Get a date, decide if they’re worth it, then get it over the line.
Do you want to get married? Would you be comfortable saying that out loud, to another human, in real life? It’s a question I asked some single colleagues a few months ago. Their responses were probably similar to yours: yes to marriage, no to talking about it.
To find out if this trend lived beyond our office, Bustle commissioned a survey with OnePoll in which we asked 1,005 women aged 25-39 a series of questions about marriage. Two findings stood out:
Those figures became more extreme in the North East (82%, 74%) and West (86%, 78%), while women of the Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, et al.) also wanted to be married (72%) but had much less difficulty talking about it (52%).
We don’t believe in staying quiet about the things that you want, so if you want to get married, this guide is for you. It’s structured in three parts: getting a date, working out if you should commit, and securing commitment in return. You’ll also find more data, brilliant first-person anecdotes, and a final sendoff to remind you that a bad marriage is worse than no marriage. We hope you find it useful.—Charlotte Owen, Editor in Chief
Where To Meet Someone New
The pros and cons of dating apps, matchmakers, and everything in between.
How To Hack Dating Apps & Get Better Matches
Online dating can be overwhelming, even as it becomes an increasingly popular way to meet someone.
21 Questions To Ask Yourself After A First Date
This printable first date evaluation form will tell you whether it’s worth a second date.
One woman on the approach to dating apps that got her the result she wanted.
What Is A Red Flag Anyway?
Including the real, the meme-worthy, and the quirks you can probably live with.
Forget Perfect. Find A Partner Who's "Perfect Enough."
"Settling down" and "settling for" are not synonymous.
I Sought Out A New Church. I Found A Husband.
Alone in a new city, one woman found a partner when she wasn’t expecting it.
3 women on the moment they knew their partner was “the one.”
Should You Wait For The Proposal Or DIY?
TL;DR: Either way is better than snooping for the ring receipt.
An Unromantic Guide To Securing Commitment
Six people who negotiate for a living share their tips for getting what you want.
...And How To Know When A Relationship Is Over
How (and why) to dip.
According to the data, somewhere between 13% and 20% of engagements are called off before walking down the aisle. If that sounds familiar, let’s talk upsides. Firstly, you’re about to save a lot of money. The Knot estimates the average wedding reception costs $22,500 in 2021, while hiring an attorney to help with a divorce will set you back between $10,000 and $20,000. But more than that, you just dodged a bullet.
We asked Bustle readers about the relationships they’re glad they left behind and these are their stories, including an unexpected pregnancy, infidelity, and a good old fashioned oedipus complex.
Introducing: Thank F*ck I Didn’t Marry Them.