’re passionate about, and I do not doubt that the coming days will be full of stimulating conversations, new connections, and lots of learning. I appreciate your presence and wish you a nice and fruitful experience.

2. Good morning to all. I’m glad to have you all here for this significant business gathering. We have a lot to talk about today, but I am optimistic that we can move forward and accomplish our objectives. Let’s collaborate and take advantage of this chance. We appreciate you being here, so let’s get going.

3. Welcome to this year’s charity event, everyone! We are incredibly appreciative of the chance to band together and help [cause/charity]. We are all present because we value the value of giving back and the strength of the community. We appreciate your presence; let’s work together to change the world.

4. Good evening to all. Being joined by you all on this important day—our wedding—means the world to us. We are incredibly appreciative of the chance to celebrate with you and wish you all the best. Let’s celebrate love, joy, and happiness together. Thank you for coming.

5. Welcome to this year’s graduation ceremony, graduates, family members, and friends! We are thrilled to have the chance to recognize the accomplishments of our graduates. This is a unique event, one on which we should reflect on all that we have accomplished and look ahead to all that we will accomplish in the future. Thank you for coming, and on this historic occasion, congrats to our graduates!

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• Welcome Speech For a Birthday Party

Birthday Party Welcome Speech

Birthday parties are truly special for the person whose birthday is being celebrated. Organizing birthday parties is a popular activity nowadays, but these days, even welcome talks are arranged by the individual or by someone close to him or her, such as the individual's parents, brother, sister, or close friends. We have provided a few lines on birthday party speeches for students of Classes 1 to 12. Students can refer to the below-given speeches to get an idea of how to write a birthday speech for their friends, family, or school essay.

You don’t have to stick to the exact format. If you want to improvise, then go ahead! In case you are a beginner and need some assistance with introductions, then read through the whole article as we have presented various options for you to pick from. Either way, this article can help build your structure for a killer intro!

Long Welcome Speech for Birthday Party

First example.

So, at long last, it's my birthday, the day I've been looking forward to for so long. I couldn't be happier today because everyone is here, from my family to my friends, to fill my heart with joy and to bless me. The best part is that no one is missing, and everyone has shown up today. Thank you all so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to help me and make this celebration more graceful. Indeed, this goes above and beyond what I could have asked for.  

On my eighteenth birthday, I'd like to say a few words before we begin the cake cutting ceremony, especially for my parents. Mom and Dad, I barely have the words to express my love for you.

I've been sent to the best school for my education, and by God's grace, I've made such great friends who are truly like a second family to me. I pray to God for my parents' health and happiness. May they smile for the rest of their lives! Last but not least, I want to express my gratitude to my friends, who have been of tremendous assistance to me and have stood by me through difficult times.

My confidence had dropped to an all-time low, and I wasn't doing well in school; at that point, my friends yanked me out of that slump and forced me to recognize my efficiency levels. That is the value of friends. They're the ones who take the fun out of your life and turn you into a horde of drama queens. They keep you going.

So thank you all for being a part of my life, and thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful family and friends. 

Honestly, I think words are not enough to express how grateful I am to be a part of your life. Lastly, I would like to thank my sister for supporting me, always. You are a remarkable 16-year-old young lady. You have a great sense of self-sufficiency that I admire and respect. Whether you're spending hours at the "Math Club" or obsessing over every detail of any school project, you have the power to thrive. You inspire me to be the best version of myself.

Now, without further ado, I'd like to conclude my remarks and politely request that everyone proceed to the main corridor for the cake cutting ceremony. Dinner will be served after that, and there will also be a dance party for all of my friends who want to shake their legs.

I am confident that you will all appreciate our efforts and assist me in making my birthday even more memorable. 

Thank you for joining us today! Your presence means the world to me.

Second Example

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for coming! I couldn’t think of anyone better to celebrate my birthday with other than you all. This year has been quite eventful and it was not easy for me. I am so thankful to my parents for helping me and being there by my side throughout this journey. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for them.

I am so proud of my friend's circle because I know I found something genuine and this is the group that I want to stick with through life. These guys have been there with me through my highs and lows and they are the funniest bunch of people I have ever known in my life. They can make fun of the most boring thing and I have the best entertainment that I could have ever asked for.

To everyone else that is present here, I am grateful to have you in my life and I hope we all can have a great time today and make millions of memories. We are just getting started and please make sure that you eat and go as we have some exciting snacks and dishes cooked up for you! Thank you.

Short Birthday Speech in English

Good Evening! 

As we gather to celebrate my daughter's 15th birthday, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to everyone. So, my little girl has turned fifteen, and it's weird because I can't believe how quickly she's grown up. It seems like it was only yesterday that she used to walk with us holding our hands. 

As guardians, we think it's amazing. I will try my best not to stress her out but I won't go all soft on her, and we'll just talk about her mischief today. Try not to be surprised; I assure you that you will not be humiliated.

We've watched you grow up, taking those first steps, bumbling, stumbling, and getting back up again. Furthermore, I would now consider you to be a confident young woman full of hopes and aspirations, ready to take on the world. It fills me with joy to see our wonderful little girl blossom and experience childhood right before our eyes.

Honey, every time you do the right thing for us with your honorable discussions and attempts, you surprise us and we thank God for blessing us with you. It's safe to say that today is one of the most significant days of our lives.

I know without a doubt that one glorious day, a long time from now, you will reflect on this wonderful day, and a big grin will appear on your face. As a result, we can make the most of it and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Last but not least, I'd like to express my gratitude to each one of our guests for attending our daughter's birthday celebration. The celebration would not have been as energizing if you hadn't all been near. You've all multiplied the fervor’s remainder, so the celebrations can begin right away.

I owe you a significant debt of gratitude for being such a patient audience.

Wishing you good health and a lot of love!

