How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married?

sjc0105 · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:10 PM

So seeing the "when did you get married/engaged" thread, I wanted to know how long PFers dated before getting married. I always thought I would date for a minimum of one year before getting married, but as I am getting older..I feel as if I meet "the one"..it could be 2 weeks or 2 months of dating before the whole engagement ordeal...

So, how long did you date before getting married? Or, what are your thoughts on how long you should date before settling down?

Thanks for your reponses!

Sarsi · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:17 PM

ONE YEAR
DH and I got married on the exact date we met a year later...

sjc0105 · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarsi

ONE YEAR
DH and I got married on the exact date we met a year later...

Wow...when did you realize he was "the one"?

lorihmatthews · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:20 PM

Hmm ... ours was a little drawn out. Met in October 1999, got engaged in December 2002, got married in May 2004.

Purses · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:21 PM

I think one year will give you time to figure what the man is all about...here is why, but this point is something I am struggling...

How did you meet this person? Through reliable friends? Through family members or was it through a dating site? This can make a huge difference, I think. Because you can get more reliable information about his past from your family/cultural community, friends then a dating site.
Here's an example of what my mother just overheard today at the nail salon:
This woman was saying that she lived with her boyfriend for 2 years and just found out that he'd been married the whole time. She never knew and he lied to her. She found out by getting a phone call from a woman who claimed to be the wife and did some snooping and found her number. They talked about an hour and then when her boyfriend came home, she kicked him out.

When my mother told me this today, it really got me worried on how do you really know?

I look forward to other members feedback on your post.

USCgerl · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:22 PM

We were dating for 5 years, and now we're almost married for 6 years!

sjc0105 · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purses

I think one year will give you time to figure what the man is all about...here is why, but this point is something I am struggling...

How did you meet this person? Through reliable friends? Through family members or was it through a dating site? This can make a huge difference, I think. Because you can get more reliable information about his past from your family/cultural community, friends then a dating site.
Here's an example of what my mother just overheard today at the nail salon:
This woman was saying that she lived with her boyfriend for 2 years and just found out that he'd been married the whole time. She never knew and he lied to her. She found out by getting a phone call from a woman who claimed to be the wife and did some snooping and found her number. They talked about an hour and then when her boyfriend came home, she kicked him out.

When my mother told me this today, it really got me worried on how do you really know?

I look forward to other members feedback on your post.

These types of things scare me..I can't believe that are jerks like that out in this world.....

Brasilian_Babe · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:27 PM

DH and I started dating in February 2002
Moved in together August 2002
Got engaged October 2004
Got married October 2007

LV Rawks · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:29 PM

We were pretty young when we met, I was 19 and he was 21.
We dated for 5 years
engaged for 15 months
married 11 years this May

Brasilian_Babe · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:34 PM

Oh and in regards to the OP's questions, how long people should date before settling down? I think it's pretty much up to the individuals in question and also depends on what your definition of "settling down" is. For me "settling down" was moving in together and joining our financial commitments. Once we did that, everything was pretty much as if we were married. In the end, the whole marriage thing for us was just a formality.

As for the example that Purses gave... man... i don't know how i would deal with something like that, the thought of being and living with someone for 2 years and then finding out that there was another woman is just mind blowing... but then again, this isn't really any different from being with someone and finding out that they have been having an affair, right?!

sjc0105 · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:45 PM

Thanks for your feedback everyone!

I know that everyone is different, so everyone will have different opinions, but I would love to hear everyones' thoughts!

shoefan · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:46 PM

I dated my husband for 3 years before we got married.

titania029 · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:49 PM

About 2 years, total shock to me, I actually thought it was shorter until I counted the actual months.

