Engagement Announcements

Personal Engagement Announcements

The preferred way to announce an engagement to close family and friends is with a personal message. Ideally, this would be done in person, but as families move across the country and gradually grow further apart, this is not always possible. In that case, both printed and e-mail announcements are acceptable.

In Person

The most common way to announce an engagement is in person, either at a family event or a private meeting with the couple. The bride-to-be can then show off her ring and congratulations can be made immediately. It is poor taste, however, to announce an engagement at a different significant event, such as a bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, or even another wedding – doing so would seem that the newly engaged couple was attempting to usurp the spotlight.

If face-to-face announcements are not possible, telephone calls may be the next best option. When placing such a call, the couple should both be on the line if possible and arrange a time to call when both their parents (or grandparents or numerous friends) can listen in as well.

Via USPS

Even after the engagement has been announced, many couples choose to send printed announcements to commemorate the event. These can be simple, hand-written notes or formal notices and may be worded in a variety of ways. Typically, a printed announcement should be worded similar to the forthcoming wedding: a formal wedding requires a formal announcement, while a laid-back ceremony or elopement needs a less rigid format. Either the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, both sets of parents together, or the couple themselves can be credited with making the happy announcement.

Many printed engagement cards serve double duty as save-the-date cards announcing the pending wedding date or invitations to an engagement party. This is an acceptable practice and serves as a reminder of both the change in the couple’s relationship as well as associated events.

A word of caution: any recipient will realize that a printed announcement arrives after the engagement has become official and has likely been announced in person to close family and friends. Before sending such an announcement, be sure that close family members and dear friends already know the happy news so they will not feel shocked or slighted when opening a more formalized announcement.

Via Email

Email the announcement.

Email engagement annoucements are increasingly popular and a variety of romantic, corny, and downright silly options are available as free e-cards to inform a technologically-savvy crowd of friends and family about the engagement. Similar to mailed announcements, however, an email engagement announcement should follow the same relative level of formality as the upcoming nuptials. If the couple is using email as a preliminary notice (in place of a phone call or in-person announcement), a quick note is acceptable as well.

Newspaper Engagement Announcements

Newspaper announcements tell the world.

If the couple wants to announce their engagement to the entire world, including a large social circle or community, newspaper announcements are a great option. Most local newspapers regularly print engagement announcements but their requirements vary. Standard information includes the couple’s full names, their parents’ names, and the wedding date. Additional information may be the couple’s high schools or colleges, their career choices, the wedding location, and other details. Newspaper engagement announcement deadlines vary: some newspapers will only print them a month or two before the wedding, while other newspapers will print them whenever the couple wishes. Photographs may or may not be included. Typically, engagement announcements are not free and cost a minimal fee for standard information, though embellishments may be added for additional charges. When arranging for a newspaper announcement, the couple should always double-check spellings to insure an error-free notice. As with mailed announcements, the couple should insure that close friends and family will not be caught off guard when opening the newspaper – significant individuals should always be notified in person.

Enclosing Engagement Photos

Many couples choose to enclose engagement photos in either mailed, e-mailed, or newspaper announcements. This is a great way to introduce your significant other to friends and relatives who may not have met them yet, and it is a nice way to capture your happiness for posterity. When sending mailed photographs, both snapshots and professional photographs are acceptable, but be sure that both the bride- and groom-to-be are shown in their best light. For e-mail announcements, choose smaller photo sizes or crop and resize larger files to allow recipients with slow or reluctant computers to view the images properly. Newspapers may have specific photo requirements (sizes, poses, etc.); be sure to check with your local paper for specifications.

Announcements are the first in a long paper trail that documents a couple’s journey toward their happily ever after, followed by save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, wedding announcements, and a marriage license. By carefully choosing the type of announcement and wording it appropriately, each additional document will blend smoothly with this auspicious beginning and the couple can share their joy with everyone in their lives.