Good evening people!

What a day! I still remember crying my eyes out seeing my little boy struggling to open his eyes as the light was too strong for him to bear. Somehow this is the day every mother dreads and loves because her little baby is all grown up now. I am so grateful to be your mother and today I hope you will know how loved and appreciated you are by every single person here. Well, not just today but every day, however since today is your birthday, you can get all the special treatment and extra love.

I hope you grow up to be a man of honor, integrity and discipline. May you respect everyone despite their opinions, gender, values and belief system. You always stood your ground for what you believed in and I love that about you. Don’t let anyone change that. May you be humble enough to accept growth and change in life but also confident and bold enough to not let people walk all over you or be naïve.

Your heart to help people regardless of what they’ve done inspires me. Don’t let the darkness of this world ever step onto your light. Don’t let your goodness be based on people’s actions towards you. I am so proud of you and I hope you will find everything that you are looking for!

Enough life lessons for today, now let's show this boy what real fun looks like in life!

10 Lines on Welcome to Birthday Party Speech

Here, we have curated a few lines on birthday party speeches for students of Classes 1 to 3.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to my son's 18th birthday party. 

We'd like to thank everyone for being a part of this beautiful occasion because, as they say, you only turn 18 once.

Tonight is the night for a big bash. Our lovely debutant has matured into a gentleman.

This is a significant occasion in his life, and he is grateful for your presence.

No more fairy tales every night, like Wendy in Peter Pan. He is now an adult, having ascended to a much higher level of what we refer to as LIFE.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you, for the first time, the reason we are all gathered here tonight, as he makes his debut into adult society.

Some of us have had the privilege of witnessing his development into a fine gentleman, but for those who haven't, here's a look back at his 18 years in one brief video.

I also have to thank a very special person, my wife, for her love and support, as well as for giving me two of the best presents any man could ask for, my children.

So, let's go ahead and capture some magical moments. As we celebrate this special occasion, let us make happy memories and surround ourselves with laughter and friendship. 

Have a good time, and thank you for joining us.

  Let’s make this the most memorable 18 th birthday ever celebrated!

If there is ever going to be the coolest 18 year old in the world, it is our “name of the birthday boy/girl“!

 The world is not ready for the adult version of “name of the birthday boy/girl”

Let's help him enjoy his birthday before life hits him like a hurricane!

 We all need to show our support and love to him as he has no idea what’s about to him.

Birthday parties provide an opportunity for children to socialize outside of the classroom. They are not required to sit quietly at their desks, nor are they involved in academic activities. Instead, they're having fun and participating in activities that everyone enjoys. The welcome speech for the Birthday party is a way to show your gratitude towards all the guests and share your thoughts on the occasion.

It also helps set the tone for the party. It is very important to make sure that the introduction is lively and fun as it will create a sense of anticipation and excitement among the audience. All the elements of the party shouldn’t be given away at once as there won’t be any sense of mystery. Instead, the MC (Mic Controller) should make the guests aware of the fact that there might be some fun activities or surprises like a treasure hunt or a scavenger hunt but he should make sure to hold on to the fun details of it!

Welcome speeches can be personal as well as informal as this will create more connection between the guest and audience. Humor is a vital part of any speech, party, event etc. Nobody likes a monotonous speech, especially children. The MC should captivate everyone with quirky remarks or silly jokes as this will help keep them engaged. It's all about making the party fun and memorable for the birthday boy/girl as well as the guests.

Being an MC and speaking well is not as complicated as it seems to be. Just follow the phrases and tips given and create a structure for yourself. Let the rest just follow as you go forward with the program.

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Best Sample Welcome Speech for Corporate Event

The welcome speech is the spine of any corporate event. It pulls or repels the audience to tune in or run away before any special events start. These opening remarks are what sets the tone for your special guests.

Here, learn the best practices to make your welcome speech, or future welcome speeches, for any corporate event successful. This guide will also work if you’re a special guest somewhere for a special occasion. 

Below, you will see a sample speech written under headers. Those headers serve as a guide on the order of what to say and when to say it. I did all the hard work for you so you can use this as a template.

Then, I’ll share even more beyond the best welcome speeches and get into becoming a better public speaker and what it can do for you, your brand, and your business.

But first, here is a link to one of my most talked-about speeches titled Fake News: It’s Your Fault .

Sample Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event

Don’t know where to start on a welcome speech that impresses your listeners? Use the welcome speech guide below and tweak it to make it your own to ensure you start off on the right foot and with the right tone.

This is written in a more formal language that I use personally, but feel free to take it and turn it into its own. For the sake of making the main points in a short speech, I threw in a variety of examples. So, if you’re speaking to church members, your best students, or at an annual group meeting, keep that in mind as you read.

Start with a Salutation

A very pleasant good morning friends, good afternoon gentlemen, or good evening ladies to one and all,

Welcome Speech Introduction

Thank you for being with us today. From our oldest members who’ve been diligently supporting us since the beginning as well as every new face to our 7 th annual get-together, we extend a very warm welcome.

Show Appreciation

On behalf of my staff members, I sincerely thank and acknowledge every one of you who extended help to us for making this event a grand success.

(Include names of who want to thank.)

Trust us, all of this would’ve been just a dream if not for your hard work and immense support.

The Theme of the Event

Today, I would like to point your attention to our fresh faces in the volunteer category who are part of our Sunday service (include a date).

You are here today because we share a mutual passion. We are asking for your support and contributions to our organization to realize (specify the vision/mission of the company/association/firm).

We grow and scale successfully only with your dedication toward individual and group goals. You are an integral part of our success story and we need you as much as you need us.

In the coming months, you will learn and practice initiative programs via seminars and exclusive events designed to enhance your hands-on experience and professional skills.

