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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 1,642,840 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

Step 1 Welcome the audience using serious language for a formal occasion.

  • 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."

Step 2 Greet guests informally by using light-hearted language.

  • 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

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.

Step 3 Add individual greetings for any special guests.

  • 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."

Step 4 Introduce the event itself.

  • 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

Step 1 Acknowledge those who have played an important part in the event.

  • 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.

Step 2 Mention any parts of the event that are of special importance.

  • 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.

Step 3 Reiterate your welcoming line.

  • 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

Step 1 Say that you hope the audience enjoys the event, if applicable.

  • 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!”

Step 2 Introduce the next speaker if necessary.

  • 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!"

Step 3 Thank the audience for attending.

  • 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!”

Step 4 Keep your speech within a suitable time limit.

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

Writing Help

how do you write a good welcoming speech

Community Q&A

wikiHow Staff Editor

  • 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

how do you write a good welcoming speech

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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

Patrick Muñoz

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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Welcome Speech in English: Best Samples, Examples & Tips

Why are welcome speeches necessary.

Most of the gatherings and ceremonies are held with a purpose. They are either planned events or spontaneous gatherings. In both cases, it is important to know how to organize such events. We must prepare ourselves to conduct the event properly.

Let us imagine that you are hosting a gathering. You have prepared everything, including food, drinks, decorations, etc., and even set up the stage. However, you forgot one thing – a welcome speech. What happens next? Do you start talking immediately without waiting for everyone to arrive? Of course not!

The same goes for a meeting. How many times did you attend meetings where people didn’t introduce themselves? Or worse, they talked about themselves too much during the meeting. In addition, some speakers talk directly to the audience without introducing themselves. This makes it difficult for the attendees to comprehend the event’s process and connect with its objectives.

So why is a welcome speech in English needed? To begin with, it is necessary to give a brief overview of the topic. Secondly, it helps to provide information about the organization and its history. Thirdly, it allows us to highlight our achievements. And finally, it creates a good impression on guests. Otherwise, they might ask questions like “Where is this event going?”.

Significance of welcome speech

The significance of the welcome speech won’t be apparent without understanding what makes up the history of an event. An event can be defined as a sequence of activities carried out over a period of time. These activities are usually organized into stages, each with a specific purpose. For example, an event may start with opening remarks, followed by a keynote address, and finally concluded with closing remarks. Each stage of an event has a different set of responsibilities.

In the case of a welcoming ceremony, the welcome speech is considered to be one of the most important parts of the whole gathering. In fact, it is the most crucial aspect of the entire event. This is because the welcome speech serves several purposes.

First, it introduces the guests to the host. Second, it provides information regarding the upcoming program. Third, it creates a positive impression among the attendees. Fourth, it helps in creating a sense of unity among the participants. Fifth, it helps in establishing good relations between the hosts and the guests. And finally, it ensures that the guest feels comfortable during the occasion.

Objectives of a Welcome Speech in English

The objective of a welcome speech in English is to introduce yourself and the rest of the attendees at the event. This is done through a short introduction about who you are, what you do, why you’re attending, etc. The following are the objectives of a welcome speech:

  • Introduce yourself
  • Provide Information regarding the event
  • Create a positive impression among attendees
  • Establish good relations between hosts and guests
  • Ensure guests feel comfortable during the event
  • Help build unity among participants
  • Explain the purpose of the meeting/event
  • Set up the agenda for the meeting/event
  • Make introductions
  • Give background info about the organization
  • Highlight achievements (if any)

Welcome Speech Samples in the Education Field

There is a number of school gatherings that require welcome speeches, be it an official school gathering or an informal event. In this segment, we’ve sorted samples according to the typical events organized in schools. Take note of each paragraph and determine its purpose. You’ll be able to create a workable framework or basis for your current and future speech requirements.

Welcome Address in English For Students

It’s natural for attendees of any event to expect an introductory speech, which sets the tone for the occasion. A host can easily command attention with an effective welcome. Even the longest speeches have the capacity to hold an audience’s interest when delivered in a catchy and impressive manner.

A short opening speech for a commencement ceremony

To everyone present, good morning. A very warm welcome to our respected faculty, our remarkable parents, and our dear students. Special recognition is due for our Chief Guest (name of chief guest). It’s a true honor to have such a successful alumnus (or state the chief guest’s job title). We express our biggest gratitude for accepting our invitation to deliver today’s keynote speech.

I’m standing here as a lucky witness to our dear students’ academic journey. Our school is very proud of everything you have accomplished and your small but not minor contributions to society. You’ve brought prestige to our name and deserve the title of one of our school’s most successful and dedicated batch of students.

With your teachers’ guidance and parents’ support, you’ve reached remarkable heights. I’d like to take this time to extend my gratitude to our faculty and our parents, for understanding, encouraging, and nurturing our students.

Graduates, you are about to start another chapter in your life. An exciting yet scary period. From now on, you will face more challenges, but I am confident that you’re adequately equipped to face any tribulation that comes your way. Remember that with conviction and self-belief, no mountain is too high to climb. The laurels you’ve brought back to our school are only the beginning. I am genuinely excited to see the astonishing feats that your futures hold.

A long opening speech for a commencement ceremony

Good morning everyone! I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our esteemed faculty, astounding parents, and our dear students. I’m honored to open our commencement ceremony and stand here where many of our accomplished alumni who I look up to once stood.

I extend a particularly warm welcome to our Chief Guest (name of chief guest), who as one of our outstanding alumni, has really set the standard for exemplary accomplishments.

(enumerate key achievements of chief guest)

Her/his professional and philanthropic endeavors attest to their upbringing and the values she/he lives by. We want to thank you for responding positively to our invitation to be the keynote speaker on today’s auspicious occasion.

As another academic year reaches its end, I’m sure that our dear students are anxious and also filled with hope and excitement. This is their final school event in our renowned school/college/university (name of school). But hopefully, it won’t be their last awarding ceremony.

We are extremely fortunate to have such a talented and passionate group of graduates who have earned laurels in honor of our school, adding to its distinction and great reputation. The amazing encouragement and unconditional support of our parents throughout the school year have been extraordinary. They have stood by their children in every school event. Our teachers and staff are truly thankful for the trust you’ve given us. Your children’s journey wouldn’t have been a huge success without your guidance and nurture.

It’s been a remarkable experience to witness the passion and commitment our students have exhibited in all their undertakings. I am filled with certitude that you will achieve whatever goal you’ve set your mind on. Adulthood is going to be jammed with more trials you’ve never imagined before. I am kidding. Maybe. Joking aside, you will win as long as you work hard and believe in yourself.

Remember that you are valuable and take every challenge you face as an opportunity to prove your worth and get better. Also, surround yourselves with people who are good for your well-being and treat them the way you’d like to be treated.

Maintain your sense of humor because not much else will get you through when the going gets rough. Life can be very special and you can truly make a mark, which doesn’t always need to have global proportions. Be accountable for your mistakes and learn from them. Keep nurturing your passions and remain as driven, bright, and astonishing as you are today. You are all wonderful and I can’t wait to see your future accomplishments, because they will be great.

Thank you and do us proud!

Welcome Speech for a College Function

(General greeting, i.e. good morning/afternoon/evening) to all (the audience attending the event, e.g. the parents, teachers, students, etc.) and our respected Principal (name of principal). It’s with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to (name of school)’s (name of event or ceremony).

Our college nurtures the ideologies of discipline and pride in one’s work and aims to hone our students as responsible and productive members of society. It is in this spirit that we celebrate today.

To commence our festivities, allow me to introduce one of our most esteemed alumni. Our Chief Guest (title and name of chief guest) has embodied the values fostered by our prominent and respected college. (Enumerate the main accomplishments of the chief guest). We honor you for your contributions to society and our city, most especially, which future generations will surely benefit from. With your hard work, dedication, and charitable spirit, you have set the goalposts we aspire to reach in order to make the world a much better place than we’ve found it.

(Initiate a round of applause)

Welcome Speech for a Yearly Function

(General greeting, i.e. good morning/afternoon/evening to all)

Honorable Chief Guest (name of guest), our beloved Principal (name of principal), our amazing faculty and staff members, our dearest parents and fellow students, and to everyone present, I welcome you all to (name of school/college/university)’s annual function.

My name is Lakshmi Gupta, a student of the Information Technology Department, and also the president of our school’s Cultural Exchange Organization and founder of the Languages Club.

It is with tremendous pride that I announce our prestigious school’s Silver Jubilee anniversary. We’re gathered today to celebrate 25 years of estimable service and success. The remarkable accomplishments of our elite school since its foundation won’t be possible without its long history of dedicated and respected teachers and passionate students, its tireless staff, and the unconditional support from our parents.

It’s also a great honor to introduce our Chief guest and keynote speaker. Any introduction won’t do justice to the extraordinary achievements she/he has attained throughout her/his career. (Enumerate the main accomplishments of the chief guest). She/he is truly one of the most treasured and incredible alumni our school has produced. Without further ado, let’s give a round of applause to (title and name of chief guest).

Welcome Speech for the School Principal

Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning!

I’m truly pleased and honored to welcome our new principal (title and name of principal). He has previously worked for 5 years at Lumos International as principal and has succeeded in revitalizing their academic standing and programs, especially in English and Cultural Studies.

I have gotten to know her/him over the last few days during the transition phase and found her/him to be a brave and progressive intellectual, with a great ideology and vision for the future of (name of school), our beloved school.

On behalf of the current administration, our board of trustees, the faculty, the staff, and our student body, we wholeheartedly extend a great welcome to you (title and name of principal).

We hope that with your leadership, energy, and enthusiasm, we shall start a new era of learning and reach greater excellence.

Congratulations and welcome!

Welcome Speech for Teachers Day

Good morning! We welcome everyone today who is here to celebrate this annual event for their beloved teachers. We don’t always get to thank our teachers, but on this day, we pay tribute to our second parents.

They have provided guidance and given their light to educate and lead us to a journey of wonder, discovery, and knowledge. For their efforts, they deserve the greatest of honors and our utmost respect.

Our steadfast yet affectionate teachers should be our role models. They inspire us daily and motivate us to reach our greatest potential. They impart wisdom so that we don’t only excel academically, but as good people and responsible members of our society.

So on Teacher’s Day, it’s all about them and giving them the honor that many take for granted. Thank you, dear teachers!

Welcome Speech for Children’s Day

Good morning everybody!

Today we extend our appreciation and the warmest embrace to our beloved students to celebrate Children’s Day!

It’s been a blessing to be a part of nurturing children’s sense of wonder and imagination. These are qualities we often lose as we grow up, and it’s awesome to witness them happen every day.

Children’s innocence and love are incomparable and difficult to resist. Their smile is the closest thing to heaven that we can glimpse in the world.

School is your children’s second home, and we teachers are their second parents. We thank you for the opportunity to take care of and guide your little angels.

Join us to celebrate our students and make this day as eventful and fun as it can be!

Welcome Speech for Freshers Party

Welcome everyone to our Fresher’s party!

We’ve all gathered here today to celebrate the gift of possibilities and commence the experience of a new beginning.

It’s of utmost pleasure to welcome everyone, especially all my freshers to today’s festivities. I extend my deepest gratitude to all my teachers and everyone who helped make this event a reality. Look at this place, it’s amazing!

University or school life isn’t just about getting a higher education – brace yourself for the adventure of a lifetime! This is the period to create good memories and meet people who can be a permanent part of your academic and later professional lives. May you develop the relationships and acquire the necessary skills to succeed in life.

But for now, let’s leave our worries and cares out in the hall. Let’s celebrate your wise decision to matriculate in our institution. Our college has prepared special events and an entertainment program highlighting some of our talented students.

The next few hours will be memorable and exciting! Thank you for listening and let’s get on with it!

Have a good time!

Welcome Speech Samples for Business

Much like in academic settings, there are more formal events that happen in professional contexts. Some may need a welcome address to introduce special guests or welcome the attendees of a conference. Some are informal events that welcome those who are invited to special occasions at the office and the people they’re honoring. Note down the key phrases and objectives of the samples below and use the same structure in your own welcome or introduction speech in English.

Sample of Welcome Speech for a Goodbye Get-together

Good evening everyone!

Welcome to my farewell party. I know, I know. You all said you’re sorry to see me go, but that you all would need food and entertainment first to deal with your sadness. So here we are. I shall deliver.

As the Semisonic song goes “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” And so it is with great gratitude that the VP in Japan decided to retire early, so the end of his role can mark the beginning of mine. To Toni Takitani, thanks for deciding you’ve had enough!

