For many couples, marriage is a natural progression of a great relationship.
Giving some pause to reflect on your reasons for saying "I do" might be a great idea before you take that leap.Here are some of the worst reasons to get married:
You've been a couple forever
In this day and age, if your relationship has withstood the test of time, you are to be congratulated. Many don't. The "but" in all of this is that if she was the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with, you probably would have asked her by now. Maybe you have a nagging feeling that keeps you from making that final committment. Often the gut instincts, the ones often ignored, are the ones we should really be paying attention to. If something just isn't sitting right with you; perhaps it's time to move on. It's easier to separate earlier in a relationship than later; especially after marriage and children.
You don't want to be a bachelor all your life
You're worried about being lonely.in your life and you don't want to blow it and lose a compatible person that you've waiting for years to find. Understandable, but don't let that be the only reason to give her an engagement ring. Finding a special someone can be time consuming "labour of love" but being afraid of being lonely is no reason to bite the bullet and walk down the aisle. Especially tempting if she's the sweet type that you wouldn't hesitate to take home to meet your folks. But as nice, pretty and well-spoken as she might be, if you don't have similar likes and interests the marriage will always be one of convenience, not of love and committment.
All your friends are getting married
It's troubling to you that all your buddies are saying "I do" and you're the only one saying "I'm not". Sure, it can be awkward if you're the only one that's not married around your friends, but it'll be a hell of a lot more awkward when you realize that you've married for the wrong reasons. It's sometimes tough to be the only guy in your gang that isn't hitched. You will feel left out at times or feel like you're taking a backseat to your friends' spouses but not compromising for the sake of feeling like the "in" crown and marrying in haste.
You feel obligated to pop the question
She's handled all of your shenanighans on the nights that you go out with the boys. She's good-naturedly picked your laundry up off the floor and ironed your shirts. In short she's been a good-sport about it all and you're feeling like you owe it to her. One thing to consider is that an unhappy marriage with her is the worst way to repay this perceived debt.
She's putting pressure on you
Changing your life for someone else can lead to some big-time resentment on your part, especially if you feel that you've been coerced or cowed into a marriage that you're either not committed to or don't want. Examine your personal reasons for taking the plunge and decide if you are "good marriage material" for your girl. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and be a realist. The changes that you make will have to be because you want them to happen. You'll end up making both of you miserable if you are doing this solely because you feel she wants it.
A spur of the moment decision
Sometimes in life, we're broadsided by an occasion or episode. During one of these moments you may grab on to the idea of getting married and not give it due consideration. It's better to hold in the reins a bit rather than backing out after the bridesmaid dresses are bought and the hall is rented. It certainly won't make you a hero in your beloved's eyes. A simple "let's wait a bit" will probably appease your gal. Certainly a lot less than if she's already talking up the wedding and buying all the wedding magazines off of the rack.
Her family is great
You absolutely love her family, her mom and dad are everything you'd want in in-laws. Her siblings are like an extension of your own family but, it's not her family that you are marrying. Great in-laws and relatives make it easier no doubt, but first and foremost you have to know that beyond a shadow of a doubt that she's the one for you. The one you share a bed with, the one you look after when she's sick and the one you are vowing "for better or for worse".Put your focus where it belongs, usually if you're good to their daughter, any in-laws will be special to you.
Your parents think you should
It certainly makes things easier if your parents enjoy the company of your wife-to-be, however getting married because your parents expect you to or seeking your parents' approval by removing your intended from circulation is one of the worst reasons to get married. A marriage is not an election, it's not a group venture; it's a lifetime committment between two people. Count with me; 1..2...that does not include your parents no matter how awesome they are or how badly you want to please them. Bringing your parents into a relationship at this beginning phase is a recipe for disaster. Put your feelings first and if you're happy, then your parents should echo your happiness in their thoughts and actions.
She's pregnant with your baby
The absolute truth of the matter is that children alone cannot be the glue that holds a marriage together. Allow yourself to see into the future before you allow your emotions to overtake you. It may not be in yours, hers, or a child's best interest to see two parents living through a marriage of convenence. Put your heads together to come up with the best solution given your circumstances, but remember that there is now a wee one that is going to go through whatever your relationship holds for the both of you. The children always feel the brunt of a family dynamic that isn't working.
Many couples believe that they're ready to make the committment even though they haven't considered what marriage all entails. Often unfortunately, hind sight is 20/20. This is not to say that you should call off the wedding if some or all that you've read here applies to you; but more of an opportunity to reflect on your personal reasons for walking down the aisle.