Log In Sign Up

Ideas & Advice / Engagement

7 Engagement Announcement
Dos and Don'ts
Here's everything you need to know about spreading your
happy news.

Jose Martinez on Unsplash

by The Knot
Updated Jan 29, 2021

We have included third party products to help you navigate and enjoy life’s
biggest moments. Purchases made through links on this page may earn us a
commission.

Congratulations—you're engaged! After you and your

partner celebrate the latest milestone in your relationship,
it's time to plan your engagement announcement. While
you may be excited to share your #JustSaidYes Instagram
post, there are a few things to know before you announce
the news to the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

You should feel empowered to share your engagement

announcement in the way that best represents you and
your partner, but there is traditional etiquette you should
keep in mind. Here are seven rules pertaining to your
engagement announcement, from whom to tell first to
when you should share the moment on social media.

Do Savor the Moment With Your Partner

Your engagement is one of the defining moments in your
relationship, so soak in every second with your partner.
Once you tell your loved ones, they'll be thrilled to shower
you with well-wishes. As exciting as it is to celebrate this
season of life with your family and friends, make time to
enjoy it one-on-one with your S.O. too. When you look
back, you'll be glad that you intentionally set aside time to
savor your newly-engaged status.

ADVERTISEMENT
Don't Forget to Tell Your Loved Ones First
Before you share the happy news with the world (read:
social media), there are a few people you need to tell first.
Start with your immediate family, like your parents and
siblings. If you can't see them in person, contact them via
phone call or video chat. From there, you can share the
news with extended family members (like aunts, uncles and
cousins) and your closest friends. There are no rules that
determine who belongs on your VIP list, but think of it this
way: if you would want to be personally told about their
engagement, you should consider telling them about yours.

ADVERTISEMENT

Browse Designer Wedding Dresses—All in One Place

SPONSORED BY THE KNOT

Do Post on Social Media...

Once you've told your loved ones, you can post your "Just
Engaged" picture on social media. Show off your favorite
proposal photo with your S.O. to help family and friends
feel like they were there. Animate the engagement
announcement with a boomerang of your new ring, your
first kiss as to-be-weds or a snapshot of you clinking
champagne glasses. You can also incorporate engagement
photo props like custom signs or even fun mugs. (P.S.: Don't
forget to tag #TheKnotRings and your own personal
wedding hashtag if you have one already.)

…But Don't Overshare Wedding Details

It's easy to be in the sharing mood once your tell your
followers about your engagement. With so many exciting
moments ahead of you, you'll want to document each
wedding planning step along the way. After your initial
engagement announcement, be selective about the
subsequent details you post. While your followers will love
seeing your proposal on their feed, find the balance
between posting what makes you happy without
oversharing. But when it comes to specific wedding
information, save it for your wedding website to avoid
hurting those who aren't invited.

Do Consider an Engagement-Moon
As you delve into wedding planning, revel in your
newfound role as a fiancé by considering an engagement-
moon. Whether you jet off to a tropical location or plan a
low-key staycation in your hometown, more couples are
jumping on this trend to enjoy quality time together before
embarking on the wedding planning process. You'll only be
fiancés for a limited amount of time, so follow up your
engagement announcement with a well-deserved vacation.

Don't Forget to Send Announcements

Once the proposal excitement settles, be sure to send
formal engagement announcements to your loved ones. If
you want to stick to tradition, consider a paper
announcement along with an invite to an engagement
party. Call a local stationery store to have cards typeset
and printed. (Psst: This is also a great way to screen
potential vendors for your wedding invites). Alternatively,
you can save time and order your paper goods online.
Mixbook Photo Co. has engagement announcement
templates you can personalize with photos, while Minted
and Shutterfly sell customizable engagement party
invitations.

If you'd rather take an eco-friendly approach to your

engagement announcement, there are plenty of digital
alternatives. Send your loved ones an email with all the
proposal details and your wedding website, or design a
Paperless Post invitation for your engagement party. Did
you or your fiancé hire a videographer to film the proposal?
Don't forget to include the highlight reel.

Don't Overlook Formal Engagement

Announcement Wording
Traditionally, engagements are officially announced by
someone other than the couple, unless there's no close
relative to assume the honor or the couple wants to do it
themselves. When composing your announcement, feel
free to use the textual variation that best reflects your
taste, audience and circumstances. (For example, you can
choose whether or not you want to include who's "hosting"
the wedding). Below are a few standard engagement
announcement wording options to get you started.