Kidding aside, I’d like to thank my friends who made this very corporate event a huge success. Look at this, my goodness!

Most importantly, I want to impart my profound gratitude to my boss (name of the boss). Without you, this party won’t have a band. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor. Or I could, but none of them would have changed my life as positively as you have. It saddens me to leave you the most, but it comforts me that you were my biggest source of encouragement to go. Or it may have been your plan all along. Genius!

So to everyone who came, thank you. I’ll have time to thank you properly later, but for now, let’s eat!

Welcome Speech Sample for a Business Conference

Good morning to everyone who came out to join us here today. My name is Julius Kaizer and I’ll be hosting today’s events.

Before anything else, I’d like to take this moment to thank Merville & Posque Inc., their CEO Mr. Hyori Asano and his team for putting this event together in record time. It won’t be possible without your tireless dedication and contributions. I also want to thank everyone who came, our remarkable associates from Osaka, Chiang Rai, and Quezon, our wonderful clients who have stuck with us through thick and thin, and our amazing consultants in various fields of energy conservation. Your interest and patronage are very much appreciated.

A great welcome to all our extraordinary employees and staff members, some of whom have worked and grown along our company’s 23-year history. A big welcome, too, to our interns who have recently joined and brightened our corporate offices.

Today marks the 15th annual MPBC and it’s an honor to be a host in this glorious congress. I myself will be staying for the conference’s entirety to learn what I can about sustainable energy systems and their various implications and impact on the future of our planet.

The activities today will include an overview of all the forums, seminars, and exhibits around the MPBC complex. Second, we will have the inauguration of the new bio-dome on the grounds where we will also honor this year’s retirees. The afternoon’s seminars will kick off after lunch, and I encourage you to attend the discussions and learn about our future plans and projects. Finally, I’d like to encourage everyone to help yourselves to the snack stations in the hallway. Refreshments and sandwiches are on us for the duration of the conference.

I won’t keep you long and let’s begin the day. I wish all of you a valuable and wonderful time! Thank you.

Welcome Speech for a Business Workshop

Good afternoon everyone!

I am so pleased to see you all here. Welcome to my workshop, or should I say “our” workshop. I am truly overjoyed and excited about learning together and helping you reach a breakthrough in industry-scale coding practices.

This workshop aims to cover new software and the importance of earning certificates in several computer applications such as VM Suite, Landscape 5.0, and NF Tech.

I hope you’ll learn a lot in the next few hours and I promise to try to make our activities as engaging and hands-on as possible. Good luck and thanks again for participating in our workshop.

Welcome Speech for Office Events

My name is (your name), the (position in the company), and your host for this meeting. To our CEO (title and name of the CEO), (next are the dignitaries for the company hierarchy if any), all the staff members and their loved ones, and our beloved employees. I welcome you all to the (name of the event) of (name of company).

We are here today to honor our employees’ achievements in their respective fields and departments. Your efforts to attain and sustain the standards we keep aren’t unnoticed. This awarding ceremony seeks to remind us about the value and pride we should have in our accomplishments, and the significance of collaboration and teamwork. It is our spirit of community and faith in our abilities that represent the vision of (name of company). May we continue to grow through hard work, accountability, and cooperation.

To start off with our first award, let’s call up (title and position of the presenter), (name of the presenter).

Welcome Speech Samples for Family Functions

Huge family events often have speeches: weddings, birthdays, farewell parties, funerals, anniversaries, and so on. Some of these events normally have hosts and esteemed guests. Here are some tips and samples to inspire you.

Tips on Welcoming the Chief Guest?

If you’re searching for tips on how to make a welcome speech for guest, here are some things you can do:

  • When drafting your speech, do the research.
  • Highlight the key qualities that are worth mentioning in an opening welcome speech for event.
  • Take note of the welcome address speech sample in this article and create a framework from them.
  • Look up welcome speech quotes and choose the best one to use somewhere in your speech.
  • Greet the chief guest at the event personally and introduce yourself if you don’t know each other.
  • Extend your hard for a handshake and smile to express that they are honored and welcome to the event.
  • Smile and suggest they are being welcomed.
  • Address them formally with the usual Miss or Mr.
  • Escort the chief guest before you assume host duties.

Welcoming the Chief Guest with a Short Speech

It’s a great honor to welcome our Chief guest and tonight’s keynote speaker. I was worried at first about how to introduce (title and name of Chief guest) because any introduction would pale in comparison to the reality and immensity of her/his accomplishments.

(Enumerate the main accomplishments of the chief guest).

She/he is the ultimate inspiration for young professionals everywhere who want to succeed in the field of international trade. Here to inspire us with her career journey and all the experiences she accumulated along the day, join me in giving a round of applause to (title and name of chief guest).

Welcoming the Chief Guest (Longer Version of the Speech)

Introducing our next attendee is a great pleasure of mine. When she/he accepted our invitation to be tonight’s Chief guest and keynote speaker, I almost jumped for joy. Then I realized I would naturally receive the task of introducing her/him. At first, this gave me great anxiety. How would I be able to pull it off and deliver an introduction that would give her background justice? Then I thought, no introduction would ever compare, so it was foolish to aim for success when failure is guaranteed. So I decided to just do it. Our chief guest has accomplished the following, to name a few:

As I looked at her/his professional and personal successes, I realized here is a woman/man who was faced many times with the certainty of failure but had given her circumstances a grad twist by attaining success against all odds. Then I thought, perhaps I should aim for success in this speech, after all.

She/he is an inspiration to many, not only for all the fields of expertise she has earned and the extreme success that went with the process, but she/he has also set the benchmark for philanthropy and good deeds. She/he has done this quietly, too, and she/he might strangle me for revealing it to the public. I didn’t even know half of the wonderful things she/he has done for our community before my research.

Without further ado, and here to inspire us with her wisdom and grand skill, join me in welcoming our Chief guest (title and name of chief guest).

Welcome Speech for Parents

Hi everyone!

As host and brother of the groom, I’d like to take this time to introduce the parents of the bride. Without them, my brother wouldn’t be the lucky and happy man he is today. More than that, I have witnessed how they accepted my brother and treated him as a son long before the engagement. I often tag along on family trips and have spent hours of wonderful conversations with them. Apart from my own parents, they are two of the most affectionate and hospitable people I’ve ever met. If I could meet a woman whose parents are just like them, I’d consider myself half as lucky as my brother.

Let’s give a round of applause for (names of the bride’s parents). Thank you for embracing my brother into the fold.

Welcome Speech Samples for National Holidays

Below is a sample of a welcome speech typically delivered during Annual Day. Substitute the appropriate details to match your information and use the framework in other speeches reserved for national holidays.

Welcome Speech for Annual Day

I am overjoyed to have this chance to welcome all of you to our elite institution’s 25th Annual Day. Today’s children are the hope of the next generation. All these graduates we see today, receiving awards for their achievements will go on to lead successful lives. Let them live up to the expectations set before them.

I am very happy to be a member of such an elite school where we learned from such great professors who teach us beyond the boundaries of the ordinary classroom. They’re also the minds and hands behind such a big event every year. I’d like to use this chance to organize such a wonderful event this year. It’s also a great pleasure of mine to introduce our Chief Guest.

Welcome speeches are necessary at events. They usually set the tone or expectations of the people who attended or participated in the occasion. There are many ways in going about delivering a welcome address speech. Review the samples in this article and do your due diligence to craft an outline, framework, or skeleton from the contents that you can use in welcome speeches of your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

A good welcome speech has the following qualities: * It is sincere. * It can hold the attention of the audience. * The ideas don’t ramble. * Welcome address quotes are used. One for a short welcome speech, and 2 for a longer one. Never 3, unless the speaker is trying to be funny. * The contents are relevant to the event. * It has an impressive anecdote. * The length doesn’t exceed 5 minutes.

The last segment of this article contains tips on welcoming chief guests, esteemed guests, or guests of honor. The tips contained here can be divided into things to consider while drafting the welcome speech, and things to do at the event itself when meeting the chief guest.

A simple thank you would suffice. Make sure you reiterate your gratitude. Some welcome speeches can end with a line that welcomes the guest of honor.

Depending on the context, a welcome speech doesn’t always need to be impressive. In some situations, a straightforward introduction is all you need. However, in some circumstances like commencement ceremonies, farewell parties, dinners, and some others, the audience is prepared to listen to long speeches. In this case, the speech needs to catch the attention of the attendees and maintain their interest. An impressive welcome speech often has an emotional element. Not just parroting big words to describe a person’s achievements or flatter them. Try to use humor if you’re funny by nature or if you can deliver the punchline well. Use popular quotes in your speech. Tell anecdotes relevant to the attendees. Or reveal an epiphany. These are how you should draft a welcome speech set to impress.

Make sure that it is relevant to the content of your welcome speech or the point you’re making. You can use phrases such as the following: * According to… * As the old saying goes… * There’s a quote that has always stuck with me… * Events like this always remind me of one of my favorite quotes… Try to find quotes that are unique and not cliche. You can find some in the lyrics of contemporary music, or lines and dialogues from books and movies, and so on.

Learn from History – Follow the Science – Listen to the Experts

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How to Write a Great Welcome Speech

Table of Contents

Writing an effective welcome speech is a form of art. It requires a delicate balance of knowledge, wit, charm, and the right dash of emotion to make your audience feel valued and at home.

Knowing how to write a welcome speech that resonates with people and draws them in is no small feat — it takes practice and finesse!

In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of writing a successful welcome speech. This will help you confidently greet guests, create lasting impressions, and set the tone for any event.

What Is a Welcome Speech?

A welcome speech is an important part of any event that marks the beginning of a new journey or celebrates a milestone. It sets the tone for the rest of the event and helps create a sense of community amongst guests and participants alike.

A well-crafted welcome speech should have a captivating opening, personalized introductions, acknowledgments, humor, and appreciation for those present. It must also highlight other key elements to ensure that everyone in attendance has an enjoyable experience.

Crafting such a speech can be gratifying as it gives a voice to people’s collective enthusiasm and will help make the event truly special.

Great Tips on How to Write a Welcome Speech

We have compiled some effective tips on how to write a welcome speech that will set the tone and engage the audience. Follow these suggestions and make your speech stand out.

Establish a Connection

Greet the guests at your event with warmth and enthusiasm, welcoming them to the occasion. A few personalized touches can go a long way in making attendees feel welcome and appreciated.

Set the Tone of the Event

Start by thanking everyone for coming, and be sure to use language that reflects the tone of your event. This is especially important if you are having an informal gathering versus a more formal one.

Express Gratitude

Make it a point to thank special guests or anyone who went above and beyond to help make the event possible. Doing so will show how much their efforts were appreciated.

Give an Overview

Summarize what attendees can expect from the event and provide any key information they should know before participating.

Offer Words of Encouragement

Provide encouraging words to guests and remind them why attending this particular event was important to them. Invite them to make the most out of this experience while also stressing the importance of taking some time to relax as well.

End on a High Note

Conclude the speech by wishing everyone a good time. Express your appreciation once again, or provide an inspiring quote that encapsulates the purpose of the gathering. Be sure to thank each person present for being part of the day.

A white Welcome text LED light over a black background

Examples of Effective Welcome Speech

Take inspiration from the examples below to help you write an effective welcome speech based on your requirements.

Example 1: Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event

Good evening everyone, and welcome to our special corporate event. I’d like to start by introducing myself; my name is [Name], and I’m honored to be here with all of you today.

I would like to extend a warm greeting to our esteemed guests who joined us this evening. Your presence truly makes this night that much more special. It’s great to see such a lively audience here tonight!

As we begin, let me remind each of us how essential it is to include the various perspectives gathered in this room. Only when we come together can we form solutions tailored to fit each individual’s needs.

So without further ado, let’s get started on making this an unforgettable night. Thank you for being here!

Example 2: Welcome Speech for a Church Event

Greetings and welcome to our church event! Let us take a moment to express gratitude for the many blessings and the special opportunity to come together like this today.

We are delighted to introduce you to the amazing speaker who will be presenting here today. He is an individual with vast knowledge of the topic at hand. He has graciously agreed to work with us and share their wisdom with us.

I’m sure by the end of the presentation, we’ll be feeling invigorated, enlightened, and ready to put into practice what we have learned today. So let’s show appreciation for this good fortune, and bid our guest a warm welcome!

Example 3: Welcome Speech for a Cultural Event

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to our cultural event of the evening!

