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How to Write a Welcome Speech

Last Updated: July 29, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,712,687 times.

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

Greeting the Audience

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

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

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

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

Patrick Muñoz

Patrick Muñoz

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

Step 3 Add individual greetings for any special guests.

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

Step 4 Introduce the event itself.

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

Forming the Body of the Speech

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

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

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

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

Step 3 Reiterate your welcoming line.

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

Ending the Speech

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

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

Step 2 Introduce the next speaker if necessary.

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

Step 3 Thank the audience for attending.

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

Step 4 Keep your speech within a suitable time limit.

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

Writing Help

how to write a greeting speech

Community Q&A

wikiHow Staff Editor

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

how to write a greeting speech

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

About This Article

Patrick Muñoz

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

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How to Write a Great Welcome Speech

Table of Contents

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

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

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

What Is a Welcome Speech?

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

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

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

Great Tips on How to Write a Welcome Speech

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

Establish a Connection

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

Set the Tone of the Event

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

Express Gratitude

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

Give an Overview

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

Offer Words of Encouragement

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

End on a High Note

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

A white Welcome text LED light over a black background

Examples of Effective Welcome Speech

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

Example 1: Welcome Speech for a Corporate Event

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

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

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

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

Example 2: Welcome Speech for a Church Event

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

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

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

Example 3: Welcome Speech for a Cultural Event

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

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

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

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

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

Example 4: Welcome Speech for a Fundraising Event

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

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

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

Example 5: Welcome Speech for a College Event

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

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

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

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

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

How to Write a Great Welcome Speech

Abir Ghenaiet

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

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How 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

how to write a greeting speech

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.

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50+ different ways to say welcome to your guests

By:  Susan Dugdale  

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

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

What's on this page?

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

Do you need to use formal or informal language?

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

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

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

How to avoid repetition making your speech boring!  

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

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

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

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

What's the solution?

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

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

1. Add an adjective to the word welcome

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

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

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

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

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

What sort of welcome are you offering?

It could be a(n):

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

Or maybe it's a(n):

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

What about a(n):

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

Then there's a:

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

Perhaps a(n):

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

2. What about the guests you want to welcome?

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

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

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

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

Could your guests be better described as:

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

3. What about the word "guests"?

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

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

Are these people your:

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

And lastly, have fun experimenting!

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

Related pages:

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

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Frantically Speaking

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

Hrideep barot.

  • Public Speaking , Speech Writing

powerful speech opening

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Ric Elias

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Barack Obama

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

3. Seth MacFarlane

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

How to use humour to open your speech?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Mohammed Qahtani

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

5. Darren Tay

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

How to use props to begin your speech?

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

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

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

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

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

6. Simon Sinek

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

7. Julian Treasure

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

How to use questions to open a speech?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Aaron Beverley

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

How to use silence for speech openings?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Dan Pink

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

10. Kelly McGonigal

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. Tim Urban

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

12. Scott Dinsmore

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

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. Larry Smith

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

14. Jane McGonigal

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

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Ramona J Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hrideep Barot

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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.

welcome-address-speech

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 !

-dignitaries and special guests by title and surname, where relevant and appropriate

- a general welcome encompassing all attendees

-the audience should briefly learn why they are attending the occasion or address

-identify the company and a brief insight into its vision, aim or purpose

- elaborate on the occasion in more detail

or relevant quote - possibly include an apt quote

- conclude your welcome address speech in a one-liner

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!

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‘Nickel Boys’ Review: RaMell Ross Breaks Free of Reform-School Tropes, but Loses the Plot in the Process

Random values in pointers, apple’s new mac mini might be coming with some design compromises, how ‘industry’ put rishi through hell in its ‘most intense’ episode yet, why americans stopped moving, more and more big companies say ai regulation is a business risk, today’s wordle hints, answer and help for sept. 2, #1171, today’s nyt connections hints, answers and help for sept. 2 #449, today’s nyt strands hints, answers and help for sept. 2, #183, wordle today: here’s the answer hints for september 2, how to write a welcome speech: 11 steps.

how to write a greeting speech

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 .

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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.

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How to Start a Speech: The Best Ways to Capture Your Audience

You’ve heard the saying,  “First impressions are lasting; you never get a second chance to create a good first impression” —  right?

