AnnouncementsENGAGEMENT
The bride and her family usually announce the engagement
by placing a notice in the newspaper. It appears after you've both told close friends and
family the big news, and have set the wedding date. This allows acquaintances,
schoolmates, co-workers, neighbors, and friends to read about your new relationship.
Because families are so mobile today, the announcement might run in several different
papers. It should appear in the newspaper for the towns that you and your fiancee reside
in, both of your hometowns, and where both sets of parents live. If there's a particular
area where many friends and relatives reside, an announcement in that area would also be
proper .
Every newspaper has a policy about printing
announcements-and some charge a small fee. The amount of information they'll include will
depend on their circulation. Some require a time delay between the wedding and engagement
announcements. Check each paper's policy. Large, metropolitan papers have so many marriage
announcements that they can only devote a small amount of space to each one.
The announcement might include:
- Names of the bride and groom
- Your towns of residence
- Schools attended, any degrees received.
- Both your places of employment/job titles.
- Both your parents' names
- The date and location of the wedding.
If one of you were married before, it's a common practice
to mention that marriage to avoid confusion. For example: (Ms. 's) or(Mr. 's) previous
marriage ended in divorce.
WEDDING
There are two kinds of wedding announcements. One appears
in the newspaper (similar to the engagement announcement), the other is mailed in place of
a wedding invitation, and is called a formal wedding announcement.
The formal announcement is sent to those you wish you
could have invited to your celebration, but didn't. These announcements are printed or
engraved on stationery similar to the wedding invitations. They are commonly used if
you've had a small wedding, but have many friends and relatives to notify They are mailed
as soon. as possible after your marriage (a well-organized couple has them addressed and
ready to go beforehand). A person who receives an announcement is not obligated to
buy a wedding gift.
Announce your wedding in the same newspapers that
described your engagement. Other information such as details about the ceremony, wedding
party, and bridal gown are usually in the wedding announcement. It's traditional in most
newspapers to print a photograph of either the two of you or just the bride with the
wedding announcement.