21st Birthday Speech Writing Tips
Birthdays: cake, presents, parties … speeches. Yep, Dad’s getting on and wants to reminisce, friends are celebrating their 21st birthday party and want jokes that’ll dull the pain, and your third cousin just wants some filler while the candles are being lit. If you’ve been “privileged” with the task of presenting for a shindig, we’ve lined up a few birthday speech writing tips to keep the event as quick and painless as possible for everyone involved.
Scroll down for more 21st speech writing tips.
Introduction
In the introduction, you should welcome the guests and the guest of honor to the party. You can start by saying a few words about the importance of the 21st birthday milestone and how honored you are to be speaking at the party.
Share Memories
Sharing memories is an excellent way to make your speech more personal and heartfelt. You can share some memories you have of the guest of honor, such as when you first met or a funny story that you both shared.
Highlight Achievements
Turning 21 is a significant milestone, and it is essential to recognize the guest of honor’s achievements so far. You can talk about their academic or professional accomplishments or any personal milestones they have achieved.
Give Advice
As someone who has more life experience, you can offer some advice to the guest of honor. You can share some words of wisdom on how to make the most of their twenties or offer advice on how to overcome challenges they may face.
Use Humor
Humor is an excellent way to keep your speech light-hearted and entertaining. You can tell a funny story or make a joke to break the ice and make the audience laugh.
Share Future Aspirations
It is always inspiring to hear about someone’s future aspirations. You can ask the guest of honor about their goals and dreams and share them with the audience. This will show them that you support their ambitions and encourage them to pursue their passions.
Speak from the Heart
The most important thing to remember when writing a 21st birthday speech is to speak from the heart. Your speech should come from a place of sincerity and authenticity. Don’t be afraid to be emotional and let the guest of honor know how much they mean to you.
Keep it Short and Sweet
It is essential to keep your speech short and sweet. While you want to make sure you cover all the important points, you don’t want to bore the audience. Keep your speech between three to five minutes.
Scan the room
Ask the 21st party planner about the guests rocking up. If toddlers or grandparents with heart conditions are in the front row, you may want to steer clear of any risqué anecdotes. Your buddy’s wife probably doesn’t want to hear an extended speech about his dating record, either. Know your crowd.
Let everyone get a few drinks in
Barring drunk uncle Larry, who’s bound to have tottered in half-cut anyway, most guests will probably take a little while to loosen up. Give them an hour or so to pound back a couple of beers before trying your hand at entertainment. Trust us: the jokes will seem infinitely funnier.
Chuck in a joke
On that note, it’s a good idea to keep 21st birthday speeches light and fluffy. Let’s face it, half the guests are probably annoyed at how long the cake’s taking, and the other half are probably trying to break up a family brawl across the room. A funny speech can set a great vibe and act as a welcome distraction.
Sadly, you’re not immortal
Before you start teasing the birthday boy or girl relentlessly, be aware that you probably don’t have the power to stay 29 forever. Your time will come, and they will find you.
Chug away
The best speeches for parties and events end with a toast to the guest of honour. Whether that’s in an effort to tug at everyone’s heartstrings or simply dull the pain with a tonne of alcoholic beverages, it doesn’t really matter. Grab a boozy drink, raise your glass, and breathe easy. You’re done.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Practice is crucial when it comes to delivering a great speech. You should practice your speech several times before the party. This will help you feel more confident and comfortable when you deliver it.
Be Prepared for Last-Minute Changes
It is always best to be prepared for last-minute changes. The party may not go according to plan, and you may need to make some adjustments to your speech on the fly.
Thank the Audience
In the end, make sure you thank the audience for listening to your speech. You can thank them for coming to the party and for supporting the guest of honor.
Our best 21st speech writing tip? Tell Dad you’re out of town for next year’s festivities.
