Recently engaged? Get to know all about wedding engagement etiquette, and how you can celebrate your engagement the best possible way!

So, you just got engaged—congratulations! Your engagement is certain to be one of the blissful periods of your life, aglow with new romance and commitment. And of course, you want to share the news with your friends and family as soon as possible! However, when announcing your engagement to your friends and family, keep in mind the rules surrounding wedding etiquette.

You’re ecstatic to share the news, of course, and you want everyone to share your happiness. Adhering to some basic wedding engagement etiquette rules can prevent any unwanted social mishaps between you and your loved ones. You don’t need any drama to cloud the happy occasion.

Here are some simple etiquette concerns every couple should keep in mind when discussing the engagement.

The Firsts-to-Know

Today, everything is digital. The internet makes blitzing out information a breeze, and many couples’ first instinct is to post their news on social media right away. However, certain special life events (such as your engagement) deserve a more intimate and personalized touch.

Your inner circle—any close friends and family members—would likely appreciate learning about your engagement straight from the source. Before you put up your gushing Instagram or Facebook post, arrange simple get-togethers like a brunch or a dinner party for these family and chosen family members. If in-person gatherings are not an option, you can always schedule a phone or video call instead.

If you and your partner want to keep the news a little more private, ask your loved ones to keep the news to themselves for now. Other people can find out whenever you’re ready. Just make sure to let the most important people in your lives know first.

Share, But Don’t Show Off Is Good Wedding Engagement Etiquette

When it comes to sharing news on social media, it is important to exercise some tact. Some of your followers may ask tricky questions that require extra care in answering. “Am I invited?” “Can I invite a plus one?” “How much does your wedding cost?” These questions are bound to arise. Be thoughtful and strategic in how you answer them.

When it comes to questions about your guest list, you can also say that you have not finalized it yet. You can also choose to say that you opted for a smaller guest list because of venue or travel constraints, especially considering the current Covid-19 pandemic.

As a general rule, be careful of oversharing on social media. While engagements are certainly well worth documenting, your followers do not need to know every little detail. Practicing good online etiquette means knowing what and when to post, taking care to avoid saturating your followers’ feeds with your engagement and wedding plans.

The Engagement Party

Another critical event during this period will be your wedding engagement party, so it’s important to keep certain etiquette guidelines in mind. An engagement party takes some careful planning and advance notice to ensure the celebration goes off without a hitch.

A proper engagement party announcement should, at the very least, address the following elements: the host, the venue, the date, the guest list, the menu, and the theme. As a rule of thumb, only invite those who will be invited to the actual wedding. Also, take care to consider your guests’ budgets and accessibility while planning.

Finally, remember that an engagement party is often when many in the couple’s inner circles might first meet one another. Keep the conversation light, and avoid touching on any touchy subjects to keep the occasion joyous.

Send “Save the Date” Invites as Good Wedding Engagement Etiquette

Once you’ve celebrated with the inner circle, it’s time to let everyone else know. Get those “save the date” invites ready! Sending out your invites solidifies your guest list and is one more concrete step toward the big day.

Proper engagement etiquette suggests choosing a wedding date that gives your guests enough time to prepare appropriately. This may mean scheduling your wedding as far out as a year in advance just to confirm that everything is in order and those important to you can attend.

Beyond, well, The Date, your “save the date” announcements can include whatever other information you’ve finalized—the theme, the location (if you’re planning a destination wedding), et cetera. The hard invite will come later; this is just a heads up for your guests that they will be invited.

Finally, Plan Your Wedding!

Once you have all of your engagement plans and events ready to go, it’s time to plan your actual wedding! Obviously, the engagement process flows right into wedding planning, and so it’s important to keep the same etiquette rules in mind. This will ensure that your plans go smoothly, and you enjoy the occasion to the fullest.

One of the most important elements of your planning is establishing the wedding theme. This serves as the backbone for all the other elements. Your wedding theme should be a reflection of your personality as a couple, and true to your identities. A great theme can make your guests even more excited about attending your wedding.

Once you have your theme pinpointed, everything else will fall into place. From your venue to your decor, to picking the perfect wedding dress with a vendor like Afarose, everything stems from this theme.

More than just your online bespoke wedding dress designer, Afarose is the go-to destination for all your wedding needs and solutions. From popping the question to tying the knot, Afarose has all the tips you need to ensure your wedding is picture-perfect.

Check out the latest designs and advice and start planning your special day!

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