If the Bride's Parents are Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe of Los Angeles announce the

engagement of their daughter Jane Annette to Jack Smith,
son of David and Beth Smith of Brooklyn, New York. Ms.
Doe, a graduate of Vassar College, is a professor at
Barnard College in New York City. Mr. Smith graduated
magna cum laude from Princeton, attended law school at
New York University and works at Smith, Golden, his
mother's law firm, in New York City. A June wedding is
planned. (Or no date has been set for the wedding.)

If a Single Parent Is Hosting

Ms. Janet Jones announces the engagement of her

daughter Jane Doe to Jack Smith…. Ms. Doe is also the
daughter of John Doe of San Francisco. (This line is close to
the end of the announcement. Note: There's no need to
mention the other biological parent if he or she wasn't
involved in raising you.)

If a Remarried Parent Is Hosting With a New

Spouse

Ms. Janet Jones and Mr. Timothy Chapin announce the

engagement of Ms. Jones's daughter Jane Doe to Jack
Smith…. Ms. Doe is also the daughter of John Doe of San
Francisco.

If One Parent Is Deceased

The engagement of Jane Annette Doe, daughter of Mrs.

Janet Doe and the late Mr. John Doe, to Jack Smith, son of
David and Beth Smith of Brooklyn, New York, is announced
by the bride's mother….

If a Close Relative or Friend Is Hosting

Here's an example of appropriate wording if your parents

don't approve of your partner or are both deceased:

Ms. Julia Doe announces the engagement of her sister,

Jane Doe, to Jack Smith, son of…. The bride is the daughter
of [the late] Mr. John Doe and Ms. Janet Jones of Los
Angeles.

If You're Hosting the Wedding Yourselves

Jane Doe, a professor at Barnard College, is to be married

to Jack Smith, a partner at the law firm of Smith, Golden in
New York City. Ms. Doe is the daughter of Mr. John Doe of
San Francisco and Ms. Janet Jones of Los Angeles. Mr.
Smith is the son of David and Beth Smith of Brooklyn, New
York. A June wedding is planned.

Up Next

The Best Proposal 15 Engagement

…
Songs of All Time Cookies for a Sweet…

Trending

25 Celebrity Weddings That Shaped How

We Celebrate Marriage
It's The Knot's 25th anniversary and we're
nostalgic for these weddings.
Updated Sep 24, 2021

What to Know About Bruno Mars's

Longtime Girlfriend
The couple has been together for nearly a
decade.
Updated Aug 04, 2020

Lindsay Lohan Is Engaged! See Her Ring

The 'Parent Trap' star is getting married.
Updated Nov 28, 2021

Princess Diana's Wedding Tiara:

Surprising Facts & History
Diana's older sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane,
both wore the Spencer family heirloom for
their weddings.
Updated Nov 02, 2021

Famous Couples We Love to Love

From the pages of history books, scripts,
celebrity gossip columns and more, we've
rounded up the memorable matchups whose
love makes us swoon.
Updated May 20, 2020

Ariana Grande Reveals the First Photos

From Her Minimony Wedding
It's unclear whether the couple will have an
anniversary reception.
 Updated May 26, 2021

Inside Paris Hilton's 'Chic, Cute and Fun'

Wedding to Carter Reum
The heiress had multiple outfit changes
throughout the day. See the photos here.
Updated Nov 15, 2021

Inside Aaron Rodgers and Shailene

Woodley's Engagement
"I feel we were meant to be together."
Updated Jun 07, 2021

CNN's Brianna Keilar Las Vegas Wedding

The political reporter and her husband
celebrated their union with an art gallery, Elvis
and thousands of tiny champagne bubbles.
Updated Aug 03, 2020

See Photos From HGTV Star Ty

Pennington's Wedding
See the first photos here.
Updated Nov 29, 2021

View All

made with

PLANNING & INSPIRATION

THE COMPANY

SISTER SITES
Get Our Wedding Planner App On
Your Mobile Device

Are you a vendor?

Sign up on The Knot to reach more couples and
book more weddings!

Start Here

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Accessibility

Do Not Sell My Info

CA Privacy

Customer Service

©1997-2021 XO Group Inc.