how to write a formal welcome speech

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Communication Skills
• Public Speaking
• Speechwriting

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 1,717,378 times.

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

Greeting the Audience

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

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

Patrick Muñoz

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

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

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

Forming the Body of the Speech

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

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

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

Ending the Speech

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

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

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

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

Writing Help

Community Q&A

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

You Might Also Like

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

About This Article

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

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Gokul Shriram

Nov 17, 2019

Apr 8, 2022

Adefisayo Adeyemi

Sep 24, 2021

Johnson Kisero

Jan 29, 2019

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Develop the tech skills you need for work and life

Speak 2 Impress

No products in the cart.

How to Craft a Memorable Welcome Address Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

Crafting a memorable welcome address can sometimes feel like navigating through unfamiliar territory. Struggling to find just the right mix of words that won’t merely greet but genuinely embrace my audience has been a familiar challenge.

Through my journey, I stumbled upon the magic of incorporating light-hearted language , finding it adds an engaging and comforting layer to any speech. This article aims to guide you on crafting an address that not only leaves a lasting impression on your guests but does so with warmth and brevity .

Are you ready? Let’s embark on this learning quest together!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Practice your speech and use light-hearted language to make the audience feel at ease.
• Acknowledge special guests and share gratitude for everyone’s presence to create a warm atmosphere.
• Keep your welcome address concise and focus on engaging with the audience through eye contact and body language.
• Introduce the event’s purpose clearly, helping attendees understand what to expect.

Importance of a Welcome Address Speech

Crafting a memorable welcome address speech sets the tone for the event and creates a welcoming atmosphere while acknowledging the audience. It’s essential to greet the audience informally, use light-hearted language, acknowledge special guests, introduce the event and its purpose, express gratitude for the audience’s presence, and provide a brief overview of the event in order to deliver an impactful welcome address speech.

Sets the tone for the event

A great welcome speech opens the door to an event, setting a warm and inviting atmosphere right from the start. Simple greetings like “Good morning everyone!” spark enthusiasm among the guests.

It’s my first move to make sure attendees feel appreciated and eager for what’s coming up.

Through light-hearted language, I create a space where everyone starts on a positive note . This mood sets expectations for an engaging and enjoyable experience ahead. Engaging with the audience early helps them connect with the purpose of our gathering, whether it’s a corporate event or a church welcome speech.

Creates a welcoming atmosphere

Crafting a warm and inviting welcome address speech is crucial for setting the right tone for the event. Acknowledging the audience with informal greetings and light-hearted language can instantly create a friendly atmosphere, making everyone feel valued and appreciated.

Expressing gratitude towards the attendees further enhances the welcoming vibe, ensuring that they are excited and engaged from the very beginning.

Engaging with positive body language while delivering the welcome address speech also contributes to creating an inclusive environment for everyone present. It’s important to keep in mind that a well-crafted welcome speech not only sets a positive mood but also establishes a connection with the audience , making them feel truly welcomed and eager to participate in the event.

Acknowledges the audience

Welcome everyone! Greetings and acknowledgment of the audience is a key part of crafting a memorable welcome speech. It sets the tone for a warm and inviting atmosphere, making your audience feel appreciated and engaged.

When addressing the attendees, it’s important to greet them informally using light-hearted language, creating an inclusive environment that encourages participation. By acknowledging your audience in this way, you can instantly establish a connection with them, helping to ensure they feel welcomed and valued from the start.

Remember to acknowledge any special guests who are present at the event as well. This not only conveys respect for their presence but also adds a personalized touch to your speech.

How to Write a Memorable Welcome Address Speech

Crafting a memorable welcome address speech starts with greeting the audience informally and using light-hearted language. Acknowledge any special guests, then introduce the event and its purpose while sharing gratitude for the audience’s presence.

Provide a brief overview of the event to engage your audience further.

Greet the audience informally and use light-hearted language

Hey there, guys and gals! Ready to dive into the exciting world of public speaking ? Well, let’s kick things off with a warm welcome using some light-hearted language. It’s all about making our audience feel at ease and engaged right from the start .

So, why not give a cheery “Good morning everyone!” or “Hello, lovely people!” A bit of friendly banter can really set the stage for an awesome speech . Trust me, it’s not as daunting as it seems!

Acknowledge any special guests

Special guests are important, and acknowledging them in your welcome address is a polite gesture . A simple “ thank you ” or “welcome” to these individuals will make them feel valued and appreciated.

Whether it’s a distinguished speaker or an honored guest, recognizing their presence adds warmth and significance to your speech. By using light-hearted language and genuine appreciation , you can create an inclusive atmosphere that sets the stage for a memorable event.

Crafting a warm welcome involves acknowledging any special guests present at the event with gratitude and warmth. This simple gesture of recognition adds value to your speech and makes everyone feel appreciated.

Introduce the event and its purpose

When addressing any audience, it’s important to set the right tone and make everyone feel welcome . Whether it’s a formal corporate event or an informal gathering, a well-crafted welcome address speech plays a crucial role in creating a positive atmosphere .

This step-by-step guide will help you understand the purpose of your speech and how to engage your audience effectively . So, let’s get started on crafting that memorable opening address !

Share gratitude for the audience’s presence

Provide a brief overview of the event.

Crafting a memorable welcome address speech is crucial for setting the right tone and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere . It involves using light-hearted language to greet guests and express gratitude, all while understanding the occasion , setting expectations, and addressing practical matters.

Whether it’s for an academic conference or a corporate event, knowing your audience and main point of the speech is key to making it inspiring and informative. A simple greeting like “Good morning everyone!” can set the stage for a heartfelt welcome speech that leaves a lasting impression.

Understanding the purpose of the event, engaging with the audience , and keeping it concise are essential elements in delivering a successful welcome address speech.

Tips for Delivering a Successful Welcome Address Speech

Practice your speech before the event. Use positive body language and engage with the audience to keep it concise and to the point.

Practice before the event

Before delivering my welcome address, I’ll practice it several times to become comfortable with the content. This will help me remember what to say and make a strong impression on the audience.

By rehearsing my speech , I can also work on using positive body language and engaging the audience effectively.

Use positive body language

When delivering a welcome address, positive body language helps to convey confidence and warmth. Maintain good posture , make eye contact , smile genuinely, and use open gestures to engage with the audience.

This creates a welcoming atmosphere and sets a positive tone for your speech. As you speak, move naturally and express enthusiasm through your facial expressions and hand movements .

Engaging with the audience through positive body language enhances your connection with them and keeps their attention focused on your welcoming remarks. By using upbeat non-verbal cues such as nodding in agreement or lightly gesturing with your hands while speaking, you can emphasize key points in an inviting manner that resonates with your guests.

Engage with the audience

When delivering a welcome address speech, it’s crucial to engage with the audience by making eye contact and using inclusive language . This helps the attendees feel connected and valued throughout your speech.

Encourage participation through interactive questions or thought-provoking statements to keep them involved and interested.

Engaging with the audience also involves observing their reactions and adjusting your tone or pace accordingly . This allows you to create a more dynamic connection and ensures that everyone feels included in the event’s warm welcome.

Keep it concise and to the point

Crafting a welcome address speech involves using light-hearted language to greet guests and express gratitude. Know the purpose, audience, and main point of the speech in order to make it inspiring and informative .

A step-by-step approach includes understanding the occasion , setting expectations , and addressing practical matters. It is easy to write a memorable welcome speech with templates and printables like an outline.

Crafting a heartwarming church welcome speech requires careful consideration of tone, length, main topics, and audience. Ensure that your greeting sets the tone for a memorable welcome speech by keeping it simple but impactful – “Good morning everyone!”.

Conclusion: The Power of a Well-Crafted Welcome Address Speech

With a discerning eye and a personal touch, creating an unforgettable welcome address can truly make or break the atmosphere of any event. Let’s dive into this crucial subject with Dr.

Laura Chen, a communications wizard if there ever was one. With her Ph.D. in Public Speaking from the University of California, Berkeley tucked under her belt, Dr. Chen brings over two decades of experience where she’s been the guiding light for leaders and speakers spanning various sectors—helping them sharpen their presentation skills and nail their speech delivery every single time.

Her work on crafting effective public speaking strategies is nothing short of inspirational, making waves in academic journals far and wide.

Dr. Chen shares that starting off on a casual note while showering your guests with heartfelt gratitude is like setting the stage for success when it comes to welcome speeches. This approach doesn’t just ease everyone into a comfortable space but grabs their attention right off the bat—a surefire way to keep them hooked from start to finish.

She underscores how diving deep into understanding what makes each event tick remarkably empowers speakers to whip up addresses that aren’t just moving but pack loads of insightful nuggets too.

