How to Choose an Engagement Announcement

Now the fun really begins, and it all starts with the engagement announcement. This is the "second" step in planning your wedding, with the first being the proposal. Your engagement announcement will spread your exciting news to all ends of the earth, if need be, so choosing the appropriate announcement for your lifestyle and budget takes a little planning.

Instructions

1. Spread the news. You've told the parents, your children (if this is not your first marriage) and your close friends, but it is time to expand the circle of people that should know about your engagement. The local newspaper is an excellent way to announce your engagement. If the bride and groom are from different areas, then consider placing the engagement in newspapers in both cities. The newspaper, along with a short questionnaire stating the future wedding plans, usually requests a 5 by 7 inch black and white photo of the engaged couple. There is usually a small fee for this service, but this is affordable for most budgets.

2. Select a more formal engagement announcement. There are stationery stores, card shops, department stores, bridal stores, print shops and gift shops that have catalogs full of announcements to choose from. These are items that take time to be ordered and printed, so you should allow about 4 to 6 weeks for these to arrive. While you wait for your order to arrive, start working on your mailing list and purchasing stamps. There are also online sites where you can order announcements.

3. Make that engagement announcement a "save the date" announcement as well. This is becoming popular among young couples. Especially those friends who have recently graduated from college and are still busy with weekend social activities. These save the date engagement announcements obviously announce the engagement while giving information as to when the wedding date will be. These are typically sent out six months in advance of the wedding. They can be personalized by adding a digital photo of the engaged couple.

4. Set up a website for your wedding. It starts with your engagement announcement and all the plans, dates, times, attire and even information about the wedding party can be posted on your site. It is a wonderful way for friends and relatives to sign in to the website in response to the announcement with good wishes and congrats for the engaged couple.

5. Print your own engagement announcement. With many do-it-yourself announcement packages on the market, all it takes is your printer and some time. Set aside a weekend and you can have this designed and printed off.

6. Browse through the bridal magazines, attend a bridal show or bridal fair. These are packed with information and samples of all types of announcements and even samples that you can take home to think about.

7. Deliver by courier your extravagant, over the top, announcements. This is usually only done when money is really no object or maybe there will be only a handful of very close friends and family to notify.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider your own personal taste and style when choosing your engagement announcements.