Best Examples of Formal After-Dinner Speech Examples (With Scripts)

Formal After-Dinner Speech Example for a Corporate Gala

Let’s start with a complete example of a formal after-dinner speech for a corporate fundraising gala. Imagine you’re the CEO speaking to clients, partners, and employees after a three-course dinner.

Context: Annual corporate gala, 200 guests, black-tie, light fundraising component.

Sample speech:

“Good evening, everyone. I hope dinner was as enjoyable for you as it was for me. If you’re feeling a little drowsy after that dessert, don’t worry — I’ve been given strict instructions to keep this short enough that the coffee doesn’t get cold.

First, thank you to our hosts at the Grandview Hotel, to our events team for pulling off tonight with the grace of a Broadway stage crew, and to each of you for being here. This room is full of people who’ve helped shape our company’s story — clients who took a chance on us, partners who challenged us to be better, and colleagues who show up every day with more ideas than we have whiteboard space.

Over the past year, we’ve navigated shifting markets, new technologies, and more Zoom calls than any human should have to endure. Yet here we are, together, stronger, and somehow still able to recognize each other without a screen border.

Tonight isn’t about quarterly reports or slide decks. It’s about gratitude. It’s about the sales team that drove through snowstorms to meet customers in person when it mattered, the engineers who solved problems at 2 a.m., and the support staff who quietly keep everything running so the rest of us can pretend we’re organized.

As we look ahead to 2025, we know the landscape will keep changing. But we also know this: the values in this room — integrity, curiosity, and a slightly unhealthy love of strong coffee — will carry us forward.

Thank you for your trust, your hard work, and your partnership. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and may the only thing more generous than your applause be your support for the wonderful charity we’re honoring tonight.”

This is one of the best examples of formal after-dinner speech examples for a business setting because it:

• Acknowledges hosts and staff.
• Uses gentle humor about dessert, Zoom, and coffee.
• Stays positive and forward-looking.
• Ends with a clear nod to the charity focus.

Example of a Formal After-Dinner Speech for a Charity Fundraiser

Now let’s move to a nonprofit context. These examples of formal after-dinner speech examples need a slightly different balance: more emotion, clear purpose, and a respectful call to action.

Context: Charity dinner for a health-related nonprofit, 150 donors and community leaders.

Sample speech:

“Good evening, friends. Thank you for sharing this meal and this mission with us tonight. If you’re anything like me, you’re wondering how the dessert was both rich and somehow still disappeared in under three minutes.

We gather in this room not just to enjoy good food and good company, but to stand beside families who are facing some of the hardest days of their lives. At our organization, we meet parents who can list medication schedules from memory but can’t remember the last time they slept through the night. We meet kids who know the names of their nurses better than the names of cartoon characters.

This year alone, we’ve provided over 3,000 nights of housing for families traveling for treatment, and we’ve expanded our support groups so no one has to sit in a waiting room feeling alone. None of that happens without you.

You saw the data earlier this evening — the growing need, the rising costs, the gap between what families require and what they can afford. Behind those numbers are people like Maria, who told us last month, ‘I didn’t know strangers could feel like family until you handed me a room key and said, “You’re safe here.”’

Tonight, as you enjoy your coffee and conversation, I ask you to remember Maria, and the hundreds of families who will walk through our doors this coming year. Your generosity turns statistics into stories of hope.

Thank you for being here, for giving, and for proving that in a world full of noise, kindness still speaks the loudest.”

For health-related causes, you can fact-check and shape your impact numbers using resources like the National Institutes of Health or CDC to keep your message aligned with current realities.

Academic Banquet: Examples Include Honors Dinner and Alumni Events

Academic dinners often feel formal on the surface but are full of inside jokes and shared history. Strong examples of formal after-dinner speech examples here mix intellectual nods with warmth.

Context: University honors banquet, faculty, students, and families.

Sample speech:

“Good evening, students, families, and colleagues. If your table is anything like mine, you’ve already compared GPAs, shared at least one story about a late-night study session, and silently thanked whoever invented coffee.

To our students: tonight is a pause button — a moment to look up from your textbooks, your research, and your problem sets, and realize how far you’ve come. You survived freshman orientation, midterms, finals, and the great campus Wi-Fi outage of last spring. You didn’t just pass classes; you learned to question, to argue, to listen, and to grow.

To the families and supporters: these achievements have your fingerprints all over them. You’ve answered calls at odd hours, read drafts, sent care packages, and pretended not to worry when they said, ‘I’m totally ready for this exam.’

And to my fellow faculty and staff: thank you for the hours spent in office hours, labs, and rehearsals, for writing recommendation letters that somehow summarize four years in a single page, and for caring about these students as people, not just as grades.

As our students step into the next chapter — whether that’s graduate school, a first job, or a much-needed nap — I hope they carry with them not only what they’ve learned, but who they’ve become.

Congratulations to each of you. You’ve earned this meal, this recognition, and yes, even that second slice of cake.”

For data points about graduation trends or student outcomes, you can look at sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to keep your references current.

Formal After-Dinner Speech Example for an Awards Night

Awards dinners need a slightly different script: more spotlight on individuals, but still inclusive. Here’s an example of a short, formal after-dinner speech for a professional awards banquet.

Context: Industry association awards, 300 guests, mix of serious recognition and lighthearted moments.

