Wedding Invitations

One frequently overlooked aspect of Wedding Etiquette is how you publicly announce the wedding, or even the engagement, for that matter.

For what has to be at least the last 100 years, the Sunday section of the local newspaper has been the public place to announce your wedding, or engagement.

In Mary Mitchell’s best-selling book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Etiquette,” she covered the issues involved.

“Many couples announce their engagement in the newspaper,” Mitchell wrote. “It is best to call your local paper and ask for its requirements. The paper might have a standard form for you to complete and return with a photograph. If the bride and groom are from different towns, contact both local newspapers.”

Mitchell then explained that some newspapers don’t offer such a form. But that should be no problem, because that often means you will be able to write your announcement yourselves. Just one more thing you will be doing as a couple.

“If your newspaper doesn’t have a form, write the announcement yourself. The bride’s parents announce the engagement of their daughter,” she adds. 

One sticky situation can develop if the bride’s parents are divorced and wish to use both names.  If that’s their wish, Mitchell has a sample template that could be followed:

“Mr. William Keates and Mrs. Maura Keates (or Mrs. Daniel Johns if she is remarried) announce the engagement of their daughter, Eileen, to Alan Barts, son of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Barts of Great Neck, Long Island.”

Of course, that’s just a sample. You will want to adjust the details to your particular situation.

Next, come the details about the bride and groom.

For this paragraph, Mitchell suggests that you add information about where each person went to school, honors received, and current occupation.” And as for the wedding date, that goes at the conclusion of your announcement text.

All that said, how can you be sure your announcement will appear? Newspapers have only a finite amount of space, you know.

To boost the odds that your announcement will see print, Mitchell suggests submitting your news to your local community paper in addition to your metropolitan daily newspaper.  If the bride and/or groom are from the town where the local community paper is based, it will be harder for your local daily or weekly to turn down happy news from citizens of their community.

(The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Etiquette © 2004 by Mary Mitchell, via FamilyEducation.com)