Agent Kitty · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:55 PM

met when i was 19
moved in when i was 24
engaged when i was 30
married at 35
baby at 36

we didn't want to move too fast! jk

sjc0105 · Feb 27th, 2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Kitty

we didn't want to move too fast! jk

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:10 PM	#1
sjc0105 Member	How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? So seeing the "when did you get married/engaged" thread, I wanted to know how long PFers dated before getting married. I always thought I would date for a minimum of one year before getting married, but as I am getting older..I feel as if I meet "the one"..it could be 2 weeks or 2 months of dating before the whole engagement ordeal... So, how long did you date before getting married? Or, what are your thoughts on how long you should date before settling down? Thanks for your reponses!

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:17 PM	#2
Sarsi Member Location: Bay Area CA.	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? ONE YEAR DH and I got married on the exact date we met a year later... __________________ SARSI

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:20 PM	#4
lorihmatthews Persian Love Location: San Francisco	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? Hmm ... ours was a little drawn out. Met in October 1999, got engaged in December 2002, got married in May 2004.

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:21 PM	#5
Purses Member	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? I think one year will give you time to figure what the man is all about...here is why, but this point is something I am struggling... How did you meet this person? Through reliable friends? Through family members or was it through a dating site? This can make a huge difference, I think. Because you can get more reliable information about his past from your family/cultural community, friends then a dating site. Here's an example of what my mother just overheard today at the nail salon: This woman was saying that she lived with her boyfriend for 2 years and just found out that he'd been married the whole time. She never knew and he lied to her. She found out by getting a phone call from a woman who claimed to be the wife and did some snooping and found her number. They talked about an hour and then when her boyfriend came home, she kicked him out. When my mother told me this today, it really got me worried on how do you really know? I look forward to other members feedback on your post.

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:22 PM	#6
USCgerl Member Location: Southern California	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? We were dating for 5 years, and now we're almost married for 6 years!

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:27 PM	#8
Brasilian_Babe I want a CBR F4i!!!!!!!!! Location: Brasil, Portugal, currently in Sydney (Australia)	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? DH and I started dating in February 2002 Moved in together August 2002 Got engaged October 2004 Got married October 2007 __________________ "I have the simplest taste. I'm always satisfied with the best." - Oscar Wilde My handbag collection - pics on pages: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 My style diary

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:29 PM	#9
LV Rawks Sofa King Aware Location: Midwest USA	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? We were pretty young when we met, I was 19 and he was 21. We dated for 5 years engaged for 15 months married 11 years this May __________________ *"We cannot change the cards we are dealt,* *just how we play the hand"* *~Randy Pausch*

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:34 PM	#10
Brasilian_Babe I want a CBR F4i!!!!!!!!! Location: Brasil, Portugal, currently in Sydney (Australia)	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? Oh and in regards to the OP's questions, how long people should date before settling down? I think it's pretty much up to the individuals in question and also depends on what your definition of "settling down" is. For me "settling down" was moving in together and joining our financial commitments. Once we did that, everything was pretty much as if we were married. In the end, the whole marriage thing for us was just a formality. As for the example that Purses gave... man... i don't know how i would deal with something like that, the thought of being and living with someone for 2 years and then finding out that there was another woman is just mind blowing... but then again, this isn't really any different from being with someone and finding out that they have been having an affair, right?! __________________ "I have the simplest taste. I'm always satisfied with the best." - Oscar Wilde My handbag collection - pics on pages: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 My style diary

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:45 PM	#11
sjc0105 Member	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? Thanks for your feedback everyone! I know that everyone is different, so everyone will have different opinions, but I would love to hear everyones' thoughts! __________________

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:46 PM	#12
shoefan Member	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? I dated my husband for 3 years before we got married.

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:49 PM	#13
titania029 Member Location: Dallas	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? About 2 years, total shock to me, I actually thought it was shorter until I counted the actual months. __________________

Feb 27th, 2008, 08:55 PM	#14
Agent Kitty Agent Kitty	Re: How Long Did You Date Before Getting Married? met when i was 19 moved in when i was 24 engaged when i was 30 married at 35 baby at 36 we didn't want to move too fast! jk