The Conclusion

Lastly, without taking too much more of your time and without further ado, I call (insert the name of the first speaker) to introduce himself/herself to you as well as elaborate on the core details of ongoing and upcoming projects and contracts.

If you’re on the veranda, don’t hesitate to hit me up with a ‘Hi’ if you have any doubts. You’re all most welcome here (insert company name or a church name, for example).

Speaking on the main stage with Pat Flynn at Podcast Movement, 2019

5 Speech Writing and Giving Tips

This short welcome speech sample will help you create your own great welcome speech for the start of any special event.

What you just read is suited for formal events. When planning, it’s a good idea to have an overview of the event to determine if it’s a very formal event or if it’s laid back with more familiar faces.

You also need to know who will be there – new volunteers, new members, a chief guest, government officials, young children, etc. This way, you will keep in mind the different initiatives.

1. Outline the structure.

Obviously, this post is helpful in creating a structure, but I invite you to use what’s written above as an outline. Think of it as a helpful way to show what order to put things in. Then you can fill in the details, like a speech template for a welcome message or warm greeting.

When you’re doing this, remember the purpose of your speech as well as the tone of the event.

2. Flesh out the main ideas in your outline.

The main body of your speech is going to be different for every event and audience. Again, the example above is very formal.

Feel free to crack a joke or tell a story. (Jokes aren’t just for informal events!) Storytelling is what keeps people interested and it’s what they remember most in a speech. So, while you’re brainstorming, think of story examples for three to five points that can be made in your speech.

When you flesh out the main ideas, you get away from listeners thinking that the speech takes a long time because they’re enjoying the ride. Because storytelling is so important in having huge success as a speaker, I am including more strategies on how to incorporate this in your next talk after this section.

If you are allowed cue cards on the day of the event, this is where those new ideas would go. When I did my TEDx talk mentioned above, I wasn’t allowed cue cards but I used my slides as a reminder of what to say next and keep me on track.

You could do the same for things like remembering the names of individuals, ensuring you say the right words, calling out the name of the guest speaker, and other important information.

3. Edit and polish what you’ve written until you have a cohesive first draft of your speech.

A good welcome speech draft should live in your head. Don’t think of editing and polishing as something on paper. The last thing you want to see is a speaker reading from a piece of paper. The best way is to edit and polish in your mind so it becomes so familiar to you that you can speak off the cuff.

For my TEDx Talk shared above, I used an outline for the points I wanted to make in my talk. Then, I filled in the details with stories and added images to make it a bit more entertaining.

I never wrote what I was going to say word for word. When you do that and try to memorize it, you will end up either sounding like a robot (not conversational at all) or you’ll get lost after tripping up one word.

Remember, be conversational. It’s the best way to keep the audience’s attention.

Welcoming the audience at Together with the Royal, 2018

4. Practice.

While this can get repetitive, it’s so important to practice with notes to start, then without notes. For TEDx, my practice was to accomplish two things:

• Stay within the 7-8 minute set time limit
• Memorize the order of the points I wanted to make. As mentioned above, to make this easier, I used slides to remind me what point to make next. I also shared a few numbered points, like first, second, third, etc.

I would run through my talk a few times. Then the next day, I’d do it again. Wash, rinse, and repeat was my method for weeks.

5. Ask for Feedback.

If you want to give another effective welcome speech, it’s important to know what people did and did not like about the one you just presented.

Now, I’m one who does NOT like taking advice from the cheap seats. With that said, I’m not telling you to get professional speaking advice from someone who is not a professional speaker.

Instead, learn what people liked best, what was most exciting, where you lost them because things got boring, how they left feeling, etc.

Hosting The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV

How to Incorporate Storytelling in a Speech

While this post is about the best opening speech samples, it doubles as advice on becoming a great public speaker in general.

Public speaking is an art that requires skill, confidence, and the ability to captivate an audience. As mentioned above, one of the most powerful tools at a speaker’s disposal is storytelling. Stories have the unique ability to engage emotions, connect with people on a personal level, and leave a lasting impact.

Whether you’re trying to make a good first impression, giving a business presentation, a TED talk as I did, or a motivational speech, incorporating storytelling can elevate your speech to a whole new level.

Below are seven ways to effectively incorporate storytelling in a speech and unleash the power of narrative to engage and inspire your audience.

1. Start with a compelling opening.

To grab your audience’s attention from the beginning, begin your speech with a captivating story. This could be a personal anecdote, an intriguing historical event, or a relatable fictional tale.

The key is to choose a story that sets the tone for your speech and establishes a connection with your listeners. A strong opening story will pique curiosity and create anticipation for what’s to come.

2. Use stories to illustrate key points.

Instead of relying solely on facts and data, use stories to illustrate your main points. Stories provide context, add depth to your message, and make your ideas more memorable.

Consider using real-life examples, case studies, or even fictional narratives that convey the essence of your topic. By painting a vivid picture through storytelling, you enable your audience to visualize and internalize your message.

3. Make it personal.

Sharing personal stories can be incredibly powerful in building rapport with your audience. When appropriate, open up about your own experiences, challenges, and triumphs.

Personal stories create a sense of authenticity and vulnerability, allowing your listeners to connect with you on a deeper level. It helps build trust and credibility, making your speech more relatable and impactful.

Acting as a spokesperson for a national commercial

4. Create emotional resonance.

Emotions are a fundamental aspect of storytelling. To make your speech memorable, aim to evoke emotions in your audience. Craft your stories in a way that elicits empathy, humor, or inspiration.

By tapping into the emotional landscape of your listeners, you forge a stronger bond and ensure that your message lingers in their minds long after the speech is over.

5. Maintain a narrative structure.

A well-structured narrative keeps your audience engaged and makes your speech flow smoothly. Begin by setting the stage, introducing the characters or situation, building up the tension, and concluding with a resolution or a call to action.

