How long should your engagement period be?

Couple gets engaged
Gone are the days when couples are expected to be engaged for a year or more. For the sake of you and your fiance's peace of mind, your engagement period should only be as long as necessary to successfully design and plan your wedding engagements. That being said, longer engagements do obviously have their perks.  Firstly, your guests have time to save up for your wedding, book their travel and accommodations, and get time off of work.  Additionally, if you are not working with a wedding planner, this period will allow you and your fiancé enough time to find and book your vendors (who are likely still available), plan and enjoy all celebratory parties (i.e. engagement party, any showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties), and really enjoy and relish in the feeling of being engaged. Read more

#AskPatti: Ring problems, age limits, gift ideas & more!

Ask Patti Stanger
Hello, my little dumplings! (I’m trying “dumplings” out. Is it working? Should I make it my new thing?) I hope you all are deep into Thanksgiving prep mode. I sure am. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking recently about what I’m thankful for. This year has been really, really amazing for me, so I have a lot to be thankful for. And one of those many, many things is you all! I feel like I’ve connected so much with so many wonderful people this year, through Twitter and this column. And I’m really excited to keep it up. Also, I’m always looking for ways to improve. So, if you have any suggestions, just yell them out in the comments or shoot them to me on Twitter and I’ll do my best! Now, onto this week’s #AskPatti questions! Read more