Speaking with ethics at heart and embracing transparency head-on are pillars Dr. Chen swears by; steering clear from beating around the bush while being mindful about cultural nuances paves the path towards building an all-embracing ambiance for attendees coming from diverse backgrounds.

To weave these golden threads seamlessly into everyday life—or perhaps more formal settings like corporate meetups or scholarly summits—she champions practicing till perfection catches on along with continuous introspection about one’s own stint at the podium coupled by heeding peer feedback that shapes us better.

When sizing up what makes crafting an exceptional welcome address so unique compared to other tools out there aiming to polish public speaking finesse,

Dr.Chen acknowledges certain perks such as easy-peasy access to templates or starter speeches which indeed make life simpler for novices; yet she nudges would-be speakers gently towards finding their genuine voice—after all, authenticity always leaves its mark.

Her take-home message? A meticulously carved-out guide isn’t just helpful—it’s almost elemental in bolstering individuals’ confidence levels as they step onto stage possibly quaking in their boots; offering them crystal-clear frameworks thereby turning it into something not short of gospel for beginners itching to make memorable first impressions.

In summing things up through Dr.Laura Chen\’s lens paired with invaluable lessons drawn from years upon years striding across stages herself—the essence lies

Ryan Nelson is the founder of Speak2Impress, a platform dedicated to helping individuals master the art of public speaking. Despite having a crippling fear of public speaking for many years, Ryan overcame his anxiety through diligent practice and active participation in Toastmasters. Now residing in New York City, he is passionate about sharing his journey and techniques to empower others to speak with confidence and clarity.

Similar Posts

30 Engaging Speech Topics for Kids: Boosting Confidence and Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking often looms as a daunting fear for countless kids, and truth be told, it was once a mountain…

10 Inspiring Welcome Speech Quotes for Any Occasion

Standing before a crowd, the weight of expectation can be daunting. I know that feeling all too well – the…

10 Heartfelt Poems for Funeral Programs to Honor Your Loved Ones

Searching for the right words to honor a loved one who has passed can feel overwhelming. It’s a challenge many…

100 Mental Health Persuasive Speech Topics to Engage Your Audience

Standing in front of an audience can send shivers down the spine of even the bravest among us. Trust me,…

How to Craft the Perfect Engagement Speech for Any Occasion

Creating the perfect engagement speech often seems like a towering task. Trust me, I understand how intimidating it can be…

Crafting a Heartfelt Eulogy for Sisters: A Step-By-Step Guide

Crafting a eulogy for a sister is no easy task. Speaking from personal experience, navigating the sea of emotions, while…

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• Blogging Aloud
• About me/contact
• Welcome speech
• Phrases for welcome speeches

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.

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):

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.

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"?

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

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Impromptu public speaking topics
• Farewell speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

How to Make a Welcome Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome speeches can set the tone for any event, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere. whether you are hosting a conference, seminar, or social gathering, crafting an engaging welcome speech is crucial. in this step-by-step guide, we will take you through the process of creating a memorable welcome speech that leaves a lasting impression on your audience..

• Step 1: Understand the Purpose of Your Welcome Speech

Before diving into the content, it is essential to understand the purpose of your welcome speech. Is it to introduce the event, welcome attendees, or build excitement? Clarifying the main objective will help you structure your speech effectively.

• Step 2: Research Your Audience

Knowing your audience is vital when crafting a welcome speech. Research their demographics, interests, and backgrounds. This will enable you to personalize your speech and connect with your listeners on a deeper level.

• Step 3: Begin with a Captivating Opener

The first few sentences of your welcome speech are critical in grabbing your audience’s attention. Consider using a compelling story, an interesting fact, or a thought-provoking question to capture their interest right from the start.

• Step 4: Express Gratitude and Appreciation

Show your gratitude towards the attendees for taking the time to join your event. Recognize any sponsors, volunteers, or team members who contributed to its success. Expressing appreciation creates a positive atmosphere and fosters a sense of community.

• Step 5: Set the Tone and Outline the Agenda

Clearly communicate the purpose of the event and what attendees can expect throughout the event. Provide a brief overview of the agenda, highlighting key activities or speakers. This helps your audience understand the event flow and builds anticipation.

• Step 6: Establish Connection and Shared Purpose

Inspire your audience by establishing a connection between the event’s purpose and the attendees. Share anecdotes, personal experiences, or examples that create a sense of unity and emphasize the significance of their presence.

• Step 7: Recognize and Introduce Key Figures

If there are notable individuals present at the event, take a moment to recognize and introduce them to the audience. This includes guest speakers, VIPs, or anyone who holds a respected position related to the event’s theme. Be sure to highlight their achievements briefly.

• Step 8: End with a Memorable Closing

Bring your welcome speech to a close with a powerful ending that leaves a lasting impact. You can summarize the key points, deliver a final inspirational message, or encourage the audience to actively participate and engage throughout the event.

• Step 9: Practice, Polish, and Time Your Speech

Rehearsing your welcome speech is essential for a smooth delivery. Practice in front of a mirror, friends, or record yourself to fine-tune your presentation. Pay attention to your tone, pace, and body language. Ensure your speech fits within the allocated time to avoid rushing or dragging the opening of your event.

• Step 10: Evaluate and Seek Feedback

Once your welcome speech is delivered, take the time to reflect and evaluate your performance. Ask for feedback from attendees or colleagues to gain insights and improve for future events. Continuous improvement is key to becoming an excellent public speaker.

By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be well-prepared to create a captivating and engaging welcome speech. So go ahead and make a memorable first impression at your next event!

How helpful was this article?

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

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.

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.

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.

Explore All Write A Speech Articles

Writing an effective welcome speech is a form of art. It requires a delicate balance of knowledge, wit, charm, and…

• Write A Speech

Effective Guide: How to Write a Salutatorian Speech

Writing an effective salutatorian speech is a challenging yet rewarding experience. It takes creativity, dedication, and plenty of practice to…

Key Guide: How to Write a Great Memorial Speech

Writing a memorable memorial speech that captures the life and legacy of your loved one can be an incredibly daunting…

Better Guide: How to Write a Funny Valedictorian Speech

Writing a funny valedictorian speech can be both challenging and rewarding. For those who have the knowledge, experience, and wit…

Writing A Unique & Memorable Wedding Ceremony Speech

People around you, whether family, friends, or acquaintances, will get married someday. And you might be tasked with delivering the…

Unleashing Success: Motivational Speech to Inspire Students

Success is a journey, not a destination. It is a continuous process of striving, learning, and growing–something every student should…

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:

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.

• Academic Resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox.

Now check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address

Oops! There was an error sending the email, please try later.

Roberto Rabasco

+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

Recommended for you

How to Write a Research Funding Application | Orvium

Increasing Representation and Diversity in Research with Open Science | Orvium

Your Guide to Open Access Week 2023

Welcome Speech Example

As a college instructor and communication expert with extensive nonfiction and educational writing experience, Mary shares tips and advice related to a wide variety of topics.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

If you're responsible for calling to order a meeting or event, you will need to deliver a brief welcome speech. If you're not a speech writer, the thought of deciding what to say can be a bit stressful. However, you can make easy work of writing a winning speech when you use this example as a template to help you get started.

Welcome Speech Template

To access an easy-to-use template for a welcome speech, click the image below. When you do, a PDF document that can be edited and printed will open in a separate tab or window (depending on your browser and settings). If you experience any challenges launching the document, refer to this handy guide to working with printables .

• Baby Shower Speech Examples to Make Hosting & Toasting a Breeze
• Free Wedding Speech Examples to Celebrate the Big Day
• Impactful Volunteer Appreciation Speech Samples & Tips

Once the template is open, click anywhere in the text area to begin editing. At a minimum, you'll need to add information specific to your situation in the brackets ([ ]) throughout the document. You can keep the other text if it is suitable, or make any changes you would like.

When you are satisfied with the wording, use the toolbar commands to save and print the speech.

Tips for Writing a Welcome Speech

When delivering welcoming remarks at an event, focus on thanking the attendees for being there, acknowledge the people who worked hard to put the event together, provide a brief overview of how the event will unfold, and tell attendees any logistical information they need to know. Once you give those details, turn the microphone over to the person who is in charge of introducing the first speaker or activity.

Your opening remarks don't need to be long and involved. It's best to provide only a brief introductory speech to kick off the event in the very beginning. It is usually delivered by the event chair or an organizational representative who has been selected in advance of the start of the actual program.

