In this module, you will learn how to get organized so you can announce your engagement the right way. The parents needs to be informed in a specific way, and we cover the etiquette that allows you to properly announce your engagement.
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Congratulations on your engagement! When you are first engaged, you will want to tell anyone who will listen how happy you are to be engaged. Although announcing your engagement need not be a formal thing, there are some things to consider before announcing your engagement.
It is tradition to tell the bride’s parents first, followed by the groom’s parents. Usually the engaged couple visit each set of parents to tell them the happy news. It is important to share this information with each set of parents on the same day, so there are no hurt feelings or offence taken for any delay.
If the parents are in a different city or part of the country and personal visits are not practical, a phone call by the couple to the parents is in order to share the happy news. It is proper etiquette that the parents are always the first to learn of the engagement.
It is also proper etiquette to let extended family and friends know of the engagement at roughly the same time—so the couple must decide how they will spread the news to them. Your can do any combination of these options: (1) an engagement party, (2) a personal visit by the couple to those closest to you, (3) a phone call by the engaged couple to friends, and/or (4) a letter or email announcing the engagement. Please note that is it considered inappropriate to send a printed engagement announcement to people, and that is why the tradition of the newspaper announcement exists. Our modern times makes use of letters and email to let family who live far away know of your engagement. The engagement ring should not be worn until the engagement is formally announced.
The bride’s parents traditionally give an engagement party, and both sets of parents should know of the engagement. The Mother of the Bride issues the invitations, keeping the purpose of the party a secret. Then, at the party, either the Father of the Bride, or the Fiancé will announce the upcoming marriage. Sometimes, the couple opts for a separate party with all their friends, and sometimes it is a combined party. The modern alternative to the bride’s parents throwing the engagement party is that the couple throw their own engagement party. The next video: Preparing To Announce Your Engagement gives you the etiquette of who should be invited to the engagement party.
Usually, your engagement announcement is coordinated with a public notice of the engagement in the newspapers where most of the family live. See the video on The Newspaper Announcement for more information on how to do that.
Print out the Engagement Checklist – Overview to make sure you cover all the steps necessary to successfully plan your engagement.