This is it, the moment you’ve dreamed about has happened! The man you love has gotten down on one knee, popped the question, and you’re suddenly sporting a brand-new piece of jewelry. Now that your status as a bride-to-be has been officially minted, how should you spread the news? Although social media makes it easy to broadcast your recent engagement to just about everyone you’ve ever met, you may want to consider who you’d like to tell in person and in what order you’d like to do so. Standard etiquette tradition is pretty universal on this point, so here’s a breakdown of who to tell and in what order.

Family

If you have children, they should be the first to know. Otherwise, parents and close family are usually the first to be told about a recent engagement. Getting married means that you’re starting a family of your own, so the people who raised you and supported you most closely throughout your life until now deserve to be the first to hear this wonderful news.

Close Friends

Close friends, whether they be your BFFs or your godparents, should be told next before the news becomes public knowledge. Informing your close friends personally reflects how much you value their friendship and the role they play in your life. Also, if you’re planning on asking any of your close friends to help with the wedding planning, telling them about your engagement in person can give you an idea of whether or not they’d like to be involved in the process.

Everybody Else

Once you’ve told your nearest and dearest, feel free to post those Instagram pics and make the news a public affair. However, even after you’ve made a public announcement, you’ll want to consider who else in your life may need a formal, in person, account of the news. For example, make sure your boss knows since you’ll likely be needing time off work, and chances are he or she might not catch all your social media posts.

Getting married is a joyful occasion so give your family and close friends the chance to truly celebrate the moment fully with you by telling them your happy news in person. If you’re unsure about exactly which friends and family members should be told before the general announcement, consider how you would feel if the roles were reversed and they were the one getting married. Now that you’ve made your decisions, it’s time to break out the champagne and celebrate!