The moment you become engaged is filled with excitement because you know that soon everything is going to change. Now you have the task of telling everyone the wonderful and exciting news. There are certain aspects of announcing your wedding engagement you must follow before you open up your social media app and fire a post.
This article will go over in detail how to make your wedding engagement announcement, to whom you notify first, and what you should say.
What to know:
- There is no time limit to when you must make your announcement.
- Tell your closest family and friends first.
- Avoid oversharing information and use correct wording in formal announcements.
- Get creative in your non-formal announcements.
When should I announce my Wedding Engagement?
There are no rules dictating when a couple should announce their engagement. You may make the announcement from the moment the ring is slipped on your finger and anytime after that occurs. However, there are a few etiquette rules and tips to bear in mind before you make your first social media post. If your first instinct is to inform your family and friends, by all means proceed. There are some couples who prefer to keep this information to themselves for a few days. You may decide when the time is right. Take a moment to savor this. You may feel the urge to immediately call your family and friends, however; it’s ok to make this special moment last with you and your partner for any amount of time. You have waited all of your life for this moment. Giving your partner and yourself a few hours, days, or weeks is perfectly acceptable.
Who should I tell first about my Wedding Engagement?
Tell the most important people in your life about this first. When you ask yourself who the most important people are in your life, the answer becomes clear. Most couples start with their family such as parents and siblings. It is best practice to inform these individuals in person or via telephone conversation before you broadcast the announcement online. They will love to hear this news from you and your voice. You will get to enjoy their reactions in real life. You want to avoid the scenario where an old acquaintance from high school finds out about your engagement before your siblings or your parents.
What should I say in my Wedding Engagement Announcement?
Avoid sharing too much information to prevent animosity from those you are not inviting. Provide specifics on wedding invitations, not the announcement. Avoid bragging about the cost and the four C’s of the engagement ring. Choose your words carefully and stay focused.
Formal Announcements
Formal announcements are not written from the couple’s point of view. Traditionally, the wedding is not hosted by the couple. The father of the bride would typically host the wedding so the announcement would originate from the bride’s family. The wording would be similar to “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe of Los Angeles, California announce the engagement of their daughter Jane to Thomas Richards, son of Harold and Sally Richards of San Diego, California.” Notice the perspective focuses on the parents.
Self Hosted
Self hosted announcements may be casual and reflect your personality. The wording may be similar to “Thomas and I are excited to announce that we’re officially engaged! More details are coming soon.”
How should I announce my Wedding Engagement?
Newspaper
Many couples have skipped traditional newspaper announcements and go straight to social media. There are couples, or parents of couples, who would like the option of the old fashioned newspaper announcement.
A formal announcement in the mail demonstrates to your recipients that you have taken time and energy to think about them. It shows that you care and they are important to you and would like to keep them in your life especially on your wedding day.
Host a party
Avoid telling anyone about your engagement. Invite your friends and family to a party. Make your big announcement when everyone arrives. This will truly be an occasion everyone will remember. Remember to take photos because you can use imagery of this event in your social media post.
Social Media
Many couples immediately turn to social media to announce their engagement. Before you make your post, ask yourself if you really want to make an announcement this way. You are under no obligation to post about it if you and your partner are not comfortable with sharing on social media. If you and your partner want to share this information on social media, try to let your close friends and family know about the engagement first. Tag specific people letting them know to prepare to be a groomsman or bridesmaid when you post. Choose a photo that you and your partner love. If you can’t find one, consider hiring a photographer for an engagement shoot. Create a reel of your favorite images if you can’t choose one from several images.
Wedding Engagement Announcement photo and video ideas
- The Ring Photo – This photo highlights the engagement ring. The image is taken with the ring on the hand and typically your partner’s hand is underneath. You can caption it with “Forever starts now.”, “Engaged!”, or something else to express your excitement. This may be the most recognizable engagement announcement image because it’s quick, unmistakable, and easy to share.
- Proposal Photos – Did you ask a friend or someone passing by to take a pic on your phone? You can use images of the actual moment if you have them. People love seeing unfiltered images of the moment. Typically there is an image of the proposer on one knee and follow up images of a celebratory kiss or hug afterwards.
- Professional Engagement Shoot – Hire a professional photographer after getting engaged and post a series of images. You could take pictures of you and your partner holding hands on the beach, hugging in a park, at night showing off your ring with the cityscape in the background, or any other creative ideas. These images may also be used later for your Save the Date and wedding website / blog.
- Image Carousel – Collect a series of images and turn them into a photo carousel. This method tells the full story all in one post. These images may contain the proposal, celebration, a close up of the ring, a portrait of the couple, family reactions, and celebration photos.
- Video Announcement – People love watching short videos on social media. You and your partner can show off your dance moves, create a video montage of your relationship leading up to the proposal, record and share the reactions of your friends and family, or recreate the proposal scene with a cinematic lens.
- Pet Photos – Do you have a dog or cat? Get your fur baby involved with your announcement. Have a photoshoot at home, in the park, or in one of your favorite spots and have them wear a sign with a great caption such as:
- First they adopted me. Now they’re adopting each other.
- The humans are getting married. The treats better improve.
- I loved them first.
- Can’t wait to walk down the aisle.
- Future Ring Bearer.
- Engagement approved.
- Family Inclusive – Do you or your partner have any children? Get members of the family involved with your announcement. Get custom T-Shirts made and have a photoshoot with them. T-Shirt caption ideas could be:
- Mom and dad are getting married.
- Official Ring Bearer security.
FAQs
How soon should I post my engagement on social media?
It is generally best practice to notify all of your close friends and family first. Couples typically post their engagement announcement on social media a day or two after they have informed these individuals. Bear in mind, you are not required to post this information on social media. Only post if and when you feel comfortable.
Can I post my engagement in the newspaper?
You may absolutely post your engagement in the newspaper. Many local newspapers still offer this service. This is a classic tradition and you may use the clipping as a keepsake.
Should I have an engagement party?
You are not required to have an engagement party. Many couples skip the engagement party and use the resources they would have spent on the wedding instead. You may want to consider having an engagement party if there are members of your family you are obligated to invite to your wedding and you have not met them or if someone else offers to host it for you. You should consider skipping the engagement party if you have to pay for it and you are on a tight budget.
Are engagement trips a thing?
Yes, engagement trips are absolutely a thing. It is highly recommended you take a trip with your partner before making your engagement announcement. It provides you with the opportunity to focus on each other before the wedding planning begins.
Who should I tell in person about my wedding engagement?
You should tell the people who are most important to you in person about your engagement. This is your close friends and family. These may be your parents, siblings, children, grandparents, and your close friends. Do not let them find out about your wedding engagement by a social media post.
What to write on an engagement announcement post?
Keep the caption authentic, short, and true to your relationship. The caption should celebrate this milestone whether it is humorous, romantic, clever, or witty.
What information needs to be included in an engagement announcement?
What you include depends on the platform where you are sharing. A photo and a brief caption is what is needed minimally on social media. Newspapers typically require your name, your partner’s name, and both parents. Avoid sharing too much detail and bragging to prevent animosity from those that are not invited.
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