Dating can be all fun and games, but there's no instruction manual for thoughtfully choosing your significant other. There's a lot of trial and error involved, and once you think you've found the right person, you might start hearing wedding bells. But how long should you date before marriage, really?
Some people think about this question in numbers by focusing on the length of time spent dating before marriage spoiler: we've got the statistics below. Others say you need to ask specific questions before getting married , like what your partner's political views are, while many tell you to simply go with your heart. To help get you through this dating conundrum, we've asked three trusted dating coaches for their top tips on how long you should date before marriage.
Plus, we address what you should do if you're not ready to propose and what to do if you rushed into getting engaged prematurely. 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.
But even though everyone has an opinion on the matter, from "You're jumping in too quickly" to "It took him too long to propose," there isn't a magic formula. Amy Nobile , dating coach and best-selling co-author of Just When You're Comfortable in Your Own Skin, It Starts to Sag , thinks the 'how long should you date before getting engaged' discussion is a trick question and varies on each couple's situation.
This rule suggests people ask four important questions by the third date or within the first three months of the relationship. Nobile explains the rule in more detail below. Is there chemistry or a connection? Are you aligned on core values? I always say a journal is your best friend. Nobile suggests taking this free quiz to determine them.
