How to Announce an Elopement

If you eloped and now need to break the news to your family and friends, you are likely very nervous about how they will receive the news. People will be upset that you skipped the traditional wedding. People may be angry for not being included. There will also be people who are very happy about it. The only way to tell which person will react what way is to break the news. Here are instructions on how to announce an elopement.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Choose or create attractive wedding announcement cards. They should be as nice as any wedding invitations that you would have purchased before the wedding.

2. Word your elopement announcement in the following way: (his name) and (her name) are pleased to announce their marriage, (wedding date), (wedding place and time you were married).

3. Contact key people by phone before you send out your announcements so they don’t hear about it from someone else. This includes the immediate family of both individuals, and your closest friends.

4. Send out your announcement cards as you are leaving for your honeymoon. If people are angry with you, they will have time to get over it while you are away.

5. Put a wedding announcement in the newspaper. Schedule it to appear after formal announcements are likely to have arrived. This will inform acquaintances and the general community that you are married.

6. Plan a small celebration to introduce yourselves as a married couple. This will allow people who want to celebrate with you the opportunity to do so. This can be done in a casual backyard picnic setting or a potluck dinner at your home. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a few gifts at the celebration.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not expect gifts or put a gift registry in the wedding announcements. No one should feel obligated to buy a gift for a wedding they were not invited to.
• Do not procrastinate in telling your family that you are married, or ask your spouse to keep it a secret. This is disrespectful and can be hurtful to your new spouse.