I want to thank all of you for coming here today and participating in this unique experience. I am confident all of us will leave with an appreciation for our cultures and a better understanding of how similar we truly are.

This is a great opportunity to learn about different customs and traditions from around the world. With luck, skill, and hard work, this year could bring success to our mission of global unity through shared experiences.

Good luck to everyone who is showcasing their talent or displaying traditional artifacts! We are eager to witness your ingenuity and creativity. Like all meaningful endeavors, there will be challenges along the way, but the rewards will outweigh them if we work together.

So let’s make sure that this cultural event succeeds by collaborating effectively and celebrating each other’s differences!

Example 4: Welcome Speech for a Fundraising Event

Good evening everyone. I am honored to be here on this very special occasion! Let’s all take a moment to show our respect for the people who have come together tonight with one common purpose. That is – raising funds for an incredibly important cause.

I want to welcome each and every one of you warmly in a formal manner to this function which we are hosting annually. As many of us know, the money raised tonight will go toward helping those affected by natural disasters in our own country. We need your help to make this event successful so we can continue providing aid in the upcoming year.

So let’s make tonight count and work together to reach our fundraising goals! Thank you again for joining us; it is truly appreciated.

Example 5: Welcome Speech for a College Event

Good evening everyone! I am excited to welcome you all to the annual college event tonight. It has been my privilege and joy to be a part of this school and see the amazing students come through each year. So it is a special night when we get together to celebrate our achievements!

I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible job our staff has done in the past year. They helped us focus on improving our skills and growing as individuals. Our faculty members are some of the best around, and they are truly committed to seeing every student reach their highest potential.

Finally, let’s not forget why we’re all here: to have fun and enjoy the company of friends. We’ve worked hard and deserve a break, so with that said, join me in celebrating another successful year for our college. Enjoy the rest of the evening!

This article explains how to write a welcome speech effectively, along with examples. Nail your welcome speech by making it personal, informative, friendly, and outgoing.

The key to a great welcome speech is a brief and well-crafted introduction. As the first speaker, it is important that you establish rapport with your audience. It will leave them in a positive and receptive mood , leading to a successful event for everyone present.

How to Write a Great Welcome Speech

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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how do you write a good welcoming speech

A well-crafted welcome speech can set the tone for an event and make attendees feel at ease from the beginning. By following these 11 steps, you can write a memorable welcome speech that will engage and inspire your audience.

1. Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience is the most important aspect of crafting a great welcome speech. Determine who they are, why they are present, and what their expectations might be.

2. Set a Warm Tone: Begin your speech with a friendly and welcoming tone to make your audience feel comfortable and at ease. A smile and open body language can help convey this message effectively.

3. Start with a Strong Opening Line: The opening line of your speech should grab the audience’s attention and encourage them to listen closely. Be creative and ensure that it sets the tone for the rest of your address.

4. Introduce Yourself: Briefly introduce yourself to the audience, including your name, title, or role in the event. This helps build trust and credibility with your listeners.

5. Express Your Gratitude: Thank everyone for attending the event, acknowledging any special guests or dignitaries present. Show genuine appreciation for their time and efforts.

6. Introduce the Purpose of the Event: Clearly explain the purpose or theme of the event so attendees know what to expect from it. Be sure to highlight any objectives or goals as well as who will be participating in this event.

7. Share Relevant Information: Provide some background information about how the event came about or any important facts that may be interesting or informative for your audience.

8. Keep It Short and Simple (KISS): A welcome speech should not go on for too long; keep it concise and focused on delivering key messages effectively.

9. Add Humor (If Appropriate): A bit of light humor can help break the ice and make your welcome speech more engaging but ensure that it is in good taste and appropriate for the audience and event.

10. End on a High Note: Finish your speech with an inspiring or thought-provoking statement to encourage your audience to actively participate in the event or make the most out of their experience.

11. Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse your speech multiple times, ideally in front of a mirror or with someone you trust who can provide constructive feedback. This will help build your confidence and ensure a smooth delivery.

By following these 11 steps, you can craft a powerful and engaging welcome speech that leaves a lasting impression on your audience and sets the stage for a successful event.

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Make Your Welcome Speech A Verbal Handshake

Welcome speech - a verbal handshake

A welcome speech is a short speech that greets attendees and sets the tone for an event. It can be instructional, informative, persuasive, or inspirational, as the speaker gets the audience interested in the event, makes them feel welcome, and gives them an overview of what to expect.

Whether you attend a wedding, a conference, or the spring concert at your kid’s school, you can expect the first order of business to be a welcome speech. The host or their representative will kick off the event with opening remarks or a welcome address to make the audience feel at home.

The welcome speech should be the verbal equivalent of a handshake!

This speech serves a bigger purpose than simply welcoming people to the event, as there are often pieces of information about the schedule that those in attendance would want to know before the function starts. How do you write a great welcome speech? Let us help you!

Table of Contents

What Is A Typical Welcome Speech?

The basics of speech writing apply to a welcome speech. Like most speeches, it has three main components: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

  • Greeting:  First, greet everyone in attendance and then introduce yourself to the audience and begin setting the event’s tone.
  • Body:  In the body of the speech, provide important information, set the tone for the events, or warm up the audience. You might also introduce the first speaker, in which case you discuss that person’s credentials.
  • Conclusion:  Your welcome speech might send participants to various sessions or usher in the first speaker.

Welcome speech orients conference participants

What Is The Purpose Of A Welcome Speech?

Unlike most other speeches that have a life of their own with a topic, a welcome speech serves the rest of the program.

You want people to feel welcome attending an event. Telling people that it is with “great pleasure” that you welcome them to an event starts things off on a positive note.

An excellent welcome speech then warms up the audience for what is about to occur, whether that is a keynote speech, breakout sections for a conference, or a special event.

When Does The Welcome Speech Take Place?

Welcome speeches open up many events.

  • Annual Functions. At events such as   a church picnic, company annual meeting, or corporate data retreat, the opening speech would be a welcome and an explanation of what will occur at the event.

Annual functions like churc h picnics or family reunions may have welcome speeches

  • Award Ceremonies. At award shows such as the Oscars or other huge televised events or a collegiate sports award banquet, a master or mistress of ceremonies may welcome guests and tell the order of what’s to follow. and introduce the first presenter.
  • Church Welcome Speech.  Many churches welcome anyone to visit and see what they are all about. They may have an informal greeting for visitors and special guests. One church I visited invited all guests or new people to stop by a welcome table for a small gift of a coffee mug and devotional.

Welcom visitors at church

  • Commencement . Graduation ceremonies warmly welcome the graduates and attendees before diplomas are presented..
  • Conference. Welcome speeches set the right tone for a conference, lets attendees know what’s next and who the first speaker is.
  • Corporate events . A formal event such as a data retreat or an informal occasion like a yearly celebration picnic will include a short welcome speech.
  • Special Events .  Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, religious ceremonies, etc., may have a person welcoming guests.

How Do You Start A Welcome Speech?

A welcome speech starts by acknowledging the time of day by simply saying “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” or “Good evening.”

You then state how happy you are to be offering the welcome to whatever the event is. An example is to say, “My name is (name), and I am thrilled to have been given the honor of welcoming all of you distinguished guests who have assembled here today.”

When welcoming guests at a wedding, you could start out by saying, “We are so grateful to all of the friends, family members, and other loved ones who have come to share in (bride) and (groom’s) special day.”

Keeping it Warm

Sometimes, the opening speaker wants to ensure that people feel the environment is warm and inviting. In addition to choosing words that sound inviting and welcoming, such as “it is our pleasure” and “we are so thrilled that you all could make it today,” body language is essential.

Smiling is the first thing that will help ease anxiety and leave people feeling at ease. Also, avoid crossing your arms in front of your body, as that can make you appear closed off or angry. Making eye contact and focusing on smiling when you speak couple together to create a warm environment as you welcome guests.

Make your welcome speech warm

Tips For A Welcome Speech?

Some of these tips are specific to giving a welcome speech, and others are just good practice for any form of public speaking.

  • Eye Contact:  There are better ways to give a strong speech than reading right off of a piece of paper. Look up at the audience periodically to offer eye contact.
  • Practice:   The more you practice, the better your speech will sound. One can practice in front of a mirror, with friends, or even by making a video and watching it yourself.
  • Remember the Purpose:  Why are these particular people assembled on this day? Acknowledging why everyone is in the same room is a good way to help you frame your speech’s contents.
  • Time:  Talk to the person heading up the event to learn how long you should speak. Only talk as long as they have invited you to speak. Remember quality over quantity.
  • Word Choice:  Once you have given the purpose of the event thought, you can move on and decide what type of language is more appropriate. For a professional conference or commencement, formal language would fit in best. However, informal language would be preferred if you are welcoming wedding guests.

A former English teacher and currently an elementary principal in a rural school, Pam has honed her speaking skills in the classroom and before professional groups. Pam enjoys sharing her insights about public speaking almost as much as she enjoys running, which she does daily.

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Confident-woman-giving-a-conference-with-a-digital-presentation-how-to-give-a-speech

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

  • It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
  • A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
  • It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
  • Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

  • Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
  • Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
  • Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
  • Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
  • Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
  • Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
  • Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
  • Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
  • Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

Man-holding-microphone-at-panel-while-talking--how-to-give-a-speech

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

  • Explanation 1
  • Explanation 2
  • Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

  • Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
  • Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
  • Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
  • Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
  • Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

People-clapping-after-coworker-gave-a-speech-how-to-give-a-speech

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

  • What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
  • What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
  • What audience am I writing for? 
  • What do I know about my audience? 
  • What values do I want to transmit? 
  • If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
  • What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
  • What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Woman-at-home-doing-research-in-her-laptop-how-to-give-a-speech

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

  • Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
  • Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
  • Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
  • Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
  • Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
  • Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
  • Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
  • Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

Man-holding-microphone-while-speaking-in-public-how-to-give-a-speech

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

  • Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
  • Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
  • Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
  • Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
  • Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
  • Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
  • Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
  • Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
  • Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
  • Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
  • Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
  • Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
  • Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
  • Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
  • Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

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Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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50+ different ways to say welcome to your guests

By:  Susan Dugdale  

The challenge of a welcome speech is to find alternate ways to express yourself sincerely without resorting to a string of undifferentiated "same-old, same-old" words and phrases that have become meaningless through overuse to greet your guests with.

And there's an additional question to answer. Is the event formal or informal? Your response will guide the language choices you make.

What's on this page?

  • help to decide whether you need formal or informal language
  • examples of informal and formal welcome speech openings
  • 50+ different ways to say welcome 
  • 28 example sentences  

Do you need to use formal or informal language?

Is the welcome speech you're preparing formal or informal?  

There are major differences. The words you use in an informal speech will be entirely out of place in a formal one. You need to know what is right for the occasion if you want your speech to be a success.

The video below explains the difference and provides six example speech openings to illustrate: three formal and three informal.

How to avoid repetition making your speech boring!  

Repetition of a familiar word is easy to do and totally understandable.

Sometimes we can't find the words we want, and we get stuck in a vocabulary rut, using the same phrase or word over and over, and over again, trying to make it cover multiple and/or different situations.

Image: retro woman giving a welcome speech,and repeating the word "welcome" a lot.  Text: Repetition can be very boring! Text in s

And yet we know, words are just like clothes. One size does does not fit all.

What's the solution?

Here's three suggestions to individualize or tailor your words to fit your event a little better. And they'll be more interesting for the audience to listen to!

With care you'll find most will adapt either formal or informal use.

1. Add an adjective to the word welcome

Try working in an adjective to describe the quality of your welcome more fully.

I've provided an example sentence or two alongside each adjective to show how it could be used in context.

I know some examples are much more successful, (smooth to say and read), than others.

Some, quite frankly, clunk a little. (I say this with a wry smile ☺!) 

If you decide to use the feature word in those that do, perhaps you'll find a way to use it more eloquently!  

What sort of welcome are you offering?

