To find it hard to get excited about engagements nowadays

[Vintagejazz]

Inspired by another thread - but just wondering if engagements nowadays mean as much as they used to? Most couples nowadays are already living together, paying a mortgage, have kids etc by the time they get engaged...

And so many engagements seem to drift on for years and years with no plans for a wedding at all.

So AIBU to find myself just feeling a bit meh when I hear of engagements nowadays (although obviously I smile and say all the right things) , whereas years ago it seemed more exciting and like a big event in someone's life when they announced their engagement?

No YANBU I don't think. I've always found it odd that people are 'engaged' when they don't have a date set. To me an 'engagement' is a specific time and place. I asked OH to marry me last month, we've set a date for next year. We told all of our friends we're getting married. I don't feel 'engaged', and I certainly wouldn't feel right saying 'we're engaged' after 13 years.

it's a good post though!

Everyone I know has been overjoyed at the announcement of mine and lovely fellas engagement
Although maybe its different due to lovely fella being life limited.
Either way we would still be excited even if others werent.

We got engaged after living together for a few years. As well as the romantic moment, and the ring (which was a symbol of commitment prior to the marriage), it was the start of our relationship becoming more formal away from the ambiguity of bf/ gf /partners. We had a time zone in mind for getting married, and set a date and started planning a few months later. Children came after the wedding.

Engagements are lovely, but a bit of a "how nice" and after the story and showing the ring, there's not much to it to anyone beyond the couple. The only couple I've known to have an engagement party were moving in together.