If your parents are divorced, and particularly if your parents are remarried, you may have to make some special arrangements to accommodate each parent and stepparent. Here are some ways to include everyone appropriately.

Introducing your parents. If you have two sets of parents, you may want to plan a special get - together for both sets of parents to meet your future in - laws at the same time. However, depending on schedules and availability, and depending on sensitive factors, it may be more comfortable for everyone if you plan separate meetings for each set of parents.

The legal and financial aspects of your nuptials should be planned as carefully as the service and the ceremony.


Supporting Each Other. Once you're married, you have a legal responsibility to support each other and your future children. This obligation includes family expense, medical coverage, education, food and housing, and the general upkeep of your household.

Marital Property. Without a prenuptial agreement, marital law generally assumes that each partner's personal assets will become assets of the marriage. just like earnings or assets acquired after the marriage. In the event of a divorce, the court will equitably (but not necessarily equally) divide all assets, no matter whose name is on the title.

The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to enable couples, prior to marriage, to agree to a plan for the division and distribution of the assets they bring to and acquire during their marriage, before the marriage is terminated by death or divorce and before a dispute arises.

Without a “prenup” the variances and varieties of the laws of various states at any point in time can determine how the couple’s assets and debts are divided.

Telling the World

Wedding Announcements—The most important announcement will be to your parents, and this should be made in person, with both you and your fiancé present.

If a personal visit is not possible, you should find time to call and share the good news. It’s up to you as to when you want to tell your other friends and family members about your engagement. Some couples choose to do so immediately and others like to spend a few days sharing their excitement together before madness ensues. A phone call is always more personal, however today, a text message, an email, an update on Facebook, even a Tweet is becoming acceptable.

Often your parents won’t know the groom’s parents. You should arrange a meeting early on because they’ll all want to be involved in the wedding plans.

The most traditional and prestigious way to inform everyone else is through an engagement announcement in your hometown newspaper(s). Most newspapers take two to four weeks to print the announcement, so place it in plenty of time.

Your newspaper office should have a form to complete supplying you with the necessary questions for your article. If you’d like to include a photograph, a black and white photo is preferred, although some publishers accept color photos. Some papers offer color photographs for an additional charge. The picture can be a head to shoulder photo of the bride-to-be or the engaged couple, a three-quarter length shot or even just a headshot or engagement shot from the shoulders up. Each newspaper has different photographic requirements, so contact your local paper for this information.

After the wedding has taken place and even after you’ve returned from your honeymoon, you should place your wedding announcement. The information will be much the same as the engagement announcement, except it should include when and where the wedding took place, the officiator’s name, names of the honor attendant and best man, and often the names of other attendants.

Include a formal picture from your wedding. Follow up with a phone call to the newspaper to confirm receipt of your announcement and photograph.