It could be a(n):

  • warm  welcome " Luckily the weather is on our side today! The sun and I are pleased to offer you a warm welcome."
  • hearty  welcome  "Here's a hearty welcome, big and warm enough to encompass you all! To say we are thrilled to see you is an understatement."
  • cheerful  welcome "It's my pleasure to extend a cheerful welcome to you all! Your presence makes us very happy."
  • cordial  welcome "Fellow members, please join me in giving our guests the most cordial of welcomes."
  • sociable  welcome "Let's hear it for a sociable welcome! On the count of three, turn to your neighbor and say 'hello'. There are no strangers here, only  friends we are yet to meet."
  • genial  welcome "It's my pleasant duty to bid you all a genial welcome."
  • convivial  welcome "On behalf of my colleagues, I wish you all a convivial welcome. We are going to have a merry and enjoyable time together."
  • agreeable  welcome "The flags are flying. The balloons are ready for release. It's a great day, one we've been planning and waiting for. I'm sure you'll concur, this is an agreeable welcome."
  • pleasing  welcome "It's gratifying to look around and see so many familiar faces. That's a pleasing welcome to what I know is a going to be a great  conference ... "

Or maybe it's a(n):

  • glad  welcome "It's a glad welcome we bring to you this morning, filled with the desires, hopes and dreams we all share."
  • hospitable  welcome "We're delighted to offer the most hospitable welcome we can."
  • amiable  welcome "Dear guests, look around you! An amiable welcome full of friendship is yours."
  • gracious  welcome "Our desire is to extend a gracious and inclusive welcome to all of you. For now let's put aside our differences and instead celebrate what brings us together!"

What about a(n):

Image -young retro salesman. Text: What sort of welcome words  do you want? We've got cheerful, hearty, warm (the classic) and delighted.

Then there's a:

  • pleasant  welcome "You know what's great about these events? You are always assured of a pleasant welcome. This is feel-good central and we aim ..."
  • companionable  welcome "Looking around I can see many familiar faces - peers, past and present colleagues. What a companionable welcome! It's great to see you all here ..."
  • grateful  welcome "Many of you have made a huge effort to join us today. On behalf of us all, we are deeply appreciative and offer you our most grateful welcome."
  • friendly  welcome "Today is the day we begin to learn to look through the eyes of others; to find out and experience what the world is like for them. It is also the day we grow bigger than our differences and offer to everyone regardless of historical rights and wrongs, a friendly welcome, an outstretched hand."

Perhaps a(n):

  • appreciative  welcome "Wow, what a gathering we have here tonight. We've got dignitaries, celebrities, fans, and organizational members all brought together for one cause. Ours. Here's an appreciative welcome to you all."
  • superb  welcome "Ladies and gentlemen, the room is ready. The tables are set. The band is playing our theme song. And the waiting staff are preparing to take your orders. This is a superb welcome, fit for royalty, and that's what you are to us."
  • delighted  welcome "To our special guests; look around. See the smiles of everyone's faces? We are truly delighted to welcome you here today."
  • favored  welcome "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have stars in the sky, and on stage. We are favored to welcome some the brightest the world has seen."
  • honored  welcome "I look around the stage and am in awe with the collected expertise gathered here. We are deeply honored to welcome you."
  • big  welcome "Here's to a big welcome for our guests; Lady Amelia Thistledown and Sir Roger Godfrey!"
  • huge  welcome "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a huge welcome to ..."
  • rapturous  welcome "Do you hear the applause? The audience joins me in a rapturous welcome! We are thrilled to have you with us today."

2. What about the guests you want to welcome?

Think about the guests you want to welcome as part of your speech. What sort of guests are they?  Is there a word, or two, you could use to describe them more fully?

Accurate descriptions of the people coming to the event, either as especially invited guests, or as members of the audience, helps build credibility and trust.

The care you take to find the right words is an excellent investment for everybody involved.

Image: hand drawn crowd figures. Text: Honor your guests by using words to help them stand out from the crowd.

Could your guests be better described as:

  • esteemed  guests?
  • brilliant  guests?
  • celebrated  guests?
  • dear  guests?
  • admired  guests?
  • acclaimed  guests?
  • cherished  guests?
  • respected  guests?
  • revered  guests?
  • wonderful  guests?
  • popular  guests?
  • much-loved  guests?
  • famous  guests?
  • expert  guests?
  • distinguished  guests?
  • honored  guests?
  • valued  guests?
  • appreciated  guests?
  • remarkable  guests?
  • renowned  guests?
  • knowledgeable  guests?
  • treasured  guests?

3. What about the word "guests"?

Image: cross section of an audience. Text: Who, exactly, is your audience? Are these people your peers, colleagues, customers, work mates ...

Who are you talking to? Yes, everybody in the audience is a guest to your event but what could they be more accurately called? 

Are these people your:

  • colleagues?
  • associates?
  • classmates?
  • co-collaborators?
  • fellow-travelers, nurses, teachers ... ? (insert the appropriate descriptor)
  • affiliates?
  • conspirators?
  • companions?

And lastly, have fun experimenting!

Do try mixing and matching your words and phrases to fit the occasion. After all there are more flavors to "welcome" than vanilla!

Related pages:

  • How to write a welcome speech - with a sample speech
  • How to write a speech - step by step help - a good beginning point if you've never prepared a speech before.
  • Back to top of phrases for welcome speeches
  • Return to write-out-loud.com homepage

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how do you write a good welcoming speech

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How to Write a Welcome Speech | Academic Conference Edition

Have you ever been to a conference where the welcome speech left you wanting more information or didn’t make you excited for what’s to come? Yikes! You may not be alone in that sentiment.

But were you invited to give the welcome speech for the upcoming conference you’re attending, and want to do a better job? Fun stuff, congratulations!

We can’t take the conference jitters away, but we can help you learn about welcome speeches and how to write one in this article. In the end, you’ll see how Orvium helps the research community prepare for a conference.

What is a Welcome Speech?

A welcome speech (or address) sets the tone for a conference or event. The speech must describe what’s to come and get everyone excited for the event and feel welcome. It should also create an appropriate environment for knowledge sharing.

Anyone can deliver a welcome speech, but a minimum of excellent presentation skills, fun and creative demeanor, and the ability to be personable are major pluses. If you haven’t given a speech of this caliber before, remember that preparing your notes, writing your speech, and delivering it are all a part of the process . Practice makes perfect.

An excellent welcome speech will unite the audience, helping them come together for a common purpose.

See some examples of welcome speeches here , and learn how to write your own below.

How to Write a Welcome Speech for a Conference

1. get the event focus and tone right.

Since a welcome speech sets the tone for a conference or event, you must ensure it’s informative and interesting. While thinking about this, decide whether or not you’ll use formal or informal language . How you choose, structure, and deliver your words matters. These all come together to create the “tone”.

To decide between formal and informal language for your welcome speech, consult the graph below:

how do you write a good welcoming speech

Typically, you’ll want to use formal language for a conference (but not overly formal) depending on your audience demographics and ensure everyone can understand you. A welcome speech has the following structure:

  • opening and welcome
  • theme and main topics
  • outcome (or agenda)
  • thank yous (to attendees, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, speakers, etc.)
  • a closing statement.

Pro tip : you want to connect with your audience, grab their attention, and get them excited about the event, so start with a strong but warm opening. Don’t mention everyone involved throughout your speech, as that can get lengthy; instead, mention the essential speakers, organizations, associations, or volunteers. Finally, end the speech on a good note to get everyone excited with stats and pertinent information, such as:

  • the high number of attendees
  • any high-impact research that will be shown
  • the different represented countries
  • the variety of covered topics.

If you don’t know where to start, follow this welcome speech planner and read the information below.

2. Take Notes and Draft an Outline

From our Full Guide to Planning an Academic Conference, you know that your welcome speech must add value to the conference , just as each keynote and session speaker does. To do so, research (and reach out to) essential participants (keynote, session speakers, vendors, etc.) to make sure you know what kind of approach you can take with your speech. Humor works in the right circumstances, but you must spend time thinking it through; not all jokes will be taken lightly, and you want to avoid any misunderstandings.

Remember, your goal is to unite and bring together like-minded individuals who all have a common purpose, that of advancing and sharing knowledge .

In your notes or outline, you’ll want to include the following steps:

  • Welcome the audience - use a clear and strong voice to welcome all attendees and grab their attention.
  • an example of an informal greeting: “Hello and welcome, everyone!”
  • an example of a formal greeting: “Good evening to all attendees. It’s wonderful to see you all.”
  • Introduce the event - say the event’s name, purpose, and age or history (if it’s a repeat event or conference), and talk a bit about the event’s organization.
  • Mention any distinguished guests - ensure you get their names, affiliations, and credentials correct.
  • State the main topics - the main topics are the attendees’ common interests, so you may choose to present a specific subject within the field selected that year.
  • Outline the agenda - mention whether there’ll be sessions with specific poster presentations, (sub)topics, or areas and spaces to exchange and discuss ideas or network. Direct attendees to the conference website, content management tool , or brochure for schedule specifics.
  • Motivate everyone - highlight any conference strengths and warmly introduce the first speaker or entertainment.

Important to note : for virtual events, ensure that attendees can see and hear you clearly and look up from your notes or outline often.

3. Write Your Speech

As you’re finalizing your notes or draft, ensure that your speech is around the five-minute mark to avoid boredom or giving the audience too much information right off the bat (to not take away from any speakers). Consult with the organizing committee about a time frame, as the length of the speech can vary from conference to conference.

Pro tip : add individual greetings as necessary for special guests, speakers, or sponsors.

4. Rehearse Your Speech

Once you’ve done the necessary research, outlined, and written your welcome speech, it’s time to rehearse it a few times to familiarize yourself with your speech. Read it out loud and practice it with colleagues or friends to get their input and feedback on areas of possible improvement.

However, don’t over-rehearse your speech . You want to still sound natural, not robotic or like you’re reading a script.

Again, ensure you know how to pronounce everyone’s name and credentials as you’re rehearsing, and practice making enough eye contact with the audience or specific attendees as you’re speaking.

Orvium Makes You Feel Welcome

No one can take the nerves of giving the opening speech at a conference away; however, Orvium can make it less nerve-wracking. If you’re having trouble finding colleagues or like-minded individuals to review your speech outline and give you feedback, you can reach out to one of the Orvium communities to get to know other people in the field.

Who knows, maybe you’ll meet members and form friendships that’ll last a lifetime.

As for giving your welcome speech, remember to get the tone right, keep it brief, and don’t make it overly formal (unless absolutely necessary). Also, a smile and a lot of eye contact go a long way . Let’s get people excited about new scientific discoveries!  Want to see more of what we do? Check out our platform to discover what matters to you.

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+10 years’ experience working for Deutsche Telekom, Just Eat or Asos. Leading, designing and developing high-availability software solutions, he built his own software house in '16

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How to Start a Welcome Speech in English with a Sample

Are you going to host an event soon? You might be nervous about a lot of things including the welcome speech. The welcome speech is one of the most important parts of an anchoring script because it helps you set the tone for the rest of the event. Therefore, you have to be doubly sure that you get it right. So, read the article below to learn how to start a welcome speech in English. Besides, we have a sample in the end as well.

How to Start a Welcome Speech in English

A welcome speech is a speech given by a host at the beginning of an event, gathering, celebration, meeting, or program. The purpose of a welcome is speech is to greet everyone in the audience including the chief guest, delegates, and participants. A good welcome speech is always full of optimistic and encouraging words and feedback.

If we put it in simple words, a welcome speech is to start an event or a program and to welcome the audience. Thus, follow the steps below to learn how to write a welcome speech in English.

Comparing Script for Annual Function

Step 1: locate your guests.

Before you do anything, you need to locate your audience. So, when you are behind the podium, take a look around in the audience and check who is sitting where. Especially, you need to know where are the chief guests and the delegates are sitting because you will need to address them during your event.

This is a very simple but unavoidable step. Because knowing who is in the audience and where they are sitting may help you be more confident and aware.

Step 2: Introduction

Next, you have to set the tone for the welcome speech. So, think about how you can set the tone for the welcome speech. This usually depends upon factors such as the theme of the event, demographics, audience, and others. So, once you have the right mood, you can start the first part of your welcome speech, the introduction part. It usually consists of the following elements.

  • Greeting: Greetings are similar to saltuations in a letter. For incetance, you can begin with “Good morning, laides and genetlemen”.
  • A thank you to the contributors: When an event is hosted, it is always sponsered by an orgarniation or people. So, in the introduction part of your welcome speech, it is also important to thank te contirbutors for their contribution.
  • A What statement: In the introduction part of your event, you also need to remind your audeince what is the purpose of your event. Besides, you can also mention how previliged you are for hosting the event.

Step 3: Acknowledgments

A thank you statement is not enough actually. The sponsors of your events deserve to be appreciated because they are the people who helped you turn this into reality. However, just reading the names of the sponsors out of a piece of paper may become boring for your audience. Therefore, we suggest you cut down the list and mention the highlights.

Here are some examples to help you with this section:

  • “A special thank to …”
  • “We could not have done this without …”
  • “Here is a short tale of how it all came together …”

Step 4: The goal of the event

In this section, explain what your event is all about. However, you should avoid talking about the potential benefits of attending the event. Because people who are attending your event already why they should be there and what they can get from your event. Besides, you do not need to thoroughly tell the goal of every session. So, focus on one primary two objectives that may indeed help you define the objective of your event.

