Engagement length

I really haven't wavered on much in the wedding planning. Normally, once I make a decision, the decision is made, and that's that. The one thing I've really wondered about is did we make the right decision about how long to be engaged?

Actually, that's a misleading statement. I know we made the right decision, it was just a difficult one. John and I got engaged March 24, 2007 and we'll get married July 3, 2009. That's an engagement of 2 years and 3 months.

When John and I first started planning, we looked at the things we wanted to accomplish before our wedding: his graduation, my graduation, getting a job, holding a job, saving some money. We were also really young, and wanted to be sure we weren't making an impetuous decision that we'd later regret. His graduation was only a month and a half away, but mine wasn't for another year. I knew I didn't want to jump straight out of college and into marriage, so we started looking at dates a few months to a year out from graduation. I liked May 2009, mainly because I would have loved a May wedding, but that idea quickly ended up on the chopping block when it was pointed out that both of our moms and two best friends (now bridesmaids) are teachers, and May is standardized testing month.

So we ended up looking at four dates: November 29, 2008; April 18, 2009; July 4, 2009; November 28, 2009. Based on schedules from all VIPs, we decided July 4 would be best. We ended up moving that to Friday, July 3 when we realized that the times we could get reception halls and the times we could get married made for a logistical nightmare.

With the current economic conditions, I know we made the smart choice. I have a great job and the only debt I'll have when we enter our marriage will be my car loan. John's been having a bit more trouble. He worked in the auto business, and got out right before it tanked. He's been doing temp jobs while he looks for something permanent, but it hasn't been easy to find something. I don't think we could support ourselves alone at the moment. He's got good leads right now though, so keep your fingers crossed!

As certain days have passed, however, I've had my doubts. The first was September 24, 2007. Our parish requires 6 months notice before a couple can get married, and so that was the first day we could have gotten married. I was kind of sad realizing that we could get married any day we wanted to at that point, but the wedding was still so far away. I also had a depressed day like that when our first possible date passed. In fact, I think the engagement length is fueling a lot of my current urge to just elope now!

I can't wait to be married to him, this whole thing feels so long sometimes.

Anyone else making smart decisions that just aren't really making you happy?