How to Announce Your Engagement to Family and Friends

The moment you become engaged, you want to shout it from the rooftops. Well, here's a more effective and less dangerous way to do that!


Step1
Announce your engagement to the bride's parents first. Meet with them in person to ask for their blessing and talk about your plans.


Step2
Meet with the groom's parents next and discuss your future plans with them as well.


Step3
Tell the rest of the immediate family and close friends, including any children and former spouses if you've been married before.


Step4
If your parents, other family members or friends want to throw an engagement party for you, arrange the timing so that the party will occur just before any newspaper announcements you plan to make. You can also throw your own engagement party if you wish.


Step5
Be aware that it's traditional for the father of the bride-to-be to propose a toast to the couple during the engagement party; this serves as the formal announcement.


Step6
Write thank-you notes to the hosts of the party, and to anyone who has given you gifts, immediately after the party. (Even though gifts are not expected, some people may bring them.)


Step7
Make your newspaper announcement. Check with your local paper for the procedure. Also see "Submit a Wedding Announcement to a Newspaper," under Related eHows.


Step8
Announce your engagement on a wedding Web site, if you like. Follow their guidelines for submissions.


Step9
Be prepared for lots of direct mail from now on.

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