Celebration speeches are short, brief and favorable to the person in whose honor the celebration is being held. They have no room for negative anecdotes or criticism. In short, celebratory speeches should make the subject of your speech look good.
Adapt your presentation and language to the occasion: Adapt the stories and main points of emphasis in your ceremonial speech to the emotional needs and memories of your listeners towards the celebrated person, event or subject. Share whatever aspirations and beliefs you have with regard to the subject etc. Also try to adapt your speech to the personality of the person or people; this will give it a more personal feel if the person or people are friends or family. Whatever you choose to speak about or mention should inform and inspire.
Describe an emotional moment: By describing a wonderful moment you help the audience remember and experience that moment again, which they regard with particular fondness. This topic will help to reaffirm close relationship ties and values. Emotion is something that draws the attention of the audience in any speech and with celebration speeches especially it is an effective means of maintaining audience interest and delivering a speech that is captivating.
Recall humorous and simple incidents: By recalling usual or unusual incidents you will remind people of these, bringing back strange or fond memories. This will also help you to connect with the audience in a more effective manner. Sharing stories that everyone else remembers puts everybody at ease and lightens the overall mood of the audience, allowing you to relax more in your speech delivery. Tell stories that everyone in the audience will understand - a one sided joke will not be enjoyed by everyone and in the same way a story that only a select few people were involved in will not grab everyone’s attention. The key is to tell general stories which everyone remembers or to tell stories that are easy for everyone to understand and does not require that they were present when the event took place.
Praise any contributions or achievements: Try to describe the successes of the person in a very original way; it will make the speech you are giving more enjoyable and unique. Speak about how their achievements benefited not only themselves but others as well. Emphasize every achievement and elaborate on how the contributors own values and beliefs helped them to achieve what they have.
Talk about any struggle that the subject of your speech may have faced: By mentioning struggles that the person you are making a speech for may have faced, you are not only sharing a story from that person’s life but also showing others how that person was able to overcome the struggles they encountered and is now a stronger, more inspirational person. The point is to celebrate their personal victory without dwelling on the problem. Talk about the frustrations and discouraging times but don’t let the speech become a negative one.
Focus on dramatic, larger than life facts about the subject of your speech: A celebration honors someone or something that has achieved greatness in any way, shape or form. Thus, celebration speeches should highlight these great achievements and any other great or outstanding events or accomplishments that the subject had been a part of throughout their life.
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