When it's time to announce your engagement, you'll want to start with those people closest to you -- parents, siblings, and grandparents. If this is a second marriage for either party and there are children from the first marriage, they, and most often the former spouse, should be the first to know.

The most intimate and immediate way to tell your family and closest friends is by telephone, but it may not be practical to call everyone else. If you have out-of-town friends with whom you often share the details of your lives via e-mail, then it's perfectly acceptable to announce your engagement to them this way. Be aware, though, that some people prefer to hear big news over the phone, so if there is even the slightest possibility that someone you know will be offended, put him or her on your "to-call" list.

Many couples announce their engagements at a party thrown for them by parents or close friends. Some keep the reason for the party a secret, and announce the news during a toast at the beginning of the evening. Others send out printed invitations with the reason for the celebration detailed on the cards. Be advised: A guest at your engagement party will probably expect an invitation to your wedding, so plan this first guest list wisely.

Nearly every American newspaper allots space in its lifestyle section for couples to announce their impending nuptials. But each newspaper follows its own protocols. Some charge a fee; others run them for free. Some newspapers encourage photos, while some run only text. You might submit your announcements to several papers if you and your intended come from different cities or if your parents or future in-laws live in other states.

Newspapers require the information as early as four months before the wedding, though it may take a month or more to print it. A paper's staff is almost never able to give the specific date on which an announcement will run, so count on spending a few minutes each day thumbing through the paper to find yours.

Many couples choose to announce their engagement as well as their marriage after the big day. Some just choose to announce their marriage and not their engagement. It is strictly a personal decision that often depends on timing and circumstances.