Thank you everyone for sharing your story. My boyfriend and I are planning to get married after he returns from his year deployment in Afghanistan. We are planning to get married the following summer he returns. He says he wants to wait to propose after he gets back Fall/Early Winter 2012. I can respect that. His proposal would come within 6 months prior to our designated wedding date. I am facing the following challenges: June and July are the peak months for weddings here in Alaska and most vendors get booked between 8-12 months in advance Our relatives and extended families live in the continental US and overseas...and they would need advance notice to make travel plans Reception venues require a year to-date reservation I can not begin to tell you how AWKWARD it is to send "Unofficial" Save-the-dates and even start planning a wedding without a formal engagement or a ring. Ugh!! The last thing I want is some basement wedding. He has however, spoken to my father and his parents about his intentions to get married. Thanks for listening to me rant
