What to Tell People (and What You Don't Owe Anyone)
You get to decide how much detail anyone receives — including guests, extended family, and coworkers. Here are scripts for the most common situations, ranked from "tell almost no one anything" to "give a bit more context."
The one-line version (works for almost anyone)
This sentence is a complete, acceptable answer. You do not need to follow it with an explanation.
For guests (mass message or group text)
For close family
Family often wants more context, but you still control the pace. It's okay to say: "I'll tell you more when I'm ready to talk about it — right now I just need you to know it's happening and to give me some space."
For coworkers or acquaintances
If someone pushes for more
Try this: "I know you're curious, and I get it — but I'm not ready to talk through details yet. I'll share more when I am." Repeating a calm boundary, without escalating, usually ends the conversation faster than a long explanation would.
Social media
There's no rule that you need to post anything. If you'd like to, a simple, low-detail post works well: "Grateful for everyone's love and support during this time. No further update needed — thank you for respecting our privacy."
For help with in-laws and extended family relationships specifically, see Navigating In-Laws Who Aren't "Out-Laws" Yet.