Announcing Your Engagement/Save the Date/Wedding Invitations

Congratulations! You are beginning one of the most exciting times of your life. The next few months will be filled with planning and parties honoring you and your fiancé. It is only natural to want to share your joy with family and loved ones, beginning with the announcement of your engagement.

Although it is not necessary to follow strict rules of etiquette regarding your announcement, here are a few appropriate guidelines to follow.

Both of your parents should be the first to know. If they live out of town, try to schedule personal visits to make the announcement. If your parents have never met, plan a special occasion to get acquainted. Host an informal picnic or make reservations at your favorite restaurant. This presents an opportunity for them to discuss the role they want to play in the wedding.

Next, share your exciting news with the remainder of your friends and relatives with personal phone calls and notes. Your engagement provides a wonderful occasion for a gathering or party. The party can be hosted by you and your fiancé or your parents.

Finally, Go to MidMoBrides.com and submit your engagement FREE!  You may also want to prepare an announcement for your local newspaper. There is a charge so you will want to contact the society editor of your paper to learn their specific procedures. Make a duplicate copy to be sent to your fiancé’s hometown, if different from yours. If you are including a photograph, make sure it is a black and white print. Identify the print with your name, address and phone number to insure its return. You may also email your photo if you have your photos accessible through your computer.

If the parents of the bride are divorced, either parent may announce the engagement. However, both parents should be mentioned in the article. If one or both parents are deceased,  the engagement may be announced by a relative, friend or by the bride herself.

Wedding Invitations

The style of your wedding is reflected in the invitations and stationery you choose. The invitation sets the tone of the wedding, so take the time to select them carefully.

Once you have prepared your guest list, you can begin looking for invitations. There are many stationers and specialty printers who can offer you special assistance with the proper wedding etiquette.

There are many exciting invitation styles to choose from traditional, contemporary or custom designs. You will find a wide variety of paper choices, ranging from the traditional white to a rainbow of pastels. Engagement photographs and monograms are just two ideas that can add a personalized touch. Your stationer will no doubt have several catalogs from which you can choose. Prices will vary, so shop around.

Tradition has established guidelines forwording invitations, although today many variations are used. However, the general information remains the same. Once the wording is determined, the size and style of the lettering is selected from a wide variety available.

Order your invitations three to six months in advance. The invitations should be mailed four to six weeks before the wedding. Informal invitations should be sent out at least ten days before.

Your invitations should be neatly hand-written, never typed. Calligraphy is a trend that is enjoying popularity these days. It is a perfect solution for the busy bride. A calligrapher will not only address the invitations, they also stuff and mail them. It is recommended that you contact a calligrapher several months in advance so that they can schedule your order.