Engagements. They can either be mind-boggingly short or painstakingly long. So what is the correct length of an engagement? The answer: there is none. The duration of an engagement is entirely up to you and your beau. Some people prefer short engagements as they cannot wait to begin the next chapter of their life together, whereas others prefer long engagements as both of their lives might currently be too busy and hectic.

Read on to discover whether a long engagement could be beneficial for you and your partner.

Pro: Blissfully engaged

Planning a wedding slowly eats away at your brain. It consumes every millisecond of your life. And more often than not, you’ll find yourself drowning in a multitude of wedding related tasks. A longer engagement can take the stress out of planning a wedding. It allows you to truly relish being engaged. It allows you to enjoy being someones fiancé. It allows you to celebrate this momentous step in your life.

Con: Everyone else is tying the knot

You’ve been engaged for a year now. In that time frame, two of your friends have been engaged and married and one is even expecting a baby. Yep, it can feel like getting punched in the throat, but don’t give up hope! Focus on your future together, and the steps you have both been taking to cement your love for one another.

Pro: Breathe…You can now plan things far in advance

The fairytale venue, quirky photographer and the hypnotising wedding band you’ve been lusting after for God knows how many years, can be snapped up without any hassle or worry of being unavailable. Not only can you have your pick of the litter, you can also research each vendor more carefully, allowing you to negotiate the best deal possible. Score! Once that’s sorted, you can put your feet up and relax – well, kind of…

Con: The possibilities are endless

Time is, perhaps, your number one enemy. With shorter engagements you don’t have time to wallow in your decisions, whereas with longer engagements, you’ll be second guessing every single miniscule thing. Was the dress actually that perfect? That beautiful gothic cathedral in Scotland seemed like the perfect  venue, but now the manicured and secluded grounds of the Ox Pasture Hall seem more fitting. We get it, these types of decisions are overwhelming, but don’t drive yourself or your S.O crazy – just trust your instincts.

Pro: plan every detail

Do everything you want, exactly the way you want. No rushing, no fretting and no stressing. Plan out every extravagant detail – according to budget. Not only does this allow you to save up for your dream wedding, but also ensures that nothing is missed out. In this sense, you can take your time and truly enjoy every aspect of planning a wedding. If you two can get through this, you’ll be able to master anything together!

Con: Master of Procrastination

With no immediate pressure, you can often feel like you don’t need to do anything. With so much time before the big day, you may just think it’s easier to put off tasks for another day. Before you know it, months and months have passed and you’ve still done nothing – oops. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Draw up a timeline with deadlines and stick to it, for your sake!</>