There’s no doubt that with the Valentine’s day that just passed, hundreds of couples took the opportunity of a romantic holiday to take the plunge and get engaged. There aren’t really any real and concrete statistics on how many couples get engaged every year, but they do estimate that about 2.2 million couples get engaged every year, and somewhere around 10% of those couples get engaged on Valentines day. Doesn’t sound like a whole ot, but that is 10% of 2.2 million couples! But with so many couples getting engaged and married all the time, and the divorce rate astronomical, that a lot of couples aren’t really asking themselves about when is the right time to get engaged? I’ve done some research and pretty serious thinking on the subject,and am ready to present my personal (humble) opinion on the matter. So here are some great tips on deciding when is the right time to get engaged before you take the plunge.
When is the Right Time to Get Engaged? The Experts Weigh In
While most experts and psychologists advise different strategies and dating times, they all do agree on one thing.
This is that couples should date a long time before getting engaged. But how long they all thought was necessary changed from expert to expert. Myreah Moore, nicknamed America’s dating coach, says that couples should date for a minimum of nine months before engagement even enters someone’s mind. Others advise anywhere from one year to five years of dating before a couple should start planning any kind of engagement.
When is the Right Time to Get Engaged? My Opinion
Personally, I can understand where the experts are coming from, I really can – and in a lot of ways I agree with them. I think that couples should take their time dating, and not just rush from a first date to thoughts of engagement. Personally, my husband and I dated for a little over a year before we got engaged, but we had also been very good friends for years before that as well and already knew each other well. Dating for a longer amount of time than just a few months is a great way to really get to know the other person before taking the plunge. You should really be careful when the relationship is new and you don’t know the person very well. The love at first sight kind of chemistry and romance of a new relationship can make you feel like you’re ready to get engaged, but forcing yourself to wait longer to really learn more about the other person and finding out if once the puppy love emotions fade that you still really love that person are important. The romantic puppy love feeling will fade, but once the emotions fade, love needs to really be there, or the marriage will never last.
But I also think that knowing when is the right time to get engaged to change from couple to couple as well. Just like the same wedding dress doesn’t look right on every bride, having a set dating time isn’t always the best way to handle it either. Just ask yourself if you are willing to be with this person for the rest of your life, seek guidance from family, friends, or your pastor, and don’t rush yourself into anything you’re not ready for. We’ve all heard the stories about couples who date for a week and are married for fifty years, but that is hardly the case in everyday couples.
All I know is that with the divorce rate where it is today, couples haven’t been taking marriage as seriously as they probably should be. So take your time to make sure you’re found the right one, and don’t jump into anything you’re not ready for.
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