This storytelling framework helps maintain the audience’s interest throughout your speech and ensures a satisfying and impactful conclusion.

6. Use sensory details.

Incorporate sensory details to make your stories more vivid and engaging. Describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to transport your audience into the world of your narrative.

Engaging multiple senses helps create a richer and more immersive experience, making your speech more memorable and captivating.

7. Practice and refine.

Storytelling in a speech requires practice and refinement. I’ve already mentioned this in this post, but let me get more specific about what you need to pay attention to.

Pay attention to the pacing, timing, and delivery of your stories. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or seek feedback from trusted individuals. Refine your stories, eliminate unnecessary details, and ensure that each one contributes to your overall message.

With practice, your storytelling skills will improve, and you’ll become a more confident and effective speaker.

TEDx in Boca Raton, 2018

If you want to learn more about giving great speeches and speaking in public, check out this blog post about Toastmasters . It’s a great way to network and become a seasoned public speaker.

Have you heard a persuasive speech that gave you a moment of great pleasure? Is there a keynote speech that stands out to you?

Maybe it’s a specific speaker or a successful welcome speech you saw trending on TikTok. Find me on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay and let me know.

That’s really helpful guide. Appreciated yours!

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Welcome Speech for Corporate Event in English in simple and easy words

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Corporate events are organized in the companies and MNCs for which welcome speeches are delivered. This is an occasion where the host has to address everyone and felicitate the guests. The speeches should be well written which address the occasion well while at the same time elucidating on the important events and its highlights. Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event, therefore, has been written in order to help you write one.

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Also Read: Welcome Speech for an Event

Long and Short Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event in English

There are both short opening welcome speech for events. Speeches for corporate event and long welcome speeches for corporate event, written in a comprehensive manner and easy to understand language. So if you are also struggling to write one; browse through our website and read on your own.

Welcome Speech for Corporate Event – Sample 1

I’m thrilled to see each and every one of you here today. I deeply appreciate your help in making this event possible. We’ve put this together to show our gratitude to our loyal, long-serving employees and to extend a warm welcome to our new team members. Our company fully comprehends your requirements and is committed to looking after your health and happiness.

I, Shashank Gupta, on behalf of my entire team want to sincerely acknowledge the efforts of those who came forward and contributed towards the success of this event and making it this grand. Trust me; all this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of you guys.

We grow and prosper because of your dedication and hard work put in towards your individual as well as group goals. You are a vital part of our success story and the company needs you as much as you need it. Both are mutually depended, isn’t it?

In the months to come, you will get to learn, practice and initiate programs through seminars and especially designed programs to improve upon your hands-on experience, including your professional skills-set. Today’s event is organized for all our new joiners and to help them get along well with others so that a good working environment can be built for them. I understand that some are experienced whereas for some it’s going to be their first experience of working in a company. It therefore becomes imperative on the part of those working already to help them feel comfortable with the environment as well as with their work.

I hope this event will help you let go off your inhibitions and create solidarity amongst your group. This event is all about giving a brief introduction about yourself, freely interacting with your colleagues and understanding the work culture. If you understand your team and the work culture, then trust me friends, the mission will be accomplished.

So today’s event will kick start with a brief speech to be addressed by our respected senior manager, followed by a brief introduction of all our freshers combined with a few, interesting games and then finally dinner. I can see a big smile on everyone’s face. So let’s cheer up the mood of everyone and call on stage our very special senior manager, Mr. ……….. , who is famous for his great sense of humor and witty talks.

Please everyone put your hands together for him. (……………And he delivers the speech).

I hope you all enjoyed his speech as much as I did. Now may I please call on stage all the new joiners and call their names one by one for a brief introduction. (……And it continues)

With this, I would like to rest my speech too and kick start this small session of games which I hope will lift up everyone’s spirits.

Thank you everyone for being a patient audience. It’s such a delight to be standing here and addressing you all. In some time, dinner will be served and you may help yourself with that.

Welcome Speech for Corporate Event – Sample 2

I’m thrilled to see each and every one of you here. Good morning, and a heartfelt welcome to all of you, including our valued teachers, parents, and students. I’d like to extend a special thanks to our esteemed Chief Guest , [mention their name], for joining us today. We are truly honored to have such a successful writer and businessperson with us

I am glad that the company has taken this initiative of organizing annual events in the company particularly with a view to give its employees a platform where they can share their ideas, discuss their concerns openly and effectively contribute in the growth of the company.

Since its inception, the founding members have been of the view to give its employees a free hand to decide what’s best for their work and the company as a whole. However, small group meetings were initiated in the beginning which didn’t prove to be much fruitful as many ideas used to get lost or brushed under the carpet. After constant evaluation, the management came to this decision of organizing such corporate events where in a light, easy going environment the ideas can get spread and everyone can bond over with each other well.

So today here we stand in our yet another corporate event and all ready to do a brainstorm session. The reason why it is called as event is because it is not just about the exchange of ideas and sharing of concerns, but it also gives a reason to invite other companies and prominent faces in our industry where they can also come and we can create a good network. So far so good as four such events have been organized and all went really well, the outcome was favorable.

The credit for organizing these events goes to our creative team which has been doing this job unfailingly. Trust me friends, it is quite time absorbing and we cannot make it happen until and unless we have a support of our creative team. The theme of today’s event and the banners, the decoration that you are seeing around you – all has been done by our creative team. So please put a huge round of applause for them and let me call the entire team on stage and felicitate them with a small bouquet and a memento.

Friends, in some time our guests will be here till then I would request if anyone is willing to come on stage and share anything worthwhile with us pertaining to the work culture, their job responsibilities, etc. Following which there will be game session for reviving our spirits followed by a music performance by a band called ……..

