Personally I'm an advocate for short engagements. Long sometimes means there is a reason for it. Two years engaged and no wedding... I'd be upset.
I do have to travel a lot for speaking engagements.
Inspirations never go in for long engagements they demand immediate marriage to action.
Few things tend more to alienate friendship than a want of punctuality in our engagements. I have known the breach of a promise to dine or sup to break up more than one intimacy.
In the main it will be found that a power over a man's support (salary) is a power over his will.