• Event Website Publish a modern and mobile friendly event website.
• Registration & Payments Collect registrations & online payments for your event.
• Abstract Management Collect and manage all your abstract submissions.
• Peer Reviews Easily distribute and manage your peer reviews.
• Conference Program Effortlessly build & publish your event program.
• Virtual Poster Sessions Host engaging virtual poster sessions.
• Customer Success Stories
• Wall of Love ❤️

Welcome Speech for a Scientific Conference: Examples & Tips

Published on 15 Feb 2022

Having a well written welcome speech that you’re confident about goes a long way in overcoming public speaking nervousness.

A great welcome speech sets the tone for the conference. It makes everyone feel welcome and creates the appropriate environment for the exchange of knowledge. The speech should broadly outline the contents of the event and, most importantly, make everyone feel excited for what’s to come.

In this article, you will find our best tips to create a successful welcome speech and some examples with analysis for inspiration.

Quick Tips for a successful welcome speech

Formal vs. informal language.

The first thing you should decide is whether you want to use formal or informal language. For larger events that include scientists of various fields where everybody might not know each other, you may want to use formal language. For smaller yearly conferences for researchers in your field where most people know each other, it’s common to use informal language.

I find that, in general, a rather informal or casual speech is more successful. That way you set the tone and bring everyone to the same level, promoting questions, comments, and socialization during the event.

Greet and welcome everyone

Start with a warm welcome. As alluded before, this can range from very formal (“Good morning to all attendees”) to informal (“Hello and welcome, everyone!”). These will be your first words, so you need to grab everyone’s attention—use a clear, strong voice.

A smile goes a long way to make everyone feel welcome and in a good mood. Make eye contact as you start addressing the room.

It can be great to inject a bit of humor, if appropriate. It could be something as simple as, “We are lucky to be in such a beautiful location with so many beaches close by. I hope that is not the main reason you’re here!”.

Talk about the event’s history and purpose

Is it a first-time event, a yearly conference put on by a scientific organization? In any case, you’ll want to mention the motivation behind the conference, what brings you together. If the event is related to a specific organization, you can mention its history and purpose.

Mention any distinguished guests

It is common for scientific conferences to have one or more distinguished guests or speakers. Mention them and thank them for accepting the invitation to participate. Make sure you have their names, credentials and affiliations correct.  

Thank creators and/or organizers

If the event is being held for the first time, thank the creators by name. Give some words of appreciation to the organizing committee. You don’t need to mention every single person involved, but rather the essential ones.

State the main topic(s)

Mention the main topic(s) of the conference, the common interests for all attendees. For annual conferences of scientific organizations, a specific subject within the field is usually chosen for each year. For example, for an annual meeting of an immunology organization, the year's topic could be “Infectious Diseases” or “Immunotherapies.”

Touch on the agenda

Briefly outline the event’s agenda. You can mention whether there will be sessions with specific (sub)topics, poster presentations, spaces for exchange and networking. Don’t get  into too many details. You can direct people to the conference brochure, if there is one, for specifics on the schedule.

Motivate everybody

End your speech on a high note by getting everyone excited about the talks to come. Highlight all the strengths of the conference: any high-impact research that will be shown, the variety of topics that will be covered, the great number of attendees, the different countries represented.

Introduce the first speaker

If the first speaker follows your welcome speech, don’t forget to introduce him or her. Introduce them with their full name and credentials and give a brief description of their career achievements.

Rehearse a few times

Practice with colleagues and friends to get some feedback and familiarize yourself with your speech. You want to be familiar enough that you don’t need to look down at your notes constantly. However, don’t over rehearse. You don’t want to sound robotic, but rather natural and conversational.

Be sure you know how to pronounce all the names in your speech. Make eye contact with the audience and with specific attendees as you mention their names.

Keep it brief

In general, you should keep your speech short, usually around 5 minutes. Consult with the organizing committee so you know how long they expect you to talk.

In-person vs. virtual event

Virtual events are very common right now and likely will be for a while. This creates some challenges when giving a welcome speech. Making eye contact with the attendees is not possible when you’re on a video call. That being said, you can still give a great speech and get people excited virtually. Just make sure that people can clearly see and hear you before you start.    

Welcome speech examples

1. welcome and opening remarks - 2015 coast/ssew symposium.

In the above example of opening remarks for a scientific symposium , the speaker starts by welcoming everyone with a smile and lots of eye contact. It seems the attendees are in the same field of research and among familiar faces. Accordingly, her language is informal. She adds a bit of humor when she talks about collecting money in a bowl.

She follows by explaining the origin of the organization that the symposium is for, along with the main topics that will be covered. In the middle, she asks  the audience some questions to keep them engaged. Finally, she creates positive expectations by presenting a “sneak peek” of brand-new research and mentioning “leaders” in the field of microbiome.    

 2. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering Welcome Speech

Read this welcome speech for an annual international conference.

This seems to be a scientific conference with attendees from various countries and from a broad range of fields. The formal language used is therefore appropriate. The speaker welcomes the attendees and introduces the distinguished keynote speakers.

The origins and goals of the conference are outlined. He broadly describes the topics that will be discussed. Then, he thanks the organizing committee, companies and volunteers involved. Finally, he mentions “internationally notorious speakers,” a great way to spark people’s interest.   

 3. Welcoming Address | Dale Mullennix

In this welcoming address, the speaker starts by warmly welcoming the audience. He uses rather informal language since it seems this is a regularly held event where most people know each other. He throws in some humor, directly addresses the audience, and asks them questions to grab their attention at the beginning.

By conveying the value that the attendees will find in the lectures to come, he creates anticipation. He makes lots of eye contact throughout and doesn’t even have notes! By the end, he tells a personal story and connects it to the theme of the event.

With these tips and examples, we hope that you are inspired to write a great welcome speech.  Remember to keep it brief, conversational, and not overly formal, unless necessary. Eye contact and a smile go a long way.

If you’re looking for more general conference presenting tips, you should read our 15 Best Tips for Presenting at a Conference . 

Mastering the Art of Writing an Effective Conference Abstract

Conference abstracts are crucial in the world of academic research and professional health associati...

5 Best Event Registration Platforms for Your Next Conference

By having one software to organize registrations and submissions, a pediatric health center runs aro...

• School Speeches
• Introductory Speech
• Anniversaries
• Funeral Speeches
• Graduation Speech
• Persuasive Speech
• Wedding Speech
• Speech Tips
• Special Days
• Speech Topics
• Demonstrative
• About Author
• Privacy Policy

Welcome Address Speech - Warm Welcoming Wizard Whiz

A welcome address speech - discover the secret, learn the welcome-acronym and assume the role of a confident and poised speaker.

It's that easy! Follow the guidelines below; visualize them in our example of a welcome speech and then apply the guidelines to suit your personal welcome speech needs.

That's it - Welcoming Wizard Whiz 101 done - you graduated with flying colors !

WELCOME-ACRONYM IN ACTION

Good evening; Professor and Mrs. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Board Members, Honored Guest and Advocate Green from the Education Council.

May I take this opportunity to welcome you all, and to extend a further word of welcome to everyone here this evening.

The Opening Day of our new School is certainly a moment that we should all savor and enjoy. If you take a quick look around you, I'm sure you will all agree that our School has come a long way in the last few months.

It all started as a dream. [Insert name of company] envisioned the dream of establishing a world class educational institution; a School that would mold and guide future generations of enlightened minds.

We would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to all the role players that have made it possible for the dream to become a reality. Tonight marks this occasion - the Opening and Commencement Ceremony of our School.

In the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Butch says, "Sundance, when we're done, if he is dead, you're welcome to stay !" Well, rest assured, such extreme measured are not needed here tonight.

You are all most welcome to stay here this evening. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening's program and thank you for sharing this special event with us.

Your welcome address speech should be brief and concise as you aim to welcome the members of the audience and special guests.

If you are the only keynote speaker of the evening, then the welcome speech could preface your actual formal presentation.

You are welcome to use the welcome-acronym...hope it sparks your creative ideas!

@christinaallday

Business resources.

Health & Beauty

I'm Christina!

I'm a Florida-based mom of three, TV host, and entrepreneur who specializes in travel, beauty, and lifestyle. Follow along as I share my latest recipes, Amazon finds, and new favorite books. 

popular on the blog

Butter Cake from CPK Recipe (Copycat)

5 Organizing Tips I Learned From The Home Edit on Netflix

TRASH THE DRESS FAMILY PHOTO IDEAS

find me on insta

@christinaallday.

Best Sample Welcome Speech for Corporate Event

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

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

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

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

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

Sample Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event

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

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

Start with a Salutation

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

Welcome Speech Introduction

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

Show Appreciation

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

(Include names of who want to thank.)

