7 Do's And Don'ts When Telling Family & Friends You Got Engaged

An engagement is a very special time for both the intended and their friends and family, but the actual announcement can be trying when it comes to telling those you love that there will be a wedding in the near future. The reactions that you receive will be greatly determined by how your friends and family feel about your soon-to-be spouse. To help ease your nerves, keep in mind the following do’s and don’ts when making the big announcement.

Do make the engagement announcement according to how well your families know one another. If both have met and are well acquainted, make the announcement at a time when both you and your significant other can be present. If possible, invite both families to dinner and declare your plans during the evening. If your families have not yet met, simply tell each separately and then invite everyone to a celebration dinner so that introductions can be made.

Don’t be afraid to use the telephone. While in person announcements are preferred, a telephone call to long distance friends and family will be fine.

Do notify the bride’s parents first. Etiquette suggests that the bride’s parents are told prior to the groom’s parents. If you or your fiancé have children from a previous marriage, they should be told first. Following that, parents should be told, followed by grandparents and other immediate family and finally your close friends.

Don’t just spring the engagement on everyone. This is especially true if your family has yet to meet your fiancé and has no idea as to the seriousness of your relationship. Although your engagement is a very happy time for you, take a moment to think about how sudden the news may come to others. If your family has yet to meet your fiancé, invite him/her to your home for dinner and allow your family to meet the special person in your life and to see how happy the two of you are together.

Do be ready to answer questions, such as where you will live, how you will earn a living or buy a home. Families and friends are protective and they will want to make sure that the decision to be married is one that wasn’t hurried, but is rather one that has been considered and planned for.

Don’t allow a lot of time to pass between the actual engagement and the announcement. If weeks or months go by, your friends and family may ask why you chose to wait to tell them the good news. Announcing an engagement can be stressful, especially if you aren’t sure how your friends and family will react, but it’s better to be upfront with everyone and allow them to process the information so that you can happily move forward with the wedding.

Do place a notice of your engagement in the local newspaper. This will help to inform everyone outside of your immediate friends and family circle about the upcoming nuptials. Aside from the newspaper, you may want to publish your news on a website dedicated to your upcoming marriage, send informal e-mail announcements or plan an engagement party and send out invitations.

With these guidelines you should be able to transition from "dating" mode to "engaged" mode without too much difficulty, and hopefully without stepping on any toes!

About the Author:
Alex is consults for an online gift shop offering inexpensive bridesmaids gifts as well as other cheap wedding stuff. Alex is recently married.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com