Announcing your engagement is one of the biggest thrills about getting married.

Becoming engaged is one of the most exciting moments of your life and the first thing you will want to do is share your news with friends and family. Here are some tips to help you tell the people you care about that you’re getting hitched, in a way they will be sure to remember fondly.

Tell Your Family First

It stands to reason that the first people you should tell are those closest to you – and that includes your children, parents and other relatives. It may be tempting to call your best girlfriend and squeal that he finally popped the question, or tell your buddies you have a fianc?, but your family will appreciate the respect associated with being the first people to hear the news.

Tell Them in Person

Although telephoning loved ones to tell them about your engagement is perfectly acceptable, if possible, a personal visit is best. When I became engaged, I was wearing a ring that belonged to my mother. I stopped by my parents’ house the morning after the all-important question was asked and gave my mother her ring, telling her I no longer needed it. She was confused at first, then purely elated, followed by a thoroughly girly moment of checking out the bling. Although I was only 28, I was independent to a fault and I’m sure my mother thought I was going to end up a spinster. Letting her know that her little girl was finally going to walk down the aisle was a memorable moment and it was tons of fun to see the look of happiness and relief on her face.

Let Everyone Else Know

Letting the rest of the world know about your engagement is a little more complicated. The easiest way to share your news is to place an ad in your local newspaper. Call the office and ask about prices, word count and whether or not you can publish a picture. Then write a simple notification announcing the engagement. If your wedding date has been set, don’t forget to include it. Also, pay homage to your parents or the person(s) hosting the wedding.

Throw a Party

One exciting way to announce your engagement is to throw a party. Don’t tell your guests what the gathering is for, simply hold a get together and invite all your friends. Once the party is underway, ask for everyone’s attention and, along with your fianc?, announce that your single days are over. Make sure you don’t invite anyone to the party who won’t be invited to the wedding.

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Make the Announcement a Gift

I had a girlfriend who got engaged in early December and kept it a secret until Christmas Day. She placed a copy of the engagement announcement in her mother’s gift. It made for a great surprise and added an extra special touch to the holiday festivities.

Make a Formal Announcement

Formal announcements are a traditional way to announce your engagement. Take note that this route involves deciding upon your guest list early, which may be a source of stress later on. You cannot send a formal engagement announcement to someone who will not be invited to your festivities, so if you choose to announce your engagement in this manner be sure you know exactly who will, and who won’t be, invited to your nuptials.

Create a Web Site

One of the most innovative and exciting ways for the modern bride and groom for announcing your engagement is to create a wedding website. Pictures of the future bride and groom can be posted as well as information about your ceremony, your registry, or anything else you want to share with those who will view your page.

One exciting new site where you can do all of the above is www.ourdayweddings.com. With a user-friendly Web site building tool and tons of choices and options to help you create a beautiful, personalized page of your own, this site is definitely worth visiting.

Announcing your engagement is one of the biggest thrills associated with your wedding. Make sure to do it in a way that makes you feel comfortable, but don’t forget the most important part: have fun!