How to Announce Your Wedding in the Newspaper

Methods of communication and how we access and read the news has changed dramatically over the course of the last few decades alone. We no longer have to rely on the mailman dropping off our morning paper to get our fill on what's going on in the world—and in our backyards. But when our parents were younger, newspapers still served this all-important purpose, which is why it's likely that your parents had a wedding announcement in their local newspaper.

Wedding newspaper announcements are a more modern adaptation of a religious tradition that stretches back centuries, explains McKenzi Taylor, founder of Cactus Collective Weddings in Las Vegas. "Between 1215 and 1563, couples were required by the Catholic Church to give notice of intent to marry, which gave their communities the opportunity to object in order to prevent invalid marriages," she says. "This practice was still in use during America's Colonial period and by the mid-1800s, the announcements were occupying space in the newspapers as well as the church bulletin." She explains that it was around the mid-19th century when wedding newspaper announcements became a way for high-society folks to brag that they were marrying another prominent person.

In this article:

• Do People Still Announce Engagements in the Newspaper?
• Do You Have to Announce Your Wedding in the Newspaper?
• How Much Are Wedding Newspaper Announcements?
• How to Put a Wedding Announcement in the Newspaper
• How to Write a Wedding Announcement for the Newspaper
• Wedding Announcement Wording Newspaper Examples

Do People Still Announce Engagements in the Newspaper?

Engagement announcements in newspapers are still very much a thing, but it's more of a fun tradition than an expectation, explains Kevin Dennis, owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services in Livermore, California. "You'll likely see noteworthy families and public figures announcing their engagements, but just as many 'normal' and everyday couples take to submitting their love stories to newspapers," he says. "Not every newspaper has an engagement column, but the majority of papers do, with many newspapers also offering an online version of their issues or having a dedicated news website in addition to physical copies."

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Do You Have to Announce Your Wedding in the Newspaper?

By no means are you required to announce your wedding in the newspaper. In fact, many couples don't even consider it because it's no longer a societal expectation. Additionally, with wedding planning taking over so much of their schedule and to-do list, many couples don't even consider it a priority. That said, Dennis points out that it is certainly a cool tradition to follow, and it makes for a great keepsake if your engagement gets featured in print.

How Much Are Wedding Newspaper Announcements?

Unbeknownst to many people, wedding newspaper announcements typically require a payment, but this is largely dependent on the newspaper. For example, a placement in your local town's newspaper might be free, but a placement in the Chicago Tribune, for example, starts at $1,800. Announcement size and photo inclusion may also require a fee, notes Dennis. "That said, some national newspapers, such as the New York Times, can be free, but submissions may be more competitive," he adds.

How to Put a Wedding Announcement in the Newspaper

Crafting a memorable newspaper wedding announcement begins with understanding the actual steps required to be able to share your news with the world.

Share Your News With the Right People

Make sure that you've shared your engagement news with your close friends and family prior to submitting it to a newspaper. "If a family member found out about your engagement in the local paper rather than from you and your partner, that could open a major can of worms," says Dennis. "It's not required that you share your engagement with anyone you don't feel comfortable sharing it with, of course, but just be mindful of this."

Submit Your Announcement Early

If the newspaper is very popular, like the New York Times, Colton Simmons, New England-based photographer and owner of Colton Simmons Photography, recommends submitting early. "There can be large lead times for these publications, so even if you got it in before their deadline date, you could still be in the queue behind hundreds of weddings happening during the same time of year," he says. "You can never get penalized for being early but may suffer the consequences of being on time."

Understand the Newspaper's Guidelines

If you're hoping for a print announcement, Dennis recommends first taking into consideration the newspaper's guidelines. "Make sure that you're abiding by their preferred lead time (how far in advance you need to submit before it's announced), their photo requirements and what format they'd like the announcement in," he says. "Each newspaper will have different expectations, so bear in mind that you'll need to do your research before preparing a submission."

Send All the Requested Information

When submitting an engagement announcement to a newspaper, you should include the following information: your full names, the date of your engagement, the location of your engagement, your love story, your parents' names, your occupation and education, your wedding plans and, lastly, your contact information. Some newspapers may have specific formats or word limits, so be sure to follow their instructions carefully. Don't forget to proofread for grammar mistakes as well!

How to Write a Wedding Announcement for the Newspaper

Follow this step-by-step guide on how to write a wedding announcement for a newspaper.

Start With the Basics

The newspaper can't publish your announcement without the basic information including who is getting married, the date of the wedding and where it will take place. "Then you are going to want to include the parents that will be giving you away and maybe include anything culturally relevant, in the case that it'll be an Indian or Jewish ceremony," says Simmons.

Share Your Love Story

Share a brief overview of your relationship history and love story, including how you met, your journey as a couple and any memorable moments leading up to the proposal and wedding day. Check out these tips for crafting your love story.

Add Wedding Details

Leo Sotelo, owner of Story Alley Photography, recommends including your wedding date and location, and sharing celebration details. "Highlight key details about the wedding ceremony and reception, including the venue, theme, officiant, wedding party and any special traditions or customs incorporated into the event," he says. You could also include a link to your wedding website.

Proofread and Make Any Necessary Revisions

It's a good idea to have a few different people read over your announcement before you submit it to the newspaper to check for grammar, spelling and any punctuation errors.

Follow the Newspaper's Guidelines

"Editors will typically prioritize those that follow the guidelines, so take a look to see what's being requested on their form," says Dennis. "Not every newspaper will ask for the same information, so if you're submitting your announcement to multiple outlets, be sure to adjust as necessary."

Click "Submit"

Here's the fun part! Submit your wedding announcement to the newspaper according to their preferred method, whether it's online submission, email or snail mail.

Wedding Announcement Wording Newspaper Examples

Here are some wedding announcement wording newspaper examples as shared by experts.

Colton & Katrina Simmons, along with their families, are delighted to announce their marriage, which will be taking place on August 18th at Rachel's Lakeside in Dartmouth, MA. They are excited to visit Bermuda for their honeymoon. When they return, they will both be embarking on new journeys, as Katrina will be starting nursing school and Colton will be pursuing a degree in Graphic Design. In the future, they hope to start their own business one day and have at least 4-5 children.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Julia Miller have the pleasure of announcing the marriage of their children, Elizabeth Mary and Martin Miller, on the twelfth of February, two thousand twenty at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan, NY.

[Your parents] and [partner's parents] are pleased to announce the engagement of [your name] and [partner's name] of [your city]. [Your name] graduated from [school name] and is currently employed at [company name]. [Partner's name] graduated from [school name] and is currently employed at [company name]. They are planning a June wedding.