Beginning Jan. 1, The Sun will no longer publish free wedding or engagement announcements in its news pages.

The Just Married column ceases publication today.

Readers who wish to have announcements printed will be able to purchase them through the classified advertising department, which publishes a Celebrations page biweekly in the Sunday Sun.

The Sun makes this change reluctantly, but in doing so joins scores of other newspapers that have stopped printing free wedding and engagement announcements as the cost of publishing a newspaper has risen over the years.

Announcements for the Celebrations section, which can also include births, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries or other special occasions, may be submitted in several ways: by phone, at 410-539-7700; by fax, at 410-783-2507; online at www.sunspot.net; or by e-mail at celebrations@baltsun.com. Ads may also be sent by mail to: Celebrations, The Sun, Attn: Business Office, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278.

Original or digital photos to accompany an announcement are accepted in The Sun's business office at 501 N. Calvert St. from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., on weekdays, or via e-mail at celebrations@baltsun.com.

Celebrations announcements are priced at $25 per inch.

For more information, please call The Sun's classified advertising department at 410-539-7700.