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

The truth is, when you start your speech, you must focus everything on making a positive first impression on your audience members (especially if you are doing the presentation virtually ). Capturing the audience’s attention from the very beginning is crucial to prevent them from being distracted, losing interest, or forming negative opinions.

The introduction is the formal greeting for speeches, so let’s be sure to get this right to hook the audience. Understanding the importance of speech openings can significantly impact making a strong first impression. Planning and delivering the first words with confidence and relevance is essential, as they set the tone for the entire presentation and ensure you deliver a professional start, free from hesitation or irrelevance.

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

1) Thank the Organizers and Audience

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

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

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

2) Start With a Positive Statement

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

For example, you might say:

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

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

3) Compliment the Audience

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

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

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

You could say something like:

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

4) Start Your Speech With the First Sentence Referring to Current Events

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

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

5) Refer to a Historical Event

For many years, I studied military history…

Especially the lives and campaigns of the great generals and the decisive battles they won. One of my favorites was Alexander the Great. Standing in the symbolic shadow of such historical figures can provide a powerful and engaging start to any speech, especially when drawing parallels to contemporary challenges.

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

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

I opened my talk with these words:

“Once upon a time there was a young man named Alex who grew up in a poor country. But Alex was a little bit ambitious. From an early age, he decided that he wanted to conquer the entire known world. But there was a small problem.

Most of the known world was under the control of a huge multinational called the Persian Empire, headed by King Darius II. To fulfill his ambition, Alex was going to have to take the market share away from the market leader, who was very determined to hold on to it.

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

6) Refer to a Well Known Person

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

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

I will say something like:

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

7) Refer to a Recent Conversation

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

For instance, I might say:

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

8) Make a Shocking Statement With a Startling Fact

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

For example, you might say something like:

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

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

9) Quote From Recent Research

You can start by quoting a relevant, recent research report.

One example is:

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

10) Start Your Speech With a Strong Opening By Giving Them Hope

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

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

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

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

11) Be Entertaining

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

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

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

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

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

12) Ask a Question

You can open by making a positive statement and then pose a rhetorical question to engage your audience and set the stage for your presentation.

Try something like this:

“This is a great time to be alive and in business in America. But let me ask you, what does it truly mean to be self-employed in today’s economy?”

Raise your hand to indicate what you want people to do. I have used this line, and after a moment of thought, I then say to someone who looks intrigued in the front, “How many people here feel truly self-employed?”

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

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

Similarly, a 17-year-old science fair winner effectively engaged their audience with a question at the beginning of their TED Talk, showcasing the power of this technique.

13) Open With a Problem

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

For example, you could say:

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

Introducing a new idea at this point can be a powerful way to engage your audience further, by promising a solution that is both innovative and beneficial.

14) Make a Strong Statement, Then Ask a Question

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

Here’s an example:

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

15) Tell a Personal Story

You can start your talk with a personal story. Some of the most powerful words to capture the complete attention of the audience and make a personal connection are, “Once upon a time…”

From infancy and early childhood, people love stories of any kind. When you start off a presentation with a personal anecdote using the words, “Once upon a time…” you tell the audience that a relatable story is coming. People immediately settle down, become quiet, and lean forward, eager to hear how your experience might mirror their own or offer them new insights.

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

As soon as I say these words, people hurry back to their seats and begin to listen attentively, connecting with the story on a personal level.

Incorporating a personal story is very effective.

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

Bonus Tip: Tell Them About Yourself

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus Tip: Get Them Talking to One Another

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

For instance, you could say:

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

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

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

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

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Learn ESL

7 Steps to Write a Welcome Speech in English

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.

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Examples

Welcome Speech for Meeting

Welcome speech generator for meeting.

how to write a greeting speech

When it comes to speeches , a lot of people, not only students but even employees and some employers, cringe or find the word scary. It does not have to be as long as you know what you are doing, how you are doing it, and what you are writing about. However, even with all that advice, there are still some people who do not want to be the center of making the speech and would want to find someone else to be able to do it. It goes without saying making a speech is the least worrisome thing you can do and you can present, especially if you know what you are talking about and what you are going to be presenting. If you know who your audience is, then making a speech is nothing short of a wonderful experience. 

