Almost-Engaged
There are many things to consider before getting married. Becoming officially engaged is usually one of the last steps. Between "not knowing about each other" and the decision to "tie the knot," people go through the early stages of a relationship rather quickly, and then go through a protracted period of almost-engagement. First, you learn of the other person’s existence. Second, if this has not already happened, you meet face-to-face. Third, you talk about dating. Fourth, you date. Fifth, you become "almost-engaged." This is usually by far the longest in duration of all the pre-marriage stages of a couple's life together (as measured by both wall-clock time, and by total amount of time spent together). Next, you decide to get married. And then you do.
Types/Categories
1. Going steady: Almost living-together but not quite. (This stage is often either characterized as "not dating other people at the same time," or the mutual expectation thereof.)
2. Living together: Living in the same home. (This saves on gas and phone bills. Usually expenses for both are reduced.)
3. Living together with shared finances: Living in the same home. (This saves on gas and phone bills. Usually expenses for both are reduced. Because finances are shared, a subsequent separation might be less amicable.)
3. Having children together: Living in the same home, or not. (Now you're in deep doo-doo.)
Examples
For some couples, waiting (for the purpose of having enough money to spend on the rings, the wedding, and the honeymoon) is important; and so they wait to get formally engaged.
Some young couples prefer to put some distance between themselves and their parents before getting engaged.
Some wait till they are completely out of school.
Some people are "almost-devoted," and that may influence the urgency they give to "taking the plunge."
Some are anti-establishment to the extent that they don't believe that a piece of paper should be the thing that holds them together. (These people are usually male, or "hippie chicks," or the one with the most money, or the one with the most options.)
Examples of appropriate attire:
Links
| Almost-Engaged | Comment |
| www.cafepress.com | plan yer engagement: "Almost-Engaged" shirts |
| www.torontodailynews.com | Princess Diana was almost engaged |
Links
| Almost-Married | Comment |
| www.weddingchannel.com | plan yer wedding |
| www.theknot.com | plan yer wedding |
| www.brides.com | plan yer wedding |
| green.yahoo.com | Yahoo's Green Wedding Guide |
| www.ourweddingcast.com | announce yer wedding |
| www.nearlymarried.co.uk | UK: Nearly Married online shop |
