Announcing the Engagement

Before you place any announcements in the newspapers and announce your engagement to the world, consider that the people closest to you should be informed before anyone else.

Children – if one or both of you have children, whether young or grown up, near or far, they should be the first to know. The fact that you’re both getting married will carry great changes for both your families. The children, whether they expected it or not, should have a chance to absorb the news and get ready for the changes. Having a stepparent and perhaps stepsiblings may bring a lot of doubts, worries, and questions.

Parents – once the children have been informed, the parents are next. You may announce the engagement to them together as a couple or each one separately to their own parents. This depends on the circumstances of the engagement or your comfort preferences. If the engagement will be unexpected or a total surprise to either set of parents, the couple should meet separately with their parents. The parents may have questions or concerns that my make it uncomfortable to voice while the fiancé/fiancée is present.

If your parents haven’t met your fiancé or fiancée yet, make it an effort to get together.

If your parents live far away, call them on the phone and make an introduction. You should still make an effort for your parents to meet your fiancé/fiancée well before the wedding.

If your parents are separated or divorced, let each one know in person if possible. Even if you don’t get along with one of the parents, it is still a courtesy to inform them personally. A parent should not hear of their daughters or sons plans to marry from someone else.

Relatives and close friends – after your parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and close friends should be notified of the wonderful news.