Weddings are something you want to shout from the rooftops, so putting a marriage announcement in the newspaper is an easy way to effectively do so and save your voice. While wedding announcements in the newspaper are traditional, you don't have to announce your wedding in the newspaper if you don't want to.
Newspaper Wedding Announcement Templates
If you're not sure how to write your wedding announcement, you can use a newspaper wedding announcement template. These wedding announcement examples are completely customizable or you can simply insert your personal information and submit. Check out samples of wedding announcement wording or use free printable wedding announcements as other resources to craft your own newspaper announcement.
Traditional Newspaper Pre-Wedding Announcement Template
Traditional wedding announcements use pre-wedding wording to share that a wedding is upcoming and the wedding is introduced by the parents of the bride, groom, or both.
It is with great pride that (Parent of the groom names) of (Current town of residence) and (Parent of the bride names) of (Current town of residence) announce the upcoming wedding of their children, (Groom's full name) and (Bride's full name).
(Groom's first name) was born and raised in (Hometown, State). He attended (College Name) earning a degree in (Field of study). (Groom's first name) currently works at (Name of workplace) where he's been a (Job title) for (Number) years.
(Bride's first name) was born and raised in (Hometown, State). She attended (College Name) earning a degree in (Field of study). (Bride's first name) currently works at (Name of workplace) where she's been a (Job title) for (Number) years.
(Groom's first name) and (Bride's first name) will become Mr. and Mrs. (Married last name) on (wedding date) before friends and family at (Wedding venue name) in (Wedding venue town).
Creative Newspaper Post-Wedding Announcement Template
Modern couples who aren't excited about sharing their education and achievements with the world can appease traditional parents and stay true to who they are with creative wedding announcements. You can even include fun elements like engagement announcement poems and verses.
It's happily ever after for Mr. (Groom's full name) and Mrs. (Bride's full married name)! Once upon a time, on (Wedding date), they said "I do." in front of the people who love them most. (Bride's name) looked like a fairytale princess wearing a (Dress type) gown. (Groom's name) showed off his inner Prince Charming wearing a (Tux type) tuxedo/suit. (Wedding venue name) served as their castle where they sealed their love and their fate with a magical kiss.
What Should the Announcement Say?
In some ways, the wording of a wedding announcement in the newspaper hasn't changed much in several generations. newspapers you hope to announce in.
Standard Newspaper Wedding Announcement Inclusions
Whether you are announcing the engagement or the wedding itself, the standard procedure is to give a lot of information about the families and accomplishments of the bride and groom. Beyond that, it depends upon the limitations of the paper and your budget, as most papers charge by the word. Couples should also be aware that some newspapers have a standard format for wedding announcements and extra information may not be permitted.
- Full name of bride and groom
- Where the bride and groom attended college
- Where the bride and groom work or their occupational field
- Full names of both sets of parents
- Grandparent names for the bride and groom
- Hometown of all parties mentioned
- Current town of residence for all parties mentioned
- Where the wedding will (or did) take place
- Wedding date
Optional Newspaper Wedding Announcement Inclusions
Many modern newspapers do welcome creativity and storytelling, particularly if there is something unique or amusing in the couple's story. Many of the wedding announcements printed in The New York Times say something about how the couple met, for example. If the announcement is made after the wedding, there is something said about the ceremony itself, such as details about the dress or the wedding location.
- Description of the bride's dress and jewelry
- The couple's love story
- Description of their engagement
- Bridal party names and attire
- Type of wedding ceremony and officiant's name
- Unique parts of the wedding ceremony
- The number of wedding guests expected/in attendance
- Honeymoon location
- Names of shared pets or children
Newspaper Wedding Announcement Etiquette
Etiquette for newspaper wedding announcements varies from family to family and region to region, but many people follow a similar set of guidelines.
When to Send It In
A big city newspaper is going to have a different procedure from a smaller, more local publication. They all typically have websites that will advise as to the best time to send something in for publication consideration, including deadlines for announcements that include photographs. If you want to announce the wedding before the date, you'll have to be very proactive. Many newspapers have limited space and a lot of competition, so preparing the announcement well in advance for submission consideration by submitting at least three weeks before publication is ideal.
Should You Include a Photograph?
Adding a photograph to your newspaper wedding announcement is a personal choice, but a photograph makes the piece more personal and helps people better identify you. For some couples, it may come down to pricing. The cost of a wedding announcement in a local newspaper without a photo may be free or cost as little as $25 while a larger announcement with a photo in a city newspaper might cost upwards of $400. Be sure to get the photographer's release for the engagement or wedding photo you select.
Buy Extra Copies
While it's expected that friends and family members would purchase their own copy of the newspaper, it's also nice for the bride, groom, and their parents to purchase a few extra copies. You'll want to clip announcements for your own keepsakes, but it's also nice to clip them for out-of-town guests who might want a copy.
Wedding Announcement in the Newspaper History
Announcing an engagement or marriage wasn't always about the joy of the event. It was quite serious, related to the old tradition of "reading of the banns." This was important, because it gave anyone in the community ample time to step forward and say that the ceremony should not take place. Until recently, marriage was regarded more as a business arrangement than anything else, and it was a way even middle-class families could better themselves. If a son or daughter was marrying into a good family with money, saying as much to the world at large could change both families' fortunes for years to come.
Newspaper Traditions in a Digital Age
While you can still have the same information printed online, it doesn't have the same look or feel as seeing your wedding announcement in newspaper print. You can print the announcement and keep it in the wedding album as another lovely token of the day. Check out samples of engagement announcements for more wedding announcement inspiration if you plan to craft your own.
