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The secret to a perfect wedding officiant speech (with examples)

Published Wednesday, Oct. 5th, 2022

Written by Jessica Levey

Find the perfect wording for your wedding officiant speech or wedding ceremony script by thinking of a wedding ceremony as a theater play, with you and your couple performing unique roles. Use this simple advice for first-time officiants to write an original wedding script, using examples of the invocation, vows and rings exchange, pronouncement, and more, from some of AMM's most popular ceremony scripts and outlines.

Write a memorable wedding officiant speech or wedding ceremony script with this simple advice from the pros. 

A sked to officiate a close friend or relative’s wedding ceremony, but have no idea what to say (or do) during your speech? 

First off, congratulations on being asked to officiate! It’s a huge honor to be chosen to conduct a wedding or vow renewal ceremony. As you’ve probably guessed, couples generally ask someone special to officiate, someone who’s been an important part of their journey toward marriage. 

So before you get too stressed out about what you’re going to say on the big day, take a moment to appreciate being asked. And remember: They chose you because they know you’ll do a wonderful job. 

• Don’t forget to order your AMM Minister Credentials and supplies to prepare. 

Now, about that speech… 

It might come as a surprise to learn that a wedding officiant does not need to deliver a wedding ‘speech’ at all, at least not in the traditional sense. Take a look at the typical outline of a wedding ceremony included below, and you’ll see what we mean.

Instead of delivering a single speech, the wedding officiant speaks at several important moments throughout the wedding ceremony. You’ll also instruct the couple on when to exchange wedding vows and rings, and guide them from each part of the ceremony to the next. 

Related: The Parts of a Wedding Ceremony

The secret? 

It helps to think of a wedding ceremony as a theater play.  .

It helps to think of a wedding ceremony as a theater play, instead of as delivering a speech. Although you will need to do some talking, you can keep things conversational and collaborative. 

Like a play, each person on stage has a unique role, and everyone will take turns delivering their lines from a script. (Professionals call this a wedding ceremony script. ) Most importantly, the officiant will act as the stage director of a ceremony, rather than just another actor. 

The officiant’s longest speaking part is usually the ‘invocation.’ This is when you’ll welcome guests, talk about the meaning of the day, and share a few details about the couple’s love story. This is often the part of the wedding ceremony people are thinking about when they refer to an ‘officiant’s speech.’

The ceremony outline below includes examples from several sample wedding ceremony scripts.

This outline can help you better understand what to say on the big day, and the officiant’s important role as a ‘director’ in guiding the wedding ceremony. 

It's helpful to think of the wedding ceremony as a theater play,

with the officiant serving as an on-stage director. 

Photo: Unsplash / Natasha Dale

Outline of a Wedding Ceremony  with sample scripts

Part One: The wedding ceremony begins. The wedding officiant welcomes guests, introduces the couple, and talks about the meaning of the day and the couple’s relationship. This part of the ceremony is probably the most similar to a traditional speech or toast.

Officiant to Guests: 

"Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B]. In the years that they have been together, their love for each other has grown, turning them into the couple you see before you. Now, they are ready to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife."

Officiant to the Couple: 

"A true marriage begins well before the wedding day, and the efforts of marriage continue well beyond the ceremony. A brief moment in time and the stroke of the pen are all that is required to create the legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and compromise to make marriage durable and everlasting."

Today you declare your commitment to each other before family and friends."

( Taken from the full sample wedding script: Short Non Religious Wedding Ceremony With Heartfelt Invocation ) 

Declaration of Intent

Part Two: The couple publicly declares their intent to marry, guided by the officiant. 

Officiant to the Couple:

"With this wisdom – and your love - in mind, I now ask you:"

Officiant to Partner A:

"(Partner A), do you welcome (Partner B) to be your (wife/ husband/ spouse), and your cherished best friend?"

( Partner A responds ‘I do.’ )

Officiant to Partner B:

"(Partner B), do you welcome (Partner A) to be your (husband/ wife/ spouse), and your cherished best friend?"

( Partner B responds ‘I do.’ )

( Taken from the full sample wedding script: Lighthearted Wedding Ceremony Script with Funny Reading on Marriage )

Vows Exchange

Part Three : The couple exchange their wedding vows, either by repeating after the officiant or by reading personal vows written before the ceremony.

"Your wedding vows are an outward sign of your love and commitment. While there is a legal aspect of this wedding, a signed document does not create a marriage. What creates a marriage is the promises made and kept in your hearts.

As you look lovingly at each other, you’ll speak the promises that you’re pledging for a lifetime."

"(Partner A), please repeat after me:   Today, I give you my heart to hold and my life to keep I take you as my partner in life and with this promise: I will support you and encourage you, during the good times, and the trying times. I will laugh with you, and cry with you,  And love you faithfully, for all the days and sea sons ahead of us both."

(This section is repeated for Partner B )

( From the full sample wedding script: Fall Wedding Ceremony Script with Reading From "Harvest Moon" ) 

Rings Exchange

Part Four: The couple exchanges their wedding rings, sometimes this is combined with the vows. 

"The wedding ring serves as a reminder of the promises you make today to each other. 

The circle is a symbol of an eternal bond -- there is no beginning and no end. That means you two are stuck with each other!"

"(Partner A), place this ring on (Partner B)’s finger and repeat after me."

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment and devotion. I choose you to share in my life’s journeys.  I give you this ring as a pledge to love you,  today, tomorrow, always, and forever. With no take-backs.

( Partner A repeats each of these lines in turn)

( From the full sample wedding script: Funny Wedding Ceremony Script with Simple Unity Ritual )

Pronouncement

Part Five: The wedding officiant says a few closing words on the importance of marriage and love, offers any final blessings, and pronounces the couple officially married.  

"Now that you have joined yourselves in matrimony, may you strive all your lives to meet this commitment with the same love and devotion that you now possess.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of (Name of State) and American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you husband and wife (or "spouses for life," or whatever descriptors the couple prefers)"

( From the full sample wedding script: Quick & Simple Civil Wedding Ceremony Script )

The couple should be the focus of the wedding day, not the officiant. 

Photo by Leonardo Miranda

Bringing it all together

As you can see, there’s no need for you to stress out about writing a complicated speech! 

The purpose of the wedding ceremony is to keep the focus on the couple, not the wedding officiant. You will need to do some talking, but you can keep things collaborative and conversational. You do not need to deliver a monologue, or a speech in the traditional sense.

Your role as officiant is to lovingly guide and direct the couple through each part of the wedding ceremony, while sharing details of their love story with their guests. 

Congratulations on being asked to officiate, and don’t forget to have fun! 

Get ordained online for free with american marriage ministries and start officiating weddings right away.   .

Asked to give a wedding speech or toast? 

Here are some examples of what NOT to do! 

Avoiding a Terrible Wedding Toast -- What *Not* To Do  

Asked to Officiate

Your step-by-step guide to the perfect wedding ceremony

Asked to Officiate is the most comprehensive and easy-to-use guide ever written for wedding officiants, designed to help new and first-time officiants to write and conduct an original wedding ceremony. 

ORDER NOW 

This 'how to' guide contains detailed advice on how to write personalized wedding vows, a heartwarming invocation, and everything that goes into officiating a successful ceremony. Written by wedding professionals, this book is like having an experienced wedding officiant looking over your shoulder every step of the way!

You might also like: 

• Are there legal wording requirements in a wedding ceremony?  
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• Everything You Need to Know About California’s Confidential Marriage Licenses  
• Can you get married without a marriage license? What if you lost it? Or forgot it?

What should you do if you lose your marriage license, forget to bring it to the wedding ceremony, forget to mail it after it's signed, or never even apply for one? Read the full article here. 

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

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In This Article

How To Prepare Wedding Officiant Speeches?

Best wedding officiant speeches, inspirational quotes and verses.

• Wedding Ceremony Speeches Dos And Don’ts
• Wedding Party & Reception

Wedding Officiant Speeches Ideas + Free Templates

aliceshootspeople via Instagram

Wedding officiant speeches could be a bit tough to put together, especially if the officiant is green at the ears. This poses the issue of anxiety, trying to over-impress, or flopping totally.

Well, there is no one size fits all wedding minister speeches, because you tailor your speech according to wedding style. The kind of relationship you have with the couple also matters in the structure of your speech.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the officiant introduce themselves.

The wedding officiant does not necessarily have to introduce themselves as everyone would know who they are and why they are there. They could start with a few lines such as: ‘Welcome everyone and thank you for being here to witness the union of (bride) and (bride).’

How does the officiant introduce wedding vows?

There is no official line for introducing the wedding vows, but a generic and one goes like this: ‘We have come to the point of your ceremony where you’re going to say your vows to one another. But before you do that, I ask you to remember that love, which is rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance, will be the foundation of an abiding and deepening relationship.’

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phuket_wedding_planner via Instagram

• If you’re officiating wedding speeches, you must discuss with the couple on what types of wedding ceremony they desire. Know their ideas, length, tone, style, and order of ceremony.
• Start of ceremony Begin your wedding minister’s speeches by welcoming the guests and passing on important information. Let them know if phones, pictures, or videos are prohibited.
• The processional Let the audience know it’s time for the couple to come in. “All guests stand as you see fit.” After the processional, ask them to sit. At this point, some officiants ask “who gives out the other.”
• The officiant’s speech Wedding ceremony speeches by officiants begin with a love story about the couple. You may also read a funny poem that makes meaning to the couple. Talk about love, commitment, and faithfulness.
• Rings exchange Say lines on commitment and ask them to repeat after you. For instance… “I honor you with this ring as a sign of my love…”
• Signing and pronouncements You’ll tell the guests what’s about to happen. After the couple signs, you’ll pronounce them as a couple.
• Close remarks Tell the guests what’s next. If there will be a photo session, reception, or get-together. Then thank them for coming.

kandkphoto via Instagram

Traditional Wedding Officiant Speech Sample

Traditional officiant wedding ceremony speeches follow the age-long template and procedure. Although things are changing, there are parts of the structure that remains untouched. And many other speech styles have adopted parts of the template. Traditional speeches by officiant have depth and are particular about love, commitment, and faithfulness.

OPENING WORDS Friends, _____ and _____ have invited us here today, in the presence of God, to share in the celebration of their marriage. We who gather here today are separated by the many different experiences that we have had. Despite these differences, we gather here today in this place because we share something in common. We share a desire to affirm and support the relationship of _____ and _____. Marriage is an act of will. It requires a commitment to care for another person. By caring we show concern for the life and growth of those whom we love. Marriage requires a commitment to take responsibility for another person. By responding we experience the needs of that other person and try to help meet those needs. Today, guided by God’s love and wisdom, we affirm and celebrate _____ and _____ wedding day. [READINGS] THE QUESTION OF INTENT Before God, your friends, and your families, I ask you to affirm your willingness to enter the covenant of marriage and to share all the joys and sorrows of your lives and your relationship, whatever the future may hold. _____, do you take this woman to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? Groom: I do _____, do you take this man to be your husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? Bride: I do Repeat after me. I take you, _____, this day as my wife/husband. I promise to walk by your side forever as your best friend and your soul mate. You are my beloved one and I am proud to marry you. I promise to support your dreams and to be there for you all our lives. EXCHANGE OF RINGS From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness, a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never-ending. This ring should be a reminder of the commitment to love each other that you have made today. Repeat after me. I, _____, give you _____, this ring as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor, and respect you. [THE UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY] BLESSING _____ and _____, you have now affirmed your love for each other before your family and friends. You have come from different background, have walked different paths. You are different individuals. Your love has transcended these differences. In the years before you may the richness of the traditions that have nurtured you enhance and brighten your lives as you help to create and shape the future. CLOSING WORDS May God bless you and keep you. _____ and _____, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Groom, you may kiss the bride. PRESENTATION OF THE NEW COUPLE It is my pleasure to present to you _____ and _____ as husband and wife.

Wedding Officiant Speech For A Friend’s Wedding

If you’re officiating a friend’s wedding, then you’ll have a relaxed environment. Your tone should be playful and even comedic. Get creative by lacing your speech with fun stories of your years together. But you must study and understand your audience so you don’t come across as crass and unappealing.

INTRODUCTION Welcome everyone! On this beautiful day, _______ and _______ have brought us together to celebrate their love and union in matrimony. Thank you all for joining us and being a part of their love story. After years of nurturing a beautiful, strong relationship, it’s great to see these two taking the next step towards building a family. I remember the day _______ told me about their first date. There was a light in her eyes that I’d never seen before. She was excited and nervous. She worried that ______ didn’t feel the same connection she felt. It warms my heart to see the way _______ looks at _______. He looks at her as if she’s the last and only woman on Earth, and to him, I know she is. I’ve seen these two be there for each other through life’s unexpected twists and turns, only growing closer and stronger from each setback. I’ve seen them share laughs, exchange inside jokes and most shocking of all, I’ve seen _______ share his dinner with _______, which is when I knew this was serious. Marriage isn’t easy but I trust these two. I have trust in their love, their friendship, and their commitment to one another. With that, I think it’s time to let them speak on their love. DECLARATION OF VOWS AND COMMITMENT _______ and ______, have you come here today of your own free will to declare your commitment to one another? We have. Do you promise to be there for each other in the good and the bad? To grow with, understand and respect one another during your life together? We do. Then please face each other and share your vows. [EXCHANGE OF VOWS] [EXCHANGE OF RINGS] Let these rings represent your eternal love and the promises you have made here today. Let them be a symbol of your unbreakable bond and this new beginning of your life together with no end in sight. ______, take _____’s ring and place it on her finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days. ______, take _____’s ring and place it on his finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days. Your love has now been strengthened by the promises you have made here today and the rings you have exchanged. PRONOUNCEMENT ______ and ______, we have heard the sincerity in your promise to share your lives in marriage. We recognize your love and support your decision to build a home together. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. _______, you may kiss your bride! Everyone, give it up for Mr. and Mrs _______.

Funny Wedding Minister Speech

A funny ceremony speech has humor-laced all over the script by officiants. The officiant uses humor to relay life facts. Humor gets easier if you have a personal relationship with the couple. But if you aren’t close and you’re not sure about how much to say, keep it light.

