by Kirsty O'Lone

Created on: January 18, 2011

Everyone has a different idea of how long an engagement should be, and the factors deciding how long to remain engaged will differ from couple to couple. It may be that the couple need time to save money so that they can have the wedding they have always dreamed of, or perhaps the couple know exactly what they want and are ready to get married fairly quickly.

If you decide to opt for a short engagement there are some things to bear in mind, the most obvious being that you will have a short amount of time to plan you wedding. Weddings take a lot of planning so ensure that you have time to get everything organised in plenty of time to avoid additional stress as you near the big day.

If you decide to have a short engagement you may find it difficult to book things such as your venue, this is the first thing you should check as without a venue there can’t be a wedding. Wedding venues are often fully booked a year or so in advance so try to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Of course you may get lucky and your chosen venue has a space available, this may even be your reason for having a short engagement as sometimes you can save money by taking a date at short notice.

A shorter engagement may mean that you have to compromise on some things, you may find some services you would like are fully booked or you cannot have your reception in your chosen venue. If these things are really important to you then perhaps you would be better off opting for a longer engagement, however if all that really matters to you is that you and your partner become man and wife and that you have a nice day then there is perhaps no need to wait.

Many people don’t want the stress of a big wedding, perhaps there is family tension and spending the day with all your relatives is your idea of a nightmare. If this is the case for you then perhaps a shorter engagement is the best thing for you. Many people in this situation decide to elope or simply go to the nearest registry office with two close friends and get married without telling a lot of people. This takes the stress associated with relatives that don’t get along out of planning your wedding and allows you to enjoy your day.

If you are having a small simple wedding and don’t have a lot of things to plan then a shorter engagement might suit. If you only have a simple ceremony in mind with a small reception then you don’t need as long to plan your wedding as you would with a fancy ceremony and large reception.

You may find that having a shorter engagement saves you money; plenty of venues will give a discount on short notice bookings. If you are not really bothered about the date of your wedding you may just be able to book your dream location for a lot less money. The same goes for services like wedding cars, just remember to make sure that you can get all the services you require on the date before you confirm your booking. It would not be good if you planned a great wedding on a certain date and then realised you could not get a car to take you there.

Whether you decide to opt for a short or long engagement is really you and your fiancé’s decision. Every couple is different and everyone wants a different style of wedding, just ensure that you give yourself enough time to organise everything you want for your big day. Being engaged should be a happy time for a couple and there is no point in giving yourself additional stress by not leaving enough time to plan everything.

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