Etiquette for Wedding Announcements

Following your engagement, you'll want to set the wedding date and let friends, family and colleagues know. 

If you're having a small wedding, where only close family are present, you may have friends or work colleagues who weren't invited, in which case you may wish to send them announcements. It's important to let professional colleagues know of your exciting change in status and name.

One of the reasons for sending personal announcement cards is to inform people of your marriage - and it's usual to send these cards either the day before the wedding or on the actual day itself. 

Card shouldn't be sent to all and sundry, just those you feel would want to know - you don't want to put acquaintances feel they should buy you a gift - you're certainly not expecting gifts, though they may wish to send them.

What you're basically announcing to them is that you are now married!

If you're not sure what to say, it's traditional to word it similarly to the wedding invitation.

Here's a sample wording to get you started:-

For those couples where the family relationships are complicated by the separation, divorce or death of one or both parents, the wording will be amended accordingly.

Engagement Announcements

It's now possible to make your engagement or wedding announcement at a number of online websites, one of which is the Wedding Helpline where you can submit and view wedding and engagement announcements.

However, the more traditional way is an notice in the small ads of your local newspaper.  If it's a Society Wedding, then an advert in The Times or Guardian may also be appropriate.

For most brides-to-be, after telling family and friends, the big announcement will happen on MySpace or Facebook, when you change your status to "engaged" and wait for everyones response!

Recommended Resources

Formal Attire & Evening Wear - etiquette for suitable clothing for formal occasions