Welcome to all of you. Thank you for being here today. We are glad you could make it and hope you enjoy the day. We’d like to take a moment to also remember the people who can’t be here today. We are sure they are with us today in spirit. Marriage is so many things and we’ve created this ceremony to express many aspects of marriage. And the best the advice can come from the most interesting places. “Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl (or in the case of the reason we gather today, special boy or girl) for an hour and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.” On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and breaths and makes funny noises. Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs. It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy. Love doesn’t like being left alone for long. But come home and love is always happy to see you. It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long. Is love good all the time? No! No! Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love. Love makes messes. It leaves you little surprises here and there. Love needs lots of cleaning up after. But love makes you meet people wherever you go. People who have nothing in common but love stop and talk to each other on the street. Throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again. But most of all, love needs love, lots of it. And in return, love loves you and never stops. And now, for the wedding vows. Are you ready? Are you sure? Do you _____, solemnly swear that you will support and defend the institution of marriage against all enemies, foreign and domestic; Do you promise to honor and love _____ in sickness and in health, in good times and bad times, Do you promise to cherish her as your most beloved according to the regulations and the uniform code of love justice, so help you God? Yes, I do. Do you _____, solemnly swear that you will support and defend the institution of marriage against all enemies, foreign and domestic; Do you promise to honor and love _____ in sickness and in health, in good times and bad times, Do you promise to cherish her as your most beloved according to the regulations and the uniform code of love justice, so help you God? Yes, I do. EXCHANGE OF RINGS The wedding ring is an unbroken circle, which symbolizes unending and everlasting love. It is a visible symbol that represents your inner commitment to one another. Because these circles are designed without an ending they speak of eternity. May the incorruptible substance of these rings represent a love glowing with increasing luster through the years. May these rings which you give to each other be a sign of your love, trust, and faithfulness. Repeat after me: _____, I give you this ring as a sign of my lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. _____, I give you this ring as a sign of my lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer day. And may you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! You may kiss the bride!!!

Same-sex Wedding officiant Script template and Speech

martailardo_photos via Instagram

Even as an officiant, it might not always be easy to give great wedding officiant speeches. This template can serve as a guide to writing speeches for wedding officiants, for any type of wedding.

• Make the research – You could start by doing your homework. Go on the internet, and check places such as Google, Pinterest, Instagram, or Youtube for wedding officiant speech samples for same-sex weddings. You could streamline your search to find only funny speeches or more regular speeches and get unique ideas to work with.
• Start writing the draft – The beginning is always the hard part, so don’t procrastinate writing your officiant speech for a wedding ceremony. Even if you feel like you haven’t researched enough, just start. You can always edit your draft as you go along or write another one.
• To write awesome wedding speeches for an officiant for a same-sex wedding , you have to keep an open mind. A lot of the material you will find online would be for CIS heterosexual couples, so always keep your couple in mind and edit your speech where necessary. Create that speech that is uniquely theirs.

Same-Sex Wedding Ceremony Speech Template

lucy_till_french_weddings via Instagram

This can be considered an official guide or template for wedding officiant ceremonies and speeches for same-sex weddings. Following each step, you wouldn’t need to worry about getting your speech done anymore.

• Welcome Everyone No matter the type of wedding, whether you’re making a Persian wedding officiant speech or non-denominational, you’ll begin by welcoming all the guests and thanking them for their support to witness the couple get married and celebrate with them. Lots of them might have canceled schedules or traveled far to be there, so it would be nice to appreciate them.
• Talk About Marriage The body of officiant wedding speeches usually includes some lines about marriage. Since it’s the topic of the day, you could talk about it in general, reminding the couple why they are there and the seriousness of their commitment. You could also give them some advice on the ups and downs of marriage, the sweet and the bitter, the highs and the lows. Also, how the love that they share is what will get them through anything that life throws their way.
• Share a Personal Story (If you have one and time permits) Some of the best wedding officiant speeches come with a story. Stories are often the best way to pass a message across because it helps you to connect with people. It also helps them remember the message. So, if you have any stories about marriage to share, this would be the perfect place to share them. As the officiant, you might have a personal bond with the brides or grooms. Sharing your stories would be meaningful to them, and you could choose to share a sentimental and loving story or even an embarrassing one that could crack them up. You could also share an experience that you’ve had with the couple. A most loving or affectionate one that lets you know that they can weather any storm together. After this, you can continue with the vows.
• In Closing Wedding speeches for the officiant at same-sex weddings are usually not very different from those of CIS heterosexual couples. You can only make your wedding ceremony officiant speech unique by factoring in the specific couple when writing your speech. If their experiences and your experiences with them are present in the speech, then it should be perfect.

Every couple is unique so wedding officiant speeches should be crafted to fit each couple, same-sex, CIS gender, heterosexual or other. With these tips, you can hone your craft and write the best wedding officiant speeches ever.

• Selecting Appropriate Quotes: When choosing quotes for your wedding officiant speech, consider ones that reflect love, unity, and the couple’s journey. For instance, a quote like “Love is not about how many days, months, or years you have been together. Love is about how much you love each other daily.” – Unknown, can emphasize the enduring nature of their love.
• Incorporating Religious Verses or Texts: If the couple has a religious background, incorporate meaningful verses or texts from their faith. For example, you might use Corinthians 13:4-7 from the Bible, which speaks about love’s qualities: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…”
• Non-religious Inspirational Quotes: Opt for non-religious inspirational quotes for secular ceremonies. A quote like “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn, beautifully conveys the idea of cherishing the relationship and finding strength in each other.

Wedding Ceremony Speeches Dos And Don’ts

nicholsphoto via Instagram

•  Do get creative with your speech by blending in a sweet short story of the couple. If you’ve been a part of their lives for a long time, then you’re in the best position to make it rain. Talk about everything that’s okay for public ears. Tell their love story.
• Don’t veer off-topic or get over-excited that you start to sound boring. Stay on point and if you don’t have so much to say, keep it short. We advise that you have discreet cue cards that you can refer to. It helps keep you in check.
• Do keep humor light especially if you’re not close to the family. You don’t want to end up looking like a clown because your joke fell flat. Humor is a great icebreaker for weddings. But when you’re not sure about what to expect, keep it light. Don’t go overboard.
• Don’t forget to practice your speech until you can recite it naturally and off the heart. Also, spend some time learning the names you’d be pronouncing. You want to call these names right so you don’t end up pissing off guests.
• Do give a copy of the speech to the couple for keep.

Wedding officiant speeches can be very interesting and fulfilling if done right. You only need a few expert hacks to get by. You’ll consider the wedding style, the tone the couple wants to set, and the length of the wedding. This will help you determine how creative you can get with the officiant’s wedding speech. For creative inspiration, we’ve dropped some tips for writing officiant wedding speeches and officiant speech etiquette.

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How to Make Sure Your Wedding Officiant Speech Isn't Boring

• Jessica contributes wedding planning, wedding etiquette and relationship content to The Knot.
• She also covers lifestyle and wellness topics for print and digital publications such Refinery29, Bustle, Well + Good, Cosmopolitan, Byrdie, The Zoe Report, The Cut and more.
• Jessica has a journalism degree from Cal State University, Northridge and is certified as a life and success coach.

Whether your best friend or a close family member has asked you to be their wedding officiant for their special day, writing and delivering a wedding officiant speech for the first time is truly an art. From the processional and the wedding vows to the exchange of rings and the recessional, you'll want to keep each guest entertained while also making it the best wedding ceremony possible for the newlyweds.

The good news? It's an honor to be asked to serve as someone's officiant , and there are ways to ensure your wedding officiant speech is anything but boring. These expert tips on how to write the best wedding officiant speech will help you craft a script that's both enjoyable and memorable for guests from beginning to end.

1. Introduce Yourself As the Wedding Officiant.

Your introduction is your first opportunity to set the tone for your wedding officiant speech, so it's important to make it count. To do this, Alisa Tongg , a certified life-cycle celebrant and creator of Wedding Ceremony Master Class , recommends introducing yourself to everyone in the audience, touching on your connection with the soon-to-be-married couple and sharing a bit about how you prepared for the wedding ceremony.

If you think it's fitting for the vibe you're going for, Tongg also recommends injecting some self-deprecating humor, as it can signal to guests that they're here today to have an enjoyable experience.

2. Drop Names During the Wedding Ceremony

"It's impossible for people to be bored if you keep talking about all their favorite people," Tongg says. For this reason, she recommends sprinkling important names of friends and family members throughout your wedding officiant speech. Acknowledge both partners' parents. Remember loved ones who have passed away. Thank best friends who helped get the newlyweds down the aisle. And, Tongg says, because everyone loves their fur babies, don't forget to give a shout-out to important pets.

3. Ask the Couple to Write Their Own Vows

No matter how much sparkle you bring to your wedding officiant speech, everyone in attendance will be most interested in hearing the married couple's own words during the exchange of vows, Tongg says. This is why she recommends encouraging the couple to write their own vows, and supporting them during the process if needed. Personalized wedding vows will add more color and sentimentality, making the entire ceremony more heartwarming for guests to witness.

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4. amplify your voice.

Sometimes, the only difference between a boring speech and an interesting one is being able to hear the speech clearly. You want all of the guests, even the ones sitting in the way back, to hear the parts of your speech that will make them laugh or cry, Tongg says. She recommends using a microphone with a stand.

Amplification is needed for a group of 25 people or more outside and for 50 people or more inside or if you're near a body of water, bubbling fountain or busy roadway, Tongg says.

The microphone will also be useful when the couple does their exchange of vows. "It's difficult to remember to project one's voice when emotions are high, and exchanging vows, [as well as the declaration of intent], is probably the most emotional moment of the whole day for couples," Tongg says.

5. Find Out What Makes the Newlyweds Special

To make your wedding officiant speech more captivating, Tongg recommends having the couple complete a detailed questionnaire where they answer questions about their relationship, what matrimony means to them, and their hopes for their new life together.

"You can use those things they share with you to create a love story appropriate for a wedding ceremony," Tongg says. This tip can also help you overcome writer's block, as it gives you a jumping-off point for your speech.

6. Edit a Wedding Ceremony Script

If you're looking for inspiration for your wedding officiant speech, Tongg's advice is to first find a sample wedding ceremony script online that includes all of the wedding ceremony elements that resonate with the couple.

From there, you can edit and tweak the wedding officiant speech template by cutting out outdated phrasing and replacing it with words that sound and feel more authentic to how you naturally speak, Tongg says.

"Being comfortable and confident with what you're saying is the most important factor in delivering a delightful ceremony," she says. "Rework the sample script enough until you know the vibe and language is true for you and your couple."

7. Dress to Impress

Another one of Tongg's tips is to dress for the wedding day in a way that matches the style of the couple. If it's a traditional wedding and the attire is black tie, go fancy with your outfit choice. If the wedding is more laid-back and casual, then you should dress accordingly. You want to ensure you complement the celebration. Don't forget about personal grooming, hair and makeup—Tongg says this shows guests you take your role as wedding officiant seriously and respect the gift of their attention.

8. Pay Attention to Your Body Language.

When it comes to making your wedding officiant speech interesting and engaging, it's not just about the words you say. Your energy and presence also have a major impact. Smiling throughout the ceremony is one simple way to exude positive energy. "Smiles are contagious," Tongg says. "They can increase the feeling of connection and positive feelings for everyone."

Maintaining eye contact is also key when it comes to keeping guests entertained. "A presenter whose head is down reading from a book has a harder time maintaining a connection with the audience than someone who is engaged and open to all the natural feedback that comes when performing in front of a live audience," Tongg says.

To help maximize your eye contact, Tongg suggests printing out your script for the wedding day in a big font that is generously formatted so it's easy to read and skim.

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How to Write a Speech to Get You Elected

Last Updated: February 28, 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. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 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 462,260 times.

If you possess leadership skills and want to make a change, you may want to run for office.To become an elected official, you must convince voters that you’re the best option by delivering a message that will win them over. Regardless of whether your goal is a seat in Congress or a position as school president, the basic principles remain the same when making an election speech.

Structuring Your Points into a Speech

• You should write the speech with phrases and words that you normally use when talking to people.
• For example, don’t write something like, “Voters and citizens, the abhorrent nature of my opponent while he assumed the position as treasurer saw that governmental coffers were drained to their lowest point in a decade!”
• Instead, write something like, “Can you really trust my opponent? When he was treasurer so much money went missing that we’re now at the lowest level in 10 years!”

• If you’re running for school president you can say something like, “Hey everyone. Today I’ll be talking about the important things that everyone here cares about, like the quality of our lunch, access to sports, and lack of programs and what faculty can do to fix it.”
• If you're running for city council or mayor, you can say something like, “Thank you to everyone who decided to come. Today I’ll be talking about how essential educational investment is and what we can do about bringing jobs and industry back to our town.”

• If you're running for school president your paragraph could start something like "We all know that school lunch is bad, but would it surprise you to find out it's actually unhealthy? I have a plan to work with facility to improve the quality of our lunches."
• If you're running for a federal office, you could write "There are many issues that face us today, but one of the most important things right now is access to healthcare. My plan for a single-payer system will ensure that everyone, regardless of income, will be able to afford high-quality health services in our state. I believe that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege."
• Jumping from point to point will only confuse the listeners.
• You don’t always have to stick to this structure but it's what usually works best and will keep your speech organized.

• For instance, if you are running for school president you could say something like, "Everyone knows Jeremy is an amazing basketball player. We've all seen the videos online and we know how dedicated he is to getting better. But we don't have a team here. And that needs to change!"
• For instance, if you’re talking about increasing the minimum wage, you could say something like, “I know a girl in my district named Gabby who is a single mother without her high school diploma. She’s one of the hardest workers and most genuine people I have ever met, but she is on government assistance because the only job she can get will only pay $8 an hour. This is just not an income that can sustain any sort of family, and it’s up to us to make sure that corporations reward workers who put in the effort and do the right thing. That’s why I’m proposing a major increase of the minimum wage over the next 5 years to $15 per hour.”

• For example, if you’re mainly campaigning on environmental justice and immigration reform, don’t talk about foreign relations or prison justice reform in your speech because it will make the speech long-winded and off topic.

