[#1]

Hi everyone, I'm 22 and have been with my partner nearly a year. We've just moved in together and it's all going really well. In this lovely stage I find myself wondering about getting married. We've talked about it quite a bit and both definitely feel that's where we're heading. How long does it seem appropriate to wait before a formal engagement and is there anything to definitely have achieved beforehand? 

[#2]

Hi everyone, I'm 22 and have been with my partner nearly a year. We've just moved in together and it's all going really well. In this lovely stage I find myself wondering about getting married. We've talked about it quite a bit and both definitely feel that's where we're heading. How long does it seem appropriate to wait before a formal engagement and is there anything to definitely have achieved beforehand? 

[#3]

Dont rush it.

You are still in the 'honeymoon' phase - only being together less than a year.

My partner's mate has been with his g/f for a while.  She is an accountant and he is a police officer, so the have worked hard for their careers.  They go on regular holidays abroad together, throw regular house parties and seem very happy together.  He proposed to her last year.  They have been together 7 years. They are getting married next year.

I dont know why everyone who gets in a relationship rushes to the next level, then, 2 years into the marriage and having only being together TWO AND A HALF YEARS.. research will be done on how to spice up the relationship.  The mind boggles.

I have been with my partner for nearly 5 years but we dont want to get married or have kids.. we find that too predictable in life.  We still fancy the pants off each other, hardly argue or fight, we are never 'on or off' these days, most marriages don't last 5 years!

If you really want to get married, just dont rush it.  Have fun first, enjoy co-habitating. Otherwise you will be on one of the other relationship boards here questioning the relationship.  With a cliche opening..... "We were great at first ( like ALL relationships), but since we got married.... things have gone downhill"

CG

[#4]

I agree with the pp that you're in the honeymoon period having just moved in together. 

I don't think the old view about how long to wait before a formal engagement applies anymore does it? I mean, you already live together so you've moved your relationship on. Enjoy this time getting used to living together wothout fretting about engagements and what the right time is for all that kind of thing. If you want to start talking about getting married and saving up for it or whatever then that's fine but just see where the year takes you. Without wanting to sound like an old lady, you're really young, have fun!

Not that I'm saying being married isn't fun because it is

[#5]

Thanks, not sounding like an old lady at all. I know, i am enjoying everything and it is a constant effort not to go head first into to next stage whilst we're still in the honeymoon period, trying to be sensible

[#6]

I should probably point out that I don't practice what I preach . the man who became DH and I moved in together within weeks of meeting and married (in secret) when we'd been together for less than two years (we had our 10th wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago). I think that's why my point is to just work to your own rhythm and do things when you feel good about it rather than rushing or dragging your feet. I can understand why you feel impatient though - this is a super exciting time!

[#7]

Hi,

I think it differs for different people but I have been with my husband for 6 years )(I'm only 24 now) and we married in January 2012 so a little over a year.  Take it from me, take your time to really get to know each other.  We took it quite slowly but once we were engaged it became a rollercoaster and I wish I had stopped to think properly about what we were doing.  At the moment I bet it all seems perfect and like a fairytale but there is no need to rush.

xxx 

[#8]

if youve been together less than a year it appears that you need to know more about each other just in general. In my opinion 1 year is not long enough to know somebody in order to get married if you want to keep the sanctity of the act. Youre still in the start of a relationship, dont rush things ! enjoy being with each other and a happy marriage will come with time, youre still young! I understand the want to get married, im 20 and i was waiting for it for a while seen as weve been together for 3 year but then i realised how young i am and i should just enjoy the time we spend together and not try to push or rush eveything, if its meant to be itl come in time !