As we all know, there are a lot of kinds of speeches, and one is  a welcome speech . When we hear a welcome speech, we think of something as easy as welcoming someone. But, it is not as easy as simply welcoming a person or a group of people to the place or to the event. Making a welcome speech has its own tips to get you started, and it has its own details that you need to look forward to in learning. So with that being said, here are your 10+ examples of a welcome speech for a meeting.

10+ Welcome Speech for Meeting Examples

1. welcome speech for governor meeting.

Welcome Speech for Governor Meeting

Size: 163 KB

2. Welcome Chairman’s Speech for Meeting

Welcome Chairman's Speech for Meeting

Size: 57 KB

3. Welcome Speech for Manager Meeting

Welcome Speech for Manager Meeting

Size: 31 KB

4. Welcome & Introduction Speech for Meeting

Welcome & Introduction Speech for Meeting

Size: 40 KB

5. Welcome Speech for University Meeting

Welcome Speech for University Meeting

Size: 269 KB

6. Welcome Speech for Remote Meeting

Welcome Speech for Remote Meeting

Size: 106 KB

7. Welcome Speech for Event Meeting

Welcome Speech for Event Meeting

Size: 190 KB

8. Welcome Speech for Shareholders Meeting

Welcome Speech for Shareholders Meeting

Size: 210 KB

9. Welcome Speech for Meeting in PDF

Welcome Speech for Meeting in PDF

Size: 116 KB

10. Welcome & Opening Speech for Meeting

Welcome & Opening Speech for Meeting

Size: 28 KB

11. Welcome Speech for Bank Meeting

Welcome Speech for Bank Meeting

Size: 76 KB

What Is a Welcome Speech for a Meeting?

A welcome speech for a meeting is a kind of speech that is made useful to introduce , greet, and welcome important people or those who have higher influences in your company, group, or organization. This welcome speech caters to simply getting new people to be acquainted with the guests or the visitors. In addition to that, a welcome speech for a meeting is often only done when visitors like shareholders, managers, and governors are planning on attending an important event or an important meeting. 

The purpose of a welcome speech is to introduce to the public or to the crowd the names of the people present. It is to welcome them to the event and to be able for them to know who the rest of the people present are. In addition to that, the use of a welcome speech is to introduce the purpose of the meeting, for the people present and for the general public. 

How to Write a Welcome Speech for Meeting?

Making a speech may seem easy or difficult, depending on how you are going to look at it. But did you know that before you can make the speech, you have to write it down as well? If you think that is another difficult thing to do, think again. Here are some tips to help you get through that problem .

1. Remember to Take All Details into Account

The details of the welcome speech are basically the names of the people or the important people who are coming. This is the responsibility of the one who is assigned to make the welcome speech. Always make sure that all details needed are within your reach or that you already have them down as notes.

2. Write a Short Draft of Your Speech

Draft it out . It may sound as simple as that, and it really is, but to make a good welcome speech, one must at least learn to draft out what you need to say. Make sure that you know the theme, the people, the event, and the titles or the ranks of the important people, such as manager, the CEO, the president, etc.

3. Use Simple Words When Writing the Speech

If you think using difficult or unfamiliar jargon would impress your guests and audience, you may want to think again. Using jargon that is not familiar to everyone, in general, would only confuse them. Some may be able to understand it while others do not. To avoid this issue, it is best to use simple or commonly used words to write your speech. There are other ways to impress your guests, but using difficult words is not one of them.

4. Practice Pronouncing the Names of the Guests

Since this is a speech, the next best thing to do while you are also writing is to practice it out loud. Practice how you are going to say their names properly. Practicing helps by making you feel less nervous and less prone to forgetting the entire speech. In addition to that, by writing the names of your guests, you may also want to keep an eye on the spelling.

5. Revise If There Are Any Issues with It

Just as making the final output from the draft, it is always best to review, revise, and recheck if there are any issues you may have missed. Revising your work helps to maintain the flow of your speech.

What is a welcome speech for meeting?

A welcome speech is a kind of speech that anyone makes in order to welcome and introduce an important person to the company or an organization.

How do you write a good welcome speech for meeting?

