Look, we know there’s no right or wrong amount of time to be engaged. Each couple is completely unique, with different attitudes, situations, and beliefs. According to expert studies, the average engagement length for couples in Canada is 15 months, so, anything longer than that would be considered a “long” engagement.
But recently, with the pandemic pressing pause on large social gatherings, many couples took a step back from planning their weddings, resulting in longer engagements than they may have originally planned.
So, what’s going to work best for you and your fiance – a longer or shorter engagement? Let’s break it down.
Pros of a Long Engagement
More time to plan and save
It’s a no-brainer that one of the biggest pros of a long engagement is having more time to save money and plan out your big day! Are you dead set on a certain venue but the venue is booked for the next 16 months? Considering getting a custom-made gown? You won’t feel the pressure if you’re already prepared for a long engagement. If details like these are important to you, a longer engagement allows you more time to plan them. Plus, you’ll be able to start putting money aside each paycheck to foot the bill when the big day finally arrives.
Another added bonus? If you have a lot of out-of-town guests, a longer engagement will give them both the availability and the comfort to book flights and accommodations for your special day.
Put a pin in current projects
For some couples, it feels less stressful to embark on the task of wedding planning while they’re still tied up in (big) life projects. If you’re in the last year of your Ph.D. studies or your partner is in the middle of a career change, it might be better to start thinking about the wedding once you’ve completed those chapters in your lives. Then your marriage can be the start of a brand new one!
Pros of a Short Engagement
The excitement is real
The main advantage of a shorter engagement is that you, your partner, and your loved ones will be extra excited about your wedding. You’ll be able to soak up all the love and excitement in a condensed time period, making it feel all the more special. It also doesn’t hurt that a short engagement is a foolproof way to skip all of the wedding planning stress and you can get right to the fun part…being married!
You’re on a timeline
On the flip side, a shorter engagement may be the better choice for you if you’re eager to make some big life decisions (like having children or moving in together) and you’d prefer to make them after you’re officially married. Another added benefit of a short engagement is that you’ll be pushed to roll with the punches. And once you embrace that you simply don’t have time to worry about every tiny detail, things that would have vexed you for months during a long engagement will seem much less important, leaving you laid back and more at ease.
At the end of the day, no matter if your engagement is 2 months or 2 years, you and your loved one will kick off your happily every together and that is really the most important thing.