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

The Theme of the Event

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

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

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

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

The Conclusion

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

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

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

5 Speech Writing and Giving Tips

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

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

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

1. Outline the structure.

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

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

2. Flesh out the main ideas in your outline.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcoming the audience at Together with the Royal, 2018

4. Practice.

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

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

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

5. Ask for Feedback.

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

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

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

Hosting The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV

How to Incorporate Storytelling in a Speech

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

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

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

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

1. Start with a compelling opening.

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

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

2. Use stories to illustrate key points.

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

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

3. Make it personal.

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

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

Acting as a spokesperson for a national commercial

4. Create emotional resonance.

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

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

5. Maintain a narrative structure.

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

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

6. Use sensory details.

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

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

7. Practice and refine.

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

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

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

TEDx in Boca Raton, 2018

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

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

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

That’s really helpful guide. Appreciated yours!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Outback Steakhouse Tangy Tomato Salad Dressing Copycat Recipe »

« Best Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe [VIDEO]

the previous post

the next post

meet the blogger

 a millennial mom here to inspire you to live your best life without feeling any   mom guilt ..

Thanks for stopping by for my unfiltered approach to family and lifestyle where I share what helps me run my family, business, and life while being lazy AF as often as possible. (Bubble bath, anyone?)

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME

Shopping on Amazon is my jam. It’s where I get just about everything - and today, I’m sharing my greatest finds with YOU!

18 Things you Need to Order on Amazon RIGHT NOW

my etsy store

AMAZON MUST HAVES

BUSINESS MUST HAVES

I'm a millennial mom here to inspire you to live your best life without feeling any    mom guilt .

Insta-stalk me, let's pin it, health & beauty.

COPYRIGHT CHRISTINA ALL DAY | PRIVACY POLICY | terms & Conditions | SITE CREDIT

7 Steps to Write a Welcome Speech in English

A warm welcome speech can make it easier to set the tone for an event. Your welcome speech decides how warm and enthusiastic the event is going to be. Thus, do not mind doing a couple of extra practices. Also, your welcome speech can be as simple or as formal as the situation demands. In the following guide, we will discuss some tips to help you warmly welcome your audience and chief guests. Furthermore, we will look at some welcome speech examples.

Also Read: Welcome Speech for School Opening Day in English

Best Welcome Speech Steps

If your school or college has chosen you to present a welcome speech, it is because they trust you. Therefore, it is your foremost responsibility to show them that you deserve their trust by honoring the guest out in the event.

Before you step on the stage, you should know that you need the following elements.

• Humility : On the stage, try to act humbly to please your audience and guests.
• Names of the guests and their correct pronunciation : Double check all the names and their correct pronunciations.
• Topics to discuss : You should have a list of topics you are going to discuss during the event.
• Purpose of the event : Most importantly, you should be aware of the purpose of the event. Also, gather enough information about the event and past related occurrences.

Initially, once you have stood behind the podium, try to have a careful look around. If there are not a lot of people, check who is sitting where. This makes it easier to address people properly later during the event.

If there is a huge audience, just check out the people you will need to address later. This is important because it gives you confidence and awareness.

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,

Good morning/ Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is wonderful to have you all on this wonderful day. It is me (insert name of the host), your host for today. On behalf of our respected principle (name of the principal) and my team, I am pleased to welcome you all to our auspicious event. I welcome dear parents , respected teachers and our guests. And I hope we will have a good time together.

Then, address each special guest, take their names and pay tribute to their achievements. You can share stories that link you and the guest. But remember to take their permission before. If they do not feel comfortable in sharing the story, do not share.

Also, remember to double check the guests’ names, facts, and figures about them. And most importantly, check the correct pronunciation of your guests’ names.

To make any event happen, there are contributions of various people and groups. After welcoming your guests, you should thank those who have contributed to making the event possible.

These people range from the organizers of the event to the people backstage working hard to make everything look perfect. Furthermore, if it is not possible to take each person’s name, take the names of their group only. But thank them for their contribution.

Once you have thanked your audience for their presence and your team for their contribution, brace the purpose or goal of your event. Tell them why you all have gathered here that day. How the purpose of the event effects you and them. And how can you contribute something good to the purpose of the event.

Share your personal view and hopes about the event and the purpose of the event. Besides, you can share your personal experiences about the topic of the day unless it does not make your event boring.

Lastly, end your speech by wishing all your audience an enjoyable day. Let them know that you enjoy and appreciate their presence. Also, thank them for listing to you. For example,

Thank you so much for having me. I am extremely delighted and honored to be amongst the galaxy of intellectuals such as yours. It is an extremely beautiful day and I am happy to be sharing it with you.

Then, introduce the next person and leave with a warm smile on your face.

Related: Anchoring Script For Welcoming Guests In The Function

Additional Welcome Speech Tips

Alongside the above steps for a welcome speech, there are some easy but beneficial tips I would like to share.

• Your welcome speech should be polite and predictable. Besides, avoid being benign and boring.
• Begin with a powerful and passionate introduction to grab your audience attention. Then, keep their attention throughout the event.
• Your beliefs and hopes about the event should be crystal clear with your welcome speech.
• Also, let your audience know why you are the person who should be welcoming them.
• Storytelling can be a great tool to keep your audience attentive throughout the event. So, tell them stories they can relate to.

A good welcome speech can help you make the perfect environment for your event. Learn the best way to welcome your guests’ step by step with additional tips.

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related posts

How to improve your writing skills fast – 10 writing help tips, sample letter of interest in english, english words relating to family, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sample Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event

If you’ve ever attended a corporate event , then you know the welcome speech gets all of the attention. The welcome speech is what allures the attendees to either listen and take interest… or not want to participate at all. Given that, welcome speeches are really important and should be long enough to address everyone properly but short enough to not bore everyone in the room.

If you’re wondering what a great welcome speech looks like, here’s a sample you can use as a guide or template to help create your very own welcome speech:

Introduction

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening,

Thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us today. We are very pleased to be able to welcome those of you that have been with us for a long time now as well as those who are new to the (group/community/association etc.)

Today marks our 10 th annual group meeting and we are proud to be able to host it today here at this wonderful place with all of you.

Acknowledgments

Before we get started, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you who generously helped us make this event come together to become a success. (Include the names of the individuals you wish to thank here) We couldn’t have done it without you!

Purpose of the Event

In today’s gathering, I would like to focus on all our new volunteers who have joined us since (January 2013, for example).

You have all been chosen to be a part of our association due to a mutual passion for (company’s vision/mission). Your passions help us all to unite and the energy we create is what allows us to achieve our individual as well as group goals. We need you as much as you need us and that why we are grateful to have you join us here at (insert the name of the company).

During the next few months, you will be learning about the different initiatives through our planned activities, seminar, and special events where you will be able to join in and get hands on experiences. I hope these will help you grow to be more productive and smart.

Well, I don’t want to take too much of your time, I need to leave some time for (insert the name of the next person) to introduce himself to all of you and fill you in on some of our up coming activities/projects. Today will be fun and full of learning.

So a very warm welcome to each and every one of you, if youhave nay questions, suggestions, clarifications, or just want to say “hi”, you can find me in the lobby.

What’s next

Thank you very much for listening and let us welcome, (insert the name of the speaker or guest). Thank you!

If you need help planning your next corporate event, give us a call at (516) 354.7797 .

Stay Inn the loop

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

Table of Contents

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.

Fill Out the Form for Expert Academic Guidance!

Please indicate your interest Live Classes Books Test Series Self Learning

Verify OTP Code (required)

I agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy .

Fill complete details

Target Exam ---

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.

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.

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.

Related content

Get access to free Mock Test and Master Class

Register to Get Free Mock Test and Study Material

Offer Ends in 5:00

Select your Course

Please select class.

School Welcome Speech

School welcome speech generator.

A school welcome speech is a formal address delivered at the beginning of a school event, such as an assembly, orientation, graduation, or special ceremony. The purpose of the welcome speech is to greet and acknowledge the attendees, including students, parents, teachers, and distinguished guests. It sets the tone for the event, provides an overview of the agenda, and highlights the significance of the occasion. The speech often includes expressions of gratitude to organizers, participants, and supporters, and encourages engagement and participation from the audience.

What is a School Welcome Speech?