• If you're running for office in school, you could say something like "We've talked about the lack of resources, unhealthy lunch food, and lack of decorations at the dances. And I've also layed out every way we can solve these problems together. If you want to do better for Freemondt Highschool, vote for me on November 8th!"
• For instance, you could say, “And if you vote for my opponent, nothing will change! That’s why on November 5th, you should vote for me.

• If you’re talking about a foreign country or including the names of people in your speech, make sure you know how to pronounce them correctly.

Delivering the Message

• You can ask your friend whether they thought the speech was moving or powerful, if they were bored, or if there was anything they didn’t understand.
• You can also memorize the speech so that you don’t have to read it when you’re delivering it. If you practice enough, you many naturally memorize parts of the speech.

• Often, people will think that they are speaking much quicker than they really are.
• Former U.S. President Barack Obama used pauses to emphasize points in his speeches frequently.

Creating a Platform

• Information about your voters can also be gained by reviewing polling information, past voter data, or by considering the location where you're giving the speech.
• If you're delivering the speech at a university, there's a high likelihood most of the audience will be college-aged people.
• Stay away from saying anything that may offend or upset your potential supporters.

• For instance, voters could be concerned about corruption or a lack of jobs.
• You can also ask people about their biggest concerns on social media.

• If there are not enough programs at your school, you could talk to the administration and the student body to develop new programs in your school.
• For instance, if there is a lack of jobs in your town, you could propose a plan to lower the corporate tax rate in your area to bring in new business.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/14-1-four-methods-of-delivery/
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-introductions
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/publicspeakingprinciples/chapter/chapter-8-outlining-your-speech/
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-evidence/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/conciseness/index.html
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-motivational-speech
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/10-tips-for-improving-your-public-speaking-skills/
• ↑ https://sps.columbia.edu/news/five-ways-improve-your-body-language-during-speech
• ↑ https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/Module%207_Becoming%20a%20Powerful%20Communicator_EN.pdf
• ↑ https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/Political_Campaign_Planning_Manual_Malaysia_0.pdf
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/202004/how-win-election

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How To Address Ministers of Government

The Deputy Prime Minister, Other Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State

The Deputy Prime Minister and all other Ministers of the Cabinet are styled: ‘Honourable’

The Mode of Address in:

            ______________________________

Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of ________________________

Ministry of ______________________

Opening Salutation:

             ‘ Dear Deputy Prime Minister/Mr Minister/Sir

            ……………………………………………………………..

Yours faithfully (formal usage)

Yours sincerely (semi-formal usage)

Honourable Audley Shaw, CD, MP

Minister of Industry and Commerce

Ministry of Industry and Commerce

‘Dear Minister/ Dear Minister/Dear Minister Shaw

Honourable William JC Hutchinson, CD, MP

Minister of State Ministry of Transport and Mining

‘Dear Minister /Dear Minister Hutchinson

If the Minister is also a Member of the Senate, he/she should be formally styled as ‘Senator the Honourable’:

Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson-Smith

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

             ‘ Dear Senator Johnson-Smith/Hon. Minister/Madam Minister

………………………………………..

Yours faithfully,

I guess that most people are born able to prepare a good speech, just as they can learn any language. Unfortunately, the ability is usually knocked out of us as we become self-conscious.  Our working lives are also dominated by the written word.  The following tips are intended to help those who wish to re-learn the ability to write an interesting speech, whether for a Minister, a colleague or themselves.

To begin with, you must first be absolutely clear whether the speech needs to be delivered in the first place. Speeches are very time-consuming, both in their preparation and in the travel time to and from the venue.  When ministers give speeches they need to tread a fine line between being dull and dangerous. Are you sure that the Minister will have something interesting and/or original to say, and will not be unnecessarily political or controversial? If so, is the audience the right one? Will there be an opportunity for publicity?

If in doubt, remember how embarrassing it was when Prime Minister Tony Blair was slow hand-clapped by the Womens Institute. Commenting many years later, Polly Toynbee noted that:

" Week in, week out, flotillas of Ministers stand up in front of audiences of all sorts and read out speeches badly written by someone else, platitudinous and patronising. ... All organisations are thrilled to get a headline Minster to speak as a crowd puller ... In the audience will be workers, professionals and experts [who] will know a hundred times more about the subject than he does. [After a very predictable and boring speech, the first or second questioner] begins to explain how life is out there. ... Suddenly the meeting springs into life. The Minister starts for the first time to speak like a normal human being ... there is a dialogue. The Minister listens. ... when out of the shadows steps the ministerial minder, pointing to his watch. Before you know it, the great man has gone. What does he leave behind? A very angry room . ... The Minister's visit has had precisely the opposite effect of that intended . Cynicism about politics is redoubled. "

Even worse, all too many invitations are from organisations that need to fill an after dinner slot or something of the sort. The last thing they want is a thoughtful speech about the weighty issue of the day – especially if the content might be critical of the community to which the audience belongs. Let’s face it: half the audience will be tipsy – or worse – and the majority will certainly want to be entertained. Leave these challenges to professional after dinner speakers. I have only once agreed to speak at evening functions, and performed so abysmally that I swore never to do so again. If a Minister wants to appear for political reasons, or to raise his or her profile, then let the Special Adviser write the speech. They will know more jokes than you do.

But a properly prepared speech, delivered at the right time to the right audience, can of course be highly effective. As ever, planning and preparation are the key.

First , remember your three duties and decide which you are carrying out when drafting the speech. Is the Minister going to talk fairly freely about possible policy developments? Or are you helping to promote or defend Ministers’ policies? - in which case a more barn-storming approach will be needed. Or maybe you are even in implementation mode, which would require a quite different approach again. But do bear in mind that many audiences object to simply hearing the party line. A more considered, thoughtful and consultative speech will generally go down much better.

Second , you also need to identify those one or two key messages that you and/or the speaker want to leave in the minds of the audience. What do you want them to do differently after hearing the speech? What do you want them to remember some days afterwards?

Third , you should also find out what the audience wants to get out of the speech. The easiest way to do this is to ask the event organiser what will go down well, what information needs to be put over and what will please the audience. Your one – or at the most two – key messages can then be nicely wrapped so that the audience is first made receptive to the key messages – especially if they are likely to be unwelcome or surprising.

Take particular care correctly to define and describe the nature of the speech. A ‘keynote address’ should include the key points which will be the main topics for discussion for the rest of the conference. An ‘opening address’ will set the scene or set out the Government’s position as a prelude to more detailed speeches. In this case you should take care that the Minister’s comments will not duplicate any other opening remarks by the Chair or host.

And don't get too carried away! Daniel Finkelstein admitted that "When I wrote speeches for William Hague he used to congratulate me on the text. He said I had drafted for him an oration perfect for delivery from the steps of the Lincoln memorial as the million men arrived from the Capitol. Then he would remind me that he was in fact addressing the Christmas Club supper of the Durham Conservative Association."

When you have decided what you want to say, then plan your structure . You can do much worse than stick to the traditional:

• Tell them what your main message will be, then,
• Deliver the message, and then,
• Tell them what the message was!

There may be other ways of structuring a speech, but no other way works every time, or leaves such a clear impression.

Drafting :  The worst thing you can do is either ‘draft’ or ‘write’ a speech. If a speech reads well, especially to colleagues, it will sound stilted and boring. We naturally speak in 2-3 second bursts. We write using longer sentences.

You should simply pick up a pen or sit at your keyboard, put your speech structure on the table in front of you, and start writing or typing. If you get stuck, think about the audience and talk about them and the issues that face them. Use plenty of anecdotes and illustrations, avoid long lists, and ditch detailed statistics in favour of easily grasped facts (e.g. ‘last year we doubled our exports to X’ rather than ‘in 2022 our exports to X were 92 per cent up on 2021’) . Above all, get some emotion into it, and some power. The result will be much more interesting – and more natural.

Then check the typed text for unclear or misleading phrases; remove platitudes and generalities; and check that it consists only of sentences which are less than two lines long. Finally, read the whole thing through out loud, to make sure that it trips off the tongue fairly easily. Do not, as has happened, ask a Minister to describe how he has ‘instituted an epidemiological survey’.

You will of course need to show the draft to colleagues affected by its content. But, unless it contains a major statement of Government policy, try to avoid showing it to senior colleagues. They will only start fretting about the colloquial language and the split infinitives, and turn the whole thing into an essay which will read well, but sound awful.

On the day, always check the technology.  Is the speaker familiar with the microphone and teleprompter, and do they work? Ditto the projector and video player. Does he or she know how to control them?

It is also worth listening carefully to the speech, even if you know every word off by heart. Try to tune into the Minister’s speech patterns, sense of timing etc. You will never mimic them exactly, but it will help you when you next settle down to dictate a speech.

And afterwards check how the speech was received.  Congratulate yourself (and the speaker!) if it went well.  If it went down badly, you can always quietly blame the speaker and console yourself that this happens to everyone.  Either way, you will learn something for the future .... 'though you might wish that someone had indeed invented an automatic speech-making machine ...

Presentations

I recommend Tessa Davis' advice on making less formal presentations .

Martin Stanley

Spotted something wrong? Please do drop me an email if you spot anything that is out-of-date, or any other errors, typos or faulty links.

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Sample Funeral Message for a Minister and Soul-Winner

Sample Funeral Message for a Minister and Soul-Winner Pastor Kenneth Hagin, Jr.

We have come here this day for a number of reasons…

1. We are here today to pay our tribute and our respect to a man of God, our brother, ______________________________. Not only have people from this congregation and community gathered, but many ministers have come… ministers who have respected _______________________ as a minister, and have loved him as a friend.  To know _______________________ was to love him!

2. We are here today to show our love and support for ______________________’s very precious family.  Not only have we sensed our own personal feelings of loss over __________________’s passing, but our hearts have been drawn toward them, and will continue to be with them.

3. Finally, we are here today to seek and to receive comfort.  We would be less than honest if we said that our hearts have not ached over this situation.  We are not too proud to acknowledge that we have come here today trusting that God would minister to our hearts, and give us strength as we continue in our walk with Him.

It is our human nature to want to understand everything now, but TRUST requires that we lean and rely heavily on God even when things seem unclear.

Proverbs 3:5

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Philippians 4:7

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I’m not going to tell you not to cry or not to experience emotions.  Emotions are God-given.  They are a part of who we are.

Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Tears are the safety-valve that God built into us to help us at times like these.  It’s OK to cry.

I’m not going to tell you today that you’ll never have questions come to you.  But I will tell you this:  There is something wonderful that you can focus on.  Choose to focus on the things you know… things the Word of God declares.

We declare with Job… Job 19:25

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

We declare with Jesus… John 14:2-3

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

We declare with Paul…2 Corinthians 5:6-8

6 …We are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1:21, 23

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better…

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  

We are going to move beyond the tears.  We are going to move beyond our questions… because the Holy Spirit is here today to comfort and strengthen each and every heart!  And he will continue to be with us as we continue to live for God.

An individual made the following statement: “The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation .”

When we think of ____________________’s donation… what he contributed… what he invested… we have much to be thankful for!!!

• Consider the investments of love and devotion that he made in his marriage with _________________.
• Consider the investments of godliness and nurturing that ______________________ made with into the lives of his children and grandchildren.
• Consider the investments of the Word of God that _______________________ made into the lives of so many people… not only members of this church, but all of the people, including ministers, that he poured his life into.

Let me say again that “The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation !”

Later this day, when all the words have been spoken, when all the songs have been sung, we will stand at the graveside and commit the body of our friend, _______________________________ to the keeping of this earth until the coming of the Lord, and we will commit his soul into the loving hands of the God he served… bringing an end to the final chapter of his earthly life.

But it will not be the end of his story, because the memory of his life and the influence of his life remains.

Because _____________________ committed his life to God and the work of God, He was energized by a power greater than this natural world understands.

We all knew _______________________ as a great friend and a wonderful pastor, but one of the things that caused me to so highly respect _____________________ was his great love for souls.  In this sense, ____________________ was a real hero to me – he did have, and continues to have my highest respect.

_________________________’s life reminds me of a preacher that was on the Titanic…

There were a lot of notable, wealthy people on the Titanic in 1912.  But the most notable passenger on the Titanic was someone that most of the world has never heard of before.

He was a man by the name of John Harper.  He was a plain, ordinary Pastor from the city of Glasgow, Scotland.  He had faithfully shepherded his congregation for 15 years.  He was a fairly young minister, only 40 years old.

Moody Memorial Church in Chicago had invited him to come and preach a series of sermons. So he had accepted the invitation and had booked himself on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. As he boarded the ship he thought, “I will have plenty of time to prepare my sermons for this preaching series.”

But Pastor John had a bit of a problem staying in his room and studying because he had such a heart for people. It is told that the night before the Titanic sunk that John Harper was on the deck earnestly pleading and begging people to come to Christ.

He had given his life day-in and day-out to see people get into the spiritual lifeboat.  And that night when the ship struck the iceburg, he was awakened, he got up, and started making his way to the lifeboat, and he realized there wasn’t enough room for everyone.

So he started going from deck to deck crying out – “Women and children and the unsaved to the lifeboats.” He said, “Let’s get the non-Christians in first.” Now as he was doing this you could imagine the panic. Pastor John was one of those who eventually ended up in the freezing waters. He hung on to a wooden piece of debris floating in the water.

Some of the passengers because of the swirling currents of the sinking ship were being brought close to one another and then flung back apart. One of the men was brought into close proximity with John Harper, and John cried out, “Sir, are you a Christian?” And the man answered simply, “no.” And the current took him away into the darkness. A few minutes later by God’s providence that same man was brought back into John Harper’s sight, and John asked him again, “Sir, are you saved yet – have you accepted Christ?” And the man said, “No, I can’t honestly say that I am.”

Apparently that was the last thing John Harper ever said on this earth. He lost his grip on the piece of debris, sunk down into the Atlantic Ocean, and died.

The man that John Harper was pleading with to become a Christian was one of the very few who was plucked out of the icy waters by one of the ships that rushed to the scene. He testified that he did accept Christ that very night, and he settled in Hamilton in Ontario, Canada. He was often asked to speak and give his testimony and he would proudly step up and say, “I’m John Harper’s last convert.”

When I think of _____________________, I think of the verse in Revelation that says:

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” “Yes,” says the Spirit,” that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”   (Revelation 14:13)

I have no doubt that _______________________ has already met people in heaven who have thanked him for leading them to the Lord.  I have no doubt that others in the future will come up to him in heaven and express their gratitude for him having led them to the Lord.

