More than 80% of couples celebrate their wedding within one year of getting engaged. For many couples and their families, the proposal is the starting sign for the wedding preparations to begin.
If you recently got engaged, you and your partner are probably deciding on a timeline for your wedding. Although 12 to 18 months of planning is typically recommended by most wedding planners, plenty of couples choose to go longer or stay within that timeline.
The truth of the matter is that there is no right or wrong length of time to wait to get engaged. Some couples wait six years before making it official, while others date for just six months—it all depends on your unique circumstances.
Earnshaw offers a shorter time frame—she says people typically date for about two years on average before getting engaged—but she emphasizes that every relationship is different. "I have worked with couples who have gotten engaged within six months and those that have waited much, much longer."
This might not come as a shock, but there's no exact timeline for when you should get engaged. You may hear some "love at first sight" couples say you can get engaged after a few days, while experts may say wait three to six months.
Shilpa told the Standard: “In the first couple of months it may be too soon [to get engaged] as the feelings you have for one another may be lust as opposed to love. “It's best to wait until at least 3-6 months to see if the feelings you have are for real or just a fading spark of lust.
If you feel ready to take the leap, there's no set time frame to talk about it, whether it's after six months or two year. You can subtly bring it up by talking broadly about the future: How do they feel about people living together before marriage?
Most couples date for two or more years before getting engaged, with many dating anywhere from two to five years. Once the question is popped, the average length of engagement is between 12 and 18 months.
The honeymoon phase is an early part of a couple's relationship where everything seems carefree and happy. It usually lasts from six months to two years and can be marked with lots of laughs, intimacy, and fun dates.
We determined that the median engagement age in the United States is 27.2 years for women, and 28.7 years for men — a 1.5 year difference. Furthermore, the median amount of time a couple dates before the proposal is 3.3 years.
A promise ring, sometimes known as a pre-engagement ring, is given in a relationship to signify commitment. Whilst for many young couples a promise ring means a vow of an engagement ring to come, others may simply use it to show their loyalty and devotion to their partner.
He's just not ready
Perhaps he has some growing up to do, some issues to work through, or other things which hold him back. Marriage is the union of two people and you have to respect his timeline as well as your own. If he isn't ready, and doesn't know when he will be, you may have some tough choices ahead.
It could be that he has commitment issues. It could be that he wants to propose in a fancy and memorable way and hasn't found the moment yet. It could be that he has tried to propose to you like 5 times already and got too nervous to do it each time and is now building up the courage to do it again.
"A normal, healthy amount of time to be engaged is a year to a year and a half," dating and relationship coach DeAnna Lorraine tells HealthySELF. The longer it takes beyond that point, she says, the less of a chance the wedding will actually happen.
A short engagement is usually classified as less than a year, while a long engagement is 18 months or longer. Engagements that are closer to the 12-month mark are often seen as “just right,” but at the end of the day, it's all about what works for you and your fiance.
The average engagement is 12-18 months long and about 20% of all weddings are called off after engagements. There could be several reasons for calling off your wedding such as: Uncertainty about a relationship. Pressured to get married.
The three-month rule prescribes that people should put potential partners through a trial period, during which the partner is evaluated on how good of a fit they are. A TikToker with the username Manifestingbabe spelled out the three-month rule.
"The right time is when you are both in agreement that you want to take your relationship to the next level," says therapist, marriage coach, and relationship expert Lesli Doares, LMFT. "You've talked about what living together means. You both feel comfortable with the agreement and can commit to abiding by it."
After about seven months together, couples have a general idea of how each other work and may have already said, "I love you." Think about it this way: Someone who has only dated around and hasn't been in a committed relationship before may absolutely consider seven months to be a long-term relationship.
How Long Do People Date Before Getting Married? The average couple has a dating time for over two years according to The Knot. If you wait for half that time, chances are you don't really know the person well enough and the couple's relationship satisfaction may still be in the “puppy love” stage.
“The ideal age to get married, with the least likelihood of divorce in the first five years, is 28 to 32,” says Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, Michigan. “Called the 'Goldilocks theory,' the idea is that people at this age are not too old and not too young.”
Talking about marriage early in the relationship can be a red flag because the intentions of the man might be suspicious. If you still do not have clarity on what to do and talking to your partner does not help, have a conversation with people whom you trust.
Personal Space spoke to Dr. Jane Greer about why some people feel the need to get hitched (or engaged) right away. “I think if people are getting engaged quickly, they want the security and stability that comes with marriage,” she explains. “They want someone who will love and care for them.