Step 5: Wrap-up and What’s next

The final step is to wrap up the welcome speech and tell your audience what they can expect. You can also wrap up the welcome speech by telling a joke or by adding a little touch of fun.

Next, let your audience know what they should expect coming to the event. Besides, you can also ask someone else to brief your audience about the event’s coming sections. You can do so in the following way.

“Thank you for your attention. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to invite _____ (name of the speaker) who will brief you more about …”

Otherwise, you can briefly mention what is next and wrap up the welcome speech.

Comparing Script for Welcome Party

Welcome speech sample for chief guest.

A warm welcome to everyone to this beautiful evening, ladies and gentlemen. Today we have gathered here to celebrate the 13th annual function of ______ (name of the school). And we are pleased to have our chief guest _____ (name of the chief guest). It is an honor for me ______ (name of the chief guest) to welcome to our today’s event.

He is a well-known businessman and an accomplished writer. Several of his books are widely read across the country. His books have motivated us to not only dream big but also guide us on how to turn them into reality. This is not just that. He is also a social worker and spends his spare time solving social issues. He has been working hard day and night to put children to school and diminish child labor from our society. We can’t thank you enough, Mr. ______ (name of the chief guest).

Thus, it is a pleasure for all of us to have such an honorable personality among us today. We are excited to hear from you, sir, about your journey and success. Once again thank you, sir, for giving us your precious time and I warmly welcome you to the function on the behalf of our director, teachers, and everyone in the _____ (name of the school).

Welcome Speech Sample for College Function

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Honorable chief guest, Mr. director, respected teachers, and my dear school fellows, I welcome you to our 25th annual college function. It has been a long and beautiful journey since 1996 and _____ (name of the college) has earned it a prestigious place in our society. Besides, ______ (name of the college) has been successful in providing young college students with quality education in the best way possible. Today we are proud to be part of ______ (name of the college).

Moving ahead, we have ____ (name of the chief guest). I warmly welcome ____ (name of the chief guest) to our today’s event on behalf of everyone in the school. He is a well-known social worker working hard day and night to beat child labor. We are honored to have you, sir.

Today I want to congratulate all the parents who have invested in their children as well as in our school. Moving forwards, I would like to call ______ (name of the speaker) who will brief you about today’s function.

Thank you all!

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Deliver a Welcome Speech – How to Write and Deliver a Welcome Speech

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How to Write and Deliver a Welcome Speech: A welcome speech is delivered to mark the beginning of any special event or occasion or to welcome a person into an organization. The purpose of a welcome speech could be many- it could be delivered to welcome the guests at the opening of an office, hotel, function etc, it is also delivered to welcome the chief guest of an occasion or to welcome a new employee etc. The bottom line is that a welcome speech is delivered to welcome any person or occasion like- Boss , guests, events, chief guests, employees, opening ceremonies as the occasion demands.

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Deliver a Welcome Speech

By going though this article you will be able to know about what is a Welcome, how to write an effective welcome speech, how to be prepared and have much confidence, characteristics of a gracious welcome speech , and how to start a welcome speech.

What is a Welcome?

A welcome is an instance or manner to greet someone and a welcome speech does the same. It is a gesture to greet arrival of guest/s on various occasions or places. The regular welcome could be just exchange of greetings or could also be in the form of some gestures. For Ex- visitors to an amusement park are welcomed at the main gate by employees dressed up in different costumes and waving at them, customers in an eatery are welcomed by the polite smile of the manager saying ‘welcome’, airlines staff welcome the passengers with a folded hands etc.

How To Write An Effective Welcome Speech?

A welcome speech might be given on a variety of events like- opening of a new school, office, hotel or any commercial or public place; where there is a need to welcome the guests, informing them about the occasion and its purpose. Welcome speech conveys the message that how important the guests are to you and to your cause as well.

Now, to write an effective welcome speech you must know the sentiments of your subject as well as the sentiments of your audience. A welcome speech can also be broken up in three parts- introduction, main body and conclusion, like the farewell speech.

Below given is an explanation on how to write an effective welcome speech, to help you prepare speech for events at your school and society. After going through the content you will be able to write an effective welcome speech and earn accolades by your family and friends-

I Introduction

The Introduction of a Welcome speech can be divided into two parts as described below-

The first rule of a welcome speech is to welcome the audience first. Start your speech with- ‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen, hi everybody etc. If you are speaking on the opening ceremony of hotel, office, hospital etc, then the audience is also your guest and must be welcomed. Next, if there is a chief guest of the occasion then he or she must be welcomed and introduced to the audience. You may ask the audience to greet the chief guest or welcome speech for chief guest by a big round of applause. You may include phrases like- “audience please welcome Mr. X by a huge round of applause or “we are thankful to Mr. X for joining us today” etc.

The Introduction of your welcome speech should be short and effective welcoming the audience and the subject, thanking them both for their time and presence.

II Main Body of the Speech

This is the main part of the speech, where the audience gets to know the purpose of the event and is informed more about the subject. If the reason for the event is opening of a house, office or any commercial establishment, then the audience is informed about the purpose of it and how both are mutually beneficial to each other. Whatever the purpose it has to serve, a welcome speech must have the following characteristics-

1) Polite and Humble

The speech should be conducted in a polite and humble manner. Whatever you write in your speech or say, must be pleasing to the ears and sound generous.

2) True Facts and Figures

The facts that you present to your audience about the chief guest or the reason for the event, must be true to the core. Any exaggeration of any person, place or thing must be avoided at all cost.

3) Inform The Chief Guest

The Chief Guest is also informed about the purpose of the event and is introduced to other dignitaries present and other distinguished personalities. Inform the chief guest personally about the event and its purpose.

4) Introduce more

Let the audience know the event, purpose, occasion, chief guest- the more you inform your audience the more effective the speech will be. If it is a special guest for whom you are giving the speech, then inform the audience about his/her achievements, the distinctions they hold in the society and how grateful we all are to him/her for taking their precious time for the occasion.

5) Add some humor

If you have a humorous incident or event in mind, which fits in the occasion and is appropriate- go ahead! Adding a little humor will make the situation lighter and more rememberable.

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How to be Prepared and have Much Confidence?

The following points must be stressed upon in order to prepare oneself for a farewell speech. They include some effective ways that you could use to deliver your fare well speech. After going through it you will know how to prepare for an effective Farewell speech as well as how to have much confidence-

  • Know your audience and chief guest advance.
  • Understand the purpose of the event.
  • Gather information about the chief guest from other sources.
  • Know his status, achievements and capacities and capabilities.
  • Prepare an effective welcome speech.
  • Make the speech concise and compact by removing unnecessary sentences.
  • Rehearse the speech in a loud voice, better if in front of a mirror.
  • Rehearse using appropriate gestures as you would do in actual speech.
  • Ask your parents or friends to be the audience/chief guest and rehearse in front of them.
  • Work on the feedback given by your family and friends and work on your weak points.
  • Arrive to the event before time.
  • Make yourself comfortable with the surroundings.
  • Socialize and speak your heart out before the speech.
  • Put more emphasis on your facial expressions i.e. smile only when it’s required.
  • Feel confident or at least pretend to be confident even if you are nervous. Nobody can guess unless you show your nervousness.
  • Make direct eye contact with your audience and the chief guest.
  • Add some last moment incident or a joke if it fits well.
  • Don’t fight your fear, just ignore it. Fighting is a waste of time.

If you are getting nervous then going through the following lines will sure boost up your confidence-

  • Even experienced speakers get nervous at some point of time.
  • They don’t know it, so don’t show it.
  • Audience or the other dignitaries are listening to you, not judging you.

Nervousness has a habit of revealing itself through the following-

1) Through your eyes

Avoiding direct eye contact with the audiences or the chief guests shows that you are nervous. So, don’t hesitate to make direct eye contact.

2) Through facial gestures

Avoid unnecessary facial gestures, especially smiles. Smiling without reason is an indication of your nervousness. Smile only when necessary.

3) Through Unwanted Hand Gestures

Avoid unnecessary gestures and use only appropriate hand gestures.

Characteristics of a Gracious Welcome Speech

A gracious fare welcome speech must have following characteristics.

1) Be polite and courteous

2) Welcome all the guests and dignitaries with enthusiasm.

3) Introduce the dignitaries to the audiences.

4) Share the distinct qualities of the chief guest with the audience.

5) A little humor would be great if it fits in the occasion.

6) Make everyone present feel special

7) Rightly time your speech. Not too short neither too long.

8) Use appropriate hand and facial gestures, only if required.

9) Narrate the qualities and achievements of chief guest to the audience

10) Acknowledge your audience and dignitaries for their time and presence.

11) Once again thank the audience and chief guest present.

12) Introduce the next speaker to the audience.

How To start A Welcome Speech?

A great welcome speech is started by welcoming the Greeting audience and the chief guest of the occasion. The chief guest and the other dignitaries present must be welcomed individually by calling out their respective names and designations.

Below we are providing a few opening sentences for your welcome speech on events in your schools and colleges.

First Welcome the Audience

The audience present at the venue must be welcomed, using the phrases like-

  • Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I/we thank you all for your presence and time.
  • Good evening ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to have you all here.
  • Good evening ladies and gentle men first let me introduce myself. I am … I thank you all for taking out your precious time for the occasion.

Then Welcome The Guests

Once you are done with welcoming the audience, it’s time to move on to the chief guest and other dignitaries. It should be kept in mind that the chief guest and other special guests are to welcomed individually by the speaker, also on behalf of the audience. For Ex-

  • I take this opportunity to introduce you to Mr. X (chief guest) and also request you (the audience) to welcome him with a huge round of applause. I would also like to introduce you to Mr. Y (Name and designation), Mr. Z (Name and Designation) and once again request you all to welcome them with a huge round of applause.
  • I feel proud to introduce you to Mr. X (chief guest) and also request you (the audience) to welcome him and all other dignitaries present, with a huge round of applause. I would also like to thank Mr. Y (Name and designation), Mr. Z (Name and Designation) for taking out their precious time for the event and make it more memorable. A huge round of applause for them, Ladies and Gentle men!

An effective welcome speech addresses all present in a very polite way, making them feel important and by admiring their presence. Whether the speech welcomes a single person or a group; it should be framed to honor them and also to inform them about the occasion, event or function. I am confident that after thoroughly going through the article, you would be able to write an impressive welcome speech, practice it and also deliver it with confidence.

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How to Write and Deliver a Welcome Speech FAQs

How do you give a guest a welcome speech.

To give a guest a welcome speech, start by greeting them warmly and expressing your delight in having them. Share a brief introduction and the purpose of the event.

How do you start a welcome speech for an event?

To start a welcome speech for an event, begin with a friendly greeting, mention the event's significance, and thank the attendees for being there.

What is the anchoring script for welcoming guest?

An anchoring script for welcoming a guest typically involves a warm introduction, acknowledging the guest's importance, and expressing gratitude for their presence.

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Everything to Know About Writing an Unforgettable Wedding Welcome Speech

Bride and groom making wedding welcome speech at reception

  • Sarah is the Entertainment & Celebrity Editor for The Knot, with special focuses on pop culture and celebrity wedding news.
  • Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Sarah was a contributing writer for Bravo at NBC Universal.
  • Sarah has a degree in journalism and resides in New York City.

Throughout your wedding day, plenty of loved ones will raise a glass and give a toast in your honor. Wedding speeches are common at both the ceremony and the reception, and they're often given by family members, best friends, and bridesmaids and groomsmen—but that doesn't mean you can't get in on the fun too. Couple speeches, especially wedding welcome speeches, are becoming popular additions to the toasting lineup . Even if public speaking isn't your favorite thing in the world, you might feel inclined to say a few words to the loved ones who've chosen to celebrate your special day with you. After all, when else will you have your nearest and dearest all together in one room?

If you're thinking of making a wedding welcome speech, you're in the right place. To help you craft a toast that'll go down in history, we've created the ultimate wedding welcome speech guide right here.

In this article:

Is a Wedding Welcome Speech Necessary?

Who does the wedding welcome speech, when should you give a wedding welcome speech, the best wedding welcome speech writing tips.

When you think of wedding toasts, a few classic variations come to mind: The maid of honor speech , the best man speech , the father of the bride speech , and the groom's parent speeches are most common. But beyond that, some couples may plan to include several other nontraditional toasts as well (like a groom's speech , a bride's speech , a mother of the bride speech , speeches from your kids , or speeches from your siblings ).

