How did you tell your family and friends you were engaged? Or how did they find out?

FH and I didn't have a fancy proposal. We were looking to book our next cruise and I suggested we make it our honeymoon and he said, "Sure." And I hit the ground running! We booked the cruise and we bought a ring that weekend, deciding to get married the weekend before the cruise. But the real fun came when we told my family we were engaged!

FH wanted to just call them on the phone but I wasn't having it. We have a family meal every Sunday so we brought a bottle of champagne with us. I was hiding my hand all night and nobody noticed, which wasn't super shocking because my nephew was only a year old and all the attention is usually on him bc he's so cute and huggable. So at dinner, my sister asks, "What's with the champagne?" And I say, "We've booked another cruise and we want to celebrate with you guys!" And they all roll their eyes because they don't really care about our extravagant vacation. LOL! We pour the champagne and hand out the glasses, and then we start casually talking about all the amenities we're getting and all the ports we're going to stop in and they're all feigning excitement, asking little questions, pretending to be super interested. So I decide put them out of their misery and I casually say, "This cruise will be extra special though, because we'll be on our honeymoon."

Forks dropped. Mouths were hanging open. Food isn't being chewed. And then there's an excited scream and laughter and tears and lots of hugs and clinking glasses. It was better than a proposal. I'm the last person in our family to get married, and I'm 34, so they were all just so thrilled it was finally happening. Couldn't have asked for a better reaction.

We told his folks in a similar way and then announced it on FB. How did it happen for you? I know it doesn't always go this well, and I know sometimes it goes even better. What's your story?

I called my parents within the hour of him proposing so they would be the first ones to know. Then I sent a group text that included them and my sisters. FMIL knew FH was proposing soon so he just shot both of his parents a text to let them know I said yes. Afterwards, FH made a post on Facebook and so did my mom

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I like this a lot! It's so pragmatic and sweet. Were they just over-the-moon?

That’s such a sweet story! We called my mom first. Then we asked his sister if his parents were home and she said that she and their mom we’re away for the night so we told them to call us when all three were together. They kept asking why and we just said it was nice to talk to them all at the same time. They thought we were either engaged or pregnant lol.

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LOL nice! You gave them something to talk about for a bit. I bet they were on pins and needles!!

My fmil actually said "Oh good. You finally wised up." lol! My FH was so sweet and awkward - he was dealing with me being anxious thanks to diabetes, so he derailed his first plans to do a more elaborate proposal. Looking back, I think I would've died if it had been on public! He tried to sneak the ring box by wearing his hoodie when it was 90 degrees out, so that shows how much planning went in. But that adorable nervousness is who he is! He asked me at the same restaurant where he quietly told me he liked me, so it was kind of full circle and super sweet. Kind of wish I hadn't told my mom what was coming because she kind of went "he asked finally, congrats!" Instead of being super shocked. But I'll get her when i hopefully get pregnant!

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Drats! They had an idea before you even said anything! Though I do love that "finally wised up" crack.

Yeah I told them the same day and post it on Facebook.

My FH proposed to me at 27th birthday dinner. My whole family was already there.

He proposed on a Saturday and I didn't tell anyone until the next day. I wanted just 24 hours of enjoying it, just me and him.

The very next day I sent a text message of the ring to my sister (MOH) and her fiance. And then another to FH's mom and brother. My mom didn't even look at her phone until Monday and didn't realize what it was until I called her after work. She thought I was just sending her a photo of my hand

My extended family might know, not sure. I didn't announce it anywhere else, but I know my mom did tell her sisters. Most of my friends know.

My husband had been telling my mom, sister, his mom and his sister about proposing to me, when the week that he decided came he told me if I wanted to have a date night to which I agreed and let it at that. We planned it for Thursday night and then Wednesday my hubby tells me that they asked him to work Thursday if we can do that same night instead, I said yes and looked out my office window to see a gray sky full of clouds ready to rain. A few minutes later he tells me he wants to go to Santa Monica Pier (where we had our 1st date) to have dinner, at this point its sprinkling and I am having doubts about going to the pier on the beach with this freezing cold. Whatever I think, my crazy guy and his ideas so I brushed it off and kept working. My hubby tells me then that he's going to Uber to my job so we can take one car (odd, he hates uber). Gets to my job and has to pee every few seconds, lol what a weirdo I thought lol. We made the drive to the pier and I swear it was raining and the wind was blowing, I am pretty sure our families thought the plan would change but it kept going. We arrive at the pier and although still windy the rain stopped and my hubbys says lets get on the ferris wheel first like our first date. So he pulls me to the lie, we jump on and he began to profess hi love to me and propose. When we got back down our families waited for us to celebrate the occasion and announced it on social media about two weeks later on new years! Only our moms and sisters knew, if I saw anyone I didn't hide it I would happily announce it!

My parents and sisters knew WEEKS before the proposal. I was distracted and studying for the Bar Exam at the time so if they were acting differently than normal I didn’t notice. After the proposal, I sent pictures to my closest friends, and called my mom and grandparents. I let my mom and dad tell a limited number of people, then posted on Facebook.

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I love that you waited a day. We had to hold it in for 4 days before we told anyone! It was excruciating!! LOL at your mom not noticing that ring on your finger! My mom would have reacted the same way, I'm sure!

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So you guys got to the pier and your family was there and you didn't even know?! That's crazy! I would spot my mom a mile away and ruin the surprise for sure!!

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I love the sweet stories that involve families being clued in beforehand. It's such a nice gesture and I bet they were just bubbling over and couldn't wait to celebrate the news with you.

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Were they surprised or did they already suspect? How did they react, girl?! I need details!

FH bought the ring in May (with no plan for how/when to propose...just knew he wanted to). He bought it online (blue nile) and had it delivered to the FedEX holding facility so he just had my parents pick it up since we live together. They knew all along. He proposed in August on my birthday with my Mom/Dad/Sister watching (albeit from afar). We had been together almost 2yrs, we bought a house together last winter... one of my friends told me, we had been on "engagement watch" anyways. I am a teacher and any major thing we did all summer (Disney World, San Antonio family trip, etc.) I had coworkers texting me and asking if he'd proposed yet. We texted our closest friends and he called his parents to tell them I said "yes" and then we posted on social media to tell the rest of the world.

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This is too cute. I love that you were on "engagement watch"! That must have been so deflating to get back from each trip and have people asking questions about something that didn't happen. I'm glad you had such a happy proposal!

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My family didn't know so they were all crying with me and surprised but his family members were in on it.

View Quoted Comment They were very excited, so once it happened they were thrilled that they didn’t have to keep the secret anymore 😂