If you have just recently become engaged, one of your first tasks will be to set a wedding date.
One of the considerations will be whether you prefer a short engagement or a long engagement.
Before making your decision, take a look at the pros and cons of each.
There are plenty of reasons to opt for a short engagement.
What is a short engagement? It varies regionally, but certainly less than six months is a pretty quick time frame for planning a wedding.
Of course the most traditional reason for a short engagement was the good ol' shotgun wedding, but there are many other reasons to consider planning your wedding promptly.
An impending military deployment can be an excellent reason to hurry up and tie the knot.
And of course, there are romantic reasons to choose a short engagement as well.
Maybe you just can't wait to get married, so why should you? The personalities of the bride and groom will also play a role in determining whether a short or long engagement would be better.
Some brides find that having only six months to plan a wedding helps them to remain focused.
One thing that almost any bride with a short engagement will tell you is that it really keeps your attention on the big picture.
With no time to spend months agonizing over small details like the favors or napkin rings, the planning process can actually be less stressful.
A short engagement forces quick decision making, which can actually be a blessing to indecisive brides, as there is no time for waffling.
Of course the main disadvantage of a short engagement is that you have less time to attend to all the wedding details.
You don't have the luxury of shopping for months for wedding gown and bridal jewelry sets.
In fact, you may even have to pay for a rush delivery for your bridal gown.
With no time to space out the planning, the wedding will be job number one for the compressed engagement period, so it is important that you really have the time to do it all (or hire a planner to help).
You will also have less time to make things yourself or to shop around for the best deal, so planning a wedding quickly can be more expensive.
When time is short, you may also find that your first choice for venue, band, florist, photographer, and so on are already booked, so flexibility is key.
For many couples, the chief advantage to a long engagement is the ability to pay for expenses over a long period of time.
Many couples decide to set their wedding date 18 months or more from the time they get engaged to allow them to save up money for their wedding.
Certainly a long engagement also affords you the luxury of time.
You will be able to take as much time as you need to find your dream wedding gown, perfect bridal jewelry sets, or the most talented florist.
If you have a very popular venue in mind, it may well be booked out for 18 months to two years, which is another reason to consider a long engagement.
A longer period of engagement may also be advisable for couples who are relatively young when they decide to get married.
Of course, the main drawback to a long engagement is having to wait to marry the one you love! Both long and short engagements can be great.
It is just a matter of deciding which one best suits your situation, your personality, and your wedding planning style.
Then whichever way you decide to go, you will be confident that you have made the right decision.