Let's Talk Commitment

What relationship anarchy is, why it's trending now, and the real benefits and downsides of rethinking traditional relationship structures, in plain terms.

Ready for more than a situationship? Be the chooser, bring up exclusivity directly and vulnerably, honor your boundaries and care for yourself if it ends.

14 stats on marriage versus cohabitation: 70% of couples live together first, yet those who moved in before engagement were 48% more likely to divorce.

The average American man first marries at 30.5 and the average woman at 28.6. These 25 stats cover rising marriage ages, city trends and divorce odds.

Engaged after four years together, the writer shares what worked: clear goals, dating online and offline, going long distance and choosing to commit.

Over 70% of women would help fund their engagement ring, per the Holiday Engagement Survey. Men feel more proposal pressure, and most want it private.

