Marriage is a beautiful thing, but only when you’re ready. Saying “I do” before you’re ready because your friends are doing it or you worry that time is ticking will only lead to a lot of heartbreak, for both you and your partner. However, when you’re generally with the person you can envision forever with, walking down the aisle can be the best day of your life.
Not sure if you’re ready or not? Here are 21 signs that you are:
- You don’t feel like you’re missing out on dating anymore. Instead, you’re just happy to be in the relationship that you’re in.
- You feel good about yourself, in and out of your relationship. A healthy marriage can’t be a co-dependent one. If you’re happy with who you are outside of the relationship, but you’d just prefer to with your partner, then you’re ready to tie the knot.
- You won’t settle for just anyone. In the past, you would’ve been happy with any guy that was interested in you, but now – you know exactly what you want.
- You get that it’s not always about you… and that’s fine. If the thought of taking each other’s schedules, tastes and ideas into consideration and compromising on a regular basis is absolutely fine with you, then you’re head is definitely in the right place.
- You have other close people in your life. Your friends and family are really important when you enter into a marriage. No matter how small or big the argument you have with your partner is, they’ll be there as outside support to help you.
- You start to actually notice engagement rings. Like, all the time. Your brain is definitely in the game.
- When you think about the future, your partner is unquestionably in it. It’s almost absurd to imagine otherwise.
- You talk openly about your shared finances. Money can a bit of a taboo topic in a relationship, so if you can openly and honestly talk about your finances together, then you’re ready to tackle what life has in store for you.
- You’ve actually discussed getting married. And you know it’s going to happen… you’re just sort of waiting for the moment now. Hey, you have the holiday coming up, don’t you?
- When he’s upset, you’re upset. When he’s happy, you’re happy. His feelings, are your feelings. You just really can’t help it anymore!
- He’s your emergency contact. It just makes sense to, right? No offense to your parents, but if crap hits the fan, it’s him that you want by your side.
- You’re open and honest about your past. He knows your history, he knows your most embarrassing stories… and you know his. And you love each other – not despite of – but partly, because of these things.
- He’s always the first person you call with good news. And sometimes you even forget to call anyone else!
- All of your exes pale in comparison to him. Sure, you’re sometimes curious what they’ve been pu to, but you definitely aren’t interested in anything more.
- You’re never jealous. He can go out and hang out with whoever he wants – a whole group of beautiful ladies – for all you care. You know he’s faithful to the bone. The only thing that’s on your mind is wanting him to get home because you miss him!
- You live together and it’s great. You don’t just live together because it’s the “next step”, you just can’t get enough of each other! You want to see him first thing in the morning, and the last thing at night. You want to share everything with him. Living together is just great!
- You enjoy the simple, mundane moments together. You don’t have to be doing something to be enjoying yourself. From grocery shopping, to watching TV, it’s just being together that matters.
- You’ve talked about having children. You know how many he hopes to have, and he knows how many you do (if any!). You’re not exactly planning to have them any time soon, but you’re just looking to the future to make sure you’re on the same page.
- You never question his devotion to you. You know you’re the center of his world, just like he is of yours. You don’t read into his texts, his attentions, his moods… it’s no longer a reflection on how he feels about you.
- You can’t imagine sleeping with anyone else. The thought makes you feel weird, awkward and a little bit sick.
- You know you’d have the perfect wedding just because you’re marrying him. A Pinterest-perfect wedding is great and all, but it’s more important to just be together on your big day.
