Short engagement vs. long engagement?

[13000km]

To me, being engaged would mean we're ready to set a date to get married and start planning. In my situation I'd say the perfect length would be at least a year long, maybe a little bit more.

[rivi87]

we were engaged for a month and a half before we made it official because he was deploying. I liked it bc I would be so impatient to have married him if I didn't. Of course the choice is up to you...

[Ursa]

I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately and I also discussed it with my SO. It's true that it depends on the couple and on the situation they're in.
I for one would prefer to get engaged sooner rather than later. The first reason for that is not only to have enough time to plan the wedding, but also to save enough money. This might not be an issue to some people (here in Europe it is still very much usual that parents give the money for the wedding), but me and my SO would like to get enough money together on our own, to afford our dream wedding and not be a burden to our parents.
The second reason for why I'd like to get engaged sooner is the legal side. As a fiance I'd become a family member, meaning, in emergency cases, I'd be allowed to get to him if he lands in a hospital or anything similar. As a girlfriend, you don't have many rights in different institutions, and can only hope that the doctor or worker there is nice and understanding.

[lonelyinlove]

I would want an engagement of at least a year. also would like to live with that person during that time so that i know before marriage that we will be able to stand living together...

[garnet]

With my first marriage, I was engaged for 4 months to the day. The second time, immigration made our choices for us. We had very little say over when anything happened. K1 is approved, you get your butt moving! We were engaged for something like two years, which just flat out wasn't our call.

I see it as a step up in the relationship, as well as a time to start planning the wedding. But if you want to be engaged for a while before you start planning, I see absolutely no harm in that.

ETA: Nope I was wrong, we were engaged for about one year. Wow, I fail...

[kteire]

I think when my SO and I get engaged, I would like to be engaged for about a year when we're in a situation that we could afford to start planning a wedding. And then spend a good bit of that year planning wedding stuff, but not too much time haha. I don't want an overly complicated wedding... just maybe one ceremony in Canada or Ireland, and a reception in each country for each of our families and friends.

[lademoiselle]

I'd prefer a short engagement (less than a year) and for that time to be used to plan the wedding. Of course I wouldn't mind if it didn't work out quite like that but it's what I'd choose if I could

[Belle]

I don't know what's considered long and whats considered short lol. But I would say that I want about a year as my engagement. That would be enough time to plan everything and not lose the excitement, I think.

[iakai]

I would prefer a short one as well. 8-10 months seems reasonable to me (or so I say now, wait till all the planning goes astray )

[Jazi]

long/short are very subjective terms

I would say over a year will be nice, I believe it is a step up in the relationship and also time to plan the wedding.

I'd like enough time to not have to jump into wedding planning straight away and just enjoy our engaged status for a little while.