Announcing Your Engagement in the Newspaper or Magazines

In addition to calling or writing to friends and family to announce the engagement, many couples also decide to include a newspaper announcement. Since it is inappropriate to send printed engagement announcements, newspaper announcements are the way to go. You may also choose to announce your engagement in other magazines such as your alumni magazine and anywhere else you may think of.

Who makes the announcement?

Traditionally, the parents of the bride-to-be make the announcement. If the parents are deceased or don't support your choice of partner, another close relative or even a close friend can announce your engagement. You may announce the engagement if you will be sponsoring your wedding, because of remarriage or just because.

When should the announcement be made?

Generally, the engagement announcement appears two to three months before the wedding day.

When is NOT a good time to make the announcement?

There are a couple reasons why you should hold off on making your public engagement announcement. An announcement is inappropriate if there recently was a death in either family or if a family is desperately ill. An announcement should never be made if either member is still legally married to someone else. You may want to hold off with the announcement if you're recently widowed or divorced unless you don't mind being part of the gossip circle. Lastly, hold off if you're not sure when exactly you will be getting married or if you're already having second thoughts about the marriage.

How do you submit your announcement?

Start by studying the newspapers engagement section. This will let you know what kind of information the paper normally includes and whether or not it includes photos. Call the newspaper and find out the name of the appropriate editor or department. Inquire what the submission or writers guidelines are. Most newspapers will have a standard form to fill out.