School Welcome Speech Bundle Download

School Welcome Speech Format

Greeting Start with a Warm Salutation: Example: “Good [morning/afternoon/evening], Ladies and Gentlemen .” Introduction Introduce Yourself: Example: “I am [Your Name], and I am honored to be your host for today’s event.” Acknowledgment Recognize Important Guests: Example: “We are delighted to have with us [Guest’s Name], [their title/role].” Purpose of the Event Explain the Significance: Example: “Today, we gather to celebrate [mention the purpose, such as achievements, a special occasion, or the start of a new school year].” Program Overview Outline Key Activities: Example: “Our program today includes inspiring speeches, performances, and awards.” Gratitude Thank Organizers and Contributors: Example: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our organizing committee and sponsors.” Engagement Encourage Participation: Example: “We encourage everyone to participate actively and enjoy every moment of this event.” Transition Introduce the First Segment: Example: “Without further ado, let us begin our program. Please join me in welcoming our first performer/speaker, [Name], who will [briefly describe the performance or presentation].” Conclusion End on a Positive Note: Example: “Thank you, and let’s make this event unforgettable!”

School Welcome Speech Example

Ladies and Gentlemen , Good morning, I am [Your Name], and I am honored to be your host for today’s event. We are delighted to have with us [Guest’s Name], [their title/role]. Today, we gather to celebrate the achievements of our students and the dedication of our faculty and staff. This event marks a special occasion as we recognize the hard work and perseverance that have brought us to this moment. Our program today includes inspiring speeches, outstanding performances, and the presentation of awards. Each segment has been thoughtfully planned to ensure that you have an enjoyable and memorable time. We are privileged to witness the incredible talents and achievements of our students. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our organizing committee and sponsors. Your efforts and contributions have made this event possible. To our teachers and staff, thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our students’ success. To our parents and families, your encouragement and involvement are vital to our school community. Students, this day is a celebration of your hard work, creativity, and determination. You have shown resilience and excellence in your endeavors, and we are incredibly proud of you. Keep striving for greatness and continue to make us proud. We encourage everyone to participate actively and enjoy every moment of this event. Your enthusiasm and support make our school community strong and vibrant. Without further ado, let us officially begin our program. Please join me in welcoming our first performer, [Name], who will be presenting [briefly describe the performance]. Thank you, and let’s make this event unforgettable! [Your Name]

School Welcome Speech Short Example

Ladies and Gentlemen , Good morning, I am [Your Name], and I am honored to be your host for today’s event. We are delighted to have with us [Guest’s Name], [their title/role]. Today, we gather to celebrate the achievements of our students and the dedication of our faculty and staff. Our program includes inspiring speeches, outstanding performances, and the presentation of awards. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our organizing committee and sponsors for making this event possible. To our teachers, staff, and parents, thank you for your unwavering support. Students, this day is a celebration of your hard work and determination. We are incredibly proud of you. Without further ado, let us officially begin our program. Please join me in welcoming our first performer, [Name], who will be presenting [briefly describe the performance]. Thank you, and enjoy the event! [Your Name]

More School Welcome Speech Examples and Samples

• Welcome Speech for New Students
• Welcome Speech for Graduation Ceremony
• Welcome Speech for Orientation Program
• Welcome Speech for Annual Day
• Welcome Speech for Sports Day
• Welcome Speech for Cultural Event
• Welcome Speech for School Assembly
• Welcome Speech for Parent-Teacher Meeting
• Welcome Speech for Science Fair

Parts of a Welcome Speech

Your welcome speech should be concise and understandable to your audience. You must be able to deliver all the important information without making the speech a one hour long. Generally, you speech must only take five minutes, that way you can guarantee that the everyone’s attention is still on you. To help you make and structure an effective welcome speech, here is a list of the parts your speech must have:

• A formal greeting
• A brief introduction
• Short background  information
• Share some goals and motivation
• Sending off in a motivational manner

You may also see appreciation speech examples & samples.

Welcome Speech by Principal Example

Graduation Welcome Speech Example

Orientation Welcome Speech Example

School Head Welcome Speech Example

New Facilities Opening Welcome Speech Example

New Graduation Welcome Speech Example

How to Write a School Welcome Speech

1. start with a warm greeting.

• Example: “Good [morning/afternoon/evening], Ladies and Gentlemen .”

2. Introduce Yourself

• Example: “I am [Your Name], and I am honored to be your host for today’s event.”

3. Acknowledge Key Individuals

• Example: “We are delighted to have with us [Guest’s Name], [their title/role].”

4. Set the Tone for the Event

• Example: “Today, we gather to celebrate [mention the purpose, such as achievements, milestones, or special occasions].”

5. Provide an Overview of the Program

• Example: “Our program includes inspiring speeches, performances, and awards.”

6. Express Gratitude

• Example: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our organizing committee and sponsors.”

7. Encourage Engagement

• Example: “We encourage you to participate actively and enjoy every moment.”

8. Transition to the Next Part

• Example: “Without further ado, please join me in welcoming our first speaker, [Speaker’s Name].”

Speech Delivery Dos and Don’ts

How to Deliver an Iconic Welcome Speech

When its you first time delivering a speech it can be quite nerve-wracking most especially when you are delivering it in front of people you know, you can feel fidgety and vulnerable which can affect your delivery. But do not fret, this guide will help you deliver an iconic welcome speech.

1. Research and prepare

Before anything else, you must be prepared. If you have been given the assignment of delivering a welcome speech weeks or even days before the event, you have enough time to do a research. If the event has some special guests, research about them especially if you intend to mention their names. Research on the purpose and objectives of the event, the theme that the event is applying, and everything else that you should know. This will prevent you from stuttering or blacking out since you already have a clear background about these important information. You may also see launch speech examples.

2. Write a draft

Writing a draft ensures that you have included all the information you need to deliver. It allows you to have a clear physical copy of what you’re going to say in your speech. this will also allow you to correct and replace some contents of the speech that you think are unnecessary. A draft can also help you structure your speech better since you can easily correct if you think the sequence of your contents are off. A draft can ensure that the flow of your speech is logical and comprehensive so that you audience can easily understand the purpose of your general speech.

3. Understand the purpose of your message

Before the audience, you must first understand why you’re making a speech. How can you convey a good message if you do not understand it? After you have written your draft, read and reread it, internalize and make sure you understand your objective so that you can effectively convey it to your audience. This will also help you feel confident with your speech and can great affect how well you deliver your speech. You may also like presentation speech examples & samples.

4. Familiarize your speech

You do not need to memorize you speech; memorizing the whole speech still has a high chance of you forgetting the words especially when your nervousness overcomes. Therefore, it is still better to familiarize your entire speech. This way when you read a specific word in your cue card you will immediately remember what comes next. This will also help you avoid juts reading through the the script the whole time while delivering the speech. Since you remember you cues, you can immediately deliver what’s next. You may also check out leadership speech examples & samples.

5. Practice beforehand

And the most important part of all of this is to practice, practice, practice. Practice delivering your speech in front of the mirror that way you can see the way deliver your speech. You can correct your posture, gestures and your habit of just reading. In addition, practicing your speech days before the event will also help you familiarize your speech better and you can detect if your voice quality and intonation is good or not. You might be interested in youth speech examples.

Tips for School Welcome Speech

1. know your audience.

• Tailor your speech to suit the audience, whether it includes students, parents, teachers, or special guests.
• Use language and references appropriate for the age group and occasion.

2. Start with a Warm Greeting

• Example: “Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen .”

3. Introduce Yourself

4. acknowledge important guests, 5. explain the purpose of the event.

• Example: “Today, we gather to celebrate [mention the purpose, such as achievements, a special occasion, or the start of a new school year].”

6. Outline the Program

• Example: “Our program today includes inspiring speeches, performances, and awards.”

7. Express Gratitude

8. engage the audience.

• Example: “We encourage everyone to participate actively and enjoy every moment of this event.”

9. Use a Clear and Confident Voice

• Speak clearly and confidently to maintain the audience’s attention.
• Practice beforehand to become comfortable with your speech.

10. Conclude on a Positive Note

• Example: “Thank you, and let’s make this event unforgettable!”

Uses of School Welcome Speech

• Opening Ceremonies : A welcome speech is often used to kick off significant school events such as the start of the academic year, graduation ceremonies, and annual days. It helps set a positive tone and conveys the importance of the event.
• Introducing New Students and Staff : During orientation programs for new students and staff, a welcome speech helps introduce them to the school community. It provides a brief overview of the school’s values, mission, and expectations, helping newcomers feel welcomed and integrated.
• Special Events and Celebrations : For events like sports days, cultural festivals, and awards ceremonies, a welcome speech outlines the day’s agenda and highlights the event’s significance. It helps create excitement and enthusiasm among participants and attendees.
• Parent-Teacher Meetings : A welcome speech during parent-teacher meetings establishes a positive environment for discussions about students’ progress and school initiatives. It emphasizes the collaborative relationship between parents and the school.
• Guest Lectures and Workshops : When hosting guest speakers or workshop facilitators, a welcome speech formally introduces them to the audience. It sets the stage for the event and shows appreciation for the guest’s contribution to the school community.
• Fundraising and Community Events : At fundraising events or community outreach programs, a welcome speech engages attendees by explaining the event’s purpose and goals. It helps build a sense of community and encourages participation and support.
• Setting Expectations : A welcome speech at the beginning of the school year or term helps set expectations for students and staff. It can outline important policies, upcoming projects, and the overall vision for the year, providing clarity and direction.
• Motivating and Inspiring : A well-crafted welcome speech can motivate and inspire students and staff by highlighting achievements, goals, and the importance of education. It can boost morale and encourage a positive attitude towards the upcoming challenges.
• Acknowledging Contributions : During events where volunteers, donors, or exceptional individuals are recognized, a welcome speech expresses gratitude and acknowledges their contributions. This recognition fosters a culture of appreciation and encourages continued support and involvement.
• Creating a Positive Atmosphere : A welcome speech sets the tone for the event, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. It helps attendees feel valued and respected, enhancing their overall experience.

