Telling your parents (and close family) you're engaged

I was on the phone to mine to tell them straight away. Wouldn't have been able to hold in the news

Well you mentioned wait til your 30 etc etc. So thats why they asked.

Just tell them. What is the worst they will say. No. Your an adult. But tell them before they find out from someone else.

I don't see how how long you've been together effects telling your parents. You are old enough to get married and to make the decision to get married, so you need to tell your parents. FH and I have been together less than a year. Everyone was waiting for us to say we were getting married. They all knew how happy we are and they knew it was coming eventually. Maybe they'll surprise you and you'll realize you were worrying for nothing.

Our culture has perpetuated this horrible notion that you need an over the top proposal or a "cutesy story" to be engaged.

Deciding to get married is an adult decision. It should be a mutual decision by both parties after careful consideration and reflection.

If you have done that, and believe you are ready to embark on this partnership together, then you just come out and say "We're engaged."

That's called being an adult. If you can't recognize that, you're not ready to be married.

Tell them ASAP

If you're 26 then you should have enough balls not be scared of mommy and daddy. Put your big girl panties on and do it.

You don't need to have a super cute story to tell them! If they love your FH, they should be happy for the both of you!

I actually sent my sisters and parents a text right after it happened. We are all super close and I wanted to tell them all at once, so I sent a group text. Then I called my parents (my dad knew since my FH asked him but he kept the secret from my mom)

My FH told his aunt & my mother when he got the ring. He asked me later that day. My father didn't know & I called him right away

As someone who was engaged after just eight months of dating, I get the concern; however, you've made the choice to get married and I am assuming you are keeping with that choice whether or not your parents are enthusiastic about it. If your date is really in two years, you will have been with your FH for a decent amount of time before settling down permanently. Just say "we are getting married in 2019 and we are so excited about this next chapter in our lives."

And then get married and live in bliss

View Quoted Comment I disagree. Adults can get anxious about things. It's normal and doesn't always have to mean something deeper. Also, who knows, maybe OP has an iffy relationship with their parents. I'm nervous about telling mine. It's not because I'm immature - it's because my parents were not very good to me as a kid so our relationship is often a tightrope walk. It's also because I'm a lesbian marrying a transgender woman and my extended family may not receive that well.

Wow! Some of the comments on here are harsh!
Your family and their opinions seems very important to you, and that's okay. There's a stigma against people who get engaged less than a year into the relationship, and it's valid for you to be self conscious about it.
But if you know, you know! I also knew within the first 24 hours that I'd want to marry my FH, it took him 3.5 years to get on board, but I wore him down. (;
Here's something to keep in mind: the reason they'd be worried is because they love you and want you be happily married once and it to last forever. And you're going to prove to them that you have a perfect picker when it comes to your soulmate by being happily married for the rest of your life. So when you tell them, even if they're surprised or worried, know that you're going to dispel those worries. You don't need a cute story, but if it means that much to you, maybe wait until he gets the ring and tell him that you would like him to propose again with the ring.
Now a days, a lot of people get engaged before getting the ring after a discussion. Which is totally great. But we still feel the pressure of having a proposal story. It's okay to give into that and want one after that discussion. That's what we did.
I'm sure it'll be fun to pick out the ring together and fun for him to plan the surprising moment of giving you it.
If it doesn't feel "official" yet to YOU because you haven't been proposed to with the ring, then don't tell friends and family until then. Ignore all the patronizing comments saying otherwise. You ARE an adult and get to decide what's comfortable for you and your FH.
However, if you FEEL engaged OFFICIALLY, and the ring or story don't matter to YOU, then it shouldn't matter to them. You're the one getting married, not your family. If it's enough for you, it should be enough for them.
Let your love support you in this moment. The most important thing is that you'll be marrying your soulmate.

View Quoted Comment I realize that this is a couple of years late and no one will probably see this but as an upcoming bride of a family in which my mother has a drastic form of illness called hatefulness I am so sorry for anyone that had to buy into that mindset. You cannot help how your family acts, and I sincerely hope that all **** things that showed you that you wanted to marry your SO were your sign and not the potential of a narcissistic family member showing out!

I got engaged this weekend with my girlfriend i got the ring and asked the question her mom knows but not her dad... also my parents don’t know either😬

View Quoted Comment How has that worked out for you?? I’ve been with my fiancé a little under a month and a half

When you agree to marry each other, you are engaged. You do not need a ring, or you may get one in the future. The proposal need not be formal or a big deal, or cute. If you have made the decision, and feel it in your heart, tell them.