ALT-4 Factors to consider when Deciding how Long to Make an Engagement
As soon as that ring is on your finger and you have announced your engagement officially, the questions of “When is the big day?” begin to pour in. It is not that the people in your life want to pressure you, they are just legitimately interested. But arriving at and setting the date for your wedding can be a difficult decision with many factors to consider.
The first thing you will want to think about as a couple is how big a wedding you are looking to have and what kind of a budget you are looking at. Not only will you need to consider what your budget will be, you will also need to determine where the budget is coming from. Initially, you should proceed as though you are going to pay for the wedding yourselves as it is considered poor etiquette to ask for assistance from your parents. Once you know roughly what kind of money you looking to spend, you will have a better idea of how long it will take you to save up.
Next, take a look at any other major circumstances that might come into play. Is one or both of you still in school? Would you prefer to complete your education before getting married? Are there any other major events coming up in either family that you need to be aware of when choosing your date? You should try to avoid scheduling your wedding too close to other family weddings or other major events whenever possible so as not to overwhelm your family and friends.
Take a look at your combined finances and assess any major goals that you would like to achieve prior to getting married. Would you like to have moved into a new house before the wedding? Does either of you have significant debt that you want to eliminate before you combine everything? Take some time to have an honest conversation with your future spouse about your finances before you tie the knot, you’ll avoid any surprises that could cause friction later.
Decide how long it will realistically take you to plan a big wedding and set the date based on that along with the other factors discussed. Unless there is some reason to get married quickly – like a baby on the way, for example – there is no reason to rush. There is no deadline on the rest of your lives so make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy the process. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back so enjoy it while it lasts.
