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Just got engaged to my fiance...and feel like I've made a mistake

mediadave

Greenlighter
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
2
Hey all. First off, I'm a pretty recent visitor to Bluelight and this is my first post here, I felt I needed a nice neutral forum to talk about well, what I'm going to talk about. All your thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

I recently - last Sunday - got engaged to my girlfriend of six years. Less than a week later and rather than butterflies in my stomach I just have a horrible sinking feeling, that I've made a massive mistake and can't get out of it.

Like I say, we've been going out six years, and for most of that it has been a damn good relationship. She's beatiful, smart, funny and I really do love her. Of course we've had our ups and downs, but no more than any other relationship, and nothing I would consider major. She comes from a different culture than me, one aspect of which (her parents) means we haven't been able to move intogether, indeed may not until after the wedding (there is possibly a compromise there, we'll see). Indeed the first time I'll have met her father is this saturday.

She has always been keen on marriage - and I have been as well, in that I always did intend to get married and have kids at some point in my future - and this year she's been getting a bit more frantic on it. We have had a couple of...well, arguments is maybe a bit strong, but discussions, in which she accused me of leading her along with no intention of ever marrying her. Well I never had any intention of that, but I started to see the end of this year as the deadline for when I should propose, if I was going to do it.

And so tuesday before last we had one of these discussions, and we almost broke up. I've been having doubts I must admit. But when the prospect of breaking up actually came before me, I couldn't do it. I didn't want to do it. She wasn't hysterical or preassurising I must stress - if anything the opposite, stressing that I needed to be sure before I asked if i was going to ask. And so I guess I persuaded myself I was sure, and in an effort to save our relationship (perhaps) I proposed to her a few days later.

But now I am feeling like I have made a mistake. While marriage with her was always hovering around in my mind as a potential future, now that it's set as THE future, I'm sick in my stomach. All I can think about now are films, stories, my real life experiences of people who have made the wrong choice in this and it's messed up their lives. She's told her friends, work colleagues, family (which was a big deal), ...there was a moment for a clean break and I let it slip through. She made me promise one thing - that I would be sure - and I fucked that up. Maybe this is general masculine commitment phobia, but I think it's more than that. I just don't know what to do.

So....any advice?
 
I think you might just be freaking out a little...totally normal. I am 34 and still have trouble thinking about forever...unless getting married and having a family are things that you don't want to do ever...but it doesn't sound like it.
 
No, I don't agree with the first poster...I don't think running is a good idea until you have explored a few things. I think you need to do some hard soul searching to try to discern whether or not this is a panic driven temporary commitment issue or something that goes much deeper.

For example, when I found out I was pregnant, I experienced something similar to what you described. My husband and I had been trying for a baby for a year, really wanted it, but then when that test came up positive, my knees went so weak I had to sit down. For weeks I was filled with the biggest panic, feeling I had made the worst mistake in my life, my life was over, doomed. I always knew I would have a baby, much like you and marriage, but the reality of it smacked me in the face.

Anyway,after serious reflection I came to see that it was fear of such a momentous life changing experience and embraced it and went forward. You may or may not come to the same conclusion...you may find that you have deeper issues and choose to break off the engagement.

Whatever you do, however, don't go ahead with the marriage if you still have reservations out of some misguided moral feeling that you promised her you would be sure. That would be a huge disservice to you and her.

Good luck, maybe even consider talking to a good friend or a professional to help you sort through your feelings? Something as huge as marriage certainly warrants further reflection I think.
 
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Not for nothing, but I always have followed to the letter the "toothpaste tube" rule. You gotta live together for at least 18 months before getting married. That's when you learn if you can live with her little quirks (everybody has them and when people JUST move in together, both parties are on their best behavior) and vice versa. Will she stab you if you leave your dirty socks on the bedroom floor? Will you push her down the stairs because she INSISTS on putting the orange juice back in the fridge with only a sip in it? Do either one of you leave notes? Toilet paper over or under? It may sound like a joke, but people fight about that shit and you have to know if you can take it and she does too. I'm all for traditions and respecting the old ways, but your in-laws maybe putting their daughter at a disadvantage with their out of date ways. In your heart of hearts you know what you have to do. Best of luck.
 
If you actually love her then you should want to be with her for life. Why did you wait 6 years? My wife and I dated for 3 years and then moved in together and then six months later I knew that it was time to propose. Not because it was the next step, it was because I never wanted to be with anyone else again. Do you at least live together?
 
To the OP I suggest you take some time away from your fiancee & really think about what you are doing. You may be making the biggest mistake in your life or making the best decision you have made. Figuring that out will require some serious thinking & I wish you luck. My only other advice is do what is right for you & if that means hurting her now to save more pain later then so be it.
 