FAQ’s

Who typically gives a school welcome speech.

The principal, a teacher, or a student leader typically gives the school welcome speech at an event.

What is the purpose of a school welcome speech?

The speech aims to welcome attendees, introduce the event’s theme, and provide a brief overview of the program.

How long should a school welcome speech be?

A school welcome speech should be concise, typically lasting between 3 to 5 minutes.

How can I make a school welcome speech engaging?

Use a friendly tone, incorporate anecdotes or quotes, and express enthusiasm about the event and attendees.

What should be included in a school welcome speech?

Include a warm greeting, an introduction of key guests, the event’s purpose, and a brief outline of the program.

Should I practice the school welcome speech beforehand?

Yes, practicing helps ensure smooth delivery, familiarity with the content, and confidence during the actual speech.

Can humor be included in a school welcome speech?

Yes, appropriate humor can make the speech more engaging, but ensure it is respectful and relevant to the audience.

What tone should I use in a school welcome speech?

Use a friendly, inclusive, and enthusiastic tone to create a welcoming atmosphere.

How do I end a school welcome speech?

End with a positive note, expressing hope for a successful event and thanking the audience for their attention.

How do I start a school welcome speech?

Start with a warm greeting, such as “Good morning/afternoon,” followed by a welcoming statement to the audience.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create a school welcome speech for the first day back

Help me write a school welcome speech for new teachers

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Social Mettle

Welcome Speech Samples

If you are looking for ideas for welcome speeches, this is where your search ends. In this article, we give you some samples and also tips on how to write these speeches.

What is a welcome speech? It is a short and brief speech that is used during various events and functions, of both business and personal nature, to either introduce the event or in some situations to introduce a person and welcome him or her. If the speech serves to introduce an event or an occasion, then it needs to be a pleasant mix of formal and informal, so that it sets the right mood. In case the speech serves to introduce a person, then you will need to add personal information to the speech and ensure that you refer to how the person’s experience in his various capacities is relevant, to the event he is presiding over. An important thing to be kept in mind about a welcome speech is that it should be informative, complementary, and positive. Samples and tips on how to write these speeches will help you understand this better.

How to Write Welcome Speeches

Given below are some tips that will help you draft speeches and come up with some ideas for the same. While writing them, the basic aim remains the same, which is to welcome and introduce the audience to the event and the reason for the event.

• The opening to your speech, as is evident, should begin by welcoming the audience to the event that has been organized. If there are any special guests at the event, then they should be welcomed and thanked for gracing the occasion with their presence.
• An important decision that you will need to make is to decide what the tone of your speech is going to be. Is it going to be a funny speech, an entertaining speech or do you want your speech to inspire? Depending on this you will need to draft your speech.
• The most important focus of the speech has to be your audience and your aim should be to make them look forward to what you have planned for the event. This will make your audience enthusiastic about the event at hand.
• While you do not have any speech topics you need to decide on, it may be a good idea to carry forward some sort of a theme, that matches the theme of the event or function.
• If there is going to be another speaker at the event after you, then it is important that you introduce him or her before concluding the speech.
• While concluding the speech, try and end with a quote or saying of some sort that has an impact on the audience, so that the audience carries home memories of your address to them.
• Before delivering the speech on the final day, it is of utmost importance to read out the speech in front of a few people, so that you know there is nothing inappropriate about the speech and that it is not offensive in any manner. If you are nervous about the speech, practice it in front of the mirror. This will help reduce your nervousness.
• Before you end the speech it is absolutely mandatory to thank all those people who have made the event possible.

While there are many websites and books that will offer you the use of templates for welcome speeches and samples of the same, resist using these. The speech should be heartfelt and drafting it is not difficult at all, as long as you include the key and essential pointers that you feel will bring out the essence of what you want to say.

There are many famous speeches that were drafted as welcome speeches but are now oft quoted as parts of speeches for graduation and other such events, due to the sheer motivational power of these speeches. In this article, we have not given any such famous speeches but we have given you one example that will help elucidate how these speeches should be drafted.

This is just one example from many speech samples that you could refer to. Now that you know what is expected from a welcome speech and how to draft it, you should have absolutely no issues in writing the same. At the end of the day, giving the speech is all about making your guests feel at home and also the ensure that they now what the celebration is about.

Like it? Share it!

Get Updates Right to Your Inbox

Further insights.

Privacy Overview

70 Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event

May 1, 2024

• 3.8K shares
• Facebook 812
• Twitter 793
• Pinterest 872
• Tumblr 1.4K

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

Image Source

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

Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event

Welcome speech for annual day.

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

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

Welcome of the Chief Guest

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

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

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

Welcoming Parents

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

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

Welcome Speech for Freshers Party

Good Morning to everyone present here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome Speech for a Farewell Party

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

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

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

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

Welcome Speech for College Function

Good Morning to all!

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome Speech for Teachers Day

Respected Principal Sir, Teachers and dear students!

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

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

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

Welcome Speech for Children’s Day

Good Morning Everyone!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Important Points to Consider while Giving Welcome Speech For an Event

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

SSS Mantra for Appreciable Hosting

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

4 Comments - Add Comment

Wonderful, very Nice, super…..

awesome content. really worth!

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

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

Cancel reply

You cannot copy content of this page

• Bridal Shower
• Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
• Engagement Party
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Wedding Checklists
• Wedding Hairstyle Ideas
• Wedding Vows Readings
• Wedding Music

In This Article

• Speech Examples
• Speech Tips
• Speech Guide

Brides Often Ask

• Wedding Party & Reception

Wedding Welcome Speech: Tips for Expressing Gratitude and Joy

Shutterstock

Being mandated with the duty to give wedding welcoming speeches is an honor. It means you share a stronger bond with the couple than many others present. But the anxiety and subtle confusion that comes with giving a welcome speech almost take out the fun.

ADVERTISEMENT

To help calm your nerves and slay to perfection in this important event of your life, we’ve brought tips. In this post, you’ll find guides on how to start and give speeches to inspire you.

Quick Navigation

Wedding Welcome Speeches Examples

There are different kinds of wedding ceremony speech samples. This is because although the bride’s father is traditionally the host, things are changing. The maid of honor, the best man, the groom himself, very close buddies, and anyone, can give the introduction to wedding welcoming speeches. And you’ll find beautifully crafted speech samples online.

“Hi, I’m (name) and it’s time for me to do this speech I scribbled down about an hour before the ceremony started.”

“My name is (name) and it’s an honour to be here today as (groom)’s best man.”

“Thank you for joining us today on such a wonderful occasion.”

“Welcome to _____ & _____ wedding reception! I am (name). Please take your seats so we can officially welcome our guests of honor.”

“Friends and Family of the _____ and _____, welcome and thank you for being here on this important day. We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between _____ and _____, by joining them in marriage.”

“Good evening, welcome to this most important moment in the lives of this couple. We invite you to leave behind the worries and concerns of every day life and join us in the celebration of their marriage.”

“Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.”

“We have been invited here today to witness and celebrate the uniting in marriage of _____ and _____. They are taking the first step of their new beginning; their new life together.”

“Hello and welcome! May your hearts be glad and your spirits be light. For every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven. Now is the time for a wedding.”

“Hello everyone and welcome. Thank you for joining us on this day of gladness and good fortune. _____ and _____ are coming together to publicly proclaim their undying love through the celebration of their marriage. So we are all here to learn about loving and being loved, and to watch the miracle of love exchanged enriches every one of us.”

“Hi! My name is _____. We have come together – families and friends – to witness _____ and _____ as they exchange their vows of marriage. “We share with them their delight in finding love with each other, and support their decision to be together from now until the end of time.

Done! You’ve got the best wedding welcome speech! But wait, there’s more!

