The engagement is a very exciting time for a couple and it is also a very romantic period to share with your chosen one. However, it also comes with huge planning for the upcoming wedding. So, what many couples do is start making the to-do list and forget to enjoy the celebration and the engagement period. In that planning, you might be asking yourself how long should the engagement be and what’s the average length of engagement.
Many people will argue that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, the length of engagement is personal and you should decide together with your partner how long or short it will be. How long engagement will last depends on plenty of factors, including the availability of the venue, the financial aspect, the work schedules, and career plans.
Moreover, the length of engagement is also impacted by cultural and religious beliefs. For instance, the Catholic Church wedding requirements include participation in a six-month pre-marital preparation program, while Wiccans believe that one year and one day is the proper amount of time to fully understand your decision. The Chinese believe that the engagement period should last for two years, but the wedding date can be changed based on the auspicious date the fortune-teller chooses.
How long will you stay engaged is a deep, complex and personal decision? Nevertheless, we asked some etiquette experts and what’s the average length of engagement and how long is too long or too quick.
What’s the Average Length of Engagement 2024?
It has been estimated that the average engagement length in the United States is between 12 and 18 months. On a more global level, the average couple is engaged for 13 months. Hence, the couples find this period to be a great balance, they have enough time to enjoy their love and special moments and undertake the wedding planning. So, couples have time to start planning the wedding but also have some down time between the major tasks.
Additionally, it has been estimated that summer is the most popular time of the year to get married, while winter seems to be the least favorite season for tying the knot. However, we recommend you wait at least three weeks since your engagement before you start planning your wedding. By doing this, you’ll enjoy your engagement and make every moment count.
Then, when you start with your wedding planning and to-do list, take it step by step. First, come up with a budget frame and guest count. Then, move on to look for venues and take your time. The availability of the venue you pick will probably determine the date.
A Long Engagement
Historically, a long engagement was considered to be the one which lasted two years or more. Nowadays, engagements are much shorter and they usually come after finishing college and establishing a career. Hence, many marriages now happen at 28, while in the 1970s women used to get married at 21 and men at 23. Besides the fact that two-year engagements are still common, most couples decide to get married within 18 months of the proposal. This time gives the necessary period to see how compatible you are with your partner and whether you’ve made the right decision.
A Quick Engagement
The wedding planning process can also be quite quick and many couples don’t have time to enjoy their engagement. This can happen as a result of many life events, including joining the military, going abroad, graduating from college, before elderly grandparents pass away or having a baby. Hence, the planning process speeds up.
However, couples who decide to have a quick engagement and tie the knot very soon after the proposal, usually face many issues and logistical nightmares. For example, many couples can’t find the perfect venue which can be booked two years out and the bride can’t have her wedding dress made on time, which usually requires at least six months.
So, some of the countries around the world who usually have quick engagements include India and Russia. The average engagement length in India is six to eight months, but many couples decide to get married the day after their proposal. In Russia, the average engagement length is within one to three months after the proposal. One more example of a quick engagement is Persian Baha’i couples. It might sound surprising, but they have exactly 95 days to get married, while many tie the knot within one month of receiving the approval of all parents.