After telling your family and friends about your engagement, the next step is to announce the happy news in your local newspaper. Traditionally announcements are placed in the papers of the bride and groom’s hometown, as well as the hometowns of both sets of parents.
Engagement announcement tips
Begin by checking out the paper’s announcement section to see what details they include in their engagement announcements. Then contact the proper newspaper department. Most papers will have forms to fill out to make sure all information is correct.
Generally engagement announcements are placed in the paper about two to three months before the wedding. Newspapers often have deadlines; confirm the date the announcement will need to be submitted for it to appear at the appropriate time. You may need to submit it several weeks before you want it to appear. Some newspapers will run a photo of the bride and groom. Check with your newspaper on their requirements for engagement photos.
Elements of the engagement announcement:
Most announcements include full names, courtesy titles, city and state of residence, highest level of education and current employment. They may include a wedding date, but not necessarily a specific date. For example it is fine to say, “A spring wedding is planned.”
Traditionally the bride’s parents make the announcement.
Example of parents’ announcement:
- Mr. and Mrs. Jones, of San Diego, California, are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jane Jones, to …
When a parent is deceased:
- The surviving parent makes the announcement and the deceased parent is listed as the late Mr. or Mrs.
When parents are divorced:
- The parents are listed separately. Generally the mother makes the announcement, but if the father is the primary custodian then he makes the announcement. The groom’s parents may also make the announcement; especially if the bride’s parents are deceased or do not live in the same country.
When the bride is divorced:
- The bride’s parents can make the announcement; or the bride may make the announcement in the third person. The bride’s current legal name is used.
When the bride is a widow:
- If she is a young widow her parents may make the announcement. If she is an older widow the bride may make the announcement in third person. Her current legal name is used.
All newspapers will have their own style. The bride should take that into consideration when choosing what paper the engagement announcement will appear in.
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