With so many potential speakers, you might wonder if a wedding welcome speech is necessary. Here's the short answer: It's up to you! It's your wedding day, so you have the power to decide who speaks and when. (But, in our unbiased opinion, we think that a welcome speech would be a great addition to your wedding day timeline .)

Once you've decided to have a wedding welcome speech, you'll have to choose who's going to give it. The newlyweds are an obvious choice—it is your day, after all, and guests will love hearing directly from you and your S.O. But if public speaking makes you nervous (or there's a gifted orator among your wedding party), there are a number of other options.

If you envision having a welcome speech for your wedding ceremony, your officiant or a close family member would be great choices. Or, if you want to kick off the reception with a wedding welcome speech, you could ask your parents to take the floor. No matter who you tap to lead the toast, be sure to give them plenty of planning time to search for wedding welcome speech samples and inspiration.

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When you've confirmed who's going to give the wedding welcome speech, work with your planner or day-of coordinator to incorporate it into your wedding day timeline . For those that want to have a welcome speech for the wedding ceremony, you might block off a few minutes once you and your S.O. are both at the altar before you begin your wedding vows.

Alternatively, you may prefer to make your welcome speech at the beginning of the wedding reception, after you've made your entrance and before you take the floor for the first dance . You could even have your parents give a welcome toast once guests are seated before dinner is served.

In fact, your wedding welcome speech doesn't even have to take place on the big day itself. You and your S.O. could plan to give a kickoff toast at the rehearsal dinner or happy hour party before the wedding. Ultimately, when you should give your wedding welcome speech is up to your preference. Just be sure you have ample time carved into the itinerary to get your moment with the mic.

Collage of wedding-related items

Whether you're a to-be-wed planning your own wedding welcome speech or you're a guest tapped by a couple for this prestigious role, you might be in search of toasting inspo. As self-proclaimed wedding speech writing experts , we're sharing exactly how to write a welcome toast that'll engage the crowd and set the tone for the rest of the party.

Lead Into it With a Song

Music plays an integral role throughout the wedding day, and it serves as a seamless way to transition into a speech. To avoid having unnecessary patches of awkward silence, work with the DJ or live band to work the wedding welcome speech into the musical timeline. Perhaps you want the wedding processional song to fade into instrumental background noise for a welcome speech at the beginning of the ceremony. Or, if the welcome toast is happening later in the day, have the person presiding over the music fade the reception entrance song so the speaker can have their moment. No matter what you choose, having a great song lead into the welcome speech is a good way to grab guests' attention—just lower the volume once the speaker begins so everyone can hear. (Need music ideas? Check out our all-time favorite wedding songs right here .)

Speak from the Heart

Instead of starting off your wedding welcome toast with something predictable, like, "We're gathered here today..." toss the expectations and speak from your heart. The best part about giving a toast at your own wedding is that there are no rules to follow. You and your S.O. could create a custom song mashup (like you've seen in so many maid of honor speeches), you could take turns sharing the mic, or you could even riff off each other if you have a shared sense of natural comedic timing and feel comfortable in the spotlight. What matters most isn't necessarily what you say, but rather that it feels genuine and honest. (If you're looking for great wedding speech examples , find our favorites here .)

Thank Your Guests for Attending

This is the most important element of the wedding welcome speech. While there aren't too many parameters to follow, it is crucial to thank your guests for celebrating this important day with you. You can go on to elaborate as much as you want to about what their presence means to you, but don't forget to express your thanks at some point throughout the speech.

Keep it Short and Sweet

As with all wedding toasts, salutations should be kept to a time limit—especially if you have multiple people lined up to take the stage (or the dance floor). Generally, reception speeches should be kept to two-and-a-half to three minutes maximum. Of course, since you're the newlyweds, you could always extend your time slot if you'd like. (Your wedding, your rules, after all.) In general, though, the same timing guidelines should be followed if you plan on having someone else make the welcome speech at the wedding ceremony, like your parents or your officiant.

To keep your wedding guests engaged the entire time, a three-minute speech will hit the sweet spot. It gives speakers the perfect amount of time to welcome guests, thank everyone for attending, share a personal anecdote or two, and get everyone hyped up for an evening of celebration.

Couple raising toasts after wedding reception speeches.

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10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong

Lights, camera, action! 💡🎥🎬

The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing and the worship team is ready to unleash their heavenly melodies. It’s showtime, baby!

But you need more than just a run-of-the-mill church welcome speech and you can’t just make it up on the spot…

No, no, no! You need a great church welcome speech that’s going to welcome first-time visitors and set the right expectations.

Well, look no further because you’ve stumbled upon a goldmine of 10 dynamic church welcome speeches guaranteed to kickstart your service with a bang 💥

So let’s make your next service a service to remember , where hearts are touched, souls are stirred and lives are forever changed.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What Is A Church Welcome Speech?

5 key elements of a church welcome speech, 10 church welcome speeches you can use, 4 great church welcome speech examples.

A church welcome speech is a brief address delivered at the beginning of a church service, usually by a church MC or worship leader..

More than a mere greeting, a church welcome speech is an opportunity to connect with both new and old faces, create a warm and inviting atmosphere, give valuable information and set the stage for a great worship experience.

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Whether your church is big or small, black or white, Baptist or Pentecostal, in the US or the Philippines, a great church welcome speech has 5 key elements.

Let’s walk through each one 👇

1. A Simple Introduction

The key here is to keep it short and sweet, yet warm and friendly.

As they say: less is more.

Especially when it comes to opening your church service. Say what needs to be said and move on.

A good church welcome officially starts the service and gets everyone focused, so give a quick introduction of yourself and the church.

This can be as simple as “Good morning and welcome to Grace Church. I’m Abi and it’s great to see you all here.”

2. Set Expectations

When done right, the person opening the service can help raise the faith level of your church right before entering into worship.

Help set the tone by giving everyone a general idea of what’s going to happen. You don’t need to give a minute-by-minute breakdown of the service, just a quick overview is good enough.

This is a good place to mention your current sermon series  or special guest speaker if you have one.

3. Give Useful Information

Give everyone the practical information they need to relax and feel comfortable.

Gently remind people to put phones on silent, tell them they’ll be coffee afterwards and point out where the Kid’s Church and bathrooms are.

4. Welcome Visitors

It’s good to take a moment to specifically welcome first-time guests and let them know you’re glad they’re here.

Launching your service this way is not only a great way to make church visitors feel at home :

It also helps outward-focused culture and sends a clear message to members that this is a safe place they can invite their family and friends to.

If your church has visitor connect cards (so you can do follow-up later) ask them to fill them out and drop them in the offering basket as it passes by.

5. End With What’s Next

Now you’ve officially opened up the meeting, it’s time to transition into the next part of the service.

If you’re going into worship, have everyone stand. Lead everyone in a faith-filled prayer welcoming the Holy Spirit to move in hearts and minds.

If it’s the sermon next, thank God for His Word, pray that their hearts and minds be ready to receive what God has to say to his people, then have everyone clap their hands to welcome the preacher.

best church welcome speeches

I’m going to share with you 10 church welcome speech outlines you can use at your next Sunday morning service or church event.

Use these to inspire you and spark new ideas and feel free to adapt them to your local church setting to make them your own.

Church Welcome Speech #1

Good morning and welcome to [CHURCH NAME]. My name’s [YOUR NAME] and if you’re visiting us for the first time here, thank you for coming! It’s great to have you with us.

You’ll find a connect card in [LOCATION], it would be great if you could fill that out – we’d love to get to know you better.

In the next [NUMBER OF MINUTES] we’re going to enjoy a time of worship before [PREACHER NAME] talks to us about [SERMON TOPIC]. It’s going to be good!

Please remember [to collect your children from/turn your phones on silent or any other useful info here].

Please join with me in prayer. [PRAYER].  As the worship team starts playing, let us stand together in singing [SONG TITLE].

Church Welcome Speech #2

Hi! I’m [YOUR NAME] and a very warm welcome to you. It’s so good to see so many smiling faces this morning!

If this is your first time at [CHURCH NAME] I want to extend a special warm welcome to you, it’s great to have you with us.

Please take a moment and fill out the connect card that can be found [LOCATION]. That’ll really help us get to know you a little bit better and know how we can serve or pray for you.

This week we start a brand 4-week series called [SERMON SERIES NAME] where we’re going to be talking about [TOPIC]. I know that God is going to speak to us, amen?

Before I go, let me just remind you that [USEFUL INFO HERE].

That being said, let’s get ready to [NEXT STEP HERE].

OK, let’s pray together. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #3

Good morning! Welcome to [CHURCH NAME], the place where miracles happen and lives are changed. My name is [YOUR NAME] and whether you’re a longtime member or a first-time visitor, we’re excited to have you with us.

At [CHURCH NAME], we believe that each person who walks through these doors is here for a divine purpose and today, we have a powerful service planned just for you.

We’re gonna dive into worship and lift our voices and hearts in praise to our amazing God. We’ll also have a thought-provoking message that will challenge and inspire you to grow in your faith.

For our first-time visitors, we have a special gift prepared just for you. Be sure to stop by our welcome table after the service to receive your gift and connect with our friendly team members.

Before we proceed, let’s take a moment to greet those around us and extend a warm welcome to everyone in our church family. Go ahead and share a smile, a handshake or even a high-five.

Now let’s prepare our hearts and minds as we enter into a time of worship together and let’s get ready to encounter God in a powerful way.

Church Welcome Speech #4

Before we kick off the service we’d just like to take a moment to welcome everybody to [CHURCH NAME].

We’re thrilled to have you with us today as we worship and seek God’s face and get wisdom from God’s Word.

Before we do that though, just a few important announcements:

This Friday, we have a special prayer night where we will intercede for the needs of our church and community. We invite you to join us. here at [CHURCH NAME] we believe in the power of prayer!

We also have Connect Groups available for all ages where you connect with God and each other.

If you’re interested in joining a connect group or volunteering in one of our service teams, please visit the Connect Corner after the service.

Other than that, all that’s left for me to say is let’s lean in today. Let’s lean with expectant hearts ready to receive what God has for us.

Let’s stand and pray together [PRAYER].

Church Welcome Speech #5

Hello, hello, hello! Is everyone ready to have an amazing time in the presence of God today? I know I am!

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I have the privilege of serving as [YOUR ROLE] here at [CHURCH NAME]. I want to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you and we ‘re excited to have you here today .

Whether you’re a familiar face or a first-time visitor, [CHURCH NAME] is a place where we come together as a family to celebrate, grow, and encounter the life-transforming power of God.

Today, we have an incredible service planned just for you. Get ready to experience passionate worship and hear a message that I know will speak directly to your heart.

So, once again, welcome to [CHURCH NAME]. Open your hearts, open your minds and expect God to move in a powerful way today.

Now let’s enter into worship together, knowing that we serve a great big God who is faithful and who desires to meet us right where we are.

Let’s pray. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #6

Good morning everyone and welcome to [CHURCH NAME], a place where normal people encounter an extraordinary God.

Today, we invite you to join us in a worship experience that will stir your soul and draw you closer to God’s presence.

After the service, we encourage you to visit our Connect Corner, where you can learn more about our various connect groups, ministries and service opportunities.

We believe that each person has a unique role to play in building God’s kingdom, and we’d love to help you find your place of service and connection within our church family.

Let’s pray as we have a time of worship and hear God’s Word together. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #7

Well, well, well! Look who decided to grace us with their presence today. It’s none other than the incredible congregation of [CHURCH NAME]!

Give yourselves a round of applause for making it here on this beautiful day.

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m thrilled you could join us for Sunday service.

Before we kick things off, why don’t you spread some joyful vibes and warm welcomes by high-fiving, fist-bumping or jazz-handing the person next to you.

Today is going to be good!

After worship, we’re going to hear a special message from Pastor [NAME] that I know is going to stretch our faith and help us to believe God for more.

So remember to put your phone on silent and of course, feel free to join us for coffee and treats after the service in the [LOCATION]. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet and connect.

And to our first-time visitors, welcome! Grab a welcome pack after the service—it’s filled with goodies and surprises just for you.

Right now we’re going to enter into a time of worship so feel free to stand, sit or dance in the aisles. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, Amen?

So let’s make a joyful noise!

Church Welcome Speech #8

Hello and a massive welcome to [CHURCH NAME] on this beautiful [CHRISTMAS/EASTER] morning!

