How Early is Too Early to get Engaged?

Does the length of time you date before you get engaged rally matter? And is there really such a thing as getting engaged too soon?

Getting married is a lifelong commitment – one you should never jump into without careful thought. If you get married after just six months, for example, you might still be in the ‘honeymoon’ phase of the relationship where everything still seems rosy and wonderful. Will it still be that perfect when you run into difficult times?

On the other hand, it’s hard to say exactly how long you should date before you decide to get married. After all, the quality of time matters more than the quantity – if the couple is having deep talks, getting to know each other as much as possible, and their values and outlooks in life match up, they may not need that much time to decide if they’re compatible.

Also, the period of engagement is a time when you’ll see your partner in some potentially stressful situations (planning a wedding is no walk in the park!), which gives you a better indicator of what they’re really like. So unless you’re in a rush to get married, which can put some amount of pressure on the relationship, the engagement period also gives the couple extra time to get to know each other.

Another factor that has an effect on how early or late a couple gets engaged is age. Older couples may have the maturity to make these decisions with more experience and reason – they know exactly what they want in a partner, and may know what the red flags are in a relationship, as well as the tell-tale signs that this is a person to hold on to for life.

But, ultimately, the right amount of time to date before an engagement really depends on the couple. Make sure you’re both on the same page, be wise, and above all, trust your gut!