Do Tell: What's Your Ideal Engagement Length?

April 14, 2009

There are no rules when it comes to getting married — some couples elope, some have quickie engagements, and others revel in engagement bliss and take their time before walking down the isle. Different things work for different couples, but I'm curious to know what your ideal engagement length would be, so do tell!

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72 Comments

loveydovey4 3 years 17 weeks

I would probably want more than a year to give me some time to save up $$$ before I have to start planning haha

lemons and limes 4 years 5 weeks

6 months, but no longer than 1 year. I don't understand long engagements. The marriage is supposed to last forever not the engagement!

Allytta 4 years 5 weeks

a year. if it's longer than 2 - you have to break it off.

theavalanches 4 years 5 weeks

9 months. before the baby pops out!

jdenisyuk 4 years 5 weeks

about 9 months to a year. it also depends when he proposes because i want a spring wedding.

ThePerfectScore 4 years 5 weeks

1.5 -2 years, enough time to plan my star studded wedding and move in with him and see if I want to live with him forever. 2 years gives enough time to test the water. I wouldn't move in with a guy before I'm engaged to him, but I would not marry a guy without living with him. And I don't think 2 years is too long because you have forever to be married, so what's two extra years "single".

vvvalerie 4 years 5 weeks

A year. If it's too short, you'll end up getting stressed over wedding preparations, but if it's too long, then why be engaged at all?

dleighl 4 years 5 weeks

We got married exactly 5 months to the day after we were engaged. We wound up "eloping" with both side's knowledge. And our 19th anniversary is coming up, so I'd say that was just perfect for us.

lkaybe 4 years 5 weeks

i have been engaged for 2 years now and havent even starting planing our wedding but i know when we do it will be perfect. i dont think there sould be a time limit when your ready do it.

Fallen85 4 years 5 weeks

Also, weddings are bloody expensive. We want to make sure we have the cash for it. He proposed because he wanted to show me that he was committed and we both wanted our relationship to be more substantial then just "dating." Also, I love being a fiancee, it makes me feel like a princess.

Fallen85 4 years 5 weeks

I've been engaged since November 28 and we havent even begun planning our wedding. We've decided to do it in Jamaica within the next couple of years. I'm in no hurry, I love being engaged to him and want to take my time and enjoy it before tying the knot.

sourcherry 4 years 5 weeks

I'm with plus_2_kid's mom! "You want to get married - get married! Why wait?". I never understood the concept of long engagements. When a person proposes and another says yes, both should be ready to get married - emotionally and financially and in any way possible, in my opinion. If it's not the right time, I'd rather just keep dating.

alethia037 4 years 5 weeks

I was engaged for about 8 months, but the first month of that we were in another country. Anyways... It worked about just about right with planning and finishing my master's degree. Like Leila said though, every situation is different!

Leila07 4 years 5 weeks

I am waiting until I am sure I want to marry him. I have been engaged for about 8 months and I haven't started planning yet. I take it a little personal when everyone on here starts ragging on long engagements. Every situation is different and I want to make sure I am really ready before I walk down the aisle. I think each couple has the right to take as long as they need! A lifetime is a loooong time to spend with one person.

Leila07 4 years 5 weeks

I am waiting until I am sure I want to marry him. I have been engaged for about 8 months and I haven't started planning yet.I take it a little personal when everyone on here starts ragging on long engagements. Every situation is different and I want to make sure I am really ready before I walk down the aisle. I think each couple has the right to take as long as they need! A lifetime is a loooong time to spend with one person.

Karelynn 4 years 5 weeks

I think a year sounds good. An engagement is a big step, and I feel like it should come a fair amount of time before the actual marriage begins. A year gives people enough to plan, or if the stress changes someone (I don't really know from experience, maybe it's just a personal fear) then it gives both people enough time to think about what they really want.. just in case their relationship shouldn't end in marriage.Marriage has always been a weird and somewhat scary concept for me, so it's just my take based on that.

Karelynn 4 years 5 weeks

I think a year sounds good. An engagement is a big step, and I feel like it should come a fair amount of time before the actual marriage begins. A year gives people enough to plan, or if the stress changes someone (I don't really know from experience, maybe it's just a personal fear) then it gives both people enough time to think about what they really want.. just in case their relationship shouldn't end in marriage. Marriage has always been a weird and somewhat scary concept for me, so it's just my take based on that.

RaCheer 4 years 5 weeks

1 year...gotta plan that dream wedding, house shop, and save up some $$$!

laluna27 4 years 5 weeks

I think it depends on the time of year you get engaged and what time of year you want to be married in - ie: if you get engaged in the spring and want to get married in the spring, waiting a year doesn't seem odd. Other than that more than a year engagement seems kind of odd to me.

ella1978 4 years 5 weeks

I'm with hithatsmybike.Our engagement is going to end up being about a year and a half. I'm making a lot of the stuff myself, so that will take time, plus selecting a location has proved to be painstaking and difficult! And everything books up pretty quickly.Plus my finance is in school, so we have to do it over the summer or over Christmas...

ella1978 4 years 5 weeks

I'm with hithatsmybike. Our engagement is going to end up being about a year and a half. I'm making a lot of the stuff myself, so that will take time, plus selecting a location has proved to be painstaking and difficult! And everything books up pretty quickly. Plus my finance is in school, so we have to do it over the summer or over Christmas...

StacyD75 4 years 5 weeks

I'm working on marriage the 2nd time around - and trust me - we aren't going to worry about all the planning and fuss - we both have already done that business before so it doesn't seem so important this time! We want to go away and get married, just the two of us - so I doubt we will be engaged for very long...I just want to be married to him already! :) I think we will have a reception after though to make it all public with friends and family! The reception is always the most fun in my book anyway!! lol