How long should you be dating someone before you get married?

Question

In my opinion, it's a matter of 3-5 years. That gives you enough time to get to know someone and the chances of divorce will be significantly lower.

Answer 1

3-5 sounds about right BUt first you must live w/ him for a while...like a pair of shoes they may look and feel good but you never know until you try them on

Answer 2

Well it depends on many factors. You don't say how old you are for one. The younger you are the longer you should wait. I am a firm believer in living with someone before marriage. Not until you are with someone day in and day out should you marry them. It's the only way you know all about them. The time is different for everyone too. If you are with someone for over a year and can't tell if this is the person you could spend your life with to some degree....you better look elsewhere. That is plenty of time to decide if it is even a possibilty. If you or they have a wandering eye then you are not the person for each other either. If you argue about stupid things then move on. I have been married a couple of times and know what is important. It is important to love the person you are with but in many ways it ismore important to like them. If this person isn't your best friend as well as your lover then you are doomed. To me if you can't decide if this is Mr or Miss right sooner than 3-5 years chances are they aren't.

Answer 3

It does not matter how long you date a person to determine when you should get married. The time table is between both partners in the relationship. You can not say either way well I'll date someone for a year or two then pop the question. It might take you less then a year to pop the question to the one you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.

Answer 4

It all depends on the person and even 3 to 5 years still isn't enough time to get to know each other. Some gets married and been married for over 20 years and still doesn't know each other as well as they should. All I can say is for me; it depends on how close you two are and what you have in common and really know how you two feel about each other. This should not be based on sex. It should be based on your relationship and how you two get along and how you two conversate with each other.

Basically, you have to know what you're getting yourself into before doing so and don't do it because of pregnancy or hormones. Do it because of love and friendship and everything that makes a relationship.

I have known my fiance' for over 15 years and we just started dating and it is going great. We're talking of marriage but we're taking it slow because we want to get our bases down from financial to our feelings. We became friends before lovers and it is one of the best relationship there is.

Answer 5

I say date 2-3 years and get engaged. If you aren't talking about after 2 years, then you need to move on. 3-5 years is a perfect time to know someone to get married. That way you them and their weird ways.

Answer 6

5 Years? That's like buying a car at the end of the lease. Where's the sense of adventure and fun?!

My plan is... after dating someone for a year, reasonably drama-free... you get engaged, and from there, maybe 6 months to a year, and you get hitched up.

Still new, still exciting... and more than enough time.

Answer 7

I really don't think there is a correct answer to this question. I knew I wanted to marry my wife the first day I met her, we have bin married for 5 years now and I still can't get enough of her. We married the first anniversary date we met and things are going great..I think if you know in your heart its real you will know it regardless of the time you've bin dating..

Answer 8

I think that it is up to the couple. Everybody is different for some at few months for others years. Friends of mine were dating for 4 months and they have been married for 30 years. There really is no set amount of time.

Answer 9

I agree it would take a few years.
To make sure you can live with them ( for ever yes marriage SHOULD be forever)
most people these days get married and divorced the same
year.
If you don't want that don't propose and ask a person you hardly know to marry you.

Answer 10

3-5 years sounds good. But if you're older, like over 30, the dating time before marriage decreases due to fertility issues.

Answer 11

Not necessarily. I know people who knew each other for many years before marriage. And once married it all went to pieces lets say. If you have doubts then that is not the person for you.