How to word engagement announcements?

Your newspaper should be able to help you with the etiquette on this. You can also look on theknot.com.

just read the other announcements in the paper. they usually write it for you- you just fill out a form with the pertinent info. you list where you live and work, siblings, parents etc. it doesn't matter what order the parents names are in because everyone will assume the newspaper wrote it.

The previous answers are right about looking at local newspapers as a an engagement announcement template. However if you're announcing it on mailed engagement invitations or online or any other way, there are some guidelines.

Introduce yourself and your fiance. Indicate your parents and fiance's parents. Often people include their education credentials and current jobs. Definitely include interesting or relevant information. People love to know what you're up to.

As for the wedding date, often people omit the specific wedding date in the engagement announcement. This can help so that no one knows you'll be out of the house (theft protection) and so that people who might want to come, but aren't invited, won't be able to easily crash the event. Just say a "fall wedding is planned" or something similar.