If your man has already talked about his wish to make you his wife, then you know for sure that he is planning on marrying you … sometime. But when? Whether you've got an idea, or are completely clueless, there are three stages in which a man is planning his marriage proposal. Read below to find out how close he actually is to that big moment you've been waiting for.
Stage One: Planning for Your Future Together
Estimated time before he proposes: Indefinite
This is the stage where he is beginning to plan his life around marrying you. Here are the telltale signs:
- He starts getting serious about the big questions. He will start to discuss issues such as finances, where he wants to live, children, investing money for the future, and all of these plans include you in it. He will start talking as if you two were a team, rather than two separate individuals.
- His family will start to become your familyHe will be really active in introducing you to all of his extended family and friends. Because he plans to make you his wife, he wants you to mingle with all the people that make up his world … because you will soon be a part of it and he knows it. He will also be eager to get to know your extended family more closely as well.
Estimated time before he proposes: A matter of months
In this stage, he has established that he is ready to propose marriage, but when is the right time? Here are the signs he is thinking a lot about "The Big Question."
- He hints at it. He may ask in a trivial fashion what kind of rings you like. He may even ask you questions like "If I were to propose at this [fill in the blank] time, what would you say?" He wants to get a rough idea on how to make the proposal memorable and special.
- He may warn you in advance. He may tell you right out, that he plans to propose to you "sometime this year," or "a few months from now." At this point, it is just a matter of waiting in bliss for that day.
- He has started saving money, or investing.He wants to buy you a ring, provide for you, and make sure you both have a happy life together. Don't think he's being a cheapskate … his "tight budget" may be a labor of love for you.
Stage Three: Preparing to Pop the Question
Estimate time before he proposes: A matter of weeks, days or even hours
Proposing to a woman is no easy task, and it will be on his mind 24/7. He may start to behave in the following ways:
- There's a noticable change in his behavior.a)He'll seem preoccupied and a little distant. He may be quieter than usual. b) He may seem extra critical of himself or a bit insecure for no particular reason. He may even seem extra nervous or edgy for no apparent reason. c) He'll be extra loving, attentive, and romantic in a major way, as if he "knows something you don't know," or he may start acting as he did toward you when you first started dating. (Remember, he's just as excited as you are about getting engaged!)
- He may seem a little secretive, and so may the people around you.Being secretive doesn't have to mean he is cheating on you, especially if you already know your relationship is solid. He may be visiting your parents, asking them for their blessing in marrying you … he may be ring shopping or ring sizing … he may be getting all the final preparations together because he knows what is coming sooner than you think. If your parents or his friends have been acting "different' around you in that same way, this may be the reason why.
- He makes plans with you that he wants you to keep.If he is suddenly adamant about being in a certain place at a certain time, he may have some big plans set for that moment, so don't back out at the last minute!
- He asks for your ring size, or takes you ring shopping.He's ready to pop the question. This is a dead giveaway that he will be dropping to one knee before you know it.
All men have different timelines as to when they ask their girlfriend for her hand in marriage. Only YOU can have a true sense of where your man is on his "mission to ask." Your intuition can tell you a lot. The bottom line is to just be patient and never to pressure him. If you know he wants to ask you, he will. Just enjoy every moment you have with him. Don't spend all your energy dwelling on the day he proposes, but rather enjoy the present and wait in bliss knowing that that day will come … and when it does happen, it will be the surprise of your life.
Amber Turk - I read a lot, I think a lot, and I write a lot, but I only write about things in which I, myself, have experience. Take my advice. :)
