I've been reading this section through a long term relationship, other casual relationships, and now, 5 years later, I'm the bride posting here about registries, wedding nightmares, and all the stuff I thought I'd never have when reading this board. I learned a ton about what to do, not to do, and to remember what was most important and special to me in finding a husband and marrying him. I loved venting and feeling less alone, and the support I got when I found THE ONE, got THE RING, and bought THE DRESS. I feel like we brides are kindred spirits, no matter what type of bride we are!

Sometimes I can't help but feel a little smug when I see everyone I know bitching about their spouses and their relationships and fighting and breaking up. Then I feel guilty. I really am lucky to have someone so wonderful.

I don't know how I managed it, but my FMIL and I get along incredibly well. I hear all sorts of stories here and elsewhere about nightmare MIL/DIL relationships, and I feel so very lucky.

I think we should focus less on "should" when thinking about other people's relationships, engagements, and weddings. You do what works for you and your partner (and your families). I'll do what works for me and mine. Everyone would be so much happier if we just butted out of each other's business.

I am engaged, he is deployed. I love him so much. However, I am having serious doubts over it ALL. I just cant stand the family. His mother keeps telling me "we have a wedding to plan(meaning her and I), his father who he has never been in contact with until he left for war, is calling me every day. Who I have bad gut feelings about.I cant take it anymore. I felt i wanted to marry my ex more and have a big wedding, it would have been just US planning it. But with him i rather just get eloped or leave, his mother should not be part of EVERY aspect. And he forces me to ahve these relationships!

didnt mean to start a debate. hehe. Arranged marriages nowadays mean your parents act like match.com. Instead of meeting total strangers, you meet people your family or family friends know. I chose to keep getting to intimately knw each other after we are married. for now its enough to knw we are both visibly compatible and good humans :) Be it arranged marriages or otherwise, relationships dont come with guarantees, u have to be in them to knw if it will work out or not. no pre-marriage interactions ensure a happy married life.

DH and I have seen the marriages of 3 couples who got married after us end in divorce. Their weddings were huge and expensive but I don't think that had anything to do with the dissolution of their relationships. We knew they were in trouble way before the invitations went out.

I am the marriage counselor who posted yesterday. I was educated to help people's relationships, and I get paid to do it. I'm qualified, regardless of if I haven't been married before. Not being married doesn't mean you don't know how relationships work or how to make them better. That is just ludicrous! Marriage is just an institution, the relationship in general is the important part.

I love my BF with all my heart, but we are so different when it comes to relationships. I enjoy being single and if the right guy comes along, terrific. If not, that's okay too. She absolutely cannot stand being single and has to have a man in the wings at all times. Not only this, but they have to be rich men, who will shower her with gifts and trips and expensive everything, AND they must be hopelessly devoted to her - willing to marry her and have a baby with her within weeks of meeting. Is it me, or is this weird?

Why is it that there has to be some kind of hierarchy when it comes to relationships? Seriously, the difference in saying "boyfriend" versus "fiance" or "husband" is obvious in people's reaction when you say one or the other. "Wife" seems to have so much more clout than "girlfriend."