How Long Should You Be Engaged Before Getting Married?

The moment two people become engaged is a wonderful thing – the love is strong and everyone is excited for the big day. Then comes actually planning the entire thing. From choosing the right wedding package in Manila (or another dream wedding destination altogether) to planning the guest list, the stress that comes with planning largely depends on how much time you have to plan it.

Choosing the wedding date is therefore one of the biggest decisions a couple must make for their big day. It automatically tells the couple how much time they have to prepare! On the other hand, some lovebirds want the day to come as soon as possible.

If you’re in a fix as to whether to have a short or long engagement, here are some points to consider.

Short Engagement

If you and your spouse have been together for a long time, like for 4 years or more, a short engagement might not be such a bad idea after all. It’s more likely that the two of you have already discussed some of the details at some point during your relationship, therefore some decisions will be a no-brainer.

• You Will Spend Less Time Stressing Over Wedding Details

Getting married sooner will save you the trouble of overthinking every little detail. It’s a good way to keep things simple, and you won’t have to deal with the stress for a very long time. This is a good thing for easy-going, low-maintenance couples.

• You Get to Be Married Sooner

You have always dreamed of being married to the one you love and thinking how it feels to live the married life. So why wait and prolong the engagement when you can marry sooner than later and start living your life as a married couple?

• Your Guest List Won’t Keep Changing

Stretching out your engagement for several months or even a couple of years can entail a lot of changes in your guest list. Having it now means you’ll be around the people you’re closest to at the time you decided to get hitched.

Long Engagement

A long engagement will be good if you plan to be more thorough about the wedding, so this is perfect for those with specific details in mind and want to accomplish everything on their checklist. Making reservations early means you’ll get the exact venue you want, and may even get you discounts on things like the catering, hotel reservations, and more. In addition, you get to relish the following perquisites of having a long engagement before your special day.

• It won’t be overwhelming

A long engagement provides the couple enough time to actually digest the reality of what is about to happen. It may decrease the chances of getting cold feet. When you do finally tie the knot, you can be sure you’ve already thought it through over and over again.

• You’ll have more time to prepare

You won’t run the risk of the wedding gown not being how you imagined it or someone very important not being able to come due to the last-minute invitation. Everyone, caterers, dressmakers, and guests included, will be able to make necessary plans in advance. You’ll have ample time to pore over all aspects of the wedding as much as you want, and more time to save up as well.

• You’ll get to know each other better

This is especially true for people who haven’t been dating for a very long time. Wanting to get married even after only a few months or a couple of years of being together is fantastic, but there’s no denying you could use more time to get to know each other better. For this reason, it is important that you take your time in getting to know your partner before exchanging vows.

The Final Verdict

There is no right answer to the question of how long you should be engaged before you tie the knot. It should depend entirely on the couple. If you feel that the timing is right, then go get married! Follow your hearts’ desire and don’t forget to enjoy the whole journey.