Say it loud and proud: “We're engaged”!

There are several ways to announce your new relationship status, but how to do it with etiquette, at the same time without losing the uniqueness of your story?

You don't have to wait until the big day, because the way you announce your engagement will also tell a lot to those around you about what you are like as a couple.

1. BASIS

Traditional engagement etiquette dictates that the bride's parents are the first to learn of their daughter's engagement. Talk to them in person. Most likely, they will want to hug you both and celebrate the happy news with their family. If the bride's parents live too far away, a phone call is the next best option. If mom and dad are divorced, try to tell the other parent as soon as possible after you have informed the first. That's you you will not offend any of them.

If you have talked to both of your parents - you need to organize a small meeting for them (if there is not already one been). If the parents of one of you are divorced, the relatives of the other party should meet with them separately. In this way in this case, one should first visit or host the one with whom there were closer ties. If from the previous one relationship with someone you already have children, you must tell them before informing the parents. Talk to them alone, so that they can feel free in their emotions and honestly answer how they feel.

2. SEND A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS

Another personal and quick way to notify the rest of your family and friends is by mobile phone, but call everyone may not be practical. To friends who have known you for years and who will most likely be at your wedding, send an e-mail to mail, text or other message where you sincerely tell how the proposal went. Tell them thank you for support and explain that you definitely wanted to announce it personally. In the modern era of fast information, they they will be touched that you took the time to address them in this way.

3. USE TRADITIONAL POSTAL SERVICES

Decades ago, the mother of the bride would have sent handwritten letters to formally inform friends and relatives about his daughter's engagement. Revive the tradition by sending "We'll be glad to see you" cards at your wedding ceremony, date, place”. This way you will both announce your engagement and at the same time you will inform the recipient when the wedding is coming up.

ON THE INTERNET

If you don't have your own blog yet, now is the right time to create one. This latest form of mass communication quickly reach the whole world and allow others to write their comments. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to read all congratulations in one place. Create your own wedding website and then use it as a place for your wedding guests will be able to follow the latest developments regarding the planning of the big day. Or announce an engagement on social media - Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts, but remember to double-check everything before you share with a message with those around you.

5. ENGAGEMENT CELEBRATION

If you want to announce the big event to all your relatives and friends at the same time, the engagement party could turn out to be the right solution. Some keep the reason for the celebration a secret and announce it only when saying a toast, others choose to send invitations where the reason for the celebration is already mentioned. Keep in mind that at such parties, guests, will likely also be hoping to receive invitations to the wedding itself, so plan your guest list carefully.

Who hosts? The engagement party can be organized by anyone - a relative, friend or even the bride and groom. It is also acceptable for the parents of the new couple to hold separate celebrations if they live far from each other and everyone wants to inform their relatives and friends about the incident.
Who is invited? The guest list should include family members, ushers and close friends. Remember, everyone you invite should also be invited to the wedding itself.
Gifts? Guests may choose to bring gifts, but are not required to do so. If you have received any wait until after the celebration before opening presents. Especially if only some of the guests have given you something. That way, you won't make those who haven't gifted you feel uncomfortable.

FOR THE SHY

If you and your fiance are not the type of people who like to draw attention to yourself, consider the possibility of your to make the announcement during the holiday. This has several advantages - your relatives and friends will have already gathered together and they will already be happy about the holiday, so your happy event will only increase the positive feelings. Deciding announce your engagement during the holidays, you will fill these holidays with new, positive memories for for many years, and you won't be the only one everyone around you is talking about in the evening.

7. NEWSPAPER NOTICE

Although word will spread quickly anyway, a newspaper announcement is a charming way to get the word out to more distant acquaintances – colleagues, former classmates, my first babysitter. It can serve as suggestion to your ushers to make a wedding newspaper for your wedding.

It has no set standards and can have several rubrics about engagement and everything related to it:

• Information about carriers – explanation of who the carriers are and why they were chosen. What they say about the bride and groom.
• How did you meet - the first memories and photos of both of you.
• Childhood – articles about each separately; with what trouble did the bridegroom become recognizable and, how obedient the young wife was in childhood.
• Characteristics – a more personal section of the newspaper where each of the newlyweds is told by their relatives and close friends.
• Questions section - what the new wife and the new husband know about each other. To be more interesting - to both can answer the same question, but separately and then compare the answers in the newspaper.

Although you are eager to announce your engagement to the world, wait a day or two. There is indescribable joy to announce it to parents and friends, but don't forget to enjoy that special adventure too, when an engagement is a celebration just between the two of you. It's very intimate, romantic and special, so enjoy as best you can.

Author of the article: LIENE PÄLĆA
Photo: LINDA LAUVA , KRISTAPS HERTS, BILLIJS LOTS , GATIS LOČMELIS