My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am so excited to be worshipping with you today. If you’re a visitor with us, thank you so much for coming and celebrating [CHRISTMAS/EASTER] with us.

For those with us for the first time, I’d love it if you could fill out the connect card that’s [LOCATION] and kindly drop it on the offering plate as it comes by. Thank you, this will just help us get to know you better.

I know we’ve got a lot coming up for you today. We’re going to kick things off here with a time of worship before we hear a special [CHRISTMAS/EASTER} message from [PREACHER NAME]. After that [INCLUDE ANY OTHER SPECIAL ELEMENTS].

Please note that [USEFUL INFO HERE].

Right, are we ready? Let’s pray. [PRAYER] [NEXT STEP]

Church Welcome Speech #9

Good morning, friends! Welcome to [CHURCH NAME] and I’m thrilled to be here with you today as we start this incredible worship experience.

Let’s just take a moment to connect with one another. Find someone nearby, give them a warm smile, and let them know how glad you are to see them.

Now, get ready for a time of worship in the presence of God. Then, after worship, we will have a powerful message which will challenge and inspire us in our faith.

If you’re new here, we’re delighted to have you join us. We have visitor connect cards available, where you can share your contact information and any prayer requests you may have.

Feel free to fill out the cards and drop them in the designated box. We would love to connect with you and support you in any way we can.

For families with children aged 3 to 12, we have an exciting Kids Church program available.

And after the service, we invite everyone to join us for a time of fellowship and refreshments in the [LOCATION]. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet new people.

To our first-time visitors, we extend a special welcome. We’re thrilled that you’ve chosen to worship with us today.

Please feel free to approach our friendly volunteers at the welcome desk, who will be more than happy to assist you, answer any questions you may have, and provide you with a small gift as a token of our appreciation.

Now, let’s enter into a time of worship. Let’s lift our voices, open our hearts and invite the Holy Spirit to fill this place.

Church Welcome Speech #10

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to [CHURCH NAME]! It’s wonderful to see so many beautiful faces here this morning!

Now, if you’re joining us for the first time today, we want to extend a special welcome to you. Would you please stand?

Let’s give them a warm round of applause, everyone! It’s great to have you!

Our ushers will be coming around with a special welcome pack designed just for you. It contains helpful information about our church, upcoming events, and ways to get connected.

We want you to feel at home and supported as you explore what our church has to offer. Don’t hesitate to ask our ushers any questions you may have or let them know how we can serve you better.

Before we dive into a time of worship and listen to a great word from Pastor [NAME] I have just a couple of announcements.

Firstly, I want to invite you all to join us this coming Friday for our special prayer night. It’s a powerful time of seeking God’s presence and interceding for our church, community, and the world. Mark your calendars and be part of this transformative experience.

Also, if you’re not already part of a connect group, we have an incredible network of connect groups across the city that meet every Wednesday where you can grow in your relationship with God and one another.

We have a Connect Table at the back where you can find out more so be sure to visit after the service.

Once again, thank you to each and every one of you for being with us and we know where 2 or more are gathered in His name, He is here with us, amen?

Let’s stand together and pray as we enter into worship. [PRAYER]

I wanted to end things here with some real-life examples and give you my thoughts on what I think works well. 

It’s good to keep your speeches becoming predictable by mixing them up a little.

Here are 4 different styles and approaches you could take in your church:

1. The Comedic Approach

What a clever and funny way to open the service! Almost rapping, he does a great job of welcoming visitors, having them stand while the church applauds.

I also like how he sets expectations, saying “Today is Youth Sunday” .

YouTube video

2. The Evangelistic Approach

This wonderful woman has a really warm but powerful way of welcoming people to the church.

She starts off by getting people ready to worship and hear the Word. This can be a powerful way to set the tone for the rest of the service.

She introduces the church pastors and even points them out individually. This might work well depending on your style of church.

I was surprised to hear her nearly do an alter call saying “Don’t leave here today without knowing Jesus.”

She’s passionate and friendly, everything you want in someone giving the welcome at your church.

YouTube video

3. The Helpful Approach

This welcome takes less than a minute but works really well and is a great example of how we can make our church services more welcoming for guests.

He leads by introducing himself saying he’s part of the hospitality team and makes himself available if he can help them in any way, right before asking first-time visitors to stand up and thank them for coming.

YouTube video

4. The Faith-Fuelled Approach

This next one is short and sweet, but it’s a masterclass on how to use your church welcome speech to raise the faith level through the roof!

YouTube video

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Over To You

There you go – you now have 10 church welcome speeches to choose from for next Sunday!

If you really want to mix it up then take a look at these 36 church welcome poems .

And if you found this post useful, be sure to check out our step-by-step guides:

  • How To Make Church Visitors Feel Welcome
  • How To Make A Church Welcome Pack
  • 5 Common-Sense Church Greeting Tips
  • 10 Ways To Get More First-Time People Into Your Church
  • How To Be A Church MC: Tips & Scripts For Seamless Services

Now it’s time to hand it over to you:

What do you say in your church welcome speech?

And do you have any tips for giving a better welcome speech at the start of the service?

Let us know in the comments below! 🙏

17 thoughts on “10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong”

Very helpful, thanks for sharing

These guide lines are very good and they are very brief

God bless you

Thanks you for that Spiritual Food,God Bless you Always.

Right back at ya Lynn! You got this! 🙂

These guidelines are super. God richly bless you.. I

This was very helpful

thank you so much it is very helpful

very helpful and we’ll articulated

You made a good point that having a strong welcome speech that has emphasis on evangelization can help a lot in making the people ready for worship. I’m planning to get church worship services for my neighborhood association that will be celebrating its foundation day on December. If the quarantine has been lifted by then, I think having a thanksgiving Mass would be ideal for that gathering.

Very helpful, glad I found your site.

Thanks so much for this write up. I found it when looking for welcome Speech. It’s very detailed. Thanks

Great examples/ very usecul

I feel so bless coming across your site. I was assigned to do a welcome remark and I was about to refuse but thought of like saying “no” to Jesus. I prayed for guidance and Holy Spirit led me to it. Thank you for the wonderful ideas. Bless you Bishop!

I’m the one welcoming new members to church next Sunday… God bless you for this.. I really need it

Bishop T. Randolph January 4, 2019 I love it!!! This is what I was used to growing up; This has been forsaken in many churches, even in my own. I shall re-enter this in our church services. To God be the glory and I thank God for you and His leading me to your site! We pray you be forever blessed in your purpose for God,The Father!

This is awesome God bless you

Bless you too, I’m glad you found these welcome speeches helpful!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

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Church Welcome Speech: Guide To Welcoming New Members

Part of showing the love of Jesus to those who walk through the doors of our churches is to welcome them. If they don’t feel welcomed, are we really showing our love adequately enough? Unfortunately, despite this importance, giving a church welcome speech is neither easier said nor done.  After all, church welcome speeches can […]

lead pastor holding up a welcome sign behind a podium for church welcome speech

Part of showing the love of Jesus to those who walk through the doors of our churches is to welcome them. If they don’t feel welcomed, are we really showing our love adequately enough? Unfortunately, despite this importance, giving a church welcome speech is neither easier said nor done. 

After all, church welcome speeches can come off as awkward, forgettable, or even forced. They don’t always make good on their intended purpose and I’ve seen this in the past at churches I attended. That said, church welcome speeches are nonetheless necessary for turning new members into regulars. To help you with this, I’ve come up with some simple but effective examples in this guide. 

I’ll cover:

What is a church welcome speech, what should a church welcome speech include, church welcome speech examples, church welcome ideas, what is a good closing for a welcome speech.

A church welcome speech is the greeting you give onstage at every church service you do. Most churches I’ve ever been to have this welcome speech in some form or another, so it is possible that you already have one at your church. 

Regardless, a good welcome speech is exactly what it sounds like: a moment during your service in which you greet the congregation. The key here is introducing your church to any newcomers that day and making them feel, well, welcome. It is a flexible feature of your service, being as elaborate or simple as you want it to be. 

Some churches have major speeches that go over quite a lot while others just say hello and good morning to the first-time guests and the existing members and leave it at that. This range, of course, can be confusing and daunting for some. 

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Why Is It Important To Have A Welcome Speech?

Without a church welcome speech, you are essentially leaving your prospective new church members hanging without any introduction to your Christian community. They will know nothing about your church, who the pastor is, and what to expect from the service. 

But even more important than that, a warm welcome speech is necessary for showing the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. At its core, a church should be the spiritual home of everyone (see the bible verse Ephesians 2:19-22). Would you ever let someone enter your home, especially someone you don’t know well, without saying hi, greeting them, and getting to know them? 

I sure hope you wouldn’t and the spiritual home known as the church should be the same. The welcome speech is exactly how you start out your service on the right foot and show the loving, Holy Spirit-led environment that your church is. 

This loving welcome speech is there to not only greet the special guests but to, hopefully, show that this is the new home church for them. If they don’t feel the love or passion from your church through a proper church welcome , chances are the church visitors won’t return to hear it again.

When Should You Give a Church Welcome Speech? 

Now, this may seem rather odd but the timing of your church welcome speech is actually more crucial than you realize. This is a welcome message so it should come, understandably, near the beginning of the service. 

Though most churches get this, I have been in a lengthy Sunday service before where it was unnecessarily done more than half an hour into the service. This is a huge chunk into the schedule to the point where it is hard to clarify it as a welcome greeting. Other than that, though, it’s rather flexible on when you should give the welcome address. 

Some churches will do it the moment that church starts and kick off with that, which is fine, especially if you want a shorter speech. Others will play a song or two in worship before giving a welcome speech and then kicking it back to the worship team. This is what I prefer, personally, as it strikes the right balance and ebb and flow of the service without being too long. 

Still, others will wait until after worship is completely finished, but this runs the risk of waiting too long to greet everyone. But as long as the speech is effective, loving, God-filled, and unique, the timing is ultimately up to whatever works best for your church. Feel free to test out different methods, too. 

What Is The Best Way To Welcome Someone To Church?

Before you can ever greet your guests on the stage, there is the actual act of welcoming your guests into the service in the first place. There are a few ways to do this, but, in general, the more, the merrier. One thing to note, though, is that new guests are likely to be anxious and concerned about this new environment, so always practice restraint and flexibility when necessary. 

For instance, it’s awesome to have special designated parking spaces for new visitors to your church close to the doors. Then at those doors, have friendly and passionate greeters who will lovingly welcome them to church. Also, have a welcome desk for visitors to answer any questions about the kids ministry, where the restrooms are, and so on. 

Just make sure not to be forceful in any of these. Offer your services and help, but know when to lay off if the person seems apprehensive or closed off. If they are receptive, though, feel free to have your volunteers and deacons show them to some great seats in the sanctuary. All of these will compound and transition nicely to the later welcome speech. 

The scariest part about a church welcome speech is how much it can include or exclude, depending on your preferences and needs. At the very bare minimum, it’s a simple hello and greeting for everyone who came to church today with a quick note for newcomers. 

But on the other end of the spectrum, there can be interactive questions, activities, announcements about what’s coming up, teases for the sermon, prayer, offering, next steps, and so on. A church welcome speech can be jam-packed with information and features, so it is up to you to figure out what works best for your church. 

Given how varied welcome speeches can be, I thought I’d give you a few different examples that I really appreciate, plus my own personal speech that I use at my local church. 

First off, I adore this welcome speech that comes from Miracle Temple Baptist Church . I apologize for the low video quality, but I adore the heartfelt greeting here. It is so lovely, loving, and professional. You get a little bit of personality from the greeter plus some useful information about the church in a succinct manner. 

Secondly, there is this speech from Pastor Matthew Barnett at my previous church, Angelus Temple. It starts around the 18:05 mark and goes for a few minutes after worship. What I love here is the referencing back to the worship songs that were just sung and the testimony from a church member whose life was changed. It gives a nice introduction to the lead pastor and a glimpse of what the church is all about. 

For the third example, there is this example of a welcome speech from Bethel Church for the first couple of minutes of this live-streamed worship service video. 

It’s impactful with a quick testimony from what happened with a church member’s recent healing, it gives some quick details about announcements about baptism, and gives the opportunity to greet your neighbor to get to know them. Altogether, a pretty standard look at a welcome speech.

My Personal Welcome Speech Example and Tips

Lastly, there is my own speech that I use. To be clear, I work primarily in kids and youth ministries, so I am all about energy and having fun. That said, this is crucial to adult church services, too, as they want to feel engaged and interested in what you have to say. You could use this as a template of sorts for creating your own speech.

