Special Occasion Speech Topics

Deciding on special occasion speech topics is something everyone faces at some point in their lives. Special occasion speeches only happen on a sometimes basis, and coming up with the perfect topics for these times is often very difficult.

There are many different types of special occasion speeches you might face during your lifetime.

Graduation Speeches

One of the most common you may have to deal with is a high school graduation speech, a college/university graduation speech or valedictorian speech. No matter what organization you are graduating from, the chances are quite good a long ceremony will be involved.

If you are graduating from a traditional organization, like a school, college, or post-secondary training program, you may be asked to come up with special occasion speech topics because you were at the top of your class. Or you might have been asked back to be the one who gives the commencement speech.

You are expected to make an intelligent speech that demonstrates your aptitude as a student. If this is the case, think about the important concepts you have learned as well as the special memories you will always consider when you look back on your experiences as a student. Check out these do's and don'ts of writing graduation speeches and a list of 15 graduation speech topics to help you get started.

Check out this great example of a high school valedictorian speech, this funny sample graduation speech or M. Leon's example of a valedictorian speech to give you some great ideas for your own.

You might also want to choose from one of these quotes for graduation speeches to help inspire you. Aside from the speeches made on graduation day, graduation songs are important as well because you will remember them the rest of your life.

Maybe you're running for President of your student council? Check out this student council speech sent in by Stephanie.

Free Wedding Speeches

Another common realm of special occasion speeches is weddings. If you have been asked to speak at the wedding of a friend or family member, your list of special occasion speech topics for this day is endless.

Whether you are the father of the groom, father of the bride, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, the best man, the maid of honor, or the maid of honour (British spelling ;o) or you're trying to write a funny wedding speech the key to a good wedding speech is to make it relevant to the couple.

Use some of the above free funny wedding speeches to help you create your own personalized version. Just follow the structure of these wedding speeches examples and you will be on your way to giving a memorable speech at the reception.

Giving wedding MC speeches as well as wedding toast speeches are also a big part of making the event one to remember.

Consider talking about special memories of the bride and groom. Think about including compliments on the ceremony, the décor, and the attire of both parties. You might also want to include stories about the happy couple. Your wishes and hopes for the couple should close out this list of special occasion speech topics.

Check out some of the sample wedding speeches above to get you started.

If your speaking engagement doesn't fit into either of these categories, start brainstorming your speech topics by thinking about the purpose of the engagement. What is it that people attending the event might want to hear? You should first figure out what the overall goal of your speech is, then consider the specific factors involved in the special occasion speech topics of your choice.

Funeral Speeches

If someone close has passed on you may be chosen to deliver the eulogy speech, or funeral speech, a poem or quote on death may be appropriate to use in your eulogy or as a separate reading during the memorial service.

Retirement Speech

Or maybe you are retiring and need to say goodbye to a group of people who are like family to you. This retirement speech and these quotes on retirement may help you with this task. If you have to give a speech at someone's retirement party, this sample retirement speech given by a colleague for a teacher may be of some help. Maybe you're not retiring, maybe you're just leaving a job or the country and you need to say so long to a group of people. Use this free farewell speech to help you craft one of your own.

Other Special Occasion Speech Topics

Perhaps a welcome speech, 50th birthday speech, a 40th birthday speech, tips on writing a good birthday speech, this free birthday speech or after dinner speech topics best reflects your goal. If you have been chosen as an after-dinner speaker, humor might be your overall goal. If someone is being honored, a tribute speech is probably the most appropriate goal for your topics. Or maybe you've been asked to give a motivational speech about a topic you have experienced personally.

Whatever your goal, there are several things to keep in mind as you choose from your list of special occasion speech topics.

Think first about the members of your audience. Audience awareness is easily one of the most important facets of public speaking. Ignoring the preferences of your audience by committing an error like telling a joke in poor taste will not set the tone of your speech well.

You should also keep both the time and place of your speech in mind when you choose from your long list of special occasion speech topics.

Here's the best video I've seen explaining what to include and how to present your special occasion speeches. It's only five minutes long but it will give you some great tips on how to give the best speech you can give when asked to speak at a special occasion!

Check back or subscribe to the speech topics blog to be kept informed as I will be adding examples of the different types of special occasion speech topics.

 

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