- Do tell your parents and children from a previous relationship first, face-to-face. Children should be told without the presence of your new fiance, so that they have time to process their feelings and voice them to you. You should visit your parents' home as well as your fiance's to announce your engagement. Try and plan a weekend trip to see them if they live far away; otherwise, telling them over the phone is acceptable. You can also take the modern road and video chat with your parents if they are computer literate.
Publishing your announcement in your hometown newspaper is also common. Before sending in your information, be sure of any deadlines, photo requirements and whether they leave it to you to create the announcement. If you are able to write it, a typical announcement includes both of your parents' names, your home town, college and current career. - Do not announce your engagement if you or your fiance are not yet legally separated from their former spouse; this includes a pending divorce.
While it is perfectly acceptable to have a get-together with your family and friends for an announcement, you must be careful not to invite anyone who will not be invited to the wedding. It is rude and offensive. Also, never use another person's party as a platform to announce your engagement. Your friends may all be in attendance, but you will offend the host.
The ultimate "do not" is change your relationship status on your Facebook or other social networking page before you tell your family and close friends. This will greatly offend people if they have to find out about this special moment in your life through a third-party source. - Wedding websites are tricky. They are great for useful details about the wedding, but you do not want to be the annoying couple who posts every last detail and photo alongside unnecessary information. This is an informal way to announce your engagement; however, if the details of the wedding have not been worked out, this is a great place to keep your guests posted. Keep in mind that not everyone you invite will own a computer, so be sure to tell grandma in person or over the phone rather than keeping her in the dark because she has not gone hi-tech. Never mail printed announcements; it is considered tacky and is often confused for a wedding invitation.
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