When you get married, it is only natural to want to shout the good news from the rooftops. There are some great ways to spread the news, as well as some that are not the best. From formal announcements to informal methods, this is a look at the different ways to announce your wedding.

The most traditional way to let the world know about your wedding is with an announcement in the newspaper. Even though the newspaper industry is not what it once was, everyone still loves flipping to the wedding section to see all of the pictures! There are a few different types of newspaper announcements; there are engagement announcements which are printed before the wedding, and the announcement of the marriage, which is printed after the fact. Consult your local newspaper to find out which type they offer.

If you are planning to put an announcement in the paper, you will want to have a special photo taken of the two of you to include. When the announcement is posted prior to the wedding, it will be an engagement photo. These types of photos were traditionally posed and taken in a scenic setting while wearing a pretty dress and maybe a piece of your bridal jewelry. Today, however, there is a trend towards more eclectic engagement photos, ones which are shot with a photojournalistic feeling. Check with the newspaper before hiring a photographer, because some (like the New York Times) have very specific rules about the pictures they will accept.

When the announcement is run in the paper after the wedding, your favorite wedding photo will be what you use. Be sure to pick one that really shows off the details of your bridal gown, jewelry, and tiara, because people always want to know what the bride wore! Keep in mind that the picture will be printed in black and white, so a higher contrast image may look better. The wording of these features is fairly standard: the who, what, when, where, and why.

Another option for letting people know about your wedding is a printed wedding announcement. These are not the same as the invitations which are used to ask guests to attend your ceremony. The wedding announcements are mailed out the day following the event. The purpose is to let extended family and friends know about the marriage. Never ever make the mistake of sending out a wedding invitation after the event thinking it can serve the purpose of a separate announcement; it is sure to offend the recipients. By the way, the customary response to a wedding announcement is a card or note, not usually a gift.

One of the nicest ways to let people know about your wedding is in person or with a handwritten note. Email and voicemail are too impersonal to share something so special. Just be careful about whom you tell and when. More than a few brides have had their casual acquaintances or co-workers assume that they would be invited to the wedding just because the bride shared the news with them in the beginning!

A wedding is a joyous occasion, and people both near and far will be delighted to hear of your good news. Now that you know how to spread the word, you can go out and tell everyone!