roper Engagement

ometime ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

The Baron and his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, were discussing the importance of the citizens of Lilliland having long and happy marriages. It was the cornerstone of Lilliland civilization, they both agreed.

The Baron stated that since in the marriage vow they said that they would be together “until death do us part,” that meant the marriage could last fifty years or longer depending on the longevity of the couple.

The first step toward a long-lasting marriage was a proper engagement, a time when both families met in a celebration of their upcoming union. The two families were to be the future support group for the married couple. It was important the everyone got to know each other, therefore, a one year engagement or longer was what society felt was proper. The appropriate age for marriage was about 26 years.

A church wedding followed with religious instruction on the importance of the wedding ceremony. The solemn vows were made to each other in the presence of God.

A joyous reception followed and then the honeymoon.

The joy of the honeymoon should not be just a two-week trip to a vacation location, but an entire year of enjoyment. The husband would go back to work in two weeks and the bride would begin to set up the household, but the joy of the event should linger on.

After the period of one year, the couple would begin to think about having a family.

Remember, since the typical marriage could last fifty years, there was little point in rushing through the engagement stage, the wedding stage, the honeymoon and family planning in a brief period of time.

The more time devoted to the wedding decisions, the more likely the wedding would be a happier event. Hasty decisions could often be regretful.

The Baron and Professor were in complete agreement on these points.