Couple announce they are 'dating exclusively' in newspaper ad

For years now, the appropriate way of letting your loved ones know you've taken your relationship to the next level, is with a little update on Facebook.

With one click, you can go from 'it's complicated' to 'in a relationship' in mere seconds.

But with many people ditching Facebook for Instagram and Twitter, is it time to find a new way of sharing our relationship status?

One couple came up with a very creative way to let their friends and family - and the rest of the UK - know things had gotten serious between them.

 An announcement was taken out in The Times this week to let everyone know that Mr Adam Trouble and Miss Helen Ingrid Bennett are "dating exclusively".

The quirky message was printed as a 'congratulations' in the births, marriage and deaths section.

The full announcement read: "My H & My Trouble.

"Mr Adam Trouble of London SW6 and Miss Helen Ingrid Bennett of Middx are dating exclusively and having a lovely time xxx".

The unusual announcement was spotted by Twitter user Richard Eden, who shared a photo, asking if it could "start a trend".

Though, if it does catch on, it'll be a pretty pricey way of declaring your feelings for someone.

That's because prices for space in The Times start from £87 and get more expensive depending on how many words you write and how fancy you want your announcement to look.

This couple's particular announcement could have set them back a casual Sh23, 000 (£180) according to News UK's online price calculator.

Regardless of the cost, people were amused by the announcement.

One person commented: "Actually I wonder if, on being pushed for clarity on the level of commitment to the relationship, ‘someone’ (ok - him) sarcastically said ‘yes I mean exclusive, what do you want me to do, put a notice in The Times?!’"

Others joked that it wasn't real and was in fact a "coded" spy message.