To write a good welcome speech, all you have to do is to follow the steps found in the tips.

What should not be in a welcome speech?

A welcome speech is just a short speech to welcome people. What should not be in it is introducing every single person in the audience or writing a speech about you.

It goes without saying there is really nothing to fear when you are making or writing a speech. Writing a welcome speech is the easiest kind as all you have to do is to know who your honored guests are and the event you are going to be holding the speech in. In addition to that, writing a welcome speech only takes a few minutes especially when you already have a draft in mind. In this case, welcome speeches can be done by just about anyone: employees, students, teachers, and even employers. Anyone can write it; however, it takes good practice to write a very good welcome speech.

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70 Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event

May 1, 2024

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

Short Welcome Speech Samples That You Can Use

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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.

short-welcome-speech-samples/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

short-welcome-speech-samples/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

short-welcome-speech-samples/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

short-welcome-speech-samples/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

short-welcome-speech-samples/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

short-welcome-speech-samples/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

short-welcome-speech-samples/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. 

Short Welcome Speech Samples That You Can Use-19

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

Short Welcome Speech Samples That You Can Use

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

Short Welcome Speech Samples That You Can Use

  • 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 Welcome Speech Samples That You Can Use

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.

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Orvium

How to Write a Welcome Speech | Academic Conference Edition

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

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

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

What is a Welcome Speech?

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

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

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

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

How to Write a Welcome Speech for a Conference

1. get the event focus and tone right.

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

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

how to write a greeting speech

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

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

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

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

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

2. Take Notes and Draft an Outline

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

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

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

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

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

3. Write Your Speech

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

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

4. Rehearse Your Speech

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

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

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

Orvium Makes You Feel Welcome

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

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

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

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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

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Start Strong!  — Give Your Audience a Greeting They'll Remember

How to start a speech or presentation with a strong opening.

Do you know how to start a speech successfully? You might need to power up your opening! Here's how to give your audience a greeting they'll remember.

Imagine you're an audience member who hears this from a speaker at the start of a sales pitch:

"Good morning. I'm Glenn Collect-More, president of Collect-More Medical Billing. Our experts help hospitals and medical groups maximize practice revenue. I'm delighted to speak to you this morning.  . . . Would you like to increase the number of patients you see in your hospital while reducing your paperwork and expenses?"

This opening looks okay when you see it like this, doesn't it? But now imagine that everything the speaker said took a total of 14 seconds. He delivered everything in a monotone. None of the words or phrases seemed to have any life to them.  How successful would you now say this speaker's opening was?

Discover 101 tips for great speeches and presentations   in the Public Speaking Handbook How to Give a Speech . Click on the image below for a free chapter! On  Amazon.

How to Craft a Powerful Speech Introduction

You may remember from your school days that a speech has three parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. And while that may be generally true in a broad sense, most presentations include a fourth component: the Greeting.

Your greeting is an essential part of your Introduction because it presents both you and your topic to your audience. It gives listeners a flavor of what will follow. Equally important, it opens up the channel of communication between you and the audience. It tells them whether you're going to be interesting or not. And it gets them to pay maximum attention (or not).

All pretty vital! As a speech coach, I tell my clients and trainees that your greeting is absolutely an element of your speech that can't be neglected.

Once you greet your audience, you need to hook them so they'll pay maximum attention. Discover the most powerful ways for doing that in my e-book,  How to Start a Speech .

You Have 30-60 Seconds to Build Your Credibility

If you're like many speakers, you may have said concerning these opening moments of your speeches: "Things felt a little shaky at first. But after 2 or 3 minutes, I got on track and everything went fine after that."

But audiences judge you immediately! So you need to know  how to launch a presentation in the critical first 60 seconds ! That's all the time you have to get audience members' judgments working in your favor rather than against you. Again, your greeting is precious real estate that you must develop, not let lie fallow.

One scenario that I see often in my executive speech training , is that the speaker's content is actually fine, but it's that person's delivery that is undermining their effectiveness. You may, for instance, say the same thing, so many times to so many audiences, that you forget that these listeners have never heard it before. You may then become guilty of "phoning in your performance," as actors say, instead of investing it with all the energy and passion you're capable of in service to your topic.