Wedding Reception Welcome Speech

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us on this magical day. Your presence makes this celebration truly special. Here’s to love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Let the festivities begin! Cheers!

Friends and family, your smiles light up the room. Thank you for sharing in our joy. Today is a celebration of love, laughter, and cherished moments. Let’s make memories that last a lifetime. Cheers to all of you!

To our dear guests, your presence fills our hearts with happiness. Thank you for being part of our love story. As we gather for this reception, let’s savor the joy, create memories, and dance the night away. Cheers to love and togetherness!

Wedding Welcome Speech Tips

Wedding introduction speeches can make even the boldest person nervous. So nervous that you either forget your lines or don’t know how to start. Below are a few tips to help you start great wedding welcoming speeches.

• Introduce yourself

Don’t step on stage with the false pride that everyone knows you. Because there are lots of guests who need a fresh reminder of who you are. Always introduce yourself and keep it short. Don’t go on and on, it could get boring. You may also start with witty one-liners. They are ice breakers.

Crafting warm and inviting opening lines to engage the audience. Importance of expressing gratitude and acknowledging the guests’ presence.

As we gather on this joyous occasion, let the warmth of our shared smiles illuminate the room. In the embrace of love, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you, dear guests, for gracing us with your presence today. Your smiles are the most beautiful decorations, and your presence adds a unique melody to this celebration of love. Let us embark on this journey of joy and togetherness, united by the bonds of love and friendship. Welcome, and thank you for being a part of this extraordinary moment.

• Make eye contact

Making eye contact signifies confidence. Don’t look to the ground when giving a welcome speech. Look in the audience instead as it helps you comment. Roam around with your eyes and keep contact with specific persons for a few seconds. It makes everyone feel included.

• Go with notes or cue cards

At the time of giving the speech, you may be quite stressed out or have your mind on other things. While it’s beautiful to say your speech off heart, the brains could play a trick on you. So always have a paper on hand. If you don’t want to write it out flat, then go with cue cards that act as reminders for your next line or paragraph.

• Skip drinks

If possible, skip the drinks until after the welcome speech is over. You have enough time to celebrate. In other cases, it could be some Dutch courage you’re seeking. Still, skip the drink and use a mock audience backstage instead. Filling your head with drinks just before a speech will mess everything up for you. From incoherence to uncoordinated acts and possible misbehavior.

You could say all the funny jokes and witty one-liners. But if you’re not genuine, there’s no way of hiding it. Put some heart in your speech. Don’t give the welcome speech like an obligation. Do it as something you’re delighted at doing for someone who means the world to you.

• Keep it short

Remember you’re giving the first speech out of many. There are still other activities on the program which must fly. So keep it short, straight the point and informative. It should last 10 minutes at the maximum. This sums up to about 1,000 words when written.

• Mention the spouse

Don’t focus only on your half of the couple. Mention their spouse and praise them.

• Closing Remark

Encouraging other speakers to follow with their toasts or speeches.Emphasizing the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.

As we conclude this welcome speech, let us extend a warm invitation to other speakers to share their toasts and speeches. Each word spoken contributes to the tapestry of this celebration. Remember, the key is to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, where every expression of love and joy finds a place. Let us build on the warmth and camaraderie, making this wedding a truly memorable and inclusive experience for all. Cheers to love, laughter, and beautiful moments ahead!

Crafting the Perfect Wedding Welcome Speech Guide

Welcome to our guide on crafting an exceptional wedding welcome speech! In this guide, we’ll explore the importance of a welcome speech, who traditionally delivers it, and the ideal moment to present this warm introduction.

Is a Wedding Welcome Speech Necessary?

A wedding welcome speech is more than just a formality—it sets the tone for the entire celebration. It expresses gratitude to guests, creating a warm atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes everyone feel valued.

Who Does the Wedding Welcome Speech?

Typically, the honor of delivering the welcome speech falls to a key figure such as the bride’s or groom’s parents, the master of ceremonies, or a close friend or family member. Whoever takes the stage should be someone who can convey warmth, gratitude, and excitement.

When Should You Give a Wedding Welcome Speech?

The wedding welcome speech is ideally delivered at the beginning of the reception, just before the festivities kick off. It ensures that everyone feels welcomed and sets a positive vibe for the rest of the celebration. This opportune moment allows guests to settle in, creating a seamless transition into the joyous occasion.

How To Deliver A Wedding Welcome Speech?

There’s really no ‘one size fits all’ to delivering welcome wedding speeches. But there are some “holy grails” that must never be quite neglected. Follow these tips and you’d deliver a welcome wedding speech no one will forget.

• Start with something funny

The truth is weddings are solemn and the guests may not be over the ceremony yet. It might take an effort for them to listen to you. Their ears were not made for you after all. So if you want to get them interested, start with something funny.

• Harvest the good memories

Do you have some personal experience with the couple? Then narrate it. If you’re closer to one of them, share sweet memories. The guests will be well delighted to know a little more about the couple they’ve come to celebrate.

• Give well wishes and advice

The good memories are in the past and they’re about building a future together. So why not give them some bricks in the form of advice? Also, encourage and cheer them up.

• Say thank you

Best Welcome Speech for Wedding

“Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, welcome to this beautiful celebration of love. Your presence here makes this day even more special, and we’re thrilled to share these joyous moments with you.”

What to Say to Welcome at a Wedding

“Good [morning/afternoon/evening], everyone! On behalf of [Couple’s Names], I extend a warm welcome to each of you. Thank you for gracing us with your presence on this joyous occasion.”

Best Opening Line for a Wedding Speech

“As we gather here today to celebrate the union of two incredible souls, let us embark on a journey of love, laughter, and cherished memories. Welcome, and let the festivities begin!”

Wedding speeches are as interesting as you make them. These are wedding welcoming speeches that could make guests howl with laughter or shed a tear. Regardless of who gives the wedding welcome speeches, there are guides to help you pull it off. Thus, we’ve rounded off tips and samples to keep you inspired as you prepare your wedding welcome speech .

Thank you for reading. Please let us know how we did.

Your feedback helps improve and provide content that matters to you!

Was this article helpful?

Stories You Might Like

Small Wedding Bouquets: 33 Stunning...

DIY Wedding Cocktail Bar: How To Plan It

The Wedding Ceremony Order: Perfect...

15 Wedding Video Songs You’ll...

24 Brooch Wedding Bouquets That Will...

Flower Girl Bouquet Alternative For 2024...

Bohemian Decor Ideas: Wedding...

Must Take Pre-Wedding Photos!

30 Hilarious Wedding Memes To Reduce...

Best Vintage Wedding Theme Ideas In 2024

15 Brother Sister Wedding Songs: Sweet...

21 Funny Wedding Pictures That Will Make...

25 Free Wedding Planning Checklists

Fill in all required * fields below to receive the checklists bundle.

By submitting this form you agree to receive promotional emails from Wedding Forward about other checklists, wedding planning articles, products, and other wedding related topics. You may unsubscribe at any time. Check out our Privacy Policy for more information.

Item added to your cart

What to say in a funeral service welcome speech.

Crafting a Meaningful Welcome Speech for a Funeral Service

A funeral service welcome speech sets the tone for the gathering and provides comfort and guidance to those attending. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the loss, express gratitude to those who have come to pay their respects, and offer words of hope and support. A well-crafted welcome speech can help bring people together in shared remembrance and provide a sense of closure. This guide provides key elements to include in a funeral service welcome speech and examples to help you find the right words.

1. Start with a Warm Greeting and Introduction

Begin the welcome speech by greeting the attendees and introducing yourself. A warm and sincere greeting helps set a comforting tone and acknowledges everyone’s presence.

Example of a Greeting and Introduction

• "Good afternoon, everyone. My name is [Your Name], and I am [relationship to the deceased]. On behalf of the family, I want to thank you all for being here today to honor and remember [Name of the Deceased]."
• "Welcome, everyone, and thank you for joining us today as we come together to celebrate the life of our beloved [Name of the Deceased]. My name is [Your Name], and I am truly grateful for the outpouring of love and support."

2. Acknowledge the Grief and Loss

It’s important to acknowledge the grief that everyone is feeling and recognize the loss that has brought everyone together. This acknowledgment shows empathy and creates a sense of shared experience among attendees.

Examples of Acknowledging Grief

• "We are all gathered here today because we have lost someone very special. [Name of the Deceased] touched each of our lives in unique ways, and the pain of losing them is felt deeply by all of us."
• "Today, we come together in our sadness and grief to honor a life that meant so much to so many. It’s okay to feel the weight of this loss, and it’s important that we support one another through this difficult time."

3. Express Gratitude to the Attendees

Take a moment to express gratitude to everyone who took the time to attend the funeral service. Acknowledging their support can provide comfort to the family and reinforce a sense of community.