His work on this earth was of eternal value, and because of that, he will have eternal reward.

This Memorial Service is not really for _______________________.  He is in Heaven.  This is a time for us who are yet on this earth.

He’s reached the ultimate destination of the universe.

We say that he has “departed,” but God says that he has “arrived.”

God sees things from such a different perspective than we do.  God never sees His children die.  He simply sees them coming home.

The real questions we face today don’t really pertain to _______________________.  He has arrived.

The real questions today have to do with us.

• What are we going to do?
• What are we going to focus on?

Dwight L. Moody, the great Evangelist, may have one day lived amidst question marks, but he discovered the glorious secret of complete trust in God.  His last days were wonderfully spent amongst exclamation points!

Dwight L. Moody said, “Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of Northfield is dead.  Don’t you believe a word of it.  At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now.  I shall have gone higher, that is all — out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body.  I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856.  That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”                                                             

A few hours before entering the ‘Homeland,’ Dwight L. Moody caught a glimpse of the glory awaiting him.  Awakening from sleep, he said “Earth recedes.  Heaven opens before me.  If this is death, it is sweet!  There is no valley here.  God is calling me, and I must go.”

His son was standing by his bedside and said, “No, no, father, you are dreaming.”

“No,” said Mr. Moody, “I am not dreaming.  I have been within the gates.  I have seen the children’s faces.”

A short time elapsed…and he spoke again, “This is my triumph; this is my coronation day!  It is glorious!”

Contrary to what we would have liked, our pastor and our friend has taken an earlier flight, but we still share a common destination.

His race ended earlier than we anticipated, but we still have our race to run, and David would not have it any other way than that we give our very best for the Kingdom of God.

I will deeply miss my friend, _______________________.  But I rejoice this day that he is with my Savior, Jesus.  And in honor of my friend, I say…

Ring out the welcome.

Swing wide the gates.

Choirs of angels stand and sing, “Amazing Grace.”

There’s one more soldier of the King.

Whose trials are past.

Ring out the welcome loud and clear –

He’s home at last.

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How To Write A Minister’s Speech

Mediocre to poor Ministers don’t write their own speeches. They read the speeches written for them by their civil servants as amended by their political advisors.

The Fianna Fail Ard Fheis is on this week. Therefore, there have been a great deal of Civil Servants working hard on speeches for the last month. Here, based only on guesswork, is a list of their recent tasks.

• 1) Email the heads of all the departments in your Minister’s department. Explain that you are working on the Minister’s speech and need at least two projects or achievements from each one of them. Remind them to be mindful to select their ‘sexiest’ projects.
• 2) Wait 4 days.
• 3) Contact the one department head who has responded and thank them for their alacrity. Point out that the introduction of a newly designed form doesn’t meet the Minister’s definition of sexy and ask for a second pass. Contact all the other department heads reminding them of their obligations. Include a vague reference to the Secretary General, to underline that you’ll tell on them if they don’t play.
• 4) Wait 3 days.
• 5) You will now have about 12 things on your list. 7 of them will be from a particularly eager department head, who will have pulled all his staff off their daily tasks and had them compiling their self-justification report for the past two weeks. More than half of all the projects will have footnotes explaining why they aren’t running according to plan. For your eager department head, this will include a shortage of staff doing their normal day jobs.
• 6) Start to drop in on the unresponsive department heads in person, reminding them you need their input.
• 7) Start to write the speech. As your knowledge of the projects you’ve been sent begins and ends with the descriptions you’ve been given it ends up resembling a shopping list.
• 8) You now have a rough draft of your speech, with carefully worded caveats to elide the problems which used to live in the footnotes. Send it to the Sec. Gen. for notes.
• 9) Continue to chase the last die-hard department head. They continue to agree to and ignore deadlines for delivery of their description of what they do.
• 10) Enter a horrible endless round of revisions as everyone chips in with mutually exclusive suggestions for changes. In the main these will be nit-picks around certain words. It is important to keep a copy of the pre-revision text. The structure of your speech is now set. It still reads like a list of mostly unimpressive administrivia linked by non-sequiturs.
• 11) Race to the finish and hand the final, approved draft to the Sec. Gen. to pass on to the Minister. The Minister will take issue with most of the changes suggested by the previous parties. Reintroduce the pre-revision text which will now be accepted by all.
• 12) Finally, listen to your Minister deliver your speech with inappropriate intonation as though reading aloud in a slightly slower streamed classroom. Wince when they wander off the page. Groan when they try to add their own jokes or even deliver their advisors’. Most painfully, realise that you are a pedestrian and uninspiring speechwriter.

Post Script

• 13) Find your last department head has emailed you their contribution when you go in the following morning.

Some Real Live Ministers’ Speeches.

See if you can spot the bits their Civil Servants toiled so hard to assemble like meccano. *Hint- they are sometimes neatly separated out by a little line of stars*

Frankly, using civil servants to prepare party political speeches at ard fheiseanna is theiving from the taxpayer.

So much acid in this article, confirms the writer has been there… for a long time?

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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.

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” .

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.

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.

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!

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Over To You

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

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

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

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

Now it’s time to hand it over to you:

What do you say in your church welcome speech?

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

Let us know in the comments below! 🙏

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

Very helpful, thanks for sharing

These guide lines are very good and they are very brief

God bless you

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

Right back at ya Lynn! You got this! 🙂

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

This was very helpful

thank you so much it is very helpful

very helpful and we’ll articulated

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

Very helpful, glad I found your site.

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

Great examples/ very usecul

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

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

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

This is awesome God bless you

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

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How to address British Politicians

The prime minister.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the Head of Government of the United Kingdom.

Did you know? The office of Prime Minister is not established by any statute or constitutional document but exists only by long-established convention, whereby the monarch appoints as prime minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons.

Dear Prime Minister Yours faithfully

Envelope: The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, The Prime Minister

Verbal address: Prime Minister Conversation (first address): The Prime Minister Conversation (after that): Sir (or Madam if a female PM)

Members of Parliament

The United Kingdom has several different parliaments or assemblies and so how to address British politicians varies depending on the parliament to which they belong.

The Rt Hon.

How you address British politicians also depends on whether they are a privy counsellor. If they are, they have the prefix The Rt Hon’ before their names. ‘Mr/Mrs etc’ are dropped.

For example: The Rt Hon John Jones.

If a male privy counsellor is also a knight , his correct style of address would be ‘The Rt Hon Sir John Jones’.

If the privy counsellor is female, ‘The Rt Hon’ replaces Mrs/ Miss/Ms in her style of address.

For example: The Rt Hon Judy Jacobs.

If she is also a dame, her style of address would be ‘The Rt Hon Dame Judy Jacobs’.

As membership of the Privy Council is an appointment rather than an honour conferred, the letters PC follow all honours and decorations awarded by the Crown. They would go before most other letters after the name, including MP.  Thus, if Judy Jacobs were a Privy Councillor and a Member of Parliament, she would be: ‘The Rt Hon Judy Jacobs PC MP’.

British Parliament

Members of Parliament (MPs) refers to the House of Commons, the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

All members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom have the letters MP after their names in writing.

For example: Mr John Smith MP or John Smith MP.

Scottish Parliament

MSPs are elected members of the Scottish Parliament and accordingly have MSP after their name in writing.

Ms Jane Jones MSP or Jane Jones MSP.

Welsh Parliament

Members of the Senedd Cymru (the Welsh Parliament) use the English title Member of the Senedd (MS) or the Welsh equivalent Aelod o’r Senedd (AS) after their name.

For example: Mr Hugh Green MP or Hugh Green MP.

The King and Queen

Other royalty, british aristocracy, knights and dames, untitled people, we're here to help.

For in-depth advice or matters that are not covered in our Forms of Address section, please feel free to contact us.

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A wedding ceremony script for first-time officiants.

• May 27, 2013

167 Comments

After officiating my first wedding and taking the time to pull together the wedding ceremony script I thought it would be good to post what I came up with for others to use. There are lots of things that can be added/removed from this example but it’s a good foundation that can help save some time for any other future first-time officiant out there.

In this particular wedding ceremony script there’s some humor, reading of vows, exchanging of rings and pouring of the unity sand but feel free to do what you need to this script to make it your own. Have a great wedding!

Processional Ends

Minister: Please be seated.

MInister: We’re all here today to celebrate the relationship of [Bride] and [Groom] and to be witnesses and supporters of the commitment they share with one another. Together we’re a group of the most important people in their lives and they’ve brought us here to publically recognize that we’ve all played some special part in the love they share today.

Speaking of important people, there were none more important in influencing the lives of [Bride] and [Groom] than their parents. With that being said, who gives [Bride] away in marriage to this man?

Father answers: “Her mother and I”

*At this point the Father let’s go of Bride’s arm, hugs and kisses her and gives her hand to Groom and sits down. Bride then hands her flowers to her maid of honor and Groom and Bride then stand there holding hands facing one another. They can be holding hands at this point or standing side-by-side facing the minister.

Minister: Marriage gives permanence and structure to a couple’s love. It’s a way to tell one another that no matter how much you snore or how much you spent while out at the shopping mall, we’re still in this together. It’s more permanent than the weird tattoo that [Groom] got on his arm in his early twenties and has more staying power than [Bride]’s cute southern accent that she’s had since they first met (you can add anything funny into this section that makes sense for the bride and groom). Marriage is telling the person you love that you’re not going anywhere and that’s a powerful commitment for two people to make to one another.

A good marriage must be built on the foundation of this commitment. In marriage the “little” things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together and facing the world. It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right partner — it is being the right partner .

The road that has brought [Bride] and [Groom] here today hasn’t been easy. It’s been filled with challenges that they weren’t necessarily prepared for. But together they’ve taken each one on and have used those experiences to strengthen, not weaken their love.

*This can be any type of reading you prefer. Also, someone else can read it if you preferred

Minister: In the Bible, first Corinthians chapter 13, verses four through eight tells us: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Reading of the Vows

*Groom, be sure to have these in your pocket and Bride, be sure to give these to your maid of honor.

Minister: [Bride] and [Groom], the vows that you are about to make are a way to share your love and commitment to each other in your own words. Sometimes poems, verses and quotes just don’t get the point across the way you need them to and the best option is just to do it yourself. These vows are your way of openly declaring your promise to one another as well as to all of those who are here in attendance today.

Bride: Reads her vows.

Groom: Reads his vows.

Exchanging of Rings

*Get rings from Maid of Honor and Best Man. Feel free to customize what you say to each other if you like.

Minister: [Bride] and [Groom] will now exchange rings to symbolize their commitment. Rings are derived from humble beginnings of imperfect metal to create something striking where there was once nothing at all. It is customarily worn on the ring finger as it is the only finger with a vein running directly to the heart. The wearing of the rings is a visible, outward sign that they have committed themselves to one another.

Minister: [Groom], please take [Bride]’s hand and repeat these words.

Minister: I give you this ring, as a symbol of our love, Groom: I give you this ring, as a symbol of our love,

Minister: for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come. Groom: for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come.

Minister: Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day Groom: Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day

Minister: and know that my love is present, Groom: and know that my love is present,

Minister: even when I am not. Groom: even when I am not.

*Groom puts ring on Bride’s finger

Minister: [Bride], please take [Groom]’s hand and repeat these words.

Minister: I give you this ring, as a symbol of our love, Bride: I give you this ring, as a symbol of our love,

Minister: for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come. Bride: for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come.

Minister: Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day Bride: Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day

Minister: and know that my love is present, Bride: and know that my love is present,

Minister: even when I am not. Bride: even when I am not.

*Bride puts ring on Groom’s finger.

Pouring of the Unity Sand

Minister: By sharing your vows and exchanging rings here today you both have decided to share the rest of your lives together. You are no longer two separate people but one couple together. This unity is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand. One, representing you, [Bride] and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, [Groom], and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be.

As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be, united as one for all of your days.

*Walk over and pour the sand — usually while music is playing.

*This is it, time to make some magic happen.

Minister: [Bride] and [Groom] you have professed your love by exchanging your vows. You have symbolized your commitment by exchanging rings. And you have expressed the end of your individual lives by the pouring of the unity sand. With all of this there is just one more question I need each of you to answer and then we’re off to the reception to celebrate.

Minister: [Bride] – do you take Groom to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

Bride: I do.

Minister: Groom – do you take this [Bride] to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

Groom: I do.

Minister: By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. [Groom] you may kiss your bride.

*It’s kissing time! (keep it classy, kids)

Minister: It’s my great honor and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr. and Mrs. [Groom’s Full Name]!

*Time to get our party on, but first we need to get everyone out of the wedding.

Recessional Begins

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Hup — Just a quick note of thanks for posting the script. I used it as a framework for a wedding I am officiating tomorrow (also my first). You laid the groundwork for what, I hope, will be a memorable day, and I wanted to let you know that your effort was appreciated… jay

Hey Jay, more than happy to help. How did the wedding go?

Hi Hup. I’m going to be officiating at a ceremony in a few weeks. Do you have any suggestions as to good quotes to use? The bride doesn’t want a “traditional” Christian ceremony, but does want some religion in it. I’ve looked up a few, but not being Christian myself I don’t know what’s typically used at a ceremony. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Hey Joe, good luck with the ceremony (you’ll do great!) and here are a couple Bible verses that you can use to add some Christian flavor to your wedding ceremony.

Love is patient, love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). You should end it at “Love never fails.”: http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/qt/Love-Is-Patient-Love-Is-Kind.htm

What God has brought together let no man separate (Mark 10:6-9): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A6-9&version=NIV

Doing my first wedding October 6th for my great niece, a situation that was heavy on my heart she lost her mom at 16 and dad this summer . I was close to both, she had no one to do the wedding and ask my husband he didn’t feel comfortable doing it because we are Catholic, well long story short I said yes for love of God and these two kids who have had it so rough in life already more then most❤️So pray I do well I am using your format thank you it’s beautiful God bless, Iam excited about this so I know it’s right!!!!

