How long should you know someone before moving in together?

Maybe the question should read how much should you know about someone before marrying them. There are so many factors that go into marriage that it's impossible to give a "one size fits all" day/month/year answer to that. In any marriage if you have 2 people who are not looking to change the other person but rather change themselves to become whatever will work in their marriage...it will succeed. So you need to know enough about the other persons values, finanacial habits, and daily living to know whether you can change "yourself" and become compatible with them and if they also have the attitude that they want to become whatever the marriage will require. No marriage will ever work with selfish, prideful attitudes. So make sure you keep these areas to a level you can live with.

Psychologists say the typical infatuation (or "lust") lasts 3-18 months. So,if a total of 19 or more months elapses between meeting and wedding, there's a better chance it's really love.

It is of my observation and belief that marriage goes beyond love. The love of another is not enough to make a marriage work. Both parties must be ready for the long-term commitment of marriage in all aspects, financially, emotionally and in maturity. I thing young people need to know each other longer than some older folks who may have all the necessary qualifications to make this decision without the several years dedicated to getting to know one another.

The main problem I see is amongst the younger generation who use 'marriage' as a kind of committed relationship and divorce is just as easy. When teens and young 20-somethings (even 30-somethings in some cases) are not emotionally stable and indepdendent how can they commit to something as serious as marriage? Marriage is not just about love.. even legally it is a union of economic stature that can mess with you if you need to get divorced. A marriage is an investment as much as a romantic commitment.

Just for the record, I'm 23 years old so I'm not an ageist older person trouncing on young folk... I'm a young folk who's screaming for my generation to PLEASE stop getting hitched because you think your boy is 'swell' or you want to stake your claim in that pretty, flirtatious chick.

Last check on when to get married. If you have ANY doubt WHATSOEVER, wait. If there is a single shread of doubt in your head just stay a committed couple. Live together, sleep together, eat together... but wait on marriage until you're certain.