You've been dating your partner for a while and are thinking about getting married - congratulations! However, you are understandably nervous and wonder if this is the right time. We've previously discussed how long you should wait to propose based on research and expert advice.
According to our research, how long do people date before getting married?
We went online and surveyed over 2000 people to find out how long they dated before getting engaged, and the results are as follows:
- Over 29% waited 5 years or more before getting engaged. However, it was not by a landslide.
- In fact, 22% of those polled waited between 3-5 years.
- 19% 1-2 years.
- 17% between the ages of 2-3 years
- 12% less than a year.
- If we further simplify the results:
- Only 12% of people dated for less than a year.
- 36% had been dating for 1-3 years.
- 51% waited more than three years.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
There are a couple of important caveats to keep in mind when digesting these research results.
Marriage vs. Engagement
The question was posed on social media. Given this, we asked how long couples waited before getting engaged rather than married. Why? We felt that asking when a couple married would have skewed the results because people spend varying amounts of time engaged before tying the knot - that's for another poll! In contrast, asking how long couples waited before getting engaged provided a solid indication of a couple's willingness to marry.
Age
We were unable to confirm the exact age of the couples who responded. Couples who were much younger are likely to have waited longer before getting engaged, whereas older couples may have been less hesitant.
What does the research show?
Despite the ease in which couples can date nowadays thanks to the rise of online dating and apps, research shows that when it comes to serious lifelong relationships, couples are taking their time - and perhaps rightfully so, according to experts and research on how long couples should wait before getting engaged to reduce the chances of divorce.
So, what does this mean for you?
Don't worry if you've taken your time and are among the majority who have waited more than three years, or even five. Most couples take their time deciding whether they want to spend the rest of their lives together, which is perfectly normal. Trust us when we say that when you find the right person, you'll know it, and delaying your engagement won't change that. My husband waited over ten years! :)
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