Love this!! My dad will be the one oficiating my wedding and I wanted to find something that would fit. Thank you for posting this 🙂

Thank you so much for sharing this as it brought lightness and humor to my mind as I am preparing a ceremony for next week. It is the first big wedding I will officiate. I like the sand as candles would go out in the breeze on the beach. Aloha Margaret

Thank you for your help. This is my first wedding ceremony. I will use the script. God Bless You.

Hup, Thanks for the words! My first wedding is in an hour and I was afraid it’d be off the cuff! Jen

I am officiating my very first wedding next weekend… my son’s! This was so perfect! Thank you so much!

Valerie Gurley

Thank you so much for sharing this, Hup. My daughter & her fiance are getting married in a few weeks & I am officiating. They’re planning a flashmob wedding, so I was looking for a script that is contemporary yet intimate. With a few minor customizations, your script is perfect! Blessings to you & those you cherish.

leoneconnell

Thank you for posting this. I would like some advice. I’m 21 years old an I recently became an Ordained Minister. How do I go about starting officiating weddings? How do I make this a career? I am also a photographer.

God Bless, Leon

thanks hup! i’m officiating another wedding and needed some ideas and came across your script. i really like it. thanks so much!

Thank you so much! I’m doing my 3rd wedding on Friday, but the first two were very small and very casual. They didn’t want anything structured or traditional. This one is a bit more traditional and I needed an outline. I came across this and it’s perfect. Thanks so much for sharing!

Nicely done sir, thanks. Where did you get the idea for the sand – I love it!

dorothy cox rothwell

I am a Reverend, and I understand legally, you have to ask “If any person can show just cause why they should not be joined in marriage, let them speak or forever hold there peace” Rev.Dorothy C.Rothwell

In Georgia, it is not required – it is not in the Georgia Code (law).

do I have to ask that in the state of Mississippi?

mbabazi jean

what a lovely day it was be blessed .you have very nice words keep showing some of us who can not.Hope to use them.GOD be with you.

I am getting married in 2 months & our officiant is a first timer. We are in our mid 60’s & my 12 year old grandskn will be giving me away. Any advice for verbiage that could be used? My fiance & I are both widowed. Thanks

Thanks, Hup. This is exactly what I was looking for. I’m officiating for the first time in a month, and the couple I am marrying has no idea what they want out to do for their ceremony. I’m going to use your framework as a starting point.

Nice job on this site. I just stumbled because I was hitting a writers block on some vows. This is year three for me part time averaging 45 weddings a year. Loving every minute of it. Laying the groundwork for something to do when I retire from co-operate

Thanks for sharing! We asked the friend that introduced us to officiate our wedding and this is a really helpful guide (and i like your humor).

Thank you for posting the script. Great foundation!

Thank you so much for posting this! I am getting married in June and I am writing my own ceremony and was stressing out because after 5 days of looking for a foundation that I liked, I finally found this one and now I am more excited than ever! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

A very thankful bride! 🙂

jessicaselbach

Hey! im Jessica. I am 22 years old and in may i will be officiating my first wedding! I have done a lot of research on outlines, and i believe that this is the best one yet! thank you so much!

Used your script as the basis for officiating my first wedding yesterday, and it went very well. Thanks for doing most of the work for me!

Thanks Hup. Its funny how you can know someone for years and there’s a side of them you might never see. Until you go googling for wedding ceremony scripts 48 hours before you officiate your first ceremony.

And here we are. You and I. I’m giving you a big hug from Austin. And you are totally bailing me out of a jam!

revcampbell

Thank you for the scaffold. I am experienced, but my ritual is in storage and I find myself needing to replace it for an upcoming wedding and this was very helpful. Keep up the good work.

Thank you so much for posting this! I officiated a friend’s wedding over the weekend and this made up approximately 80 – 90% of the service and was a life saver! I received a lot of compliments afterwards on the ceremony. Again, can’t thank you enough!

Thank you for the post, I am officiating my first wedding in a few weeks for a same sex couple and like many of the traditional pieces along with the opportunity to weave in some non-traditional elements.

Molly Waters

Good Morning, Hup;

You’re a life saver! I have the honor of having been asked to officiate a wedding aboard my Coast Guard cutter. This will be my first, and your script has provided the critical foundation I need for a wonderful event. Thank you!

Very Respectfully,

LCDR Molly Waters, USCG Commanding Officer USCGC NEAH BAY (WTGB 105)

I was just asked to officiate my nephews wedding. I like your framework and appreciate that you took the time to help others with your ideas. Thank you, Willy

This is by far the best and most straightforward officiant script i’ve seen. I’ll be giving this as reference to my professor who is officiating our wedding informally. Thank you so much!

Excellent post, Hup. Thanks very much for this script. I will start working with your script to make it “Bilingual” to help Officiants at the time of a bilingual wedding.

Keep your good work. Blessings.

THANK YOU!!!!! I am officiating my friends wedding this weekend and have been so worried because I couldn’t find an real guidance – until you!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

thank you for posting, getting married in august and I am having a hard time writing the line up for my marriage vows, until I found this.

Thank you Hup! This is GREAT! My sister and her future hubby asked me to officiate their wedding. They are rock climbers and we are replacing the sand part with a knot tying demonstration (boaters/sailors could use this too) about how the knot gets sturdier with more stress. Thank you for doing the hard work for me and it is so kind and gracious of you to share this!!!

trhodes-3-2

Thanks for sharing this man. It’s been tough trying to write something original and from the heart. I will be poaching your “Ring ceremony” though, haha. Thanks again!

Paying it forward, if anybody wants to read my wedding script to get some ideas going, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] and I’ll send you a copy of what I’ve got written.

I have done many weddings, but, strangely, never a traditional (fairly formal) one. I found your model to be a very helpful guide as I prepare for a very traditional wedding next month. I am considering adding a “Celtic hand-weaving” in place of the “Unity Sand” and I will add a few tiny anecdotes from my past relationship with the bride and her family. I will get a little mileage out of the fact that both bride and groom are tattooed and pierced. I confess I had been rather at a loss until I found your very helpful and malleable model. I hope that my adaptation retains the warmth and gentle humor that yours offers. A sincere thank you.

E Alexander

Hup, My son asked if I would officiate his wedding. This will be my first. I found your site and read through your ceremony. Looks and sounds great!! It really hit the mark as for the ideas I had in mind. Arriving a few days early and will be discussing this with him and my future Daughter-in-Law for any changes. Looking forward to the momentous day! Thank you so much for all your work!!

Thank you for posting this! I used this with minor modifications two weeks ago to officiate my stepdaughters wedding and people were surprised to learn it was my first time.

Margaret Sykes

Thank you so much for helping me with my first wed ding. My niece has asked me to marry her and her fiance this October and I am so excited. The foundation of this script you have provided has helped in so many ways, Thank You!!!!!

[email protected]

Thank’s alot guy you saved my life. If there were more people like you imagine what could be accomplished

Eugene Small

Yo Hup- thanks for taking the time to put together a script to help us first timers out.

Thank you so much ! I used your script to build the ceremony for my neice’s wedding that I officiated last Saturday. The bride and groom loved the ceremony and so did the guests.

Thanks again for making my job much easier!!!

THANK YOU so much. I am marrying my daughter in 2 weeks, and scared. Ive searched the net for something like this for hours. Thank you, Thank you, Robin

Jennifer Robertson

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this. I will be using it as framework as well for my first ceremony next week. I have had a bit of trouble finding this in a useable form.(happily shared).

I am officiatine at my first wedding in a few weeks. I am going to be using your script as I draft up the ceremony because you give so many valuable reminders. THANK YOU!!!! This is a treasure that I will keep in my files for years to come. May God bless your work.

Best one I’ve seen so far! Thank you!

Wow! Amazing and thank you for the model!! Will be officiating next year:) this is beautiful and helpful.

Aleonzipper

hey Jay well my bff just asked me to marry them i have never done this and i have never been married my self im a little worried they are a fun loving couple with lots of humor in there life i want it to be romantic and funny because i am a joker to but i have been having a hard time coming up with this

Just wanted to give you a shout out and say “THANK YOU” for the framework. This is my first time officiating a wedding and its my youngest Son’s. While I consider myself a good writer, I just couldn’t separate myself from the fact that I’m a parent and a Minister. I tweaked the ceremony a little and then met with the couple and got their feedback. We added a segment in place of the unity sand where they seal love letters in a box with a bottle of wine for their 5th wedding anniversary. You are a lifesaver, and I just wanted you to know I now have confidence officiating the upcoming wedding in April 2015! Peace……..

Jennifer Archer

Hup, Thank you so much for your help. My sister asked me to become ordained for her wedding and I was overwhelmed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Sincerely, Jennifer Archer

This is a wonderful example of an elegant, yet flexible framework from which to craft my first ( and only ), wedding ceremony script. Thank you for taking time to share your experiences.

Thank you Hup for this script. I could use it as a foundation for my 1st wedding on 3/7/15. My niece asked me to officiate her wedding and I was honored. You have covered all the necessary steps.

I love the base you have given. The nerves are never ending as I will be marrying my brother and sister-in-law! I had a one month notice, and will be taking action on March 28 of this year.

JUST FOUND THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING IT, MY SON HAS ASK ME TO MARRIED HIM AND HIS GIRL FRIEND THIS WILL BE THERE SECOND TIME FOR THEM BOTH, YOUR WORDS ARE JUST WHAT I NEED.

Hup, love this ceremony, going to use parts of it in a wedding ceremony tomorrow afternoon. Can you put these in printable form? I wanted to print it up using my I-Pad on my wireless printer, but don’t see a link to print it.

Thanks, Keith

Dorothy Boyce

I am doing at wedding today, it is 4 A.M. and I realized I left my Minister’s Manual at the Couple House during the rehearsal. Went online to get some ideas. Found this. Love it. Thank you for bailing me out! Be Blessed!

Franklyn Weeks

It’s an remarkable post for all the online people; they will obtain benefit from it I am sure.

Thank you!!!!

Hi there…I appreciate the ideas. I am coming up with ideas for my fiance and I for our officiant. We will be incorporating a wine ceremony letter box. Have you done that before? If so do you have a flow for that? We will be getting married near a vineyard (not a winery) but beautiful accomodations by a vineyard and a beautiful outdoor setting. We have an amazing love story, found our way back to each other 13 years later and are being featured in a couple magazines for this wedding that all of the area is looking forward to..I would love the wording to mirror that. Thanks so much!

Hey Hup, First Timer here :=) either after or before?? the ceremony what legal paperwork is needed and where do I get that??

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Thanks for the info. Officiating my first wedding in about a week and this has been a big help!

Hup…dude you’re a life saver as I could never put together such a great framework. some tweaking and mods personalizing and its perfect. God and Hup came thru for me on this one! Thank you Mike

Thank you so much for this script! This wedding, which is in a few days, is also my first! Alleviated a lot of stress and anxiety! Again, thank you & God Bless!

Does anyone have any advice on what else could be used in the section

has more staying power than ( the brides southern accent )

Thanks so much in advance !

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Thank you for the guidelines you’ve shared, awesome help. I’ll keep you in my prayers. God Bless, [email protected]

John michael

Please help me get the the certification. So I can officiate a ceromony

JFSoccerCoach

I have blended your script into the plans I have made with my bride and groom and I do believe we will have a great ceremony (also my first ever!)

Thank you kindly!

Susan Landry

Dear Hup, Last night my niece asked me to officiate at their wedding in August. I am honored but have never done so before.

I immediately got on Google and found you! Thank you so very much. Your service is beautiful and I am so very grateful. God bless you Hup!

Thanks Ryan! It is a beautiful ceremony you have here and a wonderful outline for me to use for my first official ceremony. Bless you for taking the time and for sharing it!!

Thank you so much for posting this I’m officiating my first wedding today (my sisters) and this has helped add so much more to what I already had thank you very much. Thank you thank you thank you thank you

Thanks, this is very helpful. God Bless.

this is so great!!! I have been looking for a foundation script for my friend that will be our officiant, This is perfect and she has a strong sense of humor so this be natural for her! Thank you so much for sharing this!!

I was just asked to officiate my first ceremony in July for my sister. I am a nervous wreck and had no idea what do say for a simple but intimate day. Thank you so much for laying this out for all of us to use. Your words are wonderful!!

thanks again!!

You’re welcome and I’m happy I could help out — be sure to come back and let me know how it goes! 🙂

I’m scared I may go to fast or to slow I’m preparing for a call to do my first wedding I dont want to mess up so do you have to be loud or just normal tone

Hey Tanya, I think it really depends on how the wedding is going to be setup. If you have a mic or not is important to know, too. For example, I didn’t have a mic on the beach, so I had to be much louder than if I had a microphone hooked up. And don’t worry, just practice it a few times and you’ll be all good – just relax and have some fun!

y u a potato

Gary Borque

Hey thanks for sharing. I will be doing my first wedding next week. I am not ordained but was asked to perform just the ceremony. In place of saying by the power vested in me what would you suggest I say? – thanks Gary

I said “by the power vested in my by the internet” since I was ordained on one of the websites, which I suggest you do, too. It’s easy and free. 🙂

I will be officiating my first wedding in May ,and I feel so comfortable using this format .Thank you so much .

I have never performed a wedding ceremony but my mom performed it when my sister married her boyfriend of 4 years. They got married on August 28th 2016! They will be married a year

I am using this for my cats wedding,it sound weird know•_•

Hub thanks so much for the frame work, im officiating my son wedding this wkend hope all goes well….kinda nervous talking in front on about 200…..yikes anyway Thanks so much!!

Loved your presentation and used the bulk of it. We had everyone laughing at times and tearing up at times. Wonderful script! I added the following, “all great marriages have three things in common, I call them the three C’s. They are Commitment, Communication and COMPROMISE.

Cheryl Byrnes

Thanks I just found this I’m soon to start my course so reading examples like yours is so helpful Regards Cheryl

Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this topic for a long time and yours is the best I’ve found out till now. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?

Barbara Guyton

This is awesome. I am performing my very first wedding in May and this will help me a whole lot. Thank you sooooo much.