To speak with true impact and influence, download my free e-book   "12 Easy Ways to Achieve Presence and Charisma."

How to Deliver a Strong Presentation or Pitch

The manner in which you start a pitch or presentation, then, will greatly influence whether you grab your audience's attention and get them listening. The selection at the start of this article, for instance, is similar to what I heard last week when I conducted a breakfast workshop for a professional group. One of the attendees volunteered to give us the opening of his "stump pitch," and that is the content (changed for privacy) that I included above.

What I said to the group concerning this opening—and it's an important point—is that there were actually  four  components to his greeting. Before he asked his "grabbing" question, that is, he did the following: 1) greeted his audience with "Good morning," 2) identified himself, 3) named his company's expertise that might be of interest to prospects, and 4) told his listeners that he was delighted to be speaking to them. After that came his "hook."  Before  that came the elements of his greeting that he'd specifically included to begin pleasantly and professionally.

The problem was that, although he knew why those elements were there, he'd rattled them off so many times that he'd lost his own interest in the content. He was telegraphing to his audience through his vocal skills (or neglect of them) that it no longer revved his engine to say these things. He needed, in other words, to work on his ways to improve vocal skills for pitches and presentations. 

I coached this gentleman briefly, helping him to invest emotionally in his greeting, rather than just rattling it all off. In a short time, he'd caught on, and his vocal delivery skills began to match the important information he was conveying.

His fellow workshop attendees spontaneously applauded his last attempt.  Now  he had a greeting that accomplished its job, helping to launch his presentation strongly.

Do you read thrillers and supernatural suspense ? If you do, you'll like Dr. William Scarlet, a Scotland Yard police surgeon and psychic. Start reading Series Book #1 Red Season  today!

Red Season: Book #1 in the Dr. William Scarlet Mysteries, by Gary Genard.

You should follow me on Twitter  here .

Cropped headshot for Speak for Leadership back cover -- 8.30.21

Gary Genard   is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers  live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching   and corporate group training worldwide. He was named for nine consecutive years as  One of the World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals , and also named as  One of America's Top 5 Speech Coaches .  He is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller  How to Give a Speech . His second book,  Fearless Speaking ,  was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time." His handbook for presenting in videoconferences,  Speaking Virtually  offers strategies and tools for developing virtual presence in online meetings. His latest book is  Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence .  Contact Gary here.  

Tags: public speaking training , public speaking , effective presentations , public speaking skills , presentation greeting , how to open a presentation , how to begin a presentation , how to start a speech , how to give a speech , presentation training , effective speaking , speech introduction , how to open a speech , vocal dynamics , The Genard Method , Dr. Gary Genard , fearless speaking , speak for leadership , how to start a presentation , how to begin a speech , speech introduction examples , introduction , how to write an introduction , Red Season , Dr. William Scarlet Mysteries

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10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong

Lights, camera, action! 💡🎥🎬

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What Is A Church Welcome Speech?

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

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

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

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

Let’s walk through each one 👇

1. A Simple Introduction

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

As they say: less is more.

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

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

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

2. Set Expectations

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

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

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

3. Give Useful Information

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

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

4. Welcome Visitors

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

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

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

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

5. End With What’s Next

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

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

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

best church welcome speeches

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

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

Church Welcome Speech #1

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

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

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

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

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

Church Welcome Speech #2

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK, let’s pray together. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #3

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

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

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

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

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

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

Church Welcome Speech #4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s stand and pray together [PRAYER].

Church Welcome Speech #5

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s pray. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #6

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

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

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

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

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

Church Welcome Speech #7

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

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

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

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

Today is going to be good!

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

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

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

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

So let’s make a joyful noise!

Church Welcome Speech #8

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

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

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

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

Please note that [USEFUL INFO HERE].

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

Church Welcome Speech #9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Church Welcome Speech #10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. The Comedic Approach

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

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

YouTube video

2. The Evangelistic Approach

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

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

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

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

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

YouTube video

3. The Helpful Approach

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

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

YouTube video

4. The Faith-Fuelled Approach

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

YouTube video

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Over To You

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

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

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

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

Now it’s time to hand it over to you:

What do you say in your church welcome speech?