I can see surprised faces; please don’t be surprised as this is a small gift from the management’s side. I hope you enjoy the performance by this band.

With this, I would like to rest my speech and call over our respected senior manager to address everyone as well as our new joinee, who I think are feeling slightly awkward. Please everyone put your hands together for Mr……., the senior manager of the SSB Group from past 6 years. I hope through his speech, you can gauge his intellect as well as great fervor.

Welcome Speech for Corporate Event – Sample 3

Hon’ble Board of Directors, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Senior Managers, Managers and My Dear Colleagues – A warm welcome to all of you to our company’s yet another 21 st corporate event!

I – Rahul Khanna – feel a sense of great joy in welcoming you all and hosting this big event. Trust me friends, planning these events has not been easy as it all starts from the random brainstorming sessions at the coffee houses to the official meetings in the meeting hall – but every minute of it has been really worth it!

When it initially came across my mind to make this event somewhat extra special by honoring the efforts of the deserving women from each of the processes, who have been consistent in their performances and really performed well in their respective areas of work, I knew I had to seek the approval of Mrs. Sheila Dwivedi – the President of the Company and also the jury member of the event committee. I vividly remember her reaction on this idea: she was startled, but later on smiled and asked me if I am sure of this and if it’ll work in our favor?

I was so sure of this! Initially I had no idea whatsoever as to how this plan would be executed, but later on ample ideas came to my mind. They began coming to my mind immediately and I started considering which one to pick for which event. Finally, for this event this idea struck me and decided to take the committee members approval on this. I am sure this feeling is mutual as you all must be feeling good about this idea. After all, we have many female employees working for our company and equally contributing towards the growth of the company with respect to their male counterparts. Rather they even work harder and with a lot of dedication.

So let’s take time out and thank these women who handle their work so diligently and manage both their personal as well as professional lives. Our committee has shortlisted the names of 10 women who have performed exceptionally well and surpassed their team members. Let me call out their names………………………….. (Names being announced). And now may I please invite all of them on stage and request them to tell something about them and also inspire others.

I know the journey has not been an easy one, but still you all managed to harbor good results. There have been some challenging projects, but you nailed it everywhere. You have personally inspired me and taught me to do well, come what may and achieve your goals. I hope one day my name be also announced like this and I also get acknowledged for my good work and perseverance.

This is all from my side, now I would request you all to step forward one by one and say a few words in this regard.

Thank you for being such a lovely audience, cheers!

Welcome Speech for Corporate Event – Sample 4

Hon’ble Committee Members, Senior Managers, Managers and My Dear Friends – I welcome you all to the 21 st Corporate Event of our company!

It feels extremely glad seeing everyone under one roof and coming together for the success of our company. This event is a little more special as most of the processes of our company have completed their set targets and to our surprise have even exceeded them considerably. Therefore, this definitely calls for a huge party and what special occasion than the completion of 21 years of our company. So celebration is in the air and let us makes the most of it. And what better way of celebration than honoring the achievements of our employees who have dedicatedly worked in order to realize their goals and make this event a memorable one!

So without any further ado, let’s call our senior manager on stage in order to felicitate our achievers. But before we do so, I would request him to say a few words in this regard. (And he delivers the speech….)

Now may I please call out the names of those receiving the awards today and their names are …………………………….. Please put your hands together for these people.

Thank you guys for doing such commendable work and becoming an inspiration for us! You have really set the higher standards for all of us. You may please take your seats now.

Now it’s the discussion time, so I will request our panelists to come on stage and initiate the discussion. Those interested may please join the stage and feel free to share their ideas and concerns. Every idea will be respected, so please feel free to give vent to your creativity and out of the box thoughts. We have gathered here with a purpose, that is how to make the best use of our company’s resources and the optimum utilization of our office time.

(And the discussion continues……)

Now with the end of this discussion, I would like to request everyone to join the party in the basement where you may help yourself with both the dinner and drinks. Please feel free to come to us in case of any inconvenience. I can see a few new faces as well, so it becomes our responsibility to make you feel comfortable. In case any discomfort is caused, we are here to help you. This event is not only for a formal meet, but also an opportunity to gel with each other well and understand each other’s thought process so that while working together a sound level of compatibility can be expected and met.

Let us move towards the basement. With this, I rest my speech and also request everyone to not over indulge in the bar section and maintain the decorum of the office.

Thank you for showing your kind patience, cheers!

FAQs Welcome Speech for Corporate Event

How do you start an event welcome speech.

To start an event welcome speech, begin with a warm greeting to the audience and introduce the purpose of the event.

How do you welcome a corporate event?

To welcome a corporate event, express appreciation for attendees and briefly outline the schedule or agenda.

What are some lines for welcome speech?

Some lines for a welcome speech include, Ladies and gentlemen, we're delighted to have you here today, or A warm welcome to all our guests.

What is a short example of opening remarks?

A short example of opening remarks could be, Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us for this special occasion.

What is the anchoring script for welcoming guest?

An anchoring script for welcoming guests should introduce the event, acknowledge dignitaries, and convey excitement about their presence.

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How to Write an Engagement Party Speech That's *Chef's Kiss*

• Lauren is a contributor for The Knot covering topics such as music, cakes, venues and speeches.
• She has been published in a wide array of lifetsyle-oriented publications including SELF and Allure.
• Lauren is a proud graduate of Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School of Public Communication.

Many couples opt to celebrate their engagement with an engagement party , and for good reason. These fun-filled bashes are the first of many special events leading up to the wedding day, which means they set the tone for all the fun that awaits. And, while the soiree is sure to be a good time, you won't want to forget about all the logistics leading up to it, including the often-dreaded engagement party speech. However, when it comes to crafting the perfect toast, look no further: Below, we're breaking down everything you need to know about the engagement party speech, including etiquette , how long it should be, writing tips and, last but not least, pre-written examples to make things all the more stress-free.

