How to Write a Wedding Announcement for a Newspaper

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By bailey4
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If you would like to place a wedding announcement in the paper research the process as part of your wedding planning.

Many couples choose to announce their wedding in the newspaper. Most want it to look appropriate and following the guidelines for submission is one of the best ways to get the look you desire.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

While you can always send in an announcement without planning it before the wedding, it is always to your advantage to do your research prior to the event. The requirements of each paper can differ. Some have significant charges and submission requirements and others are more reasonable. This is not something you wish to find out after the fact.
Step 2

Each paper has its own requirements about how many words or characters it will accept. Some papers offer packages in which you can add more characters. The research I did indicated there were significant price increases as the size of the announcement grew. When considering what to write you will need to consider the allowances of your newspaper and the budget you set for this item on your wedding list.
Step 3

Several newspapers offer a basic form to fill out. This is a good starting point to record the information you will want to place in the announcement. Knowing the character requirements you have to work with, you can then prioritize the information you wish to include. Should you decide you want a newspaper that gives you broader options, this still gives you something to start your plan. One of the newspapers listed below offers the basic form option. You can easily print this and use it as a starting point for collecting your thoughts.
Step 4

I suggest reading other announcements to get an idea about what information you are comfortable sharing and what information you would rather keep personal. As I was reading some, I was personally uncomfortable with the level of personal information shared. That is a choice each couple should make, however. This is also a chance to experience different formats, styles, and decide if the expanded more expensive options are something you want to expend your wedding budget towards.
Step 5

Most wedding announcements do include the basic introduction of the bride and groom, the location and date of the wedding, the family involved, the clergy or justice of the peace, attendant’s names, and reception information. Many do go on to include more detailed information about the wedding, personal information about the couple, the family, the honeymoon, their future plans, where they are living. Again it is up to each couple to decide how much to share. This is based on personal comfort level and a financial issue of how much they can afford to spend on a wedding announcement.
Step 6

As you are making choices about what to include and exclude consider family feelings. These are petty things that people can remember years later. If you are going to remember members of one side of the family be very careful about excluding the equal member on the other side, even when the characters are getting tight. As pathetic as it seems at times, these are the silly things that people do remember generations later.
Step 7

Most couples also choose to include a photograph with the announcement. Again this is an area you will want to research before submission. Each paper has its own requirements about format, style, and how they will accept the media. Knowing this in advance can help you plan with your photographer for the shot you want to submit and to make sure it is suitable for the requirements of the newspaper or papers you wish to submit the photograph.
Step 8

Some of the packages do include an on-line option so friends and family can access your announcement without having to buy multiple copies or work the copy machine to make copies for those who want to have one. This may be a consideration when choosing where to publish your announcement.
Step 9

Doing your homework in advance can make this project much easier. You will know what forms you need, what information you need to gather, what media can be submitted, and much of the paper work can even be filled out prior to your wedding. Then it is merely a matter of submitting it after the fact. If you wait until after the event is passed, it becomes far more challenging and more likely you will not submit the material for publication.

Comments

moaklief said

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on 11/18/2009 Another great source for creating free wedding announcements is www.Amigram.com. People appreciate the opportunity to share their good news without having to let all their relatives and parents’ friends onto their Facebook page, pay for a newspaper listing, or create a website.

Of course, they can also send their announcement to Facebook and Twitter, if they want to spread the news; or if they want to keep their announcement private, they can restrict it so only friends and family see it.