The Bride’s Guide to Announcing Your Engagement

Your engagement announcement is one of the biggest announcements couples get to make (aside from a baby!) so it’s important you get it just right. Whether you are recently engaged or anticipating a proposal and are looking for some tips for sharing the good news with your family and friends, here are some tips for making your big engagement announcement.

Before Posting Your Announcement on Social Media

It’s tempting to immediately share your good news on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter moments after it happened, but before sharing your announcement to the world consider sharing the news with your closest friends and family first. Let your parents, siblings and other family members know in person, or over the phone and allow them to express their good wishes to you in a more personal way. 

For those that you aren’t as close with like college friends or other acquaintances send them a text sharing the good news with a photo of your ring so they can find out directly from you rather than a social media post.

When to Announce Your Engagement

Another important factor to consider when announcing your engagement is when to do it. This is a very personal choice and will differ from couple to couple. Some couples may decide to share the news of their engagement right away, while others day choose to wait a few days and just enjoy their engagement alone. Other couples might choose to let their family and close friends know and hold off on making the bigger announcement until once they’ve set a wedding date. The important thing here to be true to you and your fiance and find the time that works best for both of you.

Making the Announcement on Social Media

Now that you’ve told everyone you wanted to tell in person or over the phone, it’s time to share the news with the world! A social media engagement announcement is similar to the idea of posting your announcement in a local paper so make sure it counts! Here are some tips to make it perfect:

Take a Selfie

This is one of the easiest ways to announce your engagement. Post a photo of yourself with your ring front of center in the photos with a caption announcing the big deals. You can use props like a “Does this ring make me look engaged?” mug or include your fiance in the photo as well. Either way, be sure your ring has center stage!

Incorporate Your Engagement Location

Whether you got engaged in a location that holds a special meaning to both of you, or if your engagement location was decorated for the event it can serve as the perfect backdrop for your engagement. Write “We’re Engaged!” in the sand if you were proposed to on the beach with your hand extended into the photo. Or take a photo of the two of you on-site holding your hand up showing off your ring.

Use Photos from the Actual Engagement

If you were fortunate to have someone playing photographer for your engagement these are the perfect photos to use to make your announcement. Post some photos of the in-process proposal as well as a close up of the ring and the happy couple!

Use Your Pet

If you have a pet consider include your fur-baby in your engagement announcement. You can post a photo of the three of you cuddling or if your pet was involved in the engagement, a photo of the ring tied to their collar. 

Have an Engagement Shoot

If you’re willing to wait a little while before making your announcement professional engagement photos are a great way to announce the big news. You’ll be able to post professional photos featuring your ring and the two of you. Plus having an engagement shoot is ideal since you’ll have the opportunity to work with your wedding photographer prior to your wedding day, and can use the photos for save-the-date cards and your wedding website. 

Create a Wedding Website

A wedding website is one of the most convenient ways to keep guests informed of wedding details, and is the perfect place to share the details of your proposal. You can create a wedding website for free from websites like Minted or The Knot, or if you’re tech-savvy you can build one yourself. Once you’ve created your website, you can share it with friends and family.

Have an Engagement Party

An engagement party is one of the best ways to celebrate your engagement with your family and friends. It can range from casual to fancy and is a great way to formally celebrate your engagement with loved ones. It’s also a great way to introduce your two families if they haven’t officially met. If you do decide to have an engagement party, you should also register for some gifts beforehand and include your registry with the invitation.