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

Let us know in the comments below! 🙏

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

this is awesome, thanks for the ideas

Very helpful, thanks for sharing

These guide lines are very good and they are very brief

God bless you

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

Right back at ya Lynn! You got this! 🙂

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

This was very helpful

thank you so much it is very helpful

very helpful and we’ll articulated

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

Very helpful, glad I found your site.

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

Great examples/ very usecul

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

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

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

This is awesome God bless you

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

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Wedding Welcome Speech: Tips for Expressing Gratitude and Joy

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Imagine the pivotal moments in Good Will Hunting, where we witness Will’s deeply profound transformation from a troubled mind to someone learning to step into his potential. Mr. Keating’s spirited call to his students to “seize the day” in Dead Poets Society stays long past the credits roll. 

We also can’t forget Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, who is so hopeful and determined that an entire prison of men is motivated by his persistence. Much like these peak moments of classic cinema, a layered motivational speech can change hearts, compel action, and stand the test of time.

Are you gearing up to speak in front of a crowd of peers, students, or simply just the general public? Knowing how to motivate through words will arm you with the tools to get your message across most effectively. Over the following few sections, we’ll explain how to write a motivational speech that resonates and delivers an enduring impact.

Step 1: Define Your Purpose and Audience

Before embarking on writing a motivational speech, clarity about intention and listeners is paramount. Without a clear idea about the target audience, drafting your speech can be challenging. 

1.1. Identifying the goal or message of your speech

Your speech requires a well-defined purpose. This will guide the selection and delivery of motivational speech topics. If stirring activity is the goal, contemplate the precise steps you want listeners to take after hearing you. This could encompass adopting a new outlook or engaging in a cause. To elevate morale, infuse affirmations throughout. Highlight accomplishments and strengths. Your message should reinforce faith in capabilities and potential.

For personal growth, emphasise constant learning and the importance of self-betterment. Provide insights and techniques aiding audiences’ skills and character cultivation.

1.2. Understanding your audience

Comprehending those addressed is pivotal for effectively customizing the inspirational speech. For instance, the common issues they confront, their dreams, goals, etc. 

Consider demographics, such as age, occupation, culture, interests, and particular difficulties. This aids in crafting a relevant, relatable message. Employ language, anecdotes, and examples echoing audiences’ experiences and values. This builds connection and amplifies impact.

Step 2: Choose an Engaging Topic or Theme

To keep their attention, choosing a theme that will interest the audience is vital. For instance, selecting a topic that resonates with their challenges. 

2.1. Selecting a compelling and relevant theme

Your focus should correspond to the purpose of the speech. In simpler words, make sure the theme of your speech inspires them. For instance, rendering them the courage to take up a venture they have been contemplating for a long time. 

Overcoming adversity or challenges

Themes, which describe an individual’s or a group’s experiences of defeating some challenges, can be the most powerful and relevant. This theme resonates with many, whether it’s a motivational speech for students or others. 

Achieving goals and success

Themes focused on achieving goals or success motivate the listeners to take action. Incorporate real stories of heroes who have overcome all challenges to fulfil their dreams. 

Personal growth and self-improvement

Another theme that is suitable for a speech of such kind is focused on personal growth and self-improvement. There, you can explain the necessity of self-education and knowledge.

2.2. Brainstorming captivating titles or hooks

Find a memorable title to interest your potential audience. For this purpose, use words that hint at what will be described, which can establish the mood. 

Step 3: Craft a Powerful Introduction

How we begin the motivational speech impacts how our message is received. A skilled orator knows this well.

3.1. Capturing the audience’s attention from the start

To captivate our listeners, we must start strong. An exciting opening secures engagement immediately. Begin by sharing something unexpected that makes us think differently. Use words that can reset the listeners’ perspectives. 

Offer a meaningful personal anecdote linked to your theme. For example, recalling how you persevered through a formidable challenge displays character. Propose an inquiry that gets brains buzzing. For instance, “What if failing wasn’t an option – how far could you go?” A powerful motivational speech has questions that ignite interest.

3.2. Establishing rapport and connecting with the audience

By relating to others, trust and goodwill form. Demonstrate empathy for their journey and find humour in shared humanity to foster connection. 

Step 4: Develop the Body of Your Speech

The body of your speech is where you fully explore your central theme and provide compelling evidence to support your perspective.

