by C. M. Erickson

Created on: December 13, 2010

Getting married is a huge life step, and the proposal is just the beginning. There is usually a length of time between the engagement and the wedding, and various factors play into that length, from life schedules to availability of guests. Most factors impact the date of the wedding itself, which then impacts the length of the engagement.

LENGTH OF TIME DATING

Some couples experience love at first site, and get engaged within weeks or months of meeting each other. These people should consider a longer engagement, as it will give them time to get to know each other better, and discuss those less-than-romantic things like finances and children. Those couples who were in the same preschool together all the way through college probably do not need a long engagement.

LIFE SCHEDULES

Some people have jobs that involve seasonal shifts in effort. If one of the couple is a school teacher, the summer might work best for a wedding. If the couple is in college, they might consider waiting until after they graduate, and avoid picking a date that involves wedding planning during exam time. Weddings are stressful enough as it is – do not plan one during a stressful work period.

ENOUGH TIME TO PLAN A WEDDING

The average wedding takes at least three months to plan. If you want to save the expense and headache by eloping, then your engagement might be as short as a week. Most people prefer a wedding and reception, so there is usually between three months and a year allowed for planning purposes.

BRIDE OR GROOM’S EXPECTATIONS

Some women have planned their wedding since they were children, and could not imagine getting married anywhere but X Chapel. Naturally, so does every other woman in the area, so sometimes weddings get moved up earlier than planned, or pushed back later, in order to fit the venue’s schedule. The groom could have expectations as well that impact the date of the wedding, such as a favorite sport season.

PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS

Some parents are very involved in the wedding process, especially if they are paying for it. Money is power, and if parents will not pay for a venue, or will not pay for a wedding unless the engagement is at least a year, then the couple will either have to bow to their wishes or pay for their own wedding. It is critical to discuss expectations early. Some parents insist on a certain officiator, venue, or timeframe.

RELIGIOUS CONSIDERATIONS

Some religions require a certain amount of pre-marital counseling before allowing

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