Its true: If you get engaged, your life will never be the same. Knowing the changes youll be making, and knowing youre ready and willing to handle them, is crucial to knowing the time is right to propose.
First comes the stress of planning a wedding a major, though temporary, change all its own.
Wait a minute, you say. Isnt planning a wedding the girls job?
Um, no. Well pretend you didnt say that.
Make no mistake, though: Planning a wedding will take a lot out of you, no matter your level of involvement. For instance, youre going to need to book a band or a DJ. Easy enough, right? How could it be any more difficult than buying a boom box? Well, dont forget about finding a catering hall, or possibly a caterer, as well as a florist, a photographer, and so on. Oh, and youll have to make a guest list. And it wont be easy. And youll get into fights over it. And a few months later, youll get into more. All for a four or five hour event!
Which isnt to say that you wont have fun. You will. And, ultimately, this stress will be worth it. But rest assured, there will be stress. Soon youll find your to-do list has the regenerative powers of a worm or a starfish. Just when you think youre done… ha! You wish! So it helps to know this ahead of time. Why? Because what if you literally cant handle this stuff right now? Like, what if you just cant figure it into your schedule? Perhaps youre a student. Or maybe youre working two jobs. You may be able to plan a wedding around your other obligations, but, then, you may not. Can you handle this sort of commitment? Do you have time for it? And, furthermore, do you think your girlfriend has time for it, too? Or look at it this way: Some weddings are more elaborate than others. Your girlfriends probably been dreaming about hers her entire life. Will you guys have the spare time you need to plan a wedding that lives up to her dreams as well as your own expectations?
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