Sample speech:

“Good evening, everyone. I hope you enjoyed dinner and that you saved just enough energy to clap enthusiastically for our award recipients — consider it your post-meal cardio.

Tonight, we celebrate excellence in a field that rarely makes headlines but quietly keeps the world running. The people in this room solve problems most folks don’t even know exist. You streamline systems, protect data, manage risk, and somehow remain calm when everyone else is hitting the panic button.

Our honorees this evening didn’t get here by accident. They got here by staying late when others went home, by asking one more question, by mentoring the next generation, and by holding themselves to a standard that doesn’t show up in any job description.

As we present these awards, I invite you to see yourself in these stories — to remember that every late-night email, every carefully checked report, every conversation with a colleague adds up to a career that matters.

Thank you for the work you do, the integrity you bring to it, and the example you set. Now, let’s recognize some remarkable people.”

This is one of those best examples of formal after-dinner speech examples that can be repurposed across many industries with small tweaks to the details.

Diplomatic or Cross-Cultural Dinner: Real Examples of Tone and Respect

When the audience includes international guests, ambassadors, or partners from different cultures, your examples of formal after-dinner speech examples need to emphasize respect, shared values, and careful humor.

Context: International partnership dinner with delegates from several countries.

Sample speech:

“Excellencies, distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends — good evening. It is an honor to welcome you to this table.

Sharing a meal has always been one of the oldest ways for people to understand one another. Long before we had video calls, trade agreements, or translation apps, we had the simple act of breaking bread together.

Tonight, we come from different countries, speak different languages, and bring different histories. But we are united by a shared belief that cooperation is not just possible, but necessary.

Over the past year, our teams have worked across time zones that sometimes felt like they defied the laws of sleep. We’ve navigated complex questions, unexpected challenges, and more than a few technical glitches. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: a commitment to listening, learning, and finding common ground.

As we enjoy this meal, I hope we will also enjoy the chance to learn about each other — not only as representatives of our institutions, but as people with stories, families, and hopes for the future.

Thank you for your partnership, your presence, and your friendship. May this evening be one of many steps we take together.”

When preparing for cross-cultural events, it’s wise to review etiquette guidance from diplomatic or educational sources, such as the U.S. Department of State or university international offices, to shape your tone.

Light but Formal: Company Holiday Dinner Speech Example

Not every formal dinner is black-tie. Many are business-casual holiday events where you still need structure, but you can loosen the tie a little. These examples of formal after-dinner speech examples show how to keep it respectful and fun.

Context: Company holiday dinner, mixed departments, families invited.

Sample speech:

“Good evening, everyone — and a warm welcome to our team members, partners, and the families who put up with our group chats, late nights, and occasional work stories at the dinner table.

Tonight is about pressing pause. No deadlines. No spreadsheets. No ‘quick questions’ that turn into hour-long meetings. Just good food, good company, and the rare chance to see each other without a laptop in sight.

This year, you’ve handled new projects, shifting priorities, and more change than anyone could have predicted. You’ve supported each other, covered for one another, and found ways to laugh even when things felt heavy.

To our families and loved ones: thank you for sharing these incredible people with us. We know that when they give their best at work, it’s because you’re supporting them at home.

As we head into the new year, my hope is simple: that you find time to rest, to recharge, and to remember that your value is not measured in emails sent or tasks completed, but in the kindness and integrity you bring to everything you do.

Thank you for being here tonight, and for being the heart of this company.”

How to Build Your Own Speech from These Examples

So far, we’ve walked through several examples of formal after-dinner speech examples: corporate galas, charity dinners, academic banquets, awards nights, diplomatic events, and holiday parties. You can build your own speech by borrowing their structure:

• A warm, brief opening that acknowledges the meal and the host.
• A clear sense of why everyone is gathered.
• One or two short stories or vivid details.
• A moment of appreciation for people in the room.
• A simple, uplifting closing.

If you’re speaking on a topic that touches health, stress, or wellbeing — for example, at a wellness-focused dinner or healthcare event — you can ground your remarks in reality using sources like Mayo Clinic or MedlinePlus for current information on stress, burnout, and healthy habits.

When you look back at all these real examples, the pattern is clear: the best examples aren’t about being the funniest or the smartest person in the room. They’re about making the room feel seen.

FAQ: Common Questions About Formal After-Dinner Speeches

How long should a formal after-dinner speech be?
Most examples of good formal after-dinner speeches run about 5–10 minutes. Long enough to say something meaningful, short enough that people don’t start eyeing the exit or the coffee station.

What’s one simple example of a strong opening line?
A simple example of a strong opening is: “Good evening, everyone. I hope dinner was as enjoyable for you as it was for me — and I promise to be brief enough that dessert still feels like a pleasant memory, not a distant one.” It’s polite, lightly humorous, and sets expectations.

Do all formal after-dinner speeches need jokes?
No. Many examples of formal after-dinner speech examples use only gentle humor, or none at all if the occasion is solemn. Aim for warmth first; humor is optional.

Can I read from notes, or should I memorize?
Most real examples show speakers using a small set of notes or a short outline. Memorize your opening and closing if you can, but it’s fine to glance at cards to stay on track.

What are some good examples of closing lines?
Good closings are short and grateful. For instance: “Thank you for being here, for all that you do, and for reminding us why this work matters.” Many of the best examples in this article end with a simple thank-you and a nod to the shared purpose of the evening.