"Creating a Warm and Inviting Wedding Reception: What to Say in Your Welcome Speech to Reflect Your Unique Personalities"

The Wonderful Beginning of the Reception Starts with a Welcome Speech

A welcome speech is a brief opening greeting given by the bride and groom after entering the reception or after the ceremony during the garden party. *By giving a welcome speech, the stiff atmosphere typical of weddings lightens up, making it a warm and friendly party.* ◎

In the past, only the groom would deliver the welcome speech, but now it is common for the bride to speak as well. *Since it’s a special wedding, the bride wouldn’t want to remain silent and would like to express her gratitude to the guests, right?* ♡

Nowadays, welcome speeches are considered a staple at weddings, but when it comes time to speak, many couples wonder, "What should I say...?" For brides facing this dilemma, we have compiled tips and sample phrases for a welcome speech. *

To Make a Wonderful Reception *What is the flow of a welcome speech?*

The typical flow of a welcome speech is: 'Expressing gratitude to the guests for attending ⇒ Reporting on the ceremony ⇒ Closing words leading to the reception.' This pattern is common. *Let’s delve into the details.* ◎

@tonko_wedding_miavia

Welcome Speech ① Expressing Gratitude to the Guests

A standard way to express gratitude is: "Thank you for gathering here today for our celebration." *

If many guests are coming from far away, you might say, "Thank you for coming all the way from Hokkaido in the north, Okinawa in the south, and even from America across the sea~" This will make the distant guests happy. *♡

If it happens to rain, you might start with, "Thank you for coming despite the bad weather," or if it's during a holiday, you could say, "Thank you for taking time out of your valuable holiday." This would be a nice touch. *

If it’s sunny, you might say, "We are blessed with beautiful weather, and as we gaze upon the lovely blue sky, we are reminded of our determination to build a wonderful family together.” Including references to the day's weather adds a personal touch that makes the speech feel less scripted. *

@tkykk_wedding

Welcome Speech ② Reporting on the Ceremony

Next, let’s report on the ceremony. *A common phrase would be: "We have successfully completed the ceremony at the chapel."*

If you want to add an extemporaneous touch, you could confess, "I was moved to tears when my mother helped me with the veil," or "We struggled a bit with getting the rings on." Sharing feelings like these adds a nice touch. *♡

Welcome Speech ③ Closing Words Leading to the Reception

Finally, let’s conclude with words leading to the reception. *A typical closing would be: "Although this is a humble gathering, we are grateful to have you here. We hope you enjoy the brief time we have together."* ♡

If you wish to be a little more casual, you could say, "We've prepared plenty of delicious food and drinks, so please eat, drink, laugh, and have a wonderful time." Being specific is recommended. *

If you want to break an even stiffer atmosphere, you might add, "Everyone here is someone important to us. Please feel free to relax and enjoy the day as you normally would." This would be a great addition! *

I Want to Know About Other Brides' Welcome Speeches ♡

Do you understand the general flow of a welcome speech now? It would be wonderful to create an original welcome speech that combines this classic structure with your personality. However, figuring out how to do that can be a bit challenging. Let’s look at some examples of welcome speeches from other couples. * ◎

@tonko_wedding_miavia

Wonderful Welcome Speech Example ① Introduction of Beverages *

This bride introduced local "sake" and "yuzu juice" that she brought to the welcome speech. * Incorporating points of interest about the wedding adds to the joy of the reception. *

Wonderful Welcome Speech Example ② The Groom's Giant "Cue Card"

This groom prepared a huge cue card! * A cue card with "Cue Card" written in big letters surprised the guests, right? * This fun idea surely makes the wedding more lively. *

Wonderful Welcome Speech Example ③ Marriage Statement *

During her welcome speech, this bride made a "marriage statement." * Groom: "From now on, I will stop getting carried away and going naked in front of everyone!" Bride: "I have worked hard to lose weight for the wedding, so I will not gain anymore!" Both: "We promise this in front of our dear guests!" * This was surely a wonderful marriage statement. * It’s so funny and fresh! *

Wonderful Welcome Speech Example ④ Supporting a Nervous Husband ♡

This groom was very nervous during his welcome speech. * After that, the bride said, "Everyone, please relax and enjoy yourselves today," and the guests pointed out, "The groom doesn't look relaxed!" *

The bride's lovely support broke the tension, making both the groom and the guests smile. It truly creates a delightful atmosphere. *

I Want to Start a Wonderful Reception with a Welcome Speech ♡

We have shared the basic flow of a welcome speech and some wonderful examples from brides. * A welcome speech is perfect for kicking off a beautiful reception, and it is highly recommended. *

Why not incorporate a welcome speech to beautifully commence your amazing reception? * ♡

@nagisa_marry