In this article:

Who Gives an Engagement Party Speech?

Engagement party speech order, when to give engagement party speeches, how long should an engagement party speech be, how to write an engagement party speech, engagement party speech examples.

The engagement party is a chance for friends and family to come together to celebrate the soon-to-be-married couple, so it makes sense why some folks may want to give a speech. "At a minimum," says Brian Franklin, the cofounder of Los Angeles, California-based company Vows & Speeches , which creates custom vows, wedding speeches and ceremony scripts, "the couple should give a short speech thanking their guests for celebrating the engagement and speak to the excitement of the wedding." He also notes that, " If the party is being hosted by a friend or family member, they might also speak to how they view the couple." This can include the mother of the bride , the mother of the groom , the father of the groom , the father of the bride , the maid of honor or best man and, of course, siblings.

According to wedding planner Christina Lovelace, the owner of Lovelace Design in Massachusetts, the order of engagement party speeches will vary depending on who is hosting the party. However, she explains that, "in general, you will see the host speak first to welcome everyone and to cheer the couple." Next up would be anyone in the immediate family who has prepared a speech, followed by the best man and/or maid of honor. Last but not least, the floor finally opens up to friends or extended family members who wish to speak.

Put simply, there are no hard-and-fast rules on when to give an engagement party speech. Per Lovelace, "engagement party speeches should run with the flow of the evening." However, "relatively speaking, speeches should be done right before dinner or at the beginning of your gathering before true partying has started," Lovelace says. Franklin shares similar sentiments, telling us that presenting your engagement party speech during a meal "can make it hard for people to hear or concentrate." What's more, he says, "By doing the speeches before or after dinner, you'll have people's complete concentration."

Short and sweet is the name of the game here: Both Lovelace and Franklin agree that an engagement party speech should be no longer than two minutes. Plus, says Franklin, "It also allows the speakers to keep some material in reserve for the big day !" (Sidebar: It's never too early to start brainstorming wedding speech ideas !)

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Writing an engagement party speech can be daunting, especially if you struggle with ideation and/or public speaking (trust us when we say you're not alone!). Ultimately—and as cheesy as it may sound—the key is to speak from the heart: After all, it's always the thought that counts. That said, in case you're still feeling anxious, we've rounded up some expert insight to help make writing your engagement party speech a little less stressful.

According to Lovelace, it is important to do the following when writing your speech.

• Introduce yourself: Unless you are the couple who is soon to be married, it's possible that not all guests in attendance will know who you are. That's why Lovelace recommends starting your speech with an introduction and sharing how you know the couple.
• Share your thoughts: "Following your introduction, you should share your feelings on the engagement and what it means to you," says Lovelace. That said, don't be afraid to get real and raw with the audience—it's totally OK if you shed a happy tear or two (and, chances are, so will everyone else!)
• Wrap it up: " Once you have shared your feelings on the couple's engagement, follow with a call to action," explains Lovelace. This is also a great opportunity to make a toast and share a hug with the guests of honor!

Practice makes perfect.

"Like a wedding speech, you want to make sure that you go up prepared and rehearsed," explains Franklin. With this in mind, he says, "don't try to wing it!" Of course, this involves plenty of practicing and planning ahead. Start by writing down your speech on paper or typing it up on your computer. Then, print it out— "do not read it off your phone," Franklin cautions—and time yourself to ensure the speech isn't too long. Rehearse it at least a few times before the party so you feel cool and confident when it finally comes time to deliver your speech.

Start with a story and speak from the heart.

Still stuck on what to write your speech on? Don't fret. Instead, Franklin recommends keeping things simple by "telling a short story that illustrates your excitement about the engagement and the wedding." If you're hosting the engagement party, Franklin advises focusing your speech on what the couple means to you. You can also add a short sentence thanking everyone for coming out to celebrate.

Conversely, if you are one-half of the newly engaged couple, you may want to use this opportunity to " "talk about how your relationship has grown from the start." Last but not least, says Franklin, remember to take a quick moment to thank the hosts!

While there is no particular format or formula for the perfect engagement party speech — again, it all comes down to speaking from the heart and sharing in the couple's joy and love — we've compiled a few examples to help spark some inspiration. Ahead, check out a few sample engagement party speeches for the parents of the couple, the couple themselves, and their closest friends and family members.

Parents of the Couple: Engagement Party Speech Examples

For those of you who don't know us, we're Jill and Joe, Brad's parents. We are so thrilled to celebrate Brad and Ashley's engagement with you all tonight, and we can't thank you enough for coming. Right after their first date, Brad came home smitten and giddy, and their energy was infectious. When we met A a few weeks later for brunch, we knew right then and there that they were meant to be together. It has been a gift watching your love grow over these past few years, and we know the best is yet to come. Thank you for affording us the chance to score a front-row seat to the best show in town: Your very own fairytale. Please join us in raising a glass to the very happy couple: Here's to a lifetime of health and happiness head!

Engagement Party Speech Examples for the Couple

We are so grateful to all of you for joining us on this special night. Both Zachary and I share a strong commitment to family and friends, which is just one of the many reasons we fell in love. With all this being said, I certainly speak for both of us when I say that there is nobody else we'd rather ring in our engagement with. We also want to take a moment to thank our gracious hosts, Marni and Isaac, my parents, for organizing this incredible evening. We will cherish this night for years to come: Cheers to all of you and all the joyjous celebrations ahead!

Additional Engagement Party Speech Examples for Family and Friends

My name is Alex, and I am so thrilled to be here tonight with all of you in celebration of my best friend, Lindsey, and her fantastic fiance, Tyler. Lindsey first told me about Tyler at our weekly wine and cheese night, and she had a distinct sparkle in her eye every time he would text her—even if it was in the middle of the new Bachelor episode! I was lucky enough to watch their love blossom in real-time, and I am so lucky to have found a dear friend in Tyler, as well. To know this incredible couple is to love them, and I can't wait for what lies ahead: Tyler and Lindsey, here's to the two of you: May this new chapter together be filled with even more love and laughter!

