Announcing Your Engagement: How to Do It the Right Way

Tell Your Loved Ones First

Start with the people who are closest to you when announcing your engagement. These include your parents, siblings, and grandparents. Engagement etiquette dictates that the bride’s parents be the first to know. Tell your parents so that they can hug you and make a fuss. If they happen to be divorced, talk to each one of them separately but try to tell the second parent immediately after the first to avoid hurting their feelings. If this happens to be a second marriage for you and you have children from your first marriage, they should be the first ones to hear the news. After telling them, inform your former spouse.

Avoid the Internet and Use the Phone

In this era of instant communication, news travels fast. It is important to make sure that your loved ones learn about your engagement in person. Visit the ones who live close by and call the ones who live far. A phone call is a quick and personalway of telling your family and friends about your engagement. However, you don’t have to call everyone in your phonebook. If you have friends with whom you normally communicate via email, write to them. If you think one of them might be offended by your email, put them on your “to call” list.

Throw an Engagement Party and Tell All Your Friends

Many a time, close friends or the couple’s parents throw an engagement party where the pair announces the good news. You can keep the engagement a secret and make an announcement during a toast as the evening begins. You can also send out invitations with your announcement written on the cards. However, bear in mind that guests at your engagement party expect to be invited to the wedding so choose wisely whom to invite.