Marriage is a big commitment, and many of us question how we ever will know when it is the right time – some signs may help give us some clarity. Marriage is a major commitment, and timing is critical, which is why it is wise to look closely at your relationships ahead of getting engaged. The fact that you are taking the time to determine when you will be engaged – and married – is a sure sign you are thoughtful and careful in your plans.
You do not need to know where you are going to settle down, or which careers you are going to each pursue throughout life, but one of the biggest signs you are marriage-ready is being on the same page when it comes to the most all-encompassing factors, like whether you are going to have children. Signs you are ready for marriage can help you work through any lingering doubts, and they will also remind you whether or not there is still more work ahead for you to do in your relationship before deciding to marry. If you are looking for signs that you are ready for marriage, pay attention to the way your loved ones respond to you being in relationship with your partner.
If your partner is someone who you enjoy spending time with, it is one of the most reliable signs that indicates that a man is ready to marry, or the signs that indicate a woman is ready for marriage. If you and your partner have healthy personal boundaries you keep to yourself around the other person, it is one of the real signs that you are ready to get married. If you are hoping being married changes anything about your significant other, then you might not be ready to marry this person.
If you are planning on marrying someone because you believe that they/you will make a great partner and good parents, but you are not in love with the person, you should seriously think about whether or not you are ready to marry. There are many things that you should think about, but what couples typically consider, like liking each others company and being conflict-free, is not always the best indication of whether you are ready for marriage. These characteristics probably cannot (and will not) change overnight, so you are setting yourself up for disappointment if you enter into a marriage expecting that they will. In other words, you might have a few rough patches in your past, and you certainly will have rough patches in front of you, but these are signs you are prepared to go through life together, navigating sometimes challenging, unfamiliar terrain.
Marriage is a partnership that lasts a lifetime, so it is important that you have each others backs throughout the course of life together. Couples who really love each other, commit themselves to maintaining and honoring their relationship (even when times get hard), and give their relationship the unending work it needs are on the right track for making their relationship work. A successful relationship is one that is made up of two people willing to put in the effort, not only the money, but also time, love, and commitment. A couple understands that a marriage is based on more than romance, it is about commitment and investing in a relationship.
Dating couples eventually make a commitment to marriage, not because they are ready, nor are they the best fit, but merely because breaking up will make them feel alone and without friends. If either person is married because of fear or guilt, it cannot make for a healthy relationship. You may each have expectations about how everyday life will be once married, but if you are not sharing them with your partner, you are at risk for frustration – and even argument – after the honeymoon period is over. Some people have more dreams of their wedding day than marriage; if you are not truly thinking or planning about life after your wedding, that is a red flag.
Comfort is a huge part of what makes the house, so if you are having trouble looking for signs that you are ready to get married, break down how comfortable you are with your partner.
