Feeling like you’re ready to pop the question? Or do you feel completely baffled about when the right time should be?
Marriage proposals are a topic filled with love and excitement, with people proposing in all kinds of weird and wonderful ways. But if you don’t already have it all laid out in your mind yet, don’t panic. Here are a few ways that can help you realise when the timing could be just right.
Referring to yourselves as ‘we’
Do you find yourself constantly storytelling while using the phrase ‘we’? Not only does this signal that those in the conversation instantly know who ‘we’ involves, but it also highlights the sheer amount of time you spend together, as would naturally happen in a long-term relationship.
You might be taking big steps together too, like buying a house or merging your finances. The more of these milestones you go through together, the more natural a proposal will feel. It indicates that you’ve been tested in a range of settings and that you’ve come out stronger as a result of this.
You can’t picture life without them
Eventually, you’ll get to a point where you simply can’t imagine going through your day-to-day without them. You might always think of them as a priority and find that they pop into your head frequently.
At the same time, you may have also subconsciously aligned your life goals, meaning that you are essentially planning a future together. If you’re at this stage, you may even have an idea of what their dream engagement ring might look like, in which case, there’s no time like the present to get the ball rolling.
You’re on the same page
Have you discussed key life events and ambitions together? Whether that involves having children, going travelling or settling down in a particular location, knowing what you and your partner want will help you know whether you’re ready to propose. The average age of those who have married in the UK has risen in the past few decades, indicating that some may prefer to wait.
Sharing common interests is another sign that you enjoy spending downtime time together, whether that’s a countryside walk, travelling, reading books or more. It’s important to note that sharing interests and sharing values differs slightly, so be sure that you and your partner on the same page about topics that are important to the two of you.
You’ve made it through
Sharing the same values and morals is crucial to a healthy relationship. Knowing when one or the other is in the wrong or has made you feel upset and being able to communicate your feelings can make or break the relationship.
Sometimes, you need to have been through tests to truly know how strong you are as a couple. Until you are confident that you can navigate struggles that might crop up, it may be better to wait until you are truly sure.