I think it's completely normal. You've just made a huge commitment, of course you're nervous and doubting the whole thing, I can assure you you're neither the first not the last to feel this way straight after getting engaged. I honestly think you just need to wrap your head around the idea and sooner or later you'll realize it is indeed the next logical step for your relationship (I mean, 6 years is a pretty long time).
 
do you still want to be with her? thats the question. on one hand you dont want to be without her (hence your proposal) on the other hand you are afraid of being with her for the long haul.

are you just afraid because you haven't lived together? or because commitment scares you? or because you feel you have made the wrong decision

its a big step and i'm sure it freaks out a lot of people. give it a few weeks like beachcat suggested and see how you feel then be honest with yourself.
 
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I agree with the poster who suggested moving in together. You will see if you're really suited for marriage. If her family's cultural values are so different, that would nag at me too. Especially given you havn't met the dad yet after all this time. My parents, both once divorced decided to live together before getting married again. I lived with my ex for a year before we decided to get married. You may be just having the jitters because she's so eager to start a family. I was married 5 years and got pregnant then everything fell apart. He didn't want a kid, so we divorced (he became very abusive) once the baby came. :(

You need to really think this through before you take the plunge. Something's bothering you and you need to sort it before you get married. Perhaps explore premarital counseling may help you both decide your mutual and individual goals. Wish you the best, whatever you decide.
 
Yeah, I'd definitely recommend moving in together first! I don't know if I could marry a guy who I didn't live with beforehand. I mean ... a one year commitment (apartment lease) is much easier to keep, if things don't work out, than a full marriage.

I also think it's normal to feel worried, anxious, etc. after getting engaged. I'd suggest you don't freak her out right now with your "I'm not sure about this" feelings, but give it some time. Commitment is scary so it is understandable that you'd be scared in this situation. But try not to freak her out unless you're SURE it wasn't the right decision.
 
sounds to me like she may be a little pushy. If she is, is she in other respects too? I was married to a pushy woman for much too long. Your story sounds like me when i was younger. If i could do it over, i'd definitely choose a different path. The thing is, you have to do what is right for you, not what we would or would have done.
 
Oh god, live together first. Keep in mind that an engagement can last indefinitely. It's not like you've made wedding plans yet. That gives you time to move in together and try different levels of relating to see if this is really meant for marriage.

It's pretty normal to be nervous, I think? It means that your partnership means something to you and you are questioning your place in it, if you belong there, if you're ready for this, etc. Just because you are re-evaluating does not mean you should run off!
 
Oh wait yeah when I answered earlier I hadn't realized you guys have never lived together. You definitely need to try that first, it's a massive change. Can be great but it can also make you realize you actually can't stand that person, haha.
I think you should maybe suggest that the two of you sort of take a break in the engagement until you've lived together for a bit and can decide that your relationship is still fine that way?
 
How have you guys been 2gethr for 6 years and you have yet 2 meet her father?
It sounds like you rushed in2 this decision b4 really thinking about it..
Have you tried talking to her about it? Maybe you guys can just stay engaged for a while, engagements can be broken. Marriages are a little harder to get out of obviously. But listen to these people here and try living togethr. I couldn't imagine marring a man I haven't lived w/ 1st, not that I ever really see myself getting married. Been w/ my guy 8 years and have nevr once pushed for him to marry me, never even had a real convo on the subject. I'm not against it, but..
 
Sounds like you don't wanna do it. Run bro.
Yup.

Your gut instinct - trust it.

Unless you have a severe history of avoiding commitment, then your gut instinct might be a little skewed. Probably not though, I'd trust your intuition to be honest.

Upon reading a little more, dude YOU GOTTA live together first!

I once read that "studies have shown that those who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce, than people who wait until marriage to move in with each other" - I also never believe anything as soon as someone states "studies have shown..." before any statement - whose funding these studies? BIASED PARTIES generally, wit money or powe to gain, and not altruistic do-gooders.

You gotta live with each other first - then see how your gut feels. Part of me says be honest and tell her you're having doubts and wanna move in to see if this is really for you, for the long haul, a big part of me...but that's your call, and you might find if you ask her first, then seee how things go, before stating your doubts if they're still there, and cross more bridges if you come to them.
 
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Marriage is hard to get out of, particularly if you have children. You better tell her that you feel you are making a big mistake, she needs to know that. That will give you the chance for further necessary discussion, though it may not be easy.

I have a wife from a very different culture, that does cause problems for us; however we are still together after 21 years.
 
You propose after a fight about marriage? No wonder you don't feel solid about it.

You are newly engaged. You are not stuck for life. I think it is brave to admit that you are not sure and if you are not sure...do not stay engaged. You need to talk to her about your feelings. Yeah it will suck but it is the right thing to do. I have had 2 friends call off the wedding a month before. Don't be THAT guy.

After 6 years, why are you meeting her father NOW?
 
Marriage is hard to get out of, particularly if you have children. You better tell her that you feel you are making a big mistake, she needs to know that. That will give you the chance for further necessary discussion, though it may not be easy.

I have a wife from a very different culture, that does cause problems for us; however we are still together after 21 years.
whaaaaat...the fuck did I just read in 2 seperate threads?! (also what the hell happened to papasomni?!)
 
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