The overwhelming joy you feel as your partner gets down on one knee to pop the question is often followed up by a wave of stress over planning your big day. Your friends here at Columbus Weddings, are happy to tell you that there is no need for panic or sleepless nights as you enjoy being engaged to the love of your life. While many couples bask in the glory of being a fiancé for as long as possible, others cannot wait more than a few months to say, “I do.” However, the question remains. Is a long engagement or a short engagement better
Long Engagement
On average, couples are engaged for 13 months before celebrating their wedding. While this may seem like ample time for most people, others find a longer engagement, perhaps over 16 -24 months, worthwhile. As this gives you a great amount of time to choose the perfect vendors, it also proves to be enough time to change your mind as the next year’s styles are unveiled.
Pros of a Long Engagement
Aside from being able to plan your wedding day at a slow and relaxing pace, a long engagement also allows you to enjoy the process of wedding planning and spending quality time with your fiancé before officially tying the knot. Another draw to a longer engagement is that you have the ability to narrow down your list of vendors based on your style and personal preferences, rather than vendor availability. This gives you a greater chance of securing your favorite venue on your desired wedding date, a trusted beauty team, the perfect attire, your dream photographer, the most delicious, sought-after caterer, and more. Securing your vendors early might also mean that you save money by planning ahead, instead of planning when the demand is higher.
Cons of a Long Engagement
With every bright side of wedding planning comes a downfall, however small. If waiting in anticipation to marry the love of your life is too great, you might feel anxious and impatient as you count down the many days before your wedding. Some couples simply cannot wait! Another thing to remember is that your favorite wedding colors, look, and feel might evolve over a year or more, especially if you like to keep up with the latest fashion and styles. If your engagement is too long, you may find yourself second-guessing your decisions, making changes to your theme, or reworking the way you incorporate trends into your day.
Short Engagement
On the flip side, experiencing a short engagement, perhaps under nine months, presents its benefits and challenges as well. From planning quickly and efficiently to tracking down available vendors, a short engagement can be a whirlwind of fun and stress all at once. However, don’t let the intimidation of a short engagement discourage you if you already know exactly what you want.
Pros of a Short Engagement
If you struggle to make decisions or find that choosing from a long list of vendors is too intense, it might work in your favor to book the best vendor among a shortlist of availability. As you quickly and efficiently plan and confirm the details of your big day, you are sure to find yourself getting into a productive state of flow. This makes wedding planning seamless and painless as you can confidently make decisions without the extra time to second guess yourself. Not to mention, you will sooner be able to call yourself Mr. or Mrs.!
Cons of a Short Engagement
Based on the advantages of a short engagement, the disadvantages also seem quite clear. If you know exactly which vendors, carter, venue, photographer, etc. you want as your wedding team, a short engagement may not be conducive to their existing commitments. With everything moving so quickly, you might not have time to secure your “dream team” and may feel too disheartened to make alternative choices. A shorter timeline for you and your fiancé also means your guests have a shorter timeline to plan their attendance. To avoid disappointment, ensure that the most important people on your guest list receive their “save the date” cards as soon as possible.
No matter how long you want to be engaged before meeting your love at the altar, the most important thing is to enjoy your time as you plan this important celebration. Finding a happy medium between a short engagement and a long engagement is ideal. While you may not want to wait years and lose the momentum of wedding planning, you also want to be able to plan in a calm manner and ensure all of your vendors, like Columbus Weddings, are top-notch.