Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Greeting the audience
• Part 2 of 3: Shaping the core of the speech
• Part 3 of 3: Finishing the speech
• Tips

A good welcome speech is the best way to set the tone for an event. This can be simple or formal depending on the situation. Begin your speech by greeting the audience before giving an overview of the event. Finish the speech by introducing the next speaker and thanking the audience for attending. When writing your speech, make sure you know the right tone, that your speech adheres to the time limit, and that you keep the purpose of your speech in mind as you write.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Greeting the audience

1. Welcome the public with serious language in case of a formal matter. Choose an appropriate greeting such as "Good evening ladies and gentlemen." Then welcome the audience to the event with a phrase such as "It is my pleasure to welcome everyone here to this special night before the theater."
   • Add a more serious tone to an important matter. Use formal language and don't make inappropriate jokes. For example, at a funeral you could say, "It means a lot to us that you are here tonight. We appreciate your presence during this difficult time. "
2. Greet guests informally using light-hearted language. Choose a simple and clear greeting such as "Good morning everyone!". Express your gratitude to the guests by using a phrase such as "It is such a joy to see you all together here on this sunny day."
   • More informal language may be more appropriate at an event with close friends and family. Add some jokes to your speech to spice things up.
3. Add individual greetings for special guests. Include the names of special guests in the audience. Draw and watch the special guests mention it.
   • Special guests can be honorable people, people who play a particularly important role in the event, or people who have traveled far to attend.
   • Make sure to practice all of the names, titles, and sayings of special guests beforehand.
   • For example, you can say "And now I would like to extend a warm welcome to our guest of honor, Judge Verhasselt, who will speak later in the evening."
   • As an alternative to welcoming a group of people, you can also say something like "Although we are happy that you are all here tonight, we especially want to welcome the students of the secondary school in Utrecht."
4. Introduce the event yourself. Provide a brief introduction to the name and purpose of the event. If relevant, you can state the name and age of the event or tell us a bit more about who is organizing the event.
   • At an informal occasion such as a birthday party, you could say, "We are so glad to see you here tonight to celebrate a new year in Jessica's life with food and drink." Let's get started now. "
   • On a more formal occasion such as something run by a company, you could say "We are so glad you are all here to celebrate Pet Day with us for the tenth time, hosted by Gaia."

Part 2 of 3: Shaping the core of the speech

1. Recognize the people who play an important role in the event. Name 2-3 people who have worked to turn the original idea into reality. Say the name of each person and exactly what he or she did.
   • An example of giving recognition to individual people is, for example, saying "We couldn't organize this fundraiser without the hard work and dedication of Geert and Sandy, who have worked tirelessly from day 1 to make this happen."
   • Avoid rattling off a long list of people or sponsors, as your audience will start to get bored. Limit yourself to just a few eye-catchers.
2. List areas of the event that are particularly important. Point out what to expect later in the day or in the next few days, if applicable. Pick the parts that matter most and encourage people to stick with or pay special attention to something.
   • For example, at a conference you can say when the dinner will take place or which specific sessions the audience can expect.
   • For example, at a wedding reception you can indicate when there will be dancing or when the cake will be cut.
3. Repeat your welcome phrase. Welcome the guests again, but this time in a way that relates to the overview you just provided. For example, at an informal gathering, you could say "I'm so excited to meet all the new faces at our legendary game of cricket!" For a more formal occasion, you can simply wish everyone a smooth transition to the next part of the event.
   • An alternative is to round off your speech on an informal occasion with "I can't wait to see you all back on the dance floor!"

Part 3 of 3: Finishing the speech

1. If appropriate, say that you hope the audience will enjoy the event. Tell them you wish them all the best for the rest of the event. For example, at a conference you could say "I hope you all enjoy the speakers to come!"
   • You could say you hope the audience will learn from the event. For example, "I hope that today will inspire new ideas and conversations about how we can make our city an even better place to live!"
2. If necessary, suggest the next speaker. You can prepare a formal introduction to a major, formal affair, including a relevant short biography of the person in question and the company he or she represents. A short and fun introduction is appropriate for an informal affair.
   • On a formal occasion you could say, "And now our speaker. Rebecca Vormers is from Utrecht and is a leading expert in the study of the human brain. Tonight she will talk about what drives us to make decisions. Let us welcome her. "
   • On an informal occasion such as a party, you could say "Sam is next." He's been Mike's best friend for 10 years. So it's been a decade since he's been collecting embarrassing stories about Mike, which he'll be happy to share with us here tonight! "
3. Thank the audience for attending. Briefly say one or two sentences expressing your gratitude on behalf of the event. Keep it short and concise. For example, on an informal occasion, you could say "Thank you everyone for coming here tonight."
   • Alternatively, you can say "Thanks again everyone for being here tonight to celebrate John and Vanessa's 50th wedding anniversary!" Let the party begin! "
4. Limit your speech to an appropriate time limit. The event will specify how long a speaker should speak. Usually shorter is better because people want to experience the event. About 1-2 minutes is generally appropriate for smaller events and around 5 minutes for larger and more formal occasions such as conferences.
   • If in doubt, ask the organizer or host what is an appropriate length for your speech.

Tips

• During the days before the event, practice your speech in front of friends and family members you trust.