Announcements
He finally got the courage to ask the big question and she actually said yes! Fireworks are going off and music is playing. They are now engaged to be married. Even though the happy news is written all over their faces, they want to tell everyone about their engagement.
It is traditional to announce an engagement to be married in this order:
- Personally to family and friends who live nearby.
- In a personal note to family and friends who live farther away.
- By a public announcement in the newspaper.
A newspaper announcement can appear any time from a few days to a year before the wedding. However, a public announcement should not be made if there has been a recent death in either family or a member of the family is extremely ill. Also, delay the announcement if either the bride or groom is going through a divorce that is not yet final.
Most newspapers have a form to fill out, although some papers will let you write your own copy. You may want to include an engagement photograph or a picture of the bride alone. The bride's family usually makes the announcement, but the couple or the groom's parents can also issue it.
If the groom's parents live in another area, it is thoughtful to send them a copy of the announcement form and a picture. This will be helpful to them if they wish to publish an announcement in their local newspaper.
