How long do you think a couple should be date before they get engaged?

Question

My fiance and I dated for 3 years before he proposed. That feels about right to me. It was long enough that we know each other very well and we can make it through tough times, but not so long that I ever found myself thinking "Where's the ring already?" I know some couples who have gotten engaged after just a few months or even a few weeks, and others who have been dating for much longer than my fiance and I and are still not engaged. I know the right time will vary for every couple, but do you think there are limits where it becomes "too short" or "too long"?

Answer 1

i think not less then 6 months

Answer 2

3 yrs.

Answer 3

There is no clear answer.  It just really depends on the people involved.

My cousin married his wife after knowing her for TWO WEEKS.  I don't mean he proposed... I mean they ran off and got hitched.  That was about 5-6 years ago and they now have three kids.  As far as I know, they are still happy together.  And he was a player before that so it was a bit of a shock.

My hubby and I knew each other for 15 years before we got married.  We met in high school and had a bunch of things we wanted to do separately in life, so we remained just friends for all those years, dating other people and finally ended up together.

Answer 4

It's different for everyone.  We knew eachother for 4 months, were engaged for just under 5 months and we have been married for just over 8 years now!

Answer 5

This is not a question of timing i think.. Its just a question of feeling..

If you feel that you love him and that it is the right time to get engaged just do it and don't wait any longer. However if you have some doubts and that you want to do it only because you've been together for 3 years, just don't do it.. And above all never compare ur relationship with others

Answer 6

that seems like a very good time and if you love him time would not mattwer

Answer 7

We were together 5 years before he proposed, and it seemed like forever. But I'm glad he waited, because the wedding is such a long way off, (i have to finish school first).

To me, i think people that get engaged or married after a few hours of meeting each other, or like 3 weeks of dating are kind of silly. I mean, chemically, you might love that person, but you don't know if you're compatible yet. (unless you're having an arranged marriage of course, then its like a taboo to spend that much time together before the wedding.)

Answer 8

There is no measure. My soon-to-be and I knew and talked about marriage a month after dating. We knew this was it. And, my best friend in NY dated her high school sweetheart for 7 years before he proposed! So it all depends! Congrats!!

Answer 9

2 years, 4 months, 1 week, 6 days, 7 hours, 3 minutes, 21 seconds.

Answer 10

I don't think there are limits at all.  When it's right, you'll know.  It's different for everyone.  Some people know in 2 weeks and some take 5 years.  It just depends.

Answer 11

I Think When You Feel Comfortable With Someone, Then Thats The Perfect Time.

=)

I Grew Up Always Knowing That You Can Love Someone & Want To Marry Them After A Few Days. My Parents Were Together For About A Month When My Dad Proposed & They Were Married 8 Months Later.

My Fiance & I Have Been Engaged For 4 Months, But Been Together For 5 & A Half Years. I Knew I Wanted To Marry Him When I Met Him, But I Was Only 14 & He Was 16 At The Time.

Congrats & Good Luck For The Future

=)

Answer 12

1 year dating, 1 year engagement, then marriage, any more is a waste of time

Answer 13

first of all it depends on the age of the couple & it depends on how much love there is between the couple!

Answer 14

I think the minimum is 2 years a year goes by d**n quick and the first year is till having fun yu dont know anyone after a year. Longer is better theres stability and substance.

Answer 15

I think 18 months is the minimum and 4 years is the maximum.  

Answer 16

It really depends on the couple.

My husband and I dated for over 3 1/2 years before he proposed.  Then we got married 1 1/2 years after he proposed, which IMO was perfect.

Answer 17

Depending on the couple's age, 1-3 years should be sufficient to get to know each other. My bf and I have been together for 3 and a half years and he graduated from college this year (I graduated last year).  I hope to get married within the next year or two...

I do think it is ridiculous how long some couples wait, but it's usually because one member of the couple is afraid of commitment.  I think anything over 5 years is getting silly, but if both people are ok with it then that's their choice.  

Answer 18

For me, I would know after 1 year of dating whether I wanted to marry the person or not. And I would wait for probably 3 years to get engaged, but not 4.  

Answer 19

I know someone who was dating her now husband for 11 years and she is so happy and they both know they are inlove and don't regret waiting 11 years. I've been with my boyfriend 3 years but because of our age (18 and 20) we are not engaged yet. I think it just depends on each case and the couple.

Answer 20

i say a year an a half pending on age  if it was over 2 years i say **** of get off the pot

Answer 21

Depends on how you guys were, never can measure

Answer 22

It is different for everyone.  I was in a relationship for 4yrs and it took us some time to figure out that we are not right for each other for marriage.  Now, I am engaged to a guy that I dated for only 7mo.  It feels perfect! I know a couple that were dating for 2 weeks before they got married.  They have been married for 35yrs.  It isn't right for everyone but it does happen.

I know I would not want to wait for more than 5yrs.  My friend waited 7yrs before her man proposed.

Answer 23

Yes, there are limits. Under a year, and they may not know each other well enough. Over five years, on the other hand, would mean the two are not really keen on advancing their relationship to the next stage.

Answer 24

Yea id say the limits of too short are after a few weeks or even a few months.

Too long wud probably be more than 5 years.

But it also really depends on the couple and what theyve been through.

Answer 25

Love doesn't know time. My father proposed to my mother 2 weeks after they met and they have been married now for 31 years. I proposed to my fiance (yes, I, the woman proposed) about 3 months after we got together. We aren't silly though we have let the engagement hang there for a while. We've been together 2 years and have it set for December.

Answer 26

My fiance and I were together about a year and a half when we started talking about getting engaged.  We got engaged about 1 year and 10 months after we started dating, so we can say 2 years for all intents and purposes.

How long is just right before getting engaged depends on the couple and their circumstances.  I believe that 4 or more years is too long to date before getting engaged, unless the couple is in school still, in which case they should wait until everyone is done with school and has their degrees.  Less than 6 months of dating may be too short, unless they're spending every waking second together, maybe.

I've read that people shouldn't get engaged until they've been together for 9 months to a year, because prior to that time they're still in the "honeymoon" phase of their relationship, when they're running on endorphins and everything is rose-tinted.  After that 9 month/1 year mark, you stop being on your best behavior and start acting like yourself (not saying that you're necessarily pretending prior to that, but the honeymoon-ness does make you more cautious and possibly censored).