You don't set a date within 8 weeks of getting engaged. This was the topic on the radio during my drive to work. One morning show host thought it was ok to wait to set a date because the ring is a symbol of his promise to one day marry his fiance and they don't need a date to prove they are committed and the other host said that you need the date to tell people who won't stop asking and that anything over a year engagement is too long. I just thought it was an interesting debate I tried calling in to tell them I'm having a year and a half engagement so we could get the date and venue we want but they were already moving on to another topic!