Wedding Party Introductions: How-To Guide With 25 Examples

• by Marisa Jenkins
• November 1, 2023

One of the most exciting parts of a wedding is the reception that follows. Although cultures worldwide vary in how they carry out the wedding reception, one aspect remains universal — it is a night filled with dancing and entertainment. The typical reception begins with the introduction of the wedding party.

As its name suggests, a wedding party introduction is the beginning of a reception wherein each member of the wedding party is presented to the guests. Their names, relationship with the couple, and other important details are summarized and shared in short segments so that the guests can get to know them better.

Wedding party introductions are discussed in detail below, immediately followed by examples of introductions for every member of the wedding party. Ideas to make the introductions more exciting are also listed. Lastly, some tips to keep in mind regarding wedding party introductions are given.

A Guide to Wedding Party Introductions

What are Wedding Party Introductions?

Wedding party introductions occur at the beginning of a wedding reception. As the name of the tradition denotes, every member of the wedding party is given time to shine. Introducing them to the guests is a memorable and effective way of honoring them at your wedding.

Once the wedding ceremony is over, guests would proceed to the reception venue. The bridal party will most likely stay at the ceremony venue to take formal portraits; if that is the case, they might arrive 30 to 60 minutes later than the guests. Before their arrival, the wedding DJ or emcee would have been entertaining the guests with music.

Once the bridal party arrives, the host will be informed. They will line up by the entrance of the venue as the host calls the attention of everyone in the room. Traditionally, they will enter in the same order as they walked down the aisle to minimize confusion among the guests:

• Parents of the groom
• Parents of the bride
• Any children in the wedding party (junior bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearer, etc.)
• Bridesmaids and groomsmen
• Maid of honor and best man
• Bride and groom

Although this is the recommended order, couples have the freedom to edit it according to their preferences. It may not be a good idea to include children in the grand entrance if the reception is too late, as the children may be too tired. Likewise, they may feel like their parents’ entrance should come just before theirs. They can also add their grandparents, other relatives, ushers, and escorts if necessary.

Organizing Your Wedding Party Introductions

Couples must closely collaborate with the wedding DJ or emcee, as they will be doing the introductions. Give them detailed instructions, such as the order of the entrance, exact pronunciations of every person’s name, the vibe you are going for, and which songs you want to be played as people enter.

The introductions themselves could be as simple as saying the name of the person, their relationship with the couple, and their role in the wedding party. You can include additional details such as a short description of the person, their history with the couple, and so on. Regardless of which you choose, make sure to be consistent — what you do for a groomsman must be the same for a bridesmaid.

If you are unsure of what the best way to introduce your wedding party is, ask them for their input. They may want a very simple introduction, they may want to include a joke that they have thought of, or they may have a specific song in mind for their entrance.

Examples of Wedding Party Introductions

There is no right or wrong way to introduce your wedding party at your reception; simple and straightforward introductions are just as valid as fun and humorous introductions. With that said, here are examples of wedding party introductions with varying lengths, humor, and formality.

For the Parents of the Bride and Groom

• Ladies and gentlemen, let’s put our hands together for the parents of the groom! Mr. August Hugo and Mrs. Samantha Hugo have been married for 30 years and have raised four wonderful children together. They are Larry’s biggest supporters and cannot be prouder of their “Lar-bear.”
• Everyone, let’s welcome the parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. McNamara!
• Let us give a warm round of applause to Sherry Lee and Robert Lee, the parents of our lovely bride! Looking absolutely gorgeous in their matching navy-blue ensemble.
• Please welcome our bride’s parents, Manny Suarez and Gina Suarez!
• Coming in next is the groom’s parents, John and Jennifer Forsyth! Everyone, please give Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth a round of applause — it is their love and commitment to each other that gave us this dashing and charming groom here today.
• Next, let’s welcome to the party Mr. Reid, the ever handsome and ever-loving father of Melissa. Melissa says that she would not be who and where she is today if it wasn’t for her father’s dedication and hard work. Let’s hear it for Mr. Reid!
• Mrs. Elsa Miller, the mother of the groom, and Mr. Kyle Miller, the father of the groom.

For the Children in the Wedding Party

• Here comes our adorable flower girl and ring bearer, Julia and Mickey!
• Everyone, let’s give a warm round of applause for our diligent flower girls, Bobbie and Pippa, and ring bearer, Charlie! Without a doubt, they had the hardest role to play today, and they deserve all the cake and sweets we have.
• Let’s welcome June, Clara, and Paul, our lovely flower girls and ring bearers.

For the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

• Miss Jordyn Singh, cousin of the bride, and Mister Malcolm Dowell, brother of the groom.
• Put your hands together for Karina Lyman and Tom Spiel! They have been friends with the newlyweds since they were in high school.
• Let’s give a warm welcome to Trina Nguyen, one of the lovely bridesmaids who helped make this event possible! Her organizational skills have, according to the bride herself, “saved her life multiple times.”
• Make some noise for Spencer Diaz! One of the groom’s closest buddies, they met during recess time in kindergarten. They have been terrorizing each other’s lives ever since.
• Jimmy Kleinman, friend and amateur repairman of the couple, and Anna Feinstein, sister and full-time cool aunt of the family.

