- 1). Announce your engagement to the bride's parents first. Meet with them in person to ask for their blessing and talk about your plans.
- 2). Meet with the groom's parents next and discuss your future plans with them as well.
- 3). Tell the rest of the immediate family and close friends, including any children and former spouses if you've been married before.
- 4). If your parents, other family members or friends want to throw an engagement party for you, arrange the timing so that the party will occur just before any newspaper announcements you plan to make. You can also throw your own engagement party if you wish.
- 5). Be aware that it's traditional for the father of the bride-to-be to propose a toast to the couple during the engagement party; this serves as the formal announcement.
- 6). Write thank-you notes to the hosts of the party, and to anyone who has given you gifts, immediately after the party. (Even though gifts are not expected, some people may bring them.)
- 7). Make your newspaper announcement. Check with your local paper for the procedure. Also see "Submit a Wedding Announcement to a Newspaper," under Related eHows.
- 8). Announce your engagement on a wedding Web site, if you like. Follow their guidelines for submissions.
- 9). Be prepared for lots of direct mail from now on.
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