how long did you date before getting married??? and did you have a large wedding  

17 years dating?? WOW that's phenomenal..!
I dated my husband for a year. We met at Yahoo Chatroom. After a year of extensive communications, I proposed to him (YES I did) and he said Yes three times out of surprise. We only had about 150 - 200 guests or so. We sent 125 invitations and it was Cinderella theme. I would like to elope, but my family thought it wasn't polite. So there I was in a heavy bridal gown with humongous tiara, hair updo and make up for 2 hrs, shiny pearl shoes, four tiered cake and princess decoration (it was Cinderella anyway). Luckily, my family didn't think of bringing horse and carriage in too phhewww. None of us come from big family, just 3 - 4 siblings with their kids.

My husband & I dated for about 7 years before walking down the aisle. We had 10 people in our wedding party and about 50 or so guests - we kept it small as I was already 5 1/2 months pregnant when I walked down the aisle.

Wow that is a long engagement. We were engaged for 2 years and a large wedding 6 bridesmaids and groomsmen, plus maid of honor and best man. Two junior groomsmen. 200 guest. It wasn't lavish by todays standards, but it didn't put us in debt.

My husband and I dated for 4 years before we were married, 3 of them we lived together. We had a very small wedding, maybe about 45 people. We didn't have anybody in our wedding party, we didn't have music. It was just a small ceremony in our backyard with some good food afterwards.

We dated for five years before we got married. It was a small wedding. We had about 200 guests (including relatives and family).

The biggest mistake in my life 40 years ago was eloping at 18. He was a sadistic man. We divorsed 6 long years later. No wedding on that one. I remarried 30 years ago to a wonderful man. We had a quiet wedding of about 75. They were family and close friends.

My husband and I were together for six years engaged for three before we got married. We married in Antigua W.I. with just my parents in attendance. The night we got married the Red Sox won the world series and there was a lunar eclipse. It was fantastic! I have been in a ton of big weddings and they are nice too but our wedding was so relaxing, intimate and romantic that I wouldn't do it any other way.

WOW you dated 17 years!!! That's a long time! No wonder your wedding was so big. My hubby and I only dated 11 months. We eloped in the living room of the house that we met at a housewarming party in 11 months earlier. The only people there were the justice of the peace, the couple who lived in the house (our witnesses and good friends) and the photographer.

My husband and I dated for 5 months before we got married. We eloped with just the officiant and my parents present. We've been married for almost a year now! :)