They proposed and you said ‘Yes’! It is real — you are getting married! A part of you is in a complete state of disbelief. You thought it might happen to you one day and now it actually has, and those euphoric feelings transport you on to Cloud Nine!
In a single moment your status has changed from ‘in a relationship’ to ‘engaged’, and a whole new world has opened up ahead of you. It will be amazing and you feel like you are the only person who has ever been engaged to be married!
Sharing the Good News
Now it is time to announce your engagement to share your exciting news with your respective families. You also need to set-about planning your very special day; ‘how’, ‘when’ and ‘where’, immediately spring to mind.
A plan of action is certainly required, and choosing the right moment to break the happy news is important. You need to ensure that no-one feels left out or offended by hearing the news only by chance.
Who is the Lucky Man (or Woman)?
Of course, you may be introducing your future spouse as someone your family and friends already know or, conversely, a ‘dark horse’ whom they have never met. Or you may have to announce your wedding partner as someone who is not the ‘flavour of the month’ with some of your other friends! It can, and does happen.
Being Sensitive
You may have an older sibling who has been trawling the dating sites but hasn’t yet managed to find a partner. It will be important to share your happy news gently and with sensitivity as to their situation.
It may be that your parents are going through an acrimonious divorce and the thought of them standing alongside each other fills them both with horror. If this is the case then you need to think very carefully and sensitively about how you incorporate them both within your wedding arrangements. Should they sit together or at opposite ends of the top table? It can be difficult.
Quick Tips:
- Speak to your parents and prospective in-laws individually to give them the good news.
- Make both sets of parents feel they are part of the decision making and planning process.
- Bring together members of both families as soon as possible to help them to get to know one another. This is really important as you will all need to work in harmony to make your wedding a success.
- Be sensitive to other people’s feelings. This may be a very happy time for you but possibly a little sad for others who are not so fortunate in their own personal circumstances.
Article by Carole Spiers, Love and Relationship Expert
Image from Pixabay