You will find that you continually learn new things about your partner right throughout your life - you need to decide whether you know enough about them to make that long-term commitment.
Knowing that they secretly desire to have a mullet, or that their favourite song of all time is ‘Grandma We Love You’ by St. Winifred’s Choir is information that can be saved for a later date, but understanding their values, principles and beliefs is crucial information to determine when considering when to get engaged.
Are your current circumstances stable?
If you have huge debts hanging over you or are about to take a job that will require you to move away for a number of months, it might mean that it may not be the best time to get engaged and start planning a wedding.
Living apart or financial problems can put an amazing strain on any couple, let alone a recently married one. With this in mind, pay close attention to your current circumstances and consider delaying an engagement to pay off debts or settle into any new location.
Are you jumping in too soon?
No-one is questioning your love for each other, but you do need to take care when considering when to get engaged if you have not been together all that long.
It's very easy to get swept away in the moment, especially when you are surrounded by tales of celebrity couples getting hitched after just a few weeks of knowing one another. Don't be afraid to sit back and take your time - if your partner truly loves you and are wanting to get wed for the right reasons then rest assured, they will wait.
Are you emotionally ready to make this commitment?
You need to be sure that you are not getting engaged in response to a major emotional upheaval for one or both of you. This could include bereavement, miscarriage, a recent breakdown of a previous relationship, or being the victim of a crime.
If one of these scenarios does apply to you or your partner, no matter how confident you feel about getting engaged, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to take a step back and consider the overall picture before deciding to marry.
Have you enough time to dedicate to planning the wedding you want?
The process of planning a wedding often follows straight after an engagement proposal has been accepted, and all weddings take planning – even the smallest of ones. So, if you are in the process of moving home, have a huge project on at work or are just about to start your dissertation then now might not be the best time to embark upon the path to marriage.
Wedding planning can be stressful, but don’t make it harder than it needs to be. It’s your once in a lifetime day so give it the priority it needs to make it the day you want. If delaying the engagement can help to ensure that you get everything you ever dreamed of, it may be wise to do so.
Whilst it is important to consider each and every one of the above questions, when deciding when to get engaged it is your heart that should have the final say.
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