Re: ...Nikah vs. Engagement...
i think with nikah people feel like the other party cannot break it.
with engagement there is a commitment but its not "set in stone"
i think that people should just get an "engagement", the one w/o any big party (ie huge hall w/ everyone dressed up like its a shaadi). in islaam, it is allowed for the guy who would like to marry the girl to accompany her on her trips out ** IF ** she is with her mahiram.