12 engagement announcements done with style and finesse

Some people are more private than others.  Private people will quietly tell friends and family that they are engaged whereas celebrities and influencers are all about the splash and bling.  Celebrities use social media to publicly announce their engagement as do the influencers. 

Engagement announcements fall into a few categories.  The proposal, the ring, dogs and props. Here are some announcement ideas that have been used by the elite to spread their joy. You may like some of these ideas enough to use for your own announcements after you tell your immediate friends and family.

Using the proposal as the announcement is a common way people share their engagement.  To implement this idea, you will have to have someone standing by with a camera to capture the moment the question is popped.  You will never be able to re-create the look on her (or his) face when she realizes what is happening.  You don't need a professional photographer either as long as it is someone you trust to keep your secret from your fiance and they are comfortable with using a camera. 

Sometimes couples choose to focus on the bling, err the ring, and if it's your style, why not?  You waited a long time for it so why not show off the ring!  Examples range from just the hand with the ring on it, to the couple together showing off the ring, to the couple in the background with the ring in sharp focus. Below are some examples.

Dogs as props? Yes!  However, dogs are elaborate props.  Getting the dogs involved is a popular way to announce your engagement on social media.  All you need is a dog, a ring and a lot of patience!  Training a dog to sit and roll over takes work, but training your dog to sit with the ring on his head takes dedication.  Here are some examples of proposal props, including dogs.

Your social media announcement should represent your personality as a couple.  It can be serious, humorous or irreverent.  There are no real rules other than presenting your true self.  Gathered below are some funny and cute examples of how couples have made their engagement announcements on social media.  You may find one that suits your personality or one of these may just spur a great idea for you to use.

This one won't be for all couples, but it is funny and irreverant!

The Starbucks cup is a fabulous way to announce your engagement, especially if the two of you spend a lot of time at the cafe.  Maybe you prefer some other franchise and you can think of differemt ways to make that work for you.

He's holding a hot sauce packet that says, "Will you marry me?" and she has to choose between the packet that says "Yes" or "No."  You can use your imagination here.  If you love Chinese food, you can substitute hot sauce with soy sauce.

Writing on your hands makes for a cute engagement announcement.  Sharpies were made for this!  His hand could say, "I asked," hers could say "I said yes," and her ring could be flipped around.  Again, you can make these as funny or cutesy as you would like.  

Signs make great engagement announcements. You can write on a wooden board or buy some chalk boards from a craft store.  If you opt for the chalk boards, buy the chalk markers because they write prettier than regular chalk and won't flake off of the board.  Plus, you can try out a few different messages using the chalk board to see which photos come out better. 

People send out engagement announcements to notify their extended circle of family and friends of their change in status.  You have already told your immediate family and friends, and may have updated your status on social media, but you still may want to send out a formal announcement.  There are some great sites that you can go to for your engagement announcement and you can choose from a variety of cards.

Decide whether you want the announcement to be formal or casual.  You can go online and create your own formal or informal announcements and personalize them.  You may decide to use a photo of the two of you or you can opt for no photo. 

Etsy is the go-to site to find different types of cards and custom designs for your announcements.  You can purchase announcements and save the dates.  The best part about using Etsy is the personal service you get when you place an order.  The site is comprised of a multitude of artisans selling their cards, and they are happy to help you achieve the right look for your event.  Click that "message seller" button to ask for a customization so that your cards are exactly as you want them.  Sellers are eager to please so if they can offer you a different design, they will.  Do not be afraid to ask. 

Vistaprint allows you to select a template, customize it and print your invitations through them.  There are themes to choose from such as elegant, traditional, floral, bold, destination etc...and then you choose the size, and paper style.  You can request the free wedding sample kit that includes the different types of paper and designs they offer, so it give you a great idea as to what the paper feels like in your hands.

Zazzle allows you to upload your own design and print from their website. You can also use their existing templates and customize them with your information for your event. Zazzle runs promotions all of the time so you may be able to get your invitations at a discount.  The discount may allow you to get a premium card that you may not have been able to get otherwise.  

Shutterfly has a small assortment of engagement announcements.  If you are on a tight budget, consider using Shutterfly because they often have cards that are on sale for less than $1.00 each, and most orders will qualify for free shipping.

Minted is site similar to Etsy. The custom designs you may select from come with a bonus. You can get unlimited design changes and work with your own personal designer.  The site is always updated with new designs, so check back often. You may order an introductory sample kit and you can receive a sample of any design.

The engagement announcement is usually made by the bride's parents, but if there are no parental figures in the picture, the bride and groom can make the announcement themselves.  Below are some traditional announcement texts that you can use for your engagement announcement.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith of Passaic are happy to announcement the engagement of their daughter Katrina to David Keller, son of Mark and Elisabeth Keller of Bethpage, New York. Ms. Smith is a graduate from Northwestern University, and is a teacher at Riverdell High School in Oradell.  Mr. Keller is a graduate of Northwestern University and is a professor at N.Y.U. in New York. A fall wedding is planned.

The engagement of Katrina Smith, daughter of Mrs. Anna Smith and the late Mr. Joseph Smith, to David Keller, son of Mark and Elisabeth Keller of Bethpage, New York is announced by the bride's mother. Ms. Smith is a graduate from Northwestern University, and is a teacher at Riverdell High School in Oradell.  Mr. Keller is a graduate of Northwestern University and is a professor at N.Y.U. in New York. A fall wedding is planned.

Ms. Anna Smith announces the engagement of her daughter to David Keller, son of Mark and Elisabeth Keller of Bethpage, New York. Ms. Smith is a graduate from Northwestern University, and is a teacher at Riverdell High School in Oradell.  Mr. Keller is a graduate of Northwestern University and is a professor at N.Y.U. in New York. Ms. Smith is also the daughter of Joseph Smith of Santa Fe, New Mexico. A fall wedding is planned.

Mr. Alex Smith announces the engagement of his sister, Katrina Smith to David Keller, son of Mark and Elisabeth Keller of Bethpage, New York. The bride is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith of Passaic. Ms. Smith is a graduate from Northwestern University, and is a teacher at Riverdell High School in Oradell.  Mr. Keller is a graduate of Northwestern University and is a professor at N.Y.U. in New York. A fall wedding is planned.

Katrina Smith, a teacher at Riverdell High School in Oradell, is to be married to David Keller, a professor at N.Y.U. in New York.  Ms. Smith is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith of Passaic.  Mr. Keller is the son of Mark and Elisabeth Keller of Bethpage, New York.  The couple met while attending Northwestern University in Illinois. A fall wedding is planned.

If there is one thing you have learned, it is there is no one rule on how to announce your engagement.  You should do what feels right for you and your fiance.  If you are a formal couple, then perhaps a formal announcement is best for you.  However, if you two are goofballs, you might want to use one of the more humorous type of announcements.  Have fun with sharing your happiness.