How to Express Gratitude

• "Thank you all for coming today to show your love and support. Your presence here is a testament to how much [Name of the Deceased] was loved and how greatly they will be missed."
• "We are incredibly grateful to each of you for being here, for your kind words, and for the comfort you’ve provided during this challenging time."

4. Share a Brief Reflection or Memory

Sharing a brief reflection or a personal memory of the deceased can help attendees connect with the speaker and remind them of the impact the deceased had on their lives. It can be a lighthearted story, a meaningful moment, or a simple observation that captures the essence of the deceased.

Examples of Sharing a Memory

• "I will always remember [Name of the Deceased] for their incredible kindness and generosity. They had a way of making everyone feel special, and their laughter could light up any room."
• "One of my fondest memories of [Name of the Deceased] is when [share a short, meaningful story]. It’s moments like these that remind us of the joy they brought into our lives."

5. Offer Words of Comfort and Hope

After acknowledging the grief and sharing a memory, it’s important to offer words of comfort and hope. Remind attendees that they are not alone and that it’s okay to grieve while also cherishing the memories of the deceased.

Comforting Words to Include

• "Although we are grieving, let us also find comfort in the memories we shared with [Name of the Deceased] and the love that will always remain in our hearts."
• "In this time of sorrow, let us lean on each other for support and remember that [Name of the Deceased] will always be a part of us."

6. Provide an Overview of the Service

Before concluding the welcome speech, provide a brief overview of the service to let attendees know what to expect. This helps guide the flow of the service and keeps everyone informed.

Service Overview Examples

• "Today, we will hear from several speakers who will share their memories and reflections. We will also have some time for quiet reflection and prayer, followed by a reception where we can continue to share stories and support one another."
• "We have a few speakers who will be sharing their thoughts and memories today, and we will also have a moment of silence to honor [Name of the Deceased]. After the service, please join us for refreshments and a time to connect."

7. Conclude with a Message of Support and Thanks

End the welcome speech by thanking attendees once again and offering continued support to the grieving family and friends. A strong conclusion helps leave a positive and comforting impression on the attendees.

Conclusion Examples

• "Thank you once again for being here today. Your presence means more than words can express, and it’s a reminder of the love and support that surrounds us. Let us now come together to honor and celebrate the life of [Name of the Deceased]."
• "As we continue with today’s service, let’s hold onto the love and memories we have of [Name of the Deceased], and may we find comfort in each other’s presence."

Conclusion: Delivering a Meaningful Funeral Service Welcome Speech

A funeral service welcome speech is an important opportunity to bring comfort, express gratitude, and set the tone for a meaningful service. By greeting attendees warmly, acknowledging grief, sharing memories, and offering words of hope, you can create a supportive and unifying atmosphere for all who are gathered to remember and honor a loved one.

© The  Funeral Program  Site -  Funeral Program Templates  and  Cancer Ribbons

Cancer Ribbons Featured Collection

Explore our personalized collection, featuring lung cancer ribbons and numerous other cancer ribbons for worthy causes. Experience our curated collection of cancer awareness ribbons, featuring specialized lung cancer ribbons and an extensive range of ribbons for meaningful causes.

Pancreatic Cancer Ribbon (Purple) - Pack of 10

Colon cancer ribbon (dark blue) pack of 10, breast cancer ribbon (personalized pink) pack of 10, melanoma awareness cancer ribbon (black) - pack of 10, liver cancer ribbon (emerald green) - pack of 10, ovarian cancer ribbon (teal) - pack of 10, lung cancer ribbon (pearl white) - pack of 10, leukemia, kidney cancer ribbon (orange) - pack of 10, personalized bone cancer ribbon (yellow) - pack of 10, thyroid cancer ribbon - pink, purple, teal (pack of 10), cervical cancer ribbon (teal-white) pack of 10, pink cancer ribbon heart pin - pack of 10, green cancer ribbon heart pin - pack of 10, purple cancer ribbon heart pin - pack of 10, yellow cancer ribbon - pack of 10, testicular cancer ribbon (orchid purple) - pack of 10, prostate cancer ribbon (lt. blue) - pack of 10, leukemia cancer ribbon (orange color ribbon) - pack of 10, kidney cancer ribbon personalized (orange color ribbon) - pack of 10, hodgkin lymphoma cancer ribbon personalized (violet) - pack of 10, featured cancer ribbons.

Our featured cancer ribbons offer 3 lines of personalized text as well as a center embellishment if desired.

Memorial Keepsakes

Cancer Ribbons You May Like

Polka Dots Custom Awareness Ribbon

Prostate Cancer Ribbon

Virus Custom Awareness Ribbon

Brain Cancer Ribbon

Lung cancer ribbon

Lung Cancer Ribbon Pins

Lung cancer ribbon pins are a great accompaniment on any man's or women's lapel. A stylish addition to any outfit, this lapel pin is perfect for both men and women. Enhance your style with our elegant lung cancer ribbon pins, a versatile accessory for any lapel. Crafted with care, this pin is suitable for both men and women, adding a touch of sophistication to any outfit.

cancer ribbons

Cancer Ribbon

Cancer ribbons available in many different sytles and colors at The Funeral Program Site. Discover the diverse options of cancer ribbons, available in different styles and colors, at The Funeral Program Site.

Cancer Ribbons

Cancer ribbons are personalized to perfection with your 3 lines of text and embellished in the center of the criss cross with a variety of accents. These cancer ribbons are customized with precision, allowing for 3 lines of text and adorned with a variety of accents at the center of the criss cross.

frequently asked questions about cancer ribbons

Cancer Ribbon FAQs

How many lines can i personalized on the cancer ribbon.

3 Lines. 2 lines on the left side (as you are facing it) and 1 on the right. Sometimes we do need to break up the lines on the right side depending on how much text you submit.

How many cancer ribbons do I get for the price?

10 ribbons. 10 ribbons equals a quantity of 1 at our online store.

What month is lung cancer ribbon?

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

What color is designated for all cancer ribbons?

Lavender is the designated color ribbon for all cancer. By choosing to support All Cancer Awareness with a lavender colored Ribbon purchase, you are making a meaningful difference. Explore our extensive selection of Cancer support and awareness products today!

Cancer ribbon awareness has become a significant global movement, uniting people from all walks of life to show support for those battling cancer and to promote awareness of the various types of cancer that affect millions worldwide. These ribbons, each color-coded to represent a specific type of cancer, serve as powerful symbols of hope, strength, and solidarity. For example, the pink ribbon is universally recognized for breast cancer awareness, while the gold ribbon stands for childhood cancer.

By wearing these ribbons, individuals can raise awareness about the importance of early detection, support ongoing research efforts, and show compassion for those affected by cancer. It is a simple yet profound way to convey a message of empathy and encourage conversations that can lead to greater understanding and support. The impact of cancer ribbon awareness extends beyond individual support; it plays a crucial role in fundraising and advocacy efforts. Many non-profit organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, use these ribbons as part of their campaigns to raise funds for cancer research, patient support services, and educational initiatives.

The visual impact of these ribbons serves as a constant reminder of the ongoing battle against cancer and the collective effort needed to overcome it. As more people become aware of what each ribbon represents, the movement continues to grow, spreading messages of hope, support, and determination across the globe. In addition to their fundraising and advocacy benefits, cancer awareness ribbons foster a sense of connection and unity among individuals who have been affected by cancer, either personally or through a loved one.

Cancer Ribbons To Support Your Cause

Wearing a signature criss cross cancer ribbon shows your support for any worthy cause of your choice. Show your solidarity with various charitable causes by wearing our distinctive criss cross cancer ribbon. Demonstrate your dedication to making a difference by sporting our unique criss cross cancer ribbon. Join the movement and raise awareness for various charitable initiatives.

Suicide Awareness Ribbon (Purple-Teal) - Pack of 10

Cancer ribbons featured video.

More Helpful Articles

Funeral procession route planning.

Funeral procession route planning is an essential part of organizing a respectful and smooth funeral service. It involves mapping out the journey from the funeral venue to the final resting...

The Significance of Including Poems in a Funera...

  Funeral programs serve as a guide for the service and a cherished keepsake that honors the memory of a loved one. Including poems in a funeral program adds a...

The Need for Affordable Funeral Program Templates

Planning a funeral can be emotionally and financially challenging for many families. An affordable funeral program template provides a cost-effective way to create a beautiful and meaningful tribute to a...

Understanding Double-Sided Funeral Program Temp...

A double-sided funeral program template is a practical and efficient way to present a complete and meaningful tribute for a loved one. By utilizing both sides of a single sheet,...

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.