Everyone loves weddings. But it is not until it is your own one that you realize how much preparation it takes! For instance, have you thought about your wedding welcome speech? This is an important part of the day and it is recommended that you prepare in advance.
Suddenly, it can be daunting to stand up in front of a crowd and give a speech. This is particularly true when it comes to your friends and family on such a special day. While you only have to say a few words, it is important that you get your welcome speech right at your wedding. This is going to set the tone for the rest of the day.
Are you not sure where to start with your wedding welcoming speech? We have some tips for you, as well as some speech samples that can give you inspiration. Let’s check them out!
Tips and Samples for Your Wedding Welcoming Speech
The best way to tackle your wedding nerves is to prepare in advance for your speech. This way, you know what you are saying and can feel confident. Plus, it also means you do not have to stare down at a script. Here are some useful wedding tips to get started on writing your speech.
Introduce Yourself
An easy way to start is by introducing yourself. Of course, people are going to know who you are already, but it is a good way to begin. You can even make a joke of it and comment on the big day. This is a good way to ease yourself into the speech. Here are some examples of what you can say on your special day
‘Hi everyone, I am[name] and I hope you are enjoying the big day. If you do not know who I am, well, I am not sure what you are doing here. Did you sneak in?’
‘Welcome everyone and I am [name]. I hope you are having fun and loving this special day just as much as I am’.
‘Hi and welcome to this special wedding. I am [name] and I want to thank you for attending today. It is great to look around and see so many lovely faces.
You do not have to spend a long time introducing yourself. This can simply be a sentence. You do not want to bore people or for them to tune out quickly. Again, you do not have to make a lot of jokes either. Do not forget to make eye contact and smile while you are introducing yourself. This is going to start your speech on a positive note. You can still have notes so that you do not get nervous and stutter. But do not be consumed by them.
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Get Started With PlanningThank Everyone for Being Present
During your wedding welcoming speech, you want to make sure that you thank all of your guests for being there. After all, they are a part of what makes the wedding so special. They have chosen to take time away from their busy schedule to celebrate with you. For this, you need to thank them.
Again, you do not have to go overboard and be over-the-top about thanking your guests. You just have to mention that you appreciate them being there and celebrating with you and your partner. Here are some samples:
‘I want to take a moment to thank you all for being here. We appreciate you taking the time to celebrate this day with us’.
‘Thank you all for being here to celebrate our wedding. While we could have had a private ceremony, we really wanted our loved ones to be here too’.
‘Today is a very special day for us and it would not have been so without all of you being present. Thank you for coming and we hope you enjoy the rest of the day as much as we will’.
Enjoy a Quote About Love
Sometimes, it can be difficult to describe the love you have for your partner and to capture how much they mean to you. If you are able to do this then it is going to be great for your wedding welcoming speech. However, if you are having difficulty, do not worry. Instead, you can find a quote that you like about love and that you can share with your guests. Here are some examples.
‘Love is like the wind, you can’t’ see it, but you can feel it’.
‘It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight’.
‘The course of true love never did run smooth’.
‘Where there is love there is life’.
Talk About Memories
There are a number of people who can give the wedding welcoming speech. This can be the groom or one of the fathers of the couple. Either way, keep the speech short and to the point. You can talk about a few fond memories of the couple, whether they are loving or funny. This is going to keep the guests engaged. Keep the stories short and focus on the main points so that guest do not tune out. This means skipping the small details and focusing on the sweet memories you have.
End with a Toast
It can be difficult to think of a way to end a speech without saying it. Of course, if you have already thanked your guests for being present with you, you do not want to repeat yourself again. A good way to end a speech and on high spirits is by asking everyone to raise a glass and toast to the happy couple. This is a great way to get everyone together and most people know it is a way to end your speech. This is also a good way to move everyone one to the next part of the wedding celebrations. Here are some samples of how to toast with all of your guests at the wedding:
‘Let’s raise a glass to the happy couple and help them celebrate their big day today. Cheers!’
‘Thank you for listening to me ramble on and on. Now it is finally time for a drink, let’s raise our glasses’.
‘And now is the best bit – the toast! If you would all join me in raising a glass and we can start the real celebrations!’.
Kathy
Kathy is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about all aspects of a wedding—from the planning to the event itself. She graduated from the University of Technology in Sydney (yes, Australia!), with a degree in media and communication. She also became an American citizen and loves her new home country. Kathy has somewhat of a boho spirit and enjoys some great rock-n-roll music. She is married and enjoys working from home with her husband, who’s also a writer. They both try to get out as often as possible by taking long walks, visiting wineries on the weekend, and more. While they don’t yet have kids, Kathy and her husband have plans to expand their family in the next year or two!
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