4.1. Structuring your content logically and coherently

Develop your motivational speech text coherently that flows logically from one idea to the next. This ensures your audience can easily follow your line of thinking.

Using the problem-solution format

Present a challenge or issue your listeners face, then propose ways to address it. Framing your speech in this problem-solution format engages attendees and leaves them with practical takeaways.

Incorporating personal experiences or examples

Weave in relevant anecdotes from your own life that demonstrate your points. Sharing stories from your journey makes your motivational speech more relatable and memorable for those listening.

Transitioning smoothly between points

Use transition phrases and words to move gracefully from one concept to the next. Maintaining continuity and flow aids comprehension as you develop your key arguments.

4.2. Incorporating motivational techniques

It is one of the techniques to amplify the impact of your message. Invoke emotions by connecting to what matters to your audience. Talk about what energizes their spirit. This helps in bringing your ideas to life. Visual storytelling engages the imagination and makes your insights more unforgettable. Cite inspiring quotes, role models, or triumphs that reinforce your ideas. For instance, share the tale of someone who achieved remarkable things against challenging odds.

Step 5: Craft a Compelling Conclusion

The best motivation speech has a good ending. It should solidify your message and leave a lasting impression.

5.1. Summarising your key points and central message

Briefly reiterate the main ideas of your speech to reinforce your message. Include the most essential points to summarize your central theme.

5.2. Leaving a lasting impression

End your motivational speech with energy to guarantee your message resonates. Leave the audience motivated to remember the significance of your presentation.

Offer a brief yet compelling call to action. For instance, “I challenge each and every one of you today to take one bold step closer to your dream.” Conclude by sharing an uplifting quote or sentiment to encourage your listeners. For example, “Remember that the only boundaries in life are those you place on yourself.”

Step 6: Polish and Refine Your Speech

Think about ways to make your motivational speech sound better with finishing touches. 

6.1. Editing and revising for clarity and impact

Review your speech thoroughly to ensure each component is concise yet impactful. Remove redundant elements and guarantee your terminology is unambiguous and direct. Consider reworking sections to accentuate your focus better or strengthen connections between ideas.

6.2. Incorporating rhetorical devices and language techniques

Employ literary techniques like reiteration, symmetry, and allegory to enliven your speech. Such strategies render your message more compelling and unforgettable. Consider diverse methods of arrangement and expression to engage your audience and solidify the understanding of your perspective.

6.3. Rehearsing and timing your delivery

Rehearse your oration repeatedly in diverse settings. Monitor precise timing and presentation style. Record yourself and reflect on areas for improvement. Welcome feedback and tweak accordingly. Refine through trial and error to optimize performance.

Examples and Inspiration

Before writing your motivational speech in English, look into some references. This will help you to comprehend where and how to add quotes, examples, and where to use your own words. 

1. Excerpts from renowned motivational speeches

Study excerpts from famous speeches to understand what makes them effective. For example, the “I Have a Dream” speech from Martin Luther King Jr is powerful because of its rhythmic repetition and vivid imagery. It painted a vision so compelling that listeners felt they could touch it.

2. Techniques used by successful motivational speakers

Analyze techniques used by speakers who have motivated millions, like Tony Robbins’ theatrical storytelling style that transports audiences or Brené Brown’s empathy-invoking vulnerability that connects hearts. Notice patterns in how they engage emotion and imagination to inspire action.

Additional Tips and Strategies

A few more pointers to remember while crafting a motivational speech for success in life are as follows: 

1. Incorporating personal stories and experiences

Share authentic anecdotes highlighting your message to relate to listeners. Tales showcasing trials and triumphs trumpet your theme memorably.

Pick stories that hit on what your speech is about. Let’s say you are lecturing on resilience, then tell an instance of overcoming extraordinary difficulties. 

Paint a vivid picture of your personal experience. Describe the feelings, backdrop, and actions that took place. Relate your story to the experiences of your audience and what they can learn from it.

2. Using visual aids or multimedia elements effectively

Imagery and technological tools tactically bolster speeches, illustrating important issues innovatively. Multimedia maintains momentum and mesmerizes minds.

