The average engagement for an American bride is around a year. For many couples, this is the minimum time required to pull together their dream wedding, while for other couples, the idea of waiting a year or more to get married seems crazy. So which is better in the end, a short or a long engagement?
Each way has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s start by looking at the traditional long engagement. Around a year is fairly typical, although in some areas, even a two year long engagement would be pretty standard. This is not true in every other country, by the way; brides in Russia, for instance, generally get married very soon after becoming engaged.
The chief advantage of a long engagement is that it allows the bride and her family plenty of time to plan the wedding. Availability of a favorite venue is one of the biggest reasons that couples have long engagements. If you were to become engaged this summer, the chances are that you would have to wait a year or even two to book an open date at one of the top reception sites in your area.
More planning time can have additional benefits. It allows the bride ample time to shop for her dream bridal gown and the perfect veil, tiara, and jewelry to complete her look. It also ensures enough time to have things customized for your wedding, like your bridesmaid gifts, your invitations, or your linens. One huge advantage to having a longer lead time is that it also allows the engaged couple and their families time to save up money to pay for all of these things, as well as to shop around to find the best values on items such as wedding favors and personalized bridesmaid gifts.
A long engagement provides a few additional benefits. If your family is scattered far and wide, you can send out save-the-date cards to allow relatives to book their travel arrangements. For those who are social butterflies, a long pre-wedding period will give you time to savor the engagement parties, bridal showers, and bachelor/bachelorette outings that are part of the fun. There are a few practical concerns that you will have time to address too, such as toning your arms to look great in a strapless wedding gown, or growing out your bangs for the perfect wedding day hairstyle.
The biggest disadvantage to a long engagement is perhaps one of the reasons why some couples prefer a brief one. All that planning and the lengthy delay can take away from the romance and excitement that you feel when you first become engaged. For some couples, the wedding planning process is so stressful, that by the time the day of the wedding rolls around, they are questioning whether or not to even go through with it! If you and your fiance are the spontaneous and passionate types, a quick engagement followed by a trip to Vegas or the city courthouse might be much more your style.
There are other reasons why a short engagement can be the right choice. Certainly, it is preferred when the bride is “in a family way” and is hoping that the trip down the aisle predates the one to the delivery room. Another reason is that weddings that are pulled together more rapidly tend to be smaller, more intimate affairs, which is to the liking of many brides and grooms. One of the biggest drawbacks to a short engagement is fairly obvious: you may have difficulty getting your wedding pulled together with a shorter than average lead time, and you might be forced to compromise on your dream wedding. The other potential disadvantage is more serious; if a short engagement is a part of a whirlwind romance, you might find yourself rushing down the aisle with a virtual stranger.
Both long and short engagements have their potential benefits as well as some drawbacks. As long as you have thought through the consequences of choosing one course of action over another, you should be fine. After all, the engagement and wedding planning process is a very personal and individual experience for each couple; as long as you are both on the same page, you can feel confident that you have made the perfect decision for your own life.
Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Thank your attendants with unique bridesmaid gifts.
Bridal Tiaras – Exquisite Selection
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Bridal Wedding Crown Veil Pageant Homecoming Prom Crystal Tiara 00175 $15.95 |
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Crystal rhinestone wedding bridal party pageant heart to heart TIARA elegant $8.09 |
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Luxury clear Crystal rhinestone Tiara headband wedding bridal party Sparkle $10.88 |
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Wedding Tiara Silver with Diamante Stones Filigree Hearts Brand New Free BoxTJ25 $11.05 |
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Bridal Crystal Wedding Silver Plated Hair Accessory Adjust Tiara 3 Row Headband $14.00 |
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Vintage Bridal TIARA wax flowers and wax leaves $89.00 |
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antique gold tiara rhinestones wedding bridal roses prom costume accessory $21.99 |
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Princess Bridal Girl Tiara Wedding Prom Crystal Rhinestone Crown Hair Comb GTT1 $6.99 |
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Mountain Range Crystal TIARA plus Necklace & Earrings Wedding Party Prom Night $22.12 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR200 $9.99 |
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CASCADING WATERFALL RHINESTONE TIARA BIG FAT GYPSY WEDDING STYLE BRIDAL PAGEANT $77.48 |
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140×30mm Elegant Wedding Bridal Tiara Clip use Rhinestone Crystal R427 $13.30 |
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medieval tiara bridal crown gold circlet leaf pearl costume accessory princess $21.99 |
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Rich Green Emerald with Bright Swarovski Crystal AB Tiara WEDDING-PROM $18.98 |
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384Z Silver Wedding Holiday Party Girl Glitz Rhinestone Headdress Crown Tiaras $5.99 |
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New Stylish Charm Wedding Bridal Crown Headband Tiara $5.69 |
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Beautiful Tiara Rhinestone Crown Bridal Hair Comb Pin 005 $3.35 |
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New Elegant Bridal Wedding Tiara Flower Pearl Rhinestones Crown Hair Comb Pins $6.50 |
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Princess Bridal Girl Tiara Wedding Prom Crystal Rhinestone Crown Hair Comb GTT3 $6.99 |
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385Z USA Girl Silver Glitz Pageant Party Winner Crown Wedding Tiaras Accessories $5.99 |
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Pin Tiara 002 Mini Crystal Rhinestones Crown Silver Plated Bridal Hair Comb $2.99 |
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New elegant Heart Rhinestones Crown Comb Hair Clips Bridal Tiara Medium size $3.30 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR094 $9.99 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR218 $15.95 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara comb CR215 $9.95 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR194 $9.99 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR221 $11.99 |
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New Stylish Charm Wedding Bridal Crown Headband Tiara $5.69 |
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Fashion Jewelry Hair Tiara New Charming Flower Branch Style Bridal Hair Comb $6.99 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR219 $10.99 |
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Silver Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara headband CR148 $9.99 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR187 $15.99 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR209 $11.95 |
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Princess Bridal Girl Tiara Wedding Prom Crystal Rhinestone Crown Hair Comb GTT2 $6.99 |
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Bride to Be TIARA Bachelorette Party Girl Night Out Bridal Shower Gift Headpiece $12.99 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR063 $9.99 |
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Fashion Hair Comb Pin 003 tiara Jewelry Mini Rhinestone Crown Bridal $3.27 |
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New elegant Heart Rhinestones Crown Comb Hair Clips Bridal Tiara Medium size $3.30 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR206 $9.99 |
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New Elegant Wedding Bridal Tiara Clover Rhinestone Crown Hair Comb Pins $5.45 |
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Beautiful Wedding Bridal Shining Fashion Crown Headband Tiara for Girl $6.30 |
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Fashion Mini Rhinestone Crown Bridal Hair Comb Pin 003 Jewelry Hair Tiara $3.25 |
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Silver Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara headband CR149 $8.95 |
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Silver Plated Crystal Bridal Tiara Hair Comb 3.6-3.7″ CHIC $1.29 |
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Wedding/Bridal crystal veil tiara crown headband CR189 $9.99 |
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Exquisite Jewelry Hair Tiara Rhinestone Crown Bridal Hair Comb Pin 003 $3.35 |
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T456 Elegant Wedding Bridal Jewelry Tiara Hair Pin Clip use Swarovski Crystal $14.82 |
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Fashion Jewelry Tiara New Wedding Charming Petal Style Bridal Hair Comb $7.57 |
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Wedding Bridal crystal veil tiara crown MINI COMB Y1045 $0.99 |
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Wedding Bridal Pageant Bridesmaid crystal pearl tiara crown headband 0881 $0.99 |
