Hi all! This may wind up being more of a "vent" than a call for advice, but I value the opinions if those on this board and thought I'd see if anyone had any input. My FI and I got engaged this past February. Because I've always wanted a summer wedding and because my friends and family are scattered all around the country (and the globe), we decided on a July 2015 wedding. We are in our early 30s, however, and at our stage of life quicker engagements seem to be the norm. At least three other couples we know well have gotten engaged around the same time or after us, and all of them will be married by the end of the year.
I fully realize that we are not in a "race" with our friends. And I am also totally confident that we made the right choice for us--winter travel and/or travel on short notice would have been difficult for my family, and these other couples have made sacrifices (mid week weddings, rushed planning, less-than-ideal venues) that we were just not willing to make. At the same time, I feel like I'm ready to be married NOW, and it's hard sometimes to think about how we have almost another year to go. Those of you with long engagements, any tips on coping with the wait? Was it worth it or do you wish you had done something more simple sooner?