Using visual aids enables viewers to grasp complexities more easily. These elements capture their eye, raise their attention, and have an impact that speech alone can never rival. Information presented in visual form is also more easily remembered.

3. Engaging the audience and encouraging participation

Encouraging engagement energizes events and makes them interactive. Pose questions, invite feedback, or conduct activities involving everyone enthusiastically.

You must plan and rehearse the audience participation, or the program will fail. Make activities and questions accessible to everybody in the audience. Be prepared for surprises and a change from plan according to your audience’s responses or degree of enthusiasm.

To write a motivational speech, you need careful planning and an understanding of your mission and audience. Make the speech capture their attention by taking these steps and then get them going with an organic spark of interest in your activities or ideas. You must be authentic and build connections to master delivering a great inspirational speech. Speak from your heart, and the words will resonate.

FAQs on Motivational Speech

Q1: how long should a motivational speech be.

A1: A motivational speech should be clear and impactful, generally 10-20 minutes long. The key is to hold people’s interest and let them go away with a strong message. Remember that a short motivational speech can also spark significant changes. 

Q2: How can I overcome stage fright before giving a speech?

A2: Practice the speech several times, ideally in front of a mirror or small audience. Focus on preparing the material and on deep breathing.

Q3: What role can humor play in a motivational speech?

A3: Humor can help bring your audience’s attention to the speech. The humorous content should fit the overall message while not distracting from it. It should be funny but with some logic and shouldn’t offend anyone.

Q4: What should I do if I get lost in my speech?

A4: If you lose your rhythm, take a deep breath. Use notes or slides to get back on track with what you are saying. Remember, audiences are often more lenient than we tend to believe. In addition, pausing can also create a suspenseful, engaging moment.

Q5: How can I involve the audience in my speech?

A5: To make your speech more interactive, ask rhetorical questions, invite audience participation, and use visual aids. This keeps the audience interested and brings home your message. You could also call for comments or volunteer to share their experiences related to your subject.

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

    Ask a question they can respond to or tell a joke — anything to connect with the audience. Do something that grabs their attention and excites them and makes them thrilled about the event. 3. Add individual greetings for any special guests. Include the names of special guests that are part of the audience.

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  3. Writing an Effective Welcome Speech

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

  4. How to Write a Great Welcome Speech

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

  5. Welcome Address Speech

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

    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.

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

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

  8. 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

    Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary. Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you. 4.

  9. Welcome Address Speech and Free Sample Welcome Speech Template To Adapt

    E. End - conclude your welcome address speech in a one-liner. 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 ...

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    8. Keep It Short and Simple (KISS): A welcome speech should not go on for too long; keep it concise and focused on delivering key messages effectively. 9. Add Humor (If Appropriate): A bit of light humor can help break the ice and make your welcome speech more engaging but ensure that it is in good taste and appropriate for the audience and event.

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    Welcome Speech Example. 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 ...

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    1) Thank the Organizers and Audience. You can start by thanking the audience for coming and thanking the organization for inviting you to speak. Refer to the person who introduced you or to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience. This compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and ...

  14. Welcome Speech

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

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

  16. Welcome Speech for Meeting

    The details of the welcome speech are basically the names of the people or the important people who are coming. This is the responsibility of the one who is assigned to make the welcome speech. Always make sure that all details needed are within your reach or that you already have them down as notes. 2. Write a Short Draft of Your Speech.

  17. How to Write a Great Wedding Welcome Speech

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

  18. 70 Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event

    Welcome Speech for a Farewell Party. Image Source. Good Morning to everyone present here! 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.

  19. How to Write a Welcome Speech

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

  20. How to write a welcome speech for an event

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

  21. Start Strong!

    Your greeting is an essential part of your Introduction because it presents both you and your topic to your audience. It gives listeners a flavor of what will follow. Equally important, it opens up the channel of communication between you and the audience. It tells them whether you're going to be interesting or not.

  22. 10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong

    10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong

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  24. How to Write a Motivational Speech: Steps and Examples [2024 ...

    Over the following few sections, we'll explain how to write a motivational speech that resonates and delivers an enduring impact. Step 1: Define Your Purpose and Audience. Before embarking on writing a motivational speech, clarity about intention and listeners is paramount.