Wedding Announcements

Weddings are traditionally announced by the bride's parents, who may send announcements to relatives and friends not sent invitations to the wedding. They are sent after the wedding has taken place, never before. When circumstances permit, announcementsd are sent the day after the wedding. If the newlyweds eloped or the decision to send announcements was made late, the announcements may still be sent -- any time up to one year afterwards is acceptable.

Wedding announcements follow the same format as the invitations. They are engraved in black ink on ecru or white letter sheets. If wedding invitations arew being sent, the announcements match the invitations. Many brides, however, send their announcements on stationery that is smaller than the stationery used for their invitations. There is no point of etiquette that suggests this as being more proper. Rather, it is a matter of personal preference. Like the invitations, wedding announcements are mailed in double envelopes. They are addressed using the same etiquette that is used for addressing wedding invitation envelopes.

The bride's parents "have the honour of announcing" the marriage. "Have the honour to announce" may also be used. A less formal phrase "announce the marriage of their daughter," is occasionally used, although its use may be misconstrued as suggesting the bride's parents disapprove of the marriage (since "honour" is not mentioned).

Since wedding announcements are sent after the wedding has taken place, they announce a past event. Therefore, the year is always included. It is written out on its own line following the date as "Two thousand and one." If the wedding was held in a chruch, temple, or synagogue, the name of the house of worship is mentioned beneath the year.

Wedding announcements may also be sent by the bride and groom themselves. The bride's name and title appear on the first line. "And" constitutes the second line. The groom's name appears on line three. The bride and groom simply announce their marriage. They do not "have the honour" of doing so since that would be presumptuous. Neither do they "joyfully" announce since their happiness is assumed.

Most wedding announcements are sent with at-home cards. At-home cards are small enclosure cards on which your address is given.

We are having a small wedding. I would like to send announcements but I don't want anybody to think I'm asking for a gift.

Wedding announcements simply announce the fact that you have gotten married. They do not require their recipients to send gifts. Neither does the inclusion of an at-home card. At-home cards merely make it easier for your family and friends to stay in touch with you.

When should I order my wedding announcements?

Since wedding announcements are sent anytime from the day after the wedding until one year later, you have plenty of leeway in ordering your announcements. Most brides, however, order their announcements when they order their invitations. If you are not ordering wedding invitations, you should order your announcements as soon as you have all the pertinent information so they can be mailed as soon after your wedding as possible.

We are having a small wedding in August and a large reception in September. Is it proper to enclose a reception card with our announcements?

Invitations to a late reception should not be sent with your announcements. Your wedding and your late reception are separate events. They therefore require separate mailings.