How to Write a Wedding Announcement

Learning how to write a wedding announcement is an important part of wedding etiquette. While invitations ask people to join you in celebrating your wedding, announcements simply make people aware that ceremony takes place. It’s appropriate to send announcements to people who are not invited to the wedding, such as very distant relatives or casual acquaintances. You may also wish to send an announcement to the local newspaper.

Announce your happy marriage.

There are several things you should include in your announcement.

• The name of both persons in the couple
• The date of the wedding, including the year
• The location of the wedding ceremony

Additionally, you can include where you spent your honeymoon, a small tidbit about the ceremony or reception, a poem or quote and a personal greeting. Some people also choose to include a bit of background about the couple, such as their careers or schooling if appropriate, or where they will make their new home together.

Just as important as what you put in your announcement is what you don’t put in your wedding announcement. Never include any of the following:

• An apology for not inviting the person
• Reasoning as to why the person wasn’t invited (i.e. our wedding was very small)
• A request for a gift or a mention of your registry
• The time of the ceremony
• The location of the reception

There is an exception to these rules if you eloped, hence having no guests at your wedding. It is fine to mention the fact of the elopement in your announcements, if you so desire.

If you’re really unsure as to what to write, just keep it simple. For example, use the text below:

With joyful hearts, Bride Name and Groom Name announce their marriage on Wedding Date at Wedding Location. After a honeymoon in Place the couple now resides at Address.

You can make the text generic, as above; word it so that is in second person, as if coming from you and your spouse; or write it as if it is coming from one or both sets of your parents.

If you need more advice on how to write a wedding announcement, there are many wedding announcement wording samples available online. You can also buy pre-printed announcement cards and just fill in the details.

• Southworth.com has two sample announcements, as well as details on wording for other wedding related items, such as invitations and save the date cards.
• Unbridaled Wedding Ideas has several announcement ideas, ranging from the formal to the funny.
• Wiregrass Weddings has sample announcements in the more formal style only.

While sending plain text announcements is fine, and pretty calligraphy on card stock works well, some couples like to include imagery too. A picture of the two of you is a good idea, especially for announcements that will go in the local newspaper. You may also wish to include romantic images, such as hearts, doves, or rings. Just don’t go overboard with decorations or elaborate cards. You need not spend as much money on your announcements as you do on your wedding invitations.

You should wait to send announcements until after the wedding has taken place. That way you can help to prevent hurt feelings among people who were not invited, and avoid any potential wedding crashers. Most couples choose to send them after they’ve returned from their honeymoon, or even mailing them the day of the wedding.

However, you should not wait longer than one month after the ceremony so the announcements do not seem to be an afterthought on your part. If you end up having a significant delay in sending them out for any reason, it’s perfectly fine to inform people of your wedding in person, by telephone, or by email instead.

Knowing how to write a wedding announcement properly can help you spread the word about your nuptials in a polite and appropriate way, even if you weren’t able to invite everyone to your event.

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