DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for 10 years. We have decided to elope.
I want to let my family know about the marriage, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Are announcements OK, or do they seem like a request for presents? I am clueless about the proper thing to do. Thanks a bunch! -- WONDERING IN SOUTH ELGIN, ILL.
DEAR WONDERING: Wedding announcements after your elopement are a perfectly acceptable way to let friends and family members know the happy news. Only those who accept wedding INVITATIONS are expected to give gifts. However, relatives and close friends will probably want to present you with a "token" gift of some kind to mark the occasion.