CONGRATULATIONS! You’re engaged!! Get ready to embark on the most exciting journey of your lives in preparation for your wedding day. With such exciting news as getting engaged, I bet you’re ready to scream it from the top of your lungs, loud and proud! Before you tell the world, take some time to brush up on what’s considered proper etiquette when it comes to these special moments. It’s very easy to make a simple oversight and hurt someone’s feelings. Here is a brief overview of what’s considered proper and in poor taste when it comes to announcing your engagement:

Who should be the first to know? 

If there are no children from either relationship then your parents should be the first call! Bride’s parents first then groom’s, and in the situation that your parents are divorced the one who raised you should be told first.

If either of you have children from a previous relationship, they should be the first to know. Do it with your fiance present and let them know it’s ok to react honestly. Give them time to get used to the idea of this new family situation.

The Formal Announcement

After you’ve informed any children and parents, it’s time to let the world know the big news!   The most traditional way is with an announcement from the bride’s parents. In the situation of divorced parents, the parent who raised you will make the announcement.

• The Traditional Announcement: “Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hall of Alpharetta, announce the engagement of their daughter, Alexis Jane Hall, to Bradley William Smythe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Smythe of Rye, New York. A June wedding has been planned.”
• If Bride’s parents are divorced and both announcing: Mrs. Amy Hall of Alpharetta, and Mr. Matthew Hall of Athens, announce the engagement of their daughter, Alexis Jane Hall, to Bradley William Smythe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Smythe of Rye, New York. A June wedding has been planned.”
• If Bride’s parents are divorced and one is announcing: Mrs Amy Hall of Alpharetta, announces the engagement of her daughter, Alexis Jane Hall, to Bradley William Smythe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Smyth of Rye, New York. Miss Hall is also the daughter of Mr. Matthew Hall of Athens.”
• If Groom’s parents are divorced: Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hall of Alpharetta, Georgia, announce the engagement of their daughter, Alexis Jane Hall, to Bradley William Smythe, son of Mrs. Elizabeth Smythe of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Mr. Zachary Smythe of Rye, New York.”

Social media has been the process of getting the word out easier and faster. Before you go posting the life event to Facebook, make sure you’ve informed those closest to you by mouth. Aunt Sue doesn’t want to learn of your engagement on Facebook. It can be quite insulting to not properly inform your entire family and closest friends before posting the news on social media outlets.

The Celebration

Now that everyone knows the exciting news, it’s time to throw a party! These parties used to be formal must-dos with many guests, but today they have become optional and much less formal.

• Who throws the party? Anyone can throw the party, family members, friends, or even you and your fiance. Each set of parents may even want to throw separate parties.
• Who do you invite? Everyone in the wedding party should be included in the party, along with family members and close friends.
• Gifts: Some gifts may be given, but are not required. Wait until after the party to open them in order not to make guests who didn’t bring any feel uncomfortable.
• Registering: Proper etiquette includes registering for smaller gifts such as frames and champagne glasses, which saves bigger gifts for actual wedding presents.

Monetary Issues

• Approach each family separately so that neither feels put on the spot.
• Be Specific: Put together how much you think the wedding will cost, ask how much each feels comfortable giving, and which aspect they would like to cover (band,rehearsals).
• Discretion: Try to keep who is providing what under wraps. This discourages competitive feelings and keep those who aren’t contributing as much from feeling bad.

Now that you’re engaged, let the fun begin! Before you dive into the details, it’s a wise idea to invest in a professional wedding planner. Their job is to consult you along the way and make sure you’re covering each and every detail while thinking logically through the execution of the big day. They’ll help you with securing the perfect wedding site and vendors to designing the decor thought your special day. Most importantly, they’ll be there on your wedding day to oversee each and every detail that has been planned, ensuring all runs smoothly so that you can relax and enjoy every moment.

If you’re planning a destination wedding in the Hilton Head, Savannah or Beaufort areas, Embellished Events is here to assist your every need. From, “I will” to “I do,” we’ll help you have a successful and stress-free wedding experience so you can enjoy the fun in planning the most important day of your life.

Best Wishes and Happy Planning!
xoxo
Jen

Embellished Events
Luxury Wedding Planning and Design Serving Hilton Head, Savannah and Beaufort
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com