In the digital era, making announcements for any occasion is pretty common. You know your friend from high school has declared a certain breakfast spot ‘utterly ideal’, your co-worker’s announcement of their newest plant-child, and your younger sibling’s every move.
However, there are some announcements that still remain somewhat sacred in the land of social media, and your wedding or engagement announcement sits at the top of the tree.
So, how do you do it ‘right?’ As in, how do you not come off as obnoxious, or how do you meander coming across a little too nonchalant (to the point where people might wonder if you’re even excited?)
Do you go for the flashy carousal post where everyone gets to see the entire story – from the spot you thought you were simply having dinner at to the ultimate star on your finger, or do you play it lowkey and post a snippet of the magic?
Here are some tips to keep in your back pocket on how to announce your special news on social media:
1. Make sure those closest to your heart about it before you go live on socials:
The last thing you want to rain on your engagement parade is an unhappy friend or family member. Before you break the internet, make sure you tell those closest to your heart first, and especially those who will certainly see it on social media first.
2. Use photos that are meaningful to you, or do a shoot
Not everyone grabs perfect photos from their engagement moment. Your nails might not be on point, your partner may ve wearing the same outfit as in your last post, or all the photos are blurry. Now, you may be part of a pretty funky couple that sees these as part of their own chill aesthetic, and if that sounds like your relationship then go for it in posting. Instagram especially is long past its curated look, with photo-dumps showing more organic life ruling the roost. However, if you really want to go the full 9-yards and have a little shoot (either professionally or at the trust hands of your phone camera on timer) then that’s amazing too. The bottom line here is to use photos that are meaningful to your relationship – not glossy photos that aren’t you or your partner, or an obscure ring that isn’t even yours found on the Internet.
3. Use a caption that speaks to your relationship and your audience simultaneously
It’s a special announcement and so no matter which platform you’re using (par Twitter / X) a longer caption is more than allowed. However, you can also keep it short and sweet by using a quote from a song, film or book that says it all. You can even stick to the same emoji you have next to your partner’s name on your phone if you want, but the key focus here is using a caption that again, is special to your relationship and won’t be uncomfortable for your audience. Ie: Telling your audience that you’re better than everyone else because you won’t die alone is probably not a good way to announce your special news.
4. Make a story highlight for the build-up to the big day, not necessarily separate posts
We know you’re excited, and most of your close friends and followers will be too! However, that doesn’t mean that everyone expects or wants a daily update on what you’re doing for the wedding. If you do want to document the big build up, all the cake flavours you tried and wedding locations you scouted, put them on your stories (either Facebook or Instagram) and compile them in a highlight. The bonus of collecting all these moments is that you’ll have a whole trailer before the wedding, and it could also make an incredible TikTok.
While we’re on the topic of weddings, you can WIN your own!
We all know that planning a wedding can be stressful, so why put yourself in line to win one?
Woman&Home is running a competition where you can stand the chance to win a wedding valued at a whopping R464 600, including the venue for the big day – Boschendal Farm, an incredible wedding planner, a professional wedding photographer, stylish rides to and from the venue, a rental dress from Blanco Bridal Couture, and so much more!
Itching to find out how you can win? Click through on the link below, and fill out the form. It’s as simple as that! Good luck.
Feature Image: Unsplash