The second best thing about getting engaged is getting to announce  your engagement to the world. As tempting as it might be to recklessly shout the news to the nearest person nearby, an alternative way is to create an announcement that can be shared with friends and family. Below are four creative suggestions to announce your engagement:

4. Create an e-announcement

The fastest and easiest way to announce your engagement to as many people as possible is to send them an email announcement. Now, sending an email might sound kind of lame for those who are traditionalists, but these days it’s possible to create an announcement that’s both elegant and sophisticated and definitely not cheap (or at least it won’t look that way). Pretty much any e-card website will let you create and send an engagement announcement easily, and some will let you send one for free.

3. Announce your engagement via video

Believe it or not, you can easily create a video without having to learn how to handle a video camera. Just use a simple video editing software (for Windows, Windows Movie Maker; for Mac, iMovie) to create a slide show  of images. Set the slide show with your favorite song, export it and voila! Upload the video to YouTube and then share the link with friends and family.

2. Have your announcement published

Try submitting your engagement announcement to local newspapers or to magazines like Engagement 101. You can then send copies to friends and family or email scans of the article.

1. Throw a party

Nothing beats this classic method. Invite all your friends and family over for a fun-filled Saturday of hor’dourves and chit-chat. Then, after dinner, bring out a cake that says, “We’re Engaged!” on it.