Usually, I will start out by saying hello to everyone at church and encouraging them to stand up if they feel comfortable for worship. After the first lively worship song, I will come back and do the proper speech. This is where I will ask how everyone’s week was, say that I hope they are excited for church, etc. 

During the speech, don’t forget to always use eye contact with everyone in the crowd (the stage lights can make that tough, but try at least) during this speech, too. 

I will then throw in a special welcome for our new visitors. I’ll give them a quick rundown of our church, maybe what’s coming up next, and some next steps. This could be a welcome desk we have that they can visit after church if they’d like for a free small gift like a shirt or gift card, and include a form in their church bulletin that they can fill out with their information if they want. 

Then at this point, there will be a small fun activity that we’ll do like maybe some trivia, a random giveaway of a shirt, prayer for some needs in the church, and then some announcements. The key here is to end it nicely and then transition to either more worship songs or someone else to lead the offering and the sermon. This may sound like a lot but it should be no more than three or four minutes in length. 

The entire experience of welcoming a new church member starts from the moment they see the church name on the sign and pull into your church grounds. Everything from the signs that they see to the parking spots that are available to the greeters at the entrances should be tailored to show love and passion. 

There are so many different ideas you could use from the hype level you give off to which church leaders actually give the welcome speech in the first place. There are a lot of possible ideas, which is why I previously covered 15 main church welcome ideas and tips that I think can help to elevate the church service experience for newcomers, whether it’s Easter or a normal Sunday morning. 

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It’s not just about how well you start but how well you finish, too. There are a few different ways to end your welcome speech, and it comes down to how your church is set up. Here is a short list of a few conclusion ideas I have for you: 

  • End your church welcome speech by leading into worship songs
  • Have a prayer, possibly for the service as a whole or any needs with the congregation 
  • Offer next steps for newcomers, such as a provided lunch after service, free gift, or meeting with the lead pastor
  • Transition to the next person to come on stage, perhaps for the sermon or tithing
  • Tease the theme for today’s sermon
  • Provide announcements about what’s coming up in the next few weeks like an exciting church event or special church program
  • Encourage first-time guests to fill out one of the connect cards

Communication Is Always Key

Communication is at the heart of everything that we do as a church body. The church speech for first-time visitors is a clearer example of communication at work in the church service, but there is so much more to it than just that. Communication is both a verbal and non-verbal area you should focus heavily on. 

For instance, there is the aforementioned church bulletin that you pass out or sermon notes for what the pastor is preaching on. These areas need to swiftly communicate ideas and what’s happening in the church in effective ways. Find out more info about how to do just that with Alexandria Schmidt’s free church communication plan template . Or, find more church bulletin ideas here and church bulletin examples here .

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Examples

Welcome Speech for Conference

how do you write a good welcoming speech

Speech . This word can either give you the creeps or a sense of excitement. It can also give you that sense of nostalgia, remembering your college days when you were told to make any type of speech and present it in class. Speech is a part of every person’s daily life. Even when you are already a professional, you would still encounter some if not most types of speeches. For some events like a graduation, a wedding or a conference, welcome speeches are the most common type to use. Sometimes we often find it difficult to write a good welcome speech but that issue can be solved. This article right here will  help you make  a good welcome speech. So check it out.

9+ Welcome Speech for Conference Examples

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Welcome Speech for Consumer Conference

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3. Printable Welcome Speech for Conference

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4. Welcome Speech for Conference in PDF

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6. Welcome Speech for Conference Template

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7. Example of Welcome Speech for Conference

Example of Welcome Speech for Conference

8. Welcome Speech for Annual Conference

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9. Opening and Welcome Speech for Conference

Opening and Welcome Speech for Conference

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10. Welcome Speech for Inaugural Conference

Welcome Speech for Inaugural Conference

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Defining Speech

Speech is a way of expressing or communicating your ideas and thoughts through spoken words. A dialect that individuals speak. A public discourse between people who communicate their opinions to each other or to an audience.

Defining Conference

A conference is an important meeting between members of a company or an organization. In addition to that, it is also a meeting between two companies that merge together to discuss important matters that may concern both parties.

Definition of Welcome Speech

A welcome speech is a kind of speech given during a special or any type of event. Whether it may be a wedding, a conference, a graduation, or a simple college event. This type of speech is given to show gratitude towards the people who made an effort to go to the event.

Importance of Welcome Speech

The importance of making a welcome speech is to draw attention to your listeners. Your welcome speech is important because it addresses everyone, it addresses the reason why you are also attending the event. Your welcome speech must not be too short to bore your audience nor too long that it may drag. Rather, let it be enough to address everyone important in the room like distinguished guests, managers and the people who will be talking.

Tips for Writing Welcome Speeches

When it comes to writing welcome speeches, the things that you need to consider are:

  • Length of speech : When you are making your welcome speech, one thing to reconsider is the length . How long is too long and how short is too short. By understanding the correct length of writing a welcome speech, you are able to formulate a good one.  One thing to remember is that your welcome speech must not be too short that you miss out on the important details. Nor should it be too long that it may drag and bore your audience.
  • Information: Your welcome speech must include the information it needs . Just like the names of the chairpersons, the CEO, the vice president, distinguished guests and the topic to be discussed. Without these types of information, your welcome speech is lacking.
  • End the speech nicely:  End it on a positive note. Make sure what you need to say has all been said .
  • Watch your grammar and spelling: Once you have made your speech, you should also be weary of your spelling and grammar. Check once in a while.
  • Revision: Revise your work before you present it. There is nothing wrong with revising what you have written. It is surely better to revise knowing you have written a well deserved masterpiece to perfection than to ignore the revision and there were a lot of mistakes made.

What is a welcome speech?

A welcome speech is a type of speech that you use to welcome people to an event.

Can I wing a welcome speech?

If you wish to “wing” a welcome speech, chances are you are going to miss the important information that is needed when making this speech.

How many paragraphs are there to make a welcome speech?

The estimated number of paragraphs are three full paragraphs. But you may go over more than three paragraphs. As long as the information you need is present.

How long should a welcome speech be presented?

If possible, not more than five minutes. The reason for this is to lessen the loss of interest from your listeners.

Now that we have gone over the things to consider about making a good welcome speech, you are now ready to write and prepare one for your next welcome speech conference. Good luck!

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Welcome Speech Generator for Conference

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How to write a welcoming welcome speech for conference attendees

Crafting a welcome speech for conference that sets the tone

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Welcome Speech: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

    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. 3. Add individual greetings for any special guests. Include the names of special guests that are part of the audience.

  2. How to write a welcome speech in 3 steps (with sample speech)

    There are six common or standard content items in a good welcome speech. These are: Greetings to welcome everyone and thanking them for coming along. Acknowledgement of special guests, if there are any. An introduction of the event itself and a brief overview of special highlights the audience will want to know about.

  3. Welcome Speech in English: Best Samples, Examples & Tips

    The objective of a welcome speech in English is to introduce yourself and the rest of the attendees at the event. This is done through a short introduction about who you are, what you do, why you're attending, etc. The following are the objectives of a welcome speech: Introduce yourself. Provide Information regarding the event.

  4. How to Write a Great Welcome Speech

    Example 1: Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event. Good evening everyone, and welcome to our special corporate event. I'd like to start by introducing myself; my name is [Name], and I'm honored to be here with all of you today. I would like to extend a warm greeting to our esteemed guests who joined us this evening.

  5. Writing an Effective Welcome Speech

    Writing an effective welcome speech includes a warm greeting, a thanks for attendance, and a bit of enthusiasm. You want to stir up excitement in the room. Read on to learn how to formulate a winning welcome speech and enjoy a few examples.

  6. How to Write a Welcome Speech: 11 Steps

    A well-crafted welcome speech can set the tone for an event and make attendees feel at ease from the beginning. By following these 11 steps, you can write a memorable welcome speech that will engage and inspire your audience. 1. Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience is the most important aspect of crafting a great welcome speech ...

  7. Welcome Speech

    Use phrases like "Good morning," "Welcome," or "Thank you for being here.". Introduce Yourself: Briefly introduce yourself, including your name and role, to establish your connection to the event or organization. Express Gratitude: Thank attendees for their presence.

  8. Make Your Welcome Speech A Verbal Handshake

    A welcome speech is a short speech that greets attendees and sets the tone for an event. It can be instructional, informative, persuasive, or inspirational, as the speaker gets the audience interested in the event, makes them feel welcome, and gives them an overview of what to expect. Whether you attend a wedding, a conference, or the spring ...

  9. How to Write a Good Speech: 10 Steps and Tips

    Create an outline: Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval. Write in the speaker's voice: While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style.

  10. 7 Easy Ways to Write a Welcome Speech in English

    Step 2. Now that you are confident enough about your environment, you are good to go. So, you can begin with a warm smile and a polite tone. First, introduce yourself and thank your audience for coming. Be humble and speak for a couple of minutes thanking and welcoming your guests. For instance,

  11. Phrases for welcome speeches : how to say welcome uniquely

    glad welcome. "It's a glad welcome we bring to you this morning, filled with the desires, hopes and dreams we all share." hospitable welcome. "We're delighted to offer the most hospitable welcome we can." amiable welcome. "Dear guests, look around you! An amiable welcome full of friendship is yours." gracious welcome.

  12. How to Write a Welcome Speech

    In your notes or outline, you'll want to include the following steps: Welcome the audience - use a clear and strong voice to welcome all attendees and grab their attention. an example of an informal greeting: "Hello and welcome, everyone!". an example of a formal greeting: "Good evening to all attendees.

  13. How to Start a Welcome Speech in English with a Sample

    Step 5: Wrap-up and What's next. The final step is to wrap up the welcome speech and tell your audience what they can expect. You can also wrap up the welcome speech by telling a joke or by adding a little touch of fun. Next, let your audience know what they should expect coming to the event.

  14. How to Write and Deliver a Welcome Speech

    1) Be polite and courteous. 2) Welcome all the guests and dignitaries with enthusiasm. 3) Introduce the dignitaries to the audiences. 4) Share the distinct qualities of the chief guest with the audience. 5) A little humor would be great if it fits in the occasion. 6) Make everyone present feel special.

  15. Welcome Speech for Meeting

    Always make sure that all details needed are within your reach or that you already have them down as notes. 2. Write a Short Draft of Your Speech. Draft it out. It may sound as simple as that, and it really is, but to make a good welcome speech, one must at least learn to draft out what you need to say.

  16. Write a Welcome Speech for an Event

    The first thing to consider when writing a welcome speech is the length of your speech. Do thorough research before writing a welcome speech. Write an engaging short welcome speech for an event of any kind. Include thanks to the guests for being part of the event. Avoid clichés in your speech and practice saying it aloud.

  17. How to Write a Great Wedding Welcome Speech

    Throughout your wedding day, plenty of loved ones will raise a glass and give a toast in your honor. Wedding speeches are common at both the ceremony and the reception, and they're often given by family members, best friends, and bridesmaids and groomsmen—but that doesn't mean you can't get in on the fun too. Couple speeches, especially wedding welcome speeches, are becoming popular ...

  18. Welcome Speech Essay

    As you deliver your speech, you would simply follow or read along the lines. Your tone in your writing should be active as much as possible. Avoid being too passive as it may make your speech devoid of any emotion or feeling. 3. Welcome the Audience to the Event. This is mostly found in the body of your speech essay.

  19. 10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong

    I'm Abi and it's great to see you all here.". 2. Set Expectations. When done right, the person opening the service can help raise the faith level of your church right before entering into worship. Help set the tone by giving everyone a general idea of what's going to happen.

  20. Church Welcome Speech: Guide To Welcoming New Members

    The welcome speech is exactly how you start out your service on the right foot and show the loving, Holy Spirit-led environment that your church is. This loving welcome speech is there to not only greet the special guests but to, hopefully, show that this is the new home church for them. If they don't feel the love or passion from your church ...

  21. The Ultimate Guide to Church Welcome Speech (+5 Samples)

    2. Welcome speech for Sunday services. Good morning. We're so grateful to have you join us at ( Church's Name) this beautiful Sunday morning to praise God and the Son of God. My name is ( Name ), and I'm the ( Title ). I also want to introduce you to our Choir Director ( Name) and Pastor ( Name ).

  22. Welcome Speech for Conference

    Defining Speech. Speech is a way of expressing or communicating your ideas and thoughts through spoken words. A dialect that individuals speak. A public discourse between people who communicate their opinions to each other or to an audience.. Defining Conference. A conference is an important meeting between members of a company or an organization.