LARRY CUSACK

RYAN, I AM GOING TO OFFICIATE MY FIRST WEDDING IN JULY OF 2017. IT WILL BE A DOUBLE HONOR, AS THE GROOM IS MY SON. MY FUTURE DIL WANTS THE CEREMONY TO BE SHORT, BUT SWEET. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL SURELY HELP ME TO HEED HER WISHES. THANK YOU FOR POSTING YOUR HELPFUL HINTS.LARRY CUSACK

HerbieSmith

Ryan, my name is Herbie Smith I was asked to ordained minister my nieces wedding and the first script I read was yours it was perfect for me to do for my first wedding. Nice. I seen you went to school in Indiana, I live in Lawrenceburg, Ind. Is there any way you can send me that script. I will be lost without it. Thank you if you can make time to send me it. I will tell everyone that you wrote it. Herbie Smith 252 knoll CT Lawrenceburg In 47025. Thank you and good luck back packing, God bless and safe travels.

Ryan, this is Herbie Smith I sent you a message to see if you can send me the script it would just make it so easy to just read from the script if you would send it. If you can just add grooom & bride name for me it would be great. Carl Andrew Paxson & Heather Morgan Holtecgal. Grooom than Bride. I hope you understand and can help, I don’t want to mess day up for the newly weds and my first time at this and talking in front of a crowd of people in a church. Thank you senserly Herbie Smith 252 knoll CT Lawrenceburg In 47025.

This is perfect. this is my first time and I am so thankful for all the work you have done. thank you again.

Hi! I am officiating my first wedding in June for my daughter, no less! I am not a nervous wreck at the moment because I am so honored, but I am concerned that my emotions (I choke and cry at Hallmark commercials) will get the best of me even before I begin on that very special day. Your outline and suggestions are tremendously helpful, thank you!

Vicki Simes-Hartman

I am officiating my first wedding in August of this year 2017 This is beautiful

Thank you so much! My wedding is in a few weeks and this script is perfect for what I need!

Kimberly Brides

Absolutely lovely ceremony! Thank you so much for sharing. It is the first one I will show to my son and his fiance’ as a choice for their ceremony. Thank you!

Thank you for taking the time to share your script.. this will help me with my first ceremony in 50 days:) I will use your script to get me started…

A lovely ceremony. I’m marrying my niece next spring. I was thrilled that you posted this! I can use it, personalize it and it will be perfect! Thank you

Deepak Menon

In these trying times – your great wedding ceremony paper is like a breath of fresh air – I think my son would like his wedding to have just this kind of ceremony – thank you so much

It is customarily worn on the ring finger as it is the only finger with a vein running directly to the heart.is that wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because of the vena amoris, the vein that carries blood from the fourth digit of the left hand straight to the heart

How sweet. How about no.

The vena amoris does not exist. The vasculature in your hands is pretty much all the same, and there isn’t one vein in your hands linked directly to the heart. The belief originated in ancient Egyptian times and influenced the modern wedding ring custom in the Western part of the world.

So you could just say something…. the Egyptian belief that there was a direct vein to the heart

Gary Garcia

Thanks Ryan Thank you for posting it was very helpful.

I know you posted this a long time ago, but I wanted to let you know that this is still reaching people. My friend is going to be our Officiant in a few weeks and this will have him fully prepared. We are also not traditional, so this one was right on the money. Thank you!

Gina M Szweda

Thank you for posting this and I will use it for an upcoming wedding in September. very nice!!!

I’m a officiating my cousin wedding in 2 weeks. This will give me a base to work on.

Greg Steele

I have been sweating this, as I’m sure you know all about. I’m getting ready to give preform a ceremony for my Son and his Fiancé. If you don’t mind, this will be a huge help. I’m sure it won’t be word for word, but having something to start/work with is great. Wish me luck, I’m more nervous than the couple that is getting married. Thanks again

Hup- I want to thank you for this scrip. It is so much like the one I prepared for my first wedding,but I loaned it to a couple to go over to see what they thought about it. They loved it, but decided not to get married at the time and lost the script I had prepared. They have now decided it is time to be married and your script fits perfect with the sand ceremony I had prepared for them. I still have the two tubes of sand and the third tube to pour them in.I even had two colors of sand to make it more interesting. I would have to say, This is nothing less than a miracle from God!!!!!

Thanks Ryan – Last Saturday, I was given the opportunity and had the privelege to officiate my very 1st wedding ceremony. It was especially delightful since the groom is my big brother. Thankfully, I searched and found your very moving & heart felt script. After highlighting a few suitabley key elements, including the Bible verses from first Corinthians chapter 13 on the true meaning of Love, the responses & complements following the service were overwhelming. May our Good Lord Bless you for your generosity & Thanks again!!

David Baxter

Wow, I’m doing my first and this helps…Thanks

Glenda McClary

pastor wallace

need this so much doing a wedding and they had no clue to how and what to say i found this it will do fine god bless you

How long is the average length of time to Officiate a wedding officiate a wedding

I’ve officiated my first wedding ceremony this past weekend and it was great! I used the script and everyone loved it. Thank you for sharing making it so EZ.

Linda Komer

These beautiful words are a great foundation I will joyfully use as I officiate my first wedding. The bride & groom are choosing not to write their own vows so there will be a bit of tweaking. I am blessed & honored to have been asked . . Not to mention excited! Thank you for sharing your experience.

Man, kudos to you for posting this and sharing with others. A google search led me here, and led me to read more about you. You’re living a fantastic life man. Cheers!

Edward Llanto

Laurence Bloodgood

Thank you for making this available for those of us who are first time wedding officiators. My daughter is getting married in June. This article is very educational. I will be using most of suggestions. My daughter, and her fiancé are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I was planning on using the verses in I Corinthians 13, and when I saw they were used by you I knew this was right for us all. Thank you. God bless you.

Crystal Yarlott

I love the uniqueness of the words you’ve shared, Ryan.

we are using this for a wedding puppet show!!! thank you so much … The middle schoolers

i used this for my best friends weding in school an dyes im only in the 5th grade and they do not know how to kiss atleast i got what to say. BTW i was the minister and they could not kiss but still thanks Hup

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This was so great for you to do . My brother in law and my daughters God father and uncle will be the officiant . He is very nervous but this has definately put his mind at ease . Thanks again

Thank you so much!!! This has given me such a sense of relief, I wasn’t sure how to organize the ceremony and you placed it all together so nicely. Wish me luck, the wedding is in 3 weeks

This was great, just what I needed. I’m officiating my first wedding in 2 days. Now I’m a bit more relieved and not so nervous. Thanks so much!

For those wanting copies of this, just write the author for permission and then when he/she approves your request, copy the text that you wish to use and paste it into a word document.

KURT NEUFER

Nice work. Thank for providing others the framework in which to build and plan their weddings.

I appreciate what you have done and I am planning to borrow some of your ideas for my daughters wedding that I am officiating. After reading all of the nice comments that folks were courteous enough to leave, that inspired me to share some of my work with weddings.

I wish to share a poem, actually song lyrics that I wrote for my son’s wedding and have performed many time at weddings. The song can be googled “From Now Until Forever” by Kurt Lewis Neufer, Soundclick.com. Anyone may have permission use this song and even the soundtrack in their wedding without written prior permission, it is my gift.

From Now Until Forever (Full Version)

© Kurt Lewis Neufer 2006 Author: Kurt Lewis Neufer

Long guitar lead in C G Am C# E7 G G C C Verse 1 C G Am From now until forever,

F C G I offer you all my love,

C G Am From now until forever,

F C G May God richly bless our love,

F G Though life may be hard

C G Am When we are apart

F G C I’ll always be thinking of you ,

F G C G Am No matter where I go, No matter what I do

F G C I promise I’ll always be true

Bridge C G Am C# E7 G G C C

From Now Until Forever – Page 2 Word and Music by Kurt Neufer 1/8/06

C G Am And With this ring, I thee wed,

F C G A tok-en of my true love,

F C G I pro-mise you my love,

F G For better, for worse,

C G Am For rich-er or poor-er,

F G C I pro-mise to hon-or you ,

F G C G Am Thru sickness and health, till death do us part

F G C I promise to cherish you.

From Now Until Forever – Page 3 Word and Music by Kurt Neufer 1/8/06

F C G Oh, How great, our love shall be,

F C G We’ll live in harmony

F G C G Am We’ll face each day, walk’in hand in hand,

F G C How great, our love shall be,

F G C G Am Thru good times and bad, we’ll still come, out smiling,

F G C For together, we always shall be.

End C G Am C# E7 G G C C

Slowly sing From Now Until Forever as song fades

For those wanting copies of this, just write the author for permission and then when he approves your request, copy the text that you wish to use and paste it into a word document. If you publish things from an artist, it is appropriate to cite the source of your information.

For those of you reading this who feel uncomfortable speaking in front a number of people, I have a suggestion that may help you with this. I joined a Toastmaster’s club where I have the opportunity to speak in front of other club members who also wish to improve their public speaking abilities and overcome the jitters that come with it. There are hundreds of Toastmaster’s clubs across the country. It has opened my eyes to what I am capable of doing. So please, consider something like this to help you to prepare for your weddings and events.

Ken Hollman

Thank you for posting your script. It’s well thought out and written. It gives me food for thought as I write the script for the upcoming marriage of my granddaughter. I will be officiating and want this event to be very special. Ken

I LOVE this. Were going to tweak a few things, but this is absolutely the best scripting I’ve found! Thank you for sharing!

Pst Valentine

Ooh, thank you for the post. I didn’t know if that exchanging of the rings precedes the wedding vows! I thought the rings are just to show signs but the vows are the commitments!

This is fabulous ….I thank you for sharing ….this is what I want for my wedding and I plan to share it with the minister officiating it …I love the humor and it seemed as if it were written with my fiance and myself in mind

Christy Parker

Thank you, this will make it much easier step by step.

I’m officiating my first formal wedding, and I found this page to be extremely helpful. Thank you SO much for the sample text and suggested order of service.

SANDRA BURKS

Thank you very helpful

Thank you so much for your efforts! I, used this as a rough copy for my brother’s wedding and just tweeked a few things to make it fit them. I really appreciate you putting this up!

James Smith

Thank you so very much I will be officiating my first wedding I will use it this is perfect God bless.

This is my first time officiating. This is my brothers wedding. It is not the first for either. Can I say, I would like to introduce my brother (name) and sister in law Mr. & Mrs. (name)

Thanks for sharing this script, Ryan. For the second time in a dozen years, I’ve been asked to be a younger friend’s officiant. I don’t recall what I said, or what script those friends, long ago, gave me. Today, it’s been left up to me to craft the script for my two friends. Reading this helped me a great deal. Many thanks!

linda williams

thank you so much was having a hard time trying to put together a wedding using there vows & sand knowing where to do what.this is my first marriage always did the wedding part a lot harder than I though ,again thank you!!!!

Ryan, Thanks for this. I’m officiating my first wedding in September, for my Niece and had no idea what to do. This will be a huge help.

Hup, thank you for sharing your script. This will be my second wedding, the first was very small and very short so I am a little nervous about the upcoming wedding as to it will be in front of several more people. I actually teared up a little reading over yours. Good job!

Tonya Denise Lewis

Thanks so much for the script! I was looking all over for a format, this also is my first wedding to officiate.

Sarah Rosenberg

This is such a great foundation and I can now start preparing my first speech! Thank you so much!

i just married a guy and a left hand

michael schumaker

thank you for the outline. I am officiating my first wedding this fall. Thanks for saving me much legwork. It’s really well done Pastor Michael

Kimberly Keating

Thank you for sharing. This is definitely going to help shape the first wedding I will be officiating this year.

Thank so much not just for putting together but for to share publicly and allowed others to use it and make adjustments to make it our own. Just wanted to leave this humble note of thank you to you.

I’m writing a wedding into the book I’m doing and this was perfect! My characters are both non-religious and this was just the right thing I needed to base my own script off. Thankyou!!

Very good general outline thanks

Patricia Weeks

thank you so much for this. I have done 3 wedding using this basic format and tweaking for each wedding. I have my 4th and 5th wedding coming up. I only became a minister to marry my son and daughter in law. family and friends keep asking me to do it now.

This is awesome! Thank you so much for posting – I am officiating my first wedding, well it is actually a Renewal of Vows ceremony for my son and daughter-in-law this is exactly what I needed to get my thoughts together!!

I am officiating my sister’s wedding next week and this was exactly what I needed to finalize the flow of the ceremony. Thank you for sharing!

Ushelor Lowery

I love this script it is simple and to the point as this is my first time officiating a wedding. This has really help me out a lot again thanks

Marsha Crook

Hup, thank you so much for sharing this ceremony. I am officiating for my grandson and this sweetheart this month and have been getting nervous about the whole ceremony. I am thankful that I was lead to this link today. Divine intervention.

Thank you! My first wedding I’m officiating and it gave me a basis to begin. Much gratitude!

Minister Alvin Jackson

Hey bro. This was real helpful. I did my first wedding last week. I used your script and added somethings. I truly appreciate this post.

Ronita Giznsky

Hello, I will be doing a wedding and have not a clue. I seen your script and would like to request permission to use it please. Thank you very much

This is so helpful, thank you so much for sharing!

Thank you for this layout for first time officiants. I will be officiating my first wedding in April, 2019 and plan to use this outline.

Officiated my son’s wedding Saturday. I used your foundation and added some of my own words and phrases. I want to say thankyou for your inspiration. It was perfect.

sharon ann bell

I have a “first” coming up in December. A niece. I know what and honor this is, but also a huge responsibility. Thank you for setting the framework…..it will be a big help.

Ken Snavely

Ryan, just had to email you and tell you how much I appreciated your WEDDING CEREMONY SCRIPT FOR FIRST-TIME OFFICIANTS. I’m 83 years old, married to Marlene for 64 years, and we are born-again Christians. My 30-year old granddaughter asked me to officiate at her wedding on September 3, 2022 in Greeley, CO, and I explained that I am not a minister, but she countered that in Colorado that is not a requirement. She suggested I check the internet and her only request was that I somehow include some 1 Corinthians 13 scriptures verses, the Biblical LOVE chapter in the Holy Bible. My first try turned up the above script and I was so happy with your production and that you had taken the time to make it available. THANK YOU SO MUCH, my granddaughter and husband were very pleased with your script and it was a very successful wedding. I was honored to be asked and you made it a joy for everyone. I doubt that I will ever be asked again, but I do know the script I would use if called upon. You’re my hero.

