Engagement is a major milestone in a relationship. Before you get there, however,
you need to have been together long enough to get to know each other. It's important
pg. 28
Where dreams spiral into memories
All Occasion Parties • Ornate Winding Staircase
Banquets up to 300 guests • Have catered or bring your own food
Handicapped accessible & climate controlled
7 Important Relationship
Landmarks You Should See
Before You Get Engaged
815-626-2988 | 13030 Galt Road, Sterling, IL 61081
to realize that it takes time.
In the beginning, the hormone-fueled experience of being in love can make it
hard for you to exercise good judgment or notice any signs that should concern
you. It can take up to a year to begin seeing your partner in an objective way.
The length of time that you have been with someone isn't the only measure by
which you should judge whether you're ready to be engaged, however. Ideally, you
should make sure that you cross several important relationship milestones before
you get to the point where you can safely get engaged. Here is more information
on what those milestones are.
Getting to know the parents
While meeting your partner's family may make you nervous, it's an important
step to cross the way to getting engaged. It's important to gain insight into the
kind of marriage that your partner's parents have had and to see how your partner
believes their own marriage should be different. Meeting the parents can also be
a good opportunity to see if they are accepting of your relationship, or if they feel
the need to change you.
Knowing if your partner is responsible with money
It's important to get a sense of where your partner stands when it comes to money.
Disagreements over money tend to be what couples fight about more than
anything, after all. Are they careful savers or free spenders? Money can offer a
feeling of security that many find important. You should also know if they carry
a lot of debt, and if they have good credit, as well. Your partner's financial
philosophy is something you should be thoroughly familiar with before getting
anywhere near an engagement.
Understanding how religious they are
It's important to learn as much as you can about your partner's favored philosophy
when it comes to religion and spirituality. You should know if you can accept
where your partner stands in this area, and if they are happy with where you
stand. Sometimes, couples make assumptions about how religiously conservative
or liberal they are. It can result in friction when you actually get married.
Having a talk about your past relationships
Talking about past relationships as a couple is an important way to understand
how you view relationships in general. Knowing about reasons for past breakups
can help you understand your partner's philosophy when it comes to romance,
relationship boundaries, argument style, and openness.
Continue on next page