For the Maid of Honor and Best Man

• Let’s put our hands together for Leah Rose Robinson! She is the most amazing and most gorgeous maid of honor to walk the reception venue. Her planning skills made this very event possible. Give it up for Leah!
• Let’s welcome to the party, Max Castillo! He has been the groom’s best friend since diapers and has seen him at his best and worst. Let’s give a warm round of applause for Max!
• The best brother Ivan could have ever asked for and his favorite person to tease and annoy, Leo Karimov. Part-time mom blogger and full-time awesome best friend to Hanna, Alisa Orlova.
• Please welcome Casey Bellevue, Naomi’s maid of honor and ride-or-die, and Mark Anthony Trinidad, Melvin’s best man and biggest hype man.

For the Couple

• It is with immense joy and pride that I introduce to you, Mr. Jonathan Rodriguez and Mrs. Trinity Rodriguez, the newlyweds! Let’s give them a warm round of applause!
• Taking their first steps as newlyweds, please give a round of applause to Roberta and Dianne Wiley! Everyone, raise your glasses in a toast to their love, patience, and strength. To Roberta and Dianne!
• It is an honor to get to introduce the most stunning, fun, and amazing newlyweds I’ve had the pleasure to DJ for, Mr. Noel and Mr. Jonah Hamilton-Ray! A toast to the grooms!
• Ladies, gentlemen, and nonbinary guests, let us all put our hands together and cheer for our newlyweds, Trisha and Kylie!
• Taking their very first entrance as husband and wife, let us all welcome into this beautiful banquet, Angelina and Benedict! Give them your warmest, most genuine applause!
• Their adventure of a lifetime starts here and now. Let’s give it up for Sammy and Cora Fletcher-Carlson!

Make Your Wedding Party Introductions More Exciting

In a traditional grand entrance, the wedding party walks individually or by pair to their seats after being introduced. While this is ideal for formal receptions, you may want something more fun and entertaining for yours. Here are some themes or ideas you can incorporate into your reception.

Have a Themed Wedding Party Introduction

• NBA-Themed Entrance . If you or your partner is a fan of basketball, you may want to introduce your wedding party similar to how lineups are announced.
• Sports-Themed Entrance . Any sport wherein teams are put in a lineup and introduced to the crowd can work well with your wedding party introduction. This includes football, volleyball, gymnastics, and so on.
• Movie-Themed Entrance . Take an element of a well-known or well-loved film and emulate it in your wedding party introduction. Give some props to your bridal party and choose the perfect music to set the tone.
• School Spirit . If you and your partner met in high school or university, you can integrate that into your wedding party introduction. Hand out flags, pom poms, and other props in your school colors. If you have the budget, hire your school mascot as well to enliven the audience even more.

Dance, Dance, Dance

Just Let Them Do Their Thing

Outfit Switch

Have each bridesmaid and groomsmen switch attires with each other. During the wedding party introduction, the bridesmaids would enter wearing suits and tuxedos, while the groomsmen would enter wearing cocktail dresses.

Another version of this idea is to have the bridal party change their entire outfits. They can go casual, business attire, and even wear a onesie or pair of pajamas. The logistics of these ideas may prove to be challenging, but their entertainment value may make the effort worth it.

However, keep in mind that not everyone will be receptive to this idea. This is especially true if you have conservative guests that view outfits as strictly gendered or may find other outfits unsuitable for a formal event.

Piggyback Rides

Opposite to the one above, this idea is more time-consuming. However, it will allow each member of your wedding party to have the moment and attention they deserve. You can do this simply by having them walk individually instead of pairing them up, or you can literally use a spotlight that follows the person as they walk.

• Ride-on Vehicles . Get a small car for every pair of bridesmaids and groomsmen, as well as for the children who are part of your wedding party. You can buy them in toy stores or online shops and then resell them after your wedding.
• Big Head Masks . These are cardboard cutouts of their faces, though you can also opt to give them cutouts of your and your partner’s faces. They also work well for other pre-wedding parties , such as bachelor parties and bridal showers.
• Smoke or Snow Machines . These machines can elevate the ambiance of your venue and make the wedding party introduction more unforgettable. However, check with your venue if you are allowed to use such machines.
• Money Gun . Make it rain fake dollar bills with money guns. This idea works best if the grand entrance is choreographed or is a dance-off.
• Musical Instruments . Buy small and fake musical instruments and distribute them to your wedding party. They can imitate playing them as they enter the venue.

Tips to Keep in Mind for Wedding Party Introductions

Heavily Coordinate with Your Wedding Photographer and Videographer

To get breathtaking pictures from your event, your documentation team will set up equipment, such as lighting, multiple cameras, and so on. As a result, there will be areas in the room that will be better captured. With that said, coordinate with the photographers and videographers as to where the bridal party must go before they do what they want to do.

Not having detailed instructions for the wedding party will result in pictures and videos that could be a lot better. The flash might be disorienting, or the angle might be unflattering. This is why you must keep in mind the photographer’s and videographer’s directions.

Music to Play for the Wedding Party Introduction

Typically, the parents’ entrance and the couples’ entrance will be different. Songs used for those entrances are frequently emotional or sentimental. With that said, here are a few general suggestions that you can consider for your wedding reception playlist.

• “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled ft. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg
• “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor
• “Feel This Moment” by Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera
• “Fire Burning” by Sean Kingston
• “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
• “The Final Countdown” by Europe
• “Where Them Girls At” by David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida
• “Who Let The Dogs Out” by Baha Men

Whatever songs you choose to include, compile them in a playlist and give them to your wedding DJ before the reception. To be safe, you may also create a list of songs the DJ must not play for the entirety of your reception.

Final Thoughts

Not only do wedding party introductions mark the start of a night-long celebration, but they also allow your guests to become familiar with the important people in your lives. This is a testament to the statement that marriage is not only between two people but two families and an entire community.

Marisa Jenkins

Marisa Jenkins is a wedding planner and event coordinator. Her main goal for WeddingFrontier.com is to simplify the wedding planning process by sharing her years of expertise in the industry.

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