Next Article Bay Area Man Takes Shirt Off, Gets Sunburnt At Ocean Beach

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

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

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:

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How to Write A Heartfelt Bridesmaid Speech (With Examples)

• The Speaker Lab
• May 15, 2024

Table of Contents

Your best friend’s wedding day has arrived, and as her bridesmaid, you want to deliver a speech that truly honors the love she shares with her new spouse. Crafting the perfect bridesmaid speech can feel daunting, but with a few heartfelt examples and tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a toast that celebrates their unique bond. Whether you’re looking for sentimental stories, lighthearted anecdotes, or the right words to express your love and support, these bridesmaid speech examples will inspire you to speak from the heart and raise a glass to the happy couple.

How to Structure Your Bridesmaid Speech

The key elements of a bridesmaid speech are an attention-grabbing opening, a few memorable stories, and a toast to the newlyweds. Once you have an idea of the general structure of a bridesmaid speech, you can play around with it a bit. Remember, the goal is to write something that is both authentic and heartfelt.

To help you craft your bridesmaid speech, we’ve provided an outline with examples. This outline highlights each of the key elements of a bridesmaid speech, which you can customize as needed.

Greet the Guests

Open with a warm welcome and acknowledgment of what a joyful occasion it is. For example:

“Good evening everyone. It’s so wonderful to see all the people [Bride] and [Groom] love here to celebrate their marriage.”

Introduce Yourself

Let guests know your name and connection to the bride. Keep it brief but affectionate, like:

“For those who don’t know me, I’m [Name], and I’ve had the pleasure of being [Bride’s] best friend since we were [age].”

Share Memories and Personal Stories

This is the meat of your speech. Share 2-3 brief stories, minutes long at most, that give guests a glimpse into your bond with the bride and couple. Some ideas:

• The bride’s most admirable qualities and how they shine in her relationship
• A funny or touching story from your friendship
• How you’ve seen the couple’s love grow

Stories are a great way to engage your audience while also demonstrating positive characteristics about the bride. When preparing your bridesmaid speech, feel free to tell a funny story about the bride, but avoid anything embarrassing or disrespectful. For example:

“I’ll never forget our first girls’ trip together when [Bride] got so sunburned she looked like a lobster. She was in good spirits though—we laughed about it all week.”

While some people might consider a bad sunburn embarrassing, the bride in this story found it humorous, making it safe territory for a bridesmaid speech. A story like this can draw laughs from your audience while highlighting the bride’s healthy sense of humor.

Express Love and Admiration

Here’s where you really honor the couple. Talk about the bride’s best qualities, how happy she is with her new spouse, and the amazing life they’ll build together. For instance:

“[Bride], your kindness and sense of adventure inspire me. Seeing the love between you and [Groom] gives me so much joy. You two are truly meant for each other.”

Raise a Toast

Close your groom speech by inviting everyone to toast the happy couple . Offer your love and support with wedding speech tips like:

“Join me in raising a glass to the bride and groom. May your love be a beacon through life’s storms and your greatest adventure yet. To [Bride] and [Groom].”

Remember, the goal of a bride speeches is to make the newlyweds feel loved and celebrated. Speak from the heart and let your unique personality shine. You’ll give a toast that honors their love story and your special bond.

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Dos and Don’ts of Delivering a Memorable Bridesmaid Speech

If you’ve been asked to give a bridesmaid speech, you know it’s a huge honor. However, it can also be nerve-wracking. You want to strike the perfect balance of heartfelt and humorous, while avoiding any cringe-worthy moments. To prep you for the big day, we have several examples of what you do and don’t want to include in your bridesmaid speech. Let’s take a look.

Keep It Short and Sweet

First and foremost, aim to keep your speech concise. Aim for around 3-5 minutes max. Pick a couple of your favorite memories or anecdotes and focus on those.

Practice and Prepare

The key to delivering your speech with confidence is practice, practice, practice. Write out what you want to say, then rehearse it out loud until you feel comfortable. Pro tip: record yourself on your phone so you can get a sense of your pacing and tone.

Be Authentic and Sincere

The most memorable speeches come straight from the heart, so don’t try to be someone you’re not or force a bunch of jokes if that’s not your style. Focus on expressing your g enuine love and admiration for the couple.

Avoid Embarrassing Stories

While a little gentle ribbing can be fun, steer clear of any stories that could truly embarrass the bride or groom. Keep the bachelor(ette) party antics out of it, and definitely avoid bringing up any ex-partners. This day is all about celebrating the couple’s love story.

If there’s alcohol at a wedding, it can be tempting to rely on liquid confidence for your bridesmaid speech. However, to maintain respect for the couple as well as personal dignity, save your drinks until after your speech. No one wants to hear a slurred, rambling toast, either from a bridesmaid or a groomsman.

At the end of the day, remember that your speech doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s the sentiment behind your words that the couple will cherish for years to come. So take a deep breath, speak from your heart, and enjoy this special moment.

Inspirational Quotes and Sentiments for Your Bridesmaid Speech

When it comes to crafting the perfect bridesmaid speech, sometimes a little inspiration goes a long way. Peppering in a famous quote about love or a heartfelt wish for the couple’s future can elevate your message and leave a lasting impact. Below are a few examples in might want to include in your own bridesmaid speech.

Famous Love Quotes

Incorporating a classic quote about love and marriage can lend some timeless wisdom to your speech. Take a look:

• “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn
• “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” – When Harry Met Sally
• “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou

Heartfelt Wishes for the Couple

Your speech is the perfect opportunity to share your hopes and dreams for the newlyweds’ future together. Speak from the heart and let them know how much their love has inspired you. A few examples:

• “May your love be modern enough to survive the times, but old-fashioned enough to last forever.”
• “May your love be a beautiful adventure that grows deeper with each passing year.”
• “May you always find comfort, joy, and strength in each other’s arms.”

Celebrating Their Unique Bond

Every love story is unique, so don’t be afraid to highlight what makes this couple’s bond so special. Maybe it’s the way they balance each other out, or how they’ve supported each other through thick and thin. Share a few words about why you believe their love is true and everlasting.

Remember, these quotes and sentiments are just a starting point. Use them as inspiration, but be sure to put your own spin on things. The most impactful words will be the ones that come straight from your heart.

Creative Ways to Add Humor and Personality to Your Speech

While heartfelt sentiments are a must in any bridesmaid speech, a little humor can go a long way in keeping your audience engaged. The key is to strike a balance—you want to be funny and relatable, without veering into cringe-worthy territory. Here are a few ideas for infusing your speech with some personality.

Playful Jokes and Puns

A well-placed pun or playful joke can be a great way to break the ice and get a few laughs. Maybe there’s a funny story about how the couple met, or a pun related to their shared hobbies. For example, if the groom is an author , you could add this line to your bridesmaid speech: “When she told us her fiancée was an author, we knew she had found Mr. Write.”

Lighthearted Teasing

If you’ve known the bride or groom for a long time, a little gentle ribbing can show the depth of your friendship. Just be sure to keep it affectionate and avoid anything too embarrassing. For example: “[Bride], remember when we were kids and you swore you’d marry a prince? Well, I think it’s safe to say you found your real-life Prince Charming.”

Sharing Embarrassing Moments

While you want to avoid any truly mortifying stories, sharing a mildly embarrassing moment can humanize your speech and make everyone chuckle. Just be sure it’s something you’d be okay with your own crazy family bringing up at your wedding. For example, maybe there’s a funny story about a memorable road trip or a disastrous double date.

At the end of the day, the goal is to make the couple laugh, smile, and feel loved. So choose humor that feels authentic to your relationship and the overall vibe of the wedding.

Bridesmaid Speech Ideas for a Sister or Best Friend

If you’re the bridesmaid for your sister or best friend’s wedding, you have a unique opportunity to share heartfelt memories and celebrate the couple’s love story. As someone who has witnessed their relationship unfold, you can offer a personal perspective.

When crafting your speech, consider including childhood memories and stories of growing up together with the bride. These anecdotes will not only showcase your close bond but also give the audience a glimpse into the bride’s early years and the experiences that shaped her into the person she is today.

Childhood Memories and Growing up Together

Take a trip down memory lane and share some of your favorite moments from your shared childhood. Perhaps you have fond memories of playing dress-up together, having sleepovers, or getting into mischief as young girls. These stories will bring a smile to everyone’s face and remind the bride of the unbreakable bond you share.

For example, in your bridesmaid speech you could say something like, “I remember when [Bride] and I were little girls, we would spend hours in our backyard, pretending to be princesses and dreaming of our future weddings. Little did I know that one day, I would have the honor of standing by her side as she marries her real-life Prince Charming.”

Witnessing Their Love Story Unfold

As the bride’s sister or best friend, you’ve likely had a front-row seat to her love story with the groom. Share how you’ve watched their relationship grow and evolve over time. Perhaps you were there for their first date, or you’ve seen them navigate challenges together with grace and strength.

You could say something like, “I’ve had the privilege of watching [Bride] and [Groom]’s love story unfold from the very beginning. From the moment they met, I could see the spark between them. Over the years, I’ve watched their love grow stronger with each passing day, and I know that they are truly meant to be together.”

Your Unbreakable Bond

Finally, take a moment to celebrate the special bond you share with the bride. Whether you’re sisters by blood or by choice, let her know how much she means to you and how grateful you are to have her in your life.

You could say, “[Bride], you’re more than just my sister/best friend. You’re my confidante and my partner-in-crime. I’m so grateful to have you in my life, and I know that [Groom] is the luckiest man in the world to have you by his side.”

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Crafting a Speech That Reflects the Couple’s Unique Relationship

Every couple’s relationship is unique, and your speech should reflect that. As you brainstorm ideas, consider the qualities that make the bride and groom’s bond so special. For example, you might list things they love to do together or explain how they complement each other in order to make your bridesmaid speech more personal.

Highlighting Their Shared Interests and Passions

One way to personalize your speech is by highlighting the couple’s shared interests and passions. Perhaps they bonded over a love of travel, music, or a particular hobby. Sharing these details will give the audience a deeper understanding of what makes their relationship so strong.

For example, you could say something like, “[Bride] and [Groom], your love for adventure and exploration has taken you to some of the most beautiful places in the world. From hiking in the mountains to diving in the ocean, you’ve faced every challenge together with courage and enthusiasm. I know that your shared passion for life will continue to guide you as you embark on this new chapter together.”

Celebrating Their Complementary Qualities

Another way to showcase the couple’s unique bond is by celebrating their complementary qualities. Perhaps the bride’s creativity and spontaneity are the perfect match for the groom’s practicality and steadiness. Or maybe the groom’s sense of humor brings out the best in the bride’s more serious nature.

You could say something like, “[Bride], your kindness and compassion are the perfect complement to [Groom]’s strength and determination. Together, you balance each other out and bring out the best in one another. Your love is a testament to the power of partnership and the beauty of finding your perfect match.”

Envisioning Their Future Together

Finally, take a moment to envision the couple’s future together. What dreams and aspirations do they share? How do you see their love growing and evolving over the years?

You could say something like, “[Bride] and [Groom], as you stand here today, surrounded by the love and support of your family and friends, I see a future filled with endless possibilities. I know that your love will be the foundation that supports you through all of life’s joys and challenges. May your marriage be a source of strength, comfort, and inspiration, not only for yourselves but for all those around you. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you both, and I know that with your love to guide you, anything is possible.”

Remember, the key to a great bridesmaid speech is to speak from the heart and to share your genuine love and admiration for the couple. Whether you choose to focus on childhood memories, the couple’s unique bond, or your hopes for their future together, your words will be a cherished part of their special day.

FAQs in Relation to Bridesmaid Speech Examples

What should a bridesmaid say in her speech.

Acknowledge the couple, share heartfelt memories, sprinkle in humor, and close with sincere wishes for their future.

How long is a bridesmaid speech?

Ideally, keep it between three to five minutes. Short enough to hold attention; long enough to cover the essentials.

What to say in your best friends’ wedding speech?

Talk about shared adventures, celebrate their love journey, express gratitude for friendship, and wish them joy ahead.

Bridesmaid speech examples can be your guiding light as you honor your dear friend on her wedding day. Remember, the most memorable toasts come straight from the heart. So stay authentic as you explore the distinctive path their affection has taken, recall treasured experiences shared between them, and inject a bit of light-heartedness along the way. Your words have the power to make their special day even more unforgettable.

So take a deep breath, raise your glass, and let your love for the newlyweds shine through. A toast is in order—one that honors their beautiful relationship and cherishes the strong ties of friendship.

• Last Updated: May 7, 2024

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• Government efficiency, transparency and accountability

Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart's speech at Procurex 2024

Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart's speech at Procurex National 2024, a leading public sector procurement event, on the benefits of the Procurement Act

Hello everyone, it’s a real pleasure to be here with you all in Liverpool this morning.

When I was preparing for this, I asked what this conference was like and one of my colleagues said that it was like the Glastonbury of public procurement.

This raised a few questions in my mind - not least, does that make me the Michael Eavis of public procurement?

I’ve been doing this job for about 18 months and during that time, I’ve come to see that in government, procurement is almost everything. 

It’s a whole way of being in government. 

Government as a customer is something that sits right at the core of what we do, how we transmit our values, and how we serve the people who employ us. 

This year, as you all know, is an enormous year for public procurement, and it’s been a real honour and a pleasure to be part of the process which has led to 2024.

I’ve had a brief chance to look at the breadth of stalls out there, and to see just a glimpse of the experience of the buying and supplying expertise that we have around us today. 

I want to thank you all for your ingenuity and bringing that skill and experience to Liverpool, and for being a vital part of our economy. 

As the only person I think today speaking on behalf of the Government, I am focused on the value that all these stalls are getting for taxpayers.

I am also ultimately responsible for the smooth running of the current process and the new process - everything from the services that we end up procuring to, perhaps more importantly, the system that we procure them from.

That structure has to be as rigorous, as efficient and as innovative as possible and it needs to have enough flexibility to ensure that future improvements can be incorporated.

What I want to talk to you about today is how we’re turning that ideal into a reality and how we are ensuring that providers and the public are better supported through procurement.

Eighteen months ago when I took on this job, I asked the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister what my core priority was going to be.

And they both said: get the Procurement Act through Parliament, get the regulations through, get trading through, get the online system working and make it live by the end of 2024.

