By Meredith Bodgas, Glamour magazine
I don't know about you, but I find out that many of my Facebook friends are engaged from photos they've posted of their engagement rings. If you want to make your announcement some other way, here are a few ideas:
1. The Funny Video
Who can resist opening up a video link from a friend with a description like "Penguins laughing!" or "Is this puppy drunk?" But when your pals click, they'll instead see a video of you simply saying, "He proposed." Video over. I know I'd crack up if a friend punked me like that. OK, if you want to extend the clip, you can tell the story of how the proposal happened and show off your new sparkler.
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2. The Karaoke Song
This one takes some chutzpah (or a few drinks): Gather the girls and plan a karaoke night. Put in your song request, but don't share which tune you've chosen with your friends. Then, with your left hand in your pocket, take the stage to sing something wedding-themed, like "Going to the Chapel" or "White Wedding." For your big finish, take your hand out of your pocket so everyone can see your engagement ring.
3. The Pictogram
These are puzzles that use pictures to send a message. So instead of e-mailing "I'm Engaged," open up Microsoft Paint, slap on a picture of an eye + a picture of a man, + a picture of a car gas gauge (corny alert! Put the needle on full, since you'll be so full of love, aww...) + the letter D, and attach it to an e-mail to all your far-flung friends. Instruct them to sound out what they see--Eye Man Gauge D--and they'll eventually come to the right conclusion.
4. The Little Kid Who Can't Keep a Secret
Got a small child in your extended family? Of course you do. Whisper in her ear that you and your guy are getting married, and tell her it's a secret. Odds are, she won't be able to keep that info to herself and she'll start spreading the news in whispers. If she really is a good secret-keeper, try a different tactic: Tell her that it's her job to make sure everyone knows your good news by the end of the night. Don't be surprised if she spontaneously screams it out!
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5. The Message T-Shirt
If you're changing your name, you can get a tank or T-shirt printed with "The Future Mrs. [your man's last name]." Show up to meet your friends wearing that but with a layer over it. At the right time, complain that you're warm and remove your outer layer. They'll figure it out fast.
6. The Facebook Photo Tease
Maybe you love the idea of posting a pic of your engagement ring on Facebook. Fine, fine. I aim to please, so here's a twist on that: Take a photo of your engagement ring, black out all but a tiny piece of it in Paint or Photoshop, and post that picture instead. Tag yourself. The next day, post the same pic of your ring with a different part of the ring visible and the rest of it obscured. Tag yourself again. Do this three more times, once a day. If no one else tags you in any photos during that period, those five pictures will show up in a row at the top of your profile. It'll be fun for your friends to literally put the pieces together.
What's the most creative way you've heard to spread your engagement news? Which of the above would you use to let the cat out of the bag? Or do you think a simple phone call or in-person "I'm engaged" announcement is the best way to spill your secret?