And because of the fantastic team that I’ve had at my disposal in the Cabinet Office - not least Lindsay who you have just heard from, but Ed Green and Sam Rowbury - we are closer to that goal than ever before.

Because for the first time in four decades, leaving the European Union we had a chance to create our own procurement practices. 

To go out and be able to talk to industry, to talk to the procurement sector, to really get a grip on what opportunities we could now grasp, was an enormous job. 

And they have done it all with flair and insight, and critically, on time.

So what we’re looking at is an opportunity now to take advantage of this reimagined procurement system, to benefit everyone who has been involved in the process. 

What we have now, I’m confident, is a simpler and more transparent system that is going to deliver better value for money, and reduce costs for business and the public sector.

And the beauty of the Act is in its simplicity. When it comes into force, we will experience a whole new approach to procurement.

We will be better able to open up public procurement to new entrants - crucially, to small businesses and social enterprises - who have been central to our thinking throughout this journey, and I believe it is only fair that they can compete for and win more public contracts.

We are also going to take better action against underperforming suppliers, as well as excluding those who pose unacceptable risks.

And at the heart of this is ensuring more transparency than ever before, so that we’re spending taxpayers’ money in a way that can be properly scrutinised.

Now, as all you know, our go-live date is the 28th of October.

I know that many of the procurement practitioners in the audience are very aware of that date, and I would like to thank you all for your help in developing this Act so far. 

After all, it’s you who will make a success of the new regime when we go live in October, making your organisations take advantage of the new flexibilities and continuing to deliver great value for the taxpayer.

Many of you have already started this process, and I was very, very pleased to hear that since launching our online e-learning programme only a few weeks ago, over 1,000 practitioners have already completed the course and are now certified.

It’s an amazing achievement. Some people have clearly waited around at midnight for the moment that it went by, immediately started the course and ploughed through the hours and got their qualification. That’s the sort of enthusiasm that is wonderful to see. 

Over the next few months we’ll be supporting you even more - both practitioners and suppliers - to prepare for the changes ahead.

I’m very pleased to see today Roger and the Crown Commercial Service team, who are here with information, guidance and advice to help you through this legislative transition, so please do seek them out if you haven’t already.

I would also like to focus briefly on how the new Act supports suppliers.

Suppliers - thank you so much for coming here today.  

It is great to be able to see so many of you taking advantage of this conference to learn more about what we’re up to.

And it’s a good opportunity for us to see here the types of innovative services and products on display. 

It’s this vibrancy – this open market – that we are keen to support through our new legislation, because we believe that our public services should reflect the public they serve, and ensure that our public – and the wider economy – benefits from this change.

Our previous legislation did not have this as a priority.

For example, the system was almost geared against SMEs, which was a huge oversight given that about 99% of businesses in the UK are SMEs.

It also required companies to re-enter the same basic information every time they wanted to bid for a contract - a huge waste of time, a huge inefficiency. 

These issues – among many others – are addressed directly by our new legislation.

The new Act will accelerate spending with small businesses.

A new duty will require any contracting authority to consider SMEs, to take account of their unique challenges, and we have introduced 30-day payment terms on a broader range of contracts, in response to what SMEs asked us to do.

We’re also creating a new central digital platform for suppliers to register and store their details, so that they can be used for multiple bids, and enable them to see all the opportunities in one place.

But, really, the Act has benefits for all suppliers, not just SMEs.

It puts a requirement on public bodies to provide feedback on bids, giving you greater consistency of feedback, helping you shape your next bid.

And it will open up more opportunities for suppliers to become ‘approved’, meaning you can be considered for more contracts in the future.

Now our prime concern is the quality of public services and ensuring that taxpayers’ money is being spent efficiently.

Under the old regime, it was easy – once a supplier became approved – for them to coast, to provide the minimum, safe in the knowledge they could not be shifted off that approved supplier status.

But thanks to the Procurement Act, this is going to change.

We’ll be taking tougher action on underperforming suppliers, as new exclusion guidelines will make it easier to write-off suppliers who have underperformed on other contracts.

We are making value for money a core part of our process - ensuring that all contracting authorities must place value for money at the forefront of all procurement activities.

We are also taking account of the Government’s strategic policy priorities, ensuring they help create resilient businesses and - as a society - create opportunities for employment and more skills development.

But, perhaps most importantly, we are also going to create a register, accessible to all public sector organisations, that will list suppliers who must - or may - be excluded from contracts.

Importantly, the Act acknowledges the more complex, interconnected world we live in, where rogue states sometimes seek to gain access to public services and public information.

A new National Security Unit for procurement in the Cabinet Office will review suppliers for potential risk to our national security in a way never achieved before.

It will also conduct investigations and make debarment recommendations to Ministers alongside the Procurement Review Unit, which will do the same for other exclusion grounds.

In closing, I want to reiterate just how important today’s conference is for everyone involved in procurement.

From suppliers to authorities, today is an extraordinary opportunity to find out what we can all do better, to innovate, and how we can help deliver better public services.

In the run up to October, I’d love to know how all these changes are affecting you. 

I’d like to know what’s working well and I’d also like to know, in this new system, where the new challenges lie.

This has to be an iterative process. We have to use this as an opportunity not just to create a better system for today, but also how we continue to improve that system in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Thank you for all you’re doing. Thank you for your commitment to public procurement, and have a great day.

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Ohio State commencement speaker says he got help from psychedelics while writing speech

Ohio State's chosen commencement speaker for the class of 2024, entrepreneur Chris Pan, was high on ayahuasca while he wrote his speech, according to posts he made on social media.

"Got some help from AI (Ayahuasca Intelligence) this week to write my commencement speech for 60k grads and family members at Ohio State University next Sunday," he wrote in a LinkedIn post before graduation.

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic liquid made from heating or boiling multiple psychoactive plants from South America, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia.

Pan also said he tried using ChatGPT and artificial intelligence to write his speech, according to his LinkedIn post and an Instagram post.

Ohio State graduation death: Coroner identifies woman who died in fall from Ohio Stadium

In the weeks preceding graduation, Pan shared multiple drafts of his speech on Instagram. His earliest posted draft included a lengthy section about the Israel-Palestine conflict and a moment where he removed his shirt.

But on Sunday, Pan did not explicitly mention Gaza, Israel or Palestine (or remove his shirt). Rather, he remarked, how after holding multicultural events over the past few months, we must "end suffering on both sides."

Here's what we know: Ohio State graduation death

"What I learned is that there is so much pain and trauma in both communities. Pain causes hate and violence. Hurt people hurt people. Healed people help people," he said. "When we heal ourselves, we heal the world. World peace starts with inner peace."

Pan also led the crowd through two brief musical numbers  — "What's Going On?" by the 4 Non Blondes and "This Little Light of Mine" by Harry Dixon Loes — and espoused how he thinks Bitcoin is "a very misunderstood asset class," which was met by groans from audience members. (He promised everyone in attendance a free bracelet from his company, MyIntent, "as an apology for listening to me talk about Bitcoin.").

Pan graduated from OSU in 1999 and went on to receive an MBA from Harvard Business School. He worked at consulting firm McKinsey and Company, PepsiCo and Facebook before starting his own business, MyIntent.org, in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile.

MyIntent sells jewelry with a custom word of the customer's choosing etched in it, according to the company's website.

Dispatch reporter Sheridan Hendrix contributed to this report.

[email protected]

@NathanRHart

• International

Slovakia's prime minister expected to survive after shooting

By Elise Hammond, Maureen Chowdhury, Adrienne Vogt and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Slovakian deputy prime minister believes Fico will survive the assassination attempt

From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood

Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba said he believes Prime Minister Robert Fico will survive Wednesday's assassination attempt and is “not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”

“Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well and I guess in the end he will survive,” Taraba said in an interview with the BBC’s Newshour program.

Taraba said the prime minister “was heavily injured" with one bullet entering his stomach and another hitting the joints.

"Immediately he was transported to the hospital and then to the operation,” he said.

Video appears to show the moment Slovakia’s prime minister was shot

From CNN’s Eve Brennan

A video circulating on social media appears to show the moment Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot in the town of Handlova on Wednesday.

The footage appears to show Fico, surrounded by a team of at least four security guards in dark suits, walking toward a crowd of people standing behind metal barriers. 

A man in the crowd behind the barriers is seen lunging toward Fico with what appears to be a gun, which he is pointing at the prime minister.

Five shots are heard in the video. People in the crowd don't appear to know what is happening.

Fico falls to the ground and the man with the weapon is apprehended and pushed to the ground by the men in dark suits. Other men are seen running in Fico's direction.

Robert Kaliňák, Slovakia's minister of defense, said that Fico "suffered multiple injuries," but did not provide any details when reporters asked if the prime minister was shot in the stomach.

Analysis: Prime Minister Robert Fico is a divisive politician in a divided country

From CNN's Ivana Kottasova

Slovaks have been deeply divided over the country's direction and position in the world since Prime Minister Robert Fico was reelected last year. Supporters see Fico as a caring leader who has their interests at heart while critics say he is a populist whose pro-Russian leanings pose major risks for the country.

Since taking the top job in October, Fico has brought about a major pivot in Slovakia's foreign policy and its previously staunch support for Ukraine. He pledged an immediate end to military support for Kyiv against the Russian invasion and promised to block Ukraine’s ambitions of joining NATO.

Domestically, his coalition government is also pushing controversial reforms that have led to weeks of large-scale peaceful protests. Attempts to overhaul the criminal justice system have been particularly controversial as the government seeks to reduce penalties for corruption. It has already abolished Slovakia's special prosecutor’s office, which was tasked with investigating serious and politically sensitive corruption cases, including some that involved people connected to Fico and his party SMER ("Direction – Social Democracy").

The Slovakian government is also trying to shut down public service broadcaster RTVS, planning to replace it with a new national broadcaster that would be under tighter government control.

Before his stunning political comeback last year, Fico had spent more than a decade as prime minister. He was forced to resign in March 2018 after weeks of mass protests sparked by the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová. Kuciak had reported on corruption among the country’s elite.

This year's tightly contested presidential election saw Fico cement his grip on power as his ally Peter Pellegrini was elected into the role.

What we know about the assassination attempt on Slovakia's prime minister

From CNN staff

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is undergoing surgery after being shot five times Wednesday in an assassination attempt, according to officials.

The gunman  is in custody  and no one else was injured in the attack, they said.

Fico  won a third term as Slovakian prime minister  last October after running a campaign that criticized Western support for Ukraine.

Here's what we know:

• What happened: The shooting took place after an off-site government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova. The suspected gunman was among a small crowd of people waiting to greet the prime minister on the street outside the cultural center where the meeting took place, local media reported.
• His condition: Fico is “ still fighting for his life ,” according to Robert Kaliňák, Slovakia's minister of defense. Kaliňák said Fico "suffered multiple injuries," but did not provide any details when reporters asked if the prime minister was shot in the stomach.
• Politically motivated: Based on “initial interviews with the suspect,"  Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said the assassination attempt was politically motivated . He said the suspect decided to carry out the attack after the presidential election. The ministers, Eštok and Kaliňák, blamed rising hate speech and division for the political atmosphere in the country.
• Reaction: Slovakia’s President Zuzana Caputova said the assassination attempt was “also an attack on democracy " and an opposition member of Slovakia’s parliament, Maria Kolikova, called it “an attack on the internal security ” of the country. US President Joe Biden expressed alarm at the attempted assassination, calling it a “ horrific act of violence .” Various other NATO and European Union leaders , as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also condemned the attack.
• Tie to Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack a “monstrous crime.” Fico is known to be a Kremlin sympathizer. He had previously blamed “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” for provoking Putin into launching the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin calls Fico’s assassination attempt a "monstrous crime”

From CNN’s Mariya Knight

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico a “monstrous crime.”

“There can be no justification for this monstrous crime,” Putin said in a message sent to Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova.

The Russian leader also said he knows Fico as “a courageous and strong-willed man,” the qualities that Putin hopes will help Fico overcome “this difficult situation.”

Some context: Fico is known to be a Kremlin sympathizer. He had previously blamed “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” for provoking Putin into launching the invasion of Ukraine, repeating the false narrative Russia’s president has used to justify his invasion.

Slovakian ministers blame rising hate speech and division for atmosphere that led to attack on prime minister

From CNN’s Ivana Kottasova

Slovakia’s defense and interior minister blamed rising hate speech and division for the political atmosphere in the country, which they said led to the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico. 

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital where Fico is being treated, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said: “This needs to stop immediately. I beg you, please. Hate is not an answer to hate.”

Visibly shaken and struggling for words during the news conference, Kaliňák said it was “time for some people to have a hard look into the mirror.” 

“There is no question that this was politically motivated. The inability to accept the choice of people, which some may not like … it leads to this,” he said. 

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said “everyone needs to calm down.” 

“Those who are endorsing this attack as well as those who are calling for some sort of a revenge. And I am asking you, the media too, please, use your power, your influence. Because until now, it was some of you who sow the hate,” he said.

Fico's assassination attempt was politically motivated, interior minister says

The assassination attempt of Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was politically motivated, the country's interior minister said, adding the information is based on “initial interviews with the suspect.”

“This assassination attempt was politically motivated and the suspect made the decision to do it shortly after the presidential election,” Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok told a news conference outside the hospital in Banská Bystrica, where the prime minister is being treated.

“It is clear this was politically motivated,” Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said, speaking alongside Eštok.

Kaliňák said Fico "suffered multiple injuries," but did not provide any details when reporters asked if the prime minister was shot in the stomach.

This post has been updated with additional comments from the defense minister.

Prime Minister Fico was shot five times, interior minister says

From CNN’s Ivana Kottasova in London

Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot five times, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said.

“The perpetrator shot five times. The prime minister is in a critical condition, still on the operating table. We will do everything we can to investigate this,” Eštok said at a news conference.

The perpetrator has been arrested, he added.

Slovakia's prime minister "still fighting for his life," defense minister says

Prime Minister Robert Fico is “still fighting for his life,” Robert Kaliňák, Slovakia's minister of defense, said in a press conference in the hospital where Fico is being treated.

“We are singularly focused on the health of Robert Fico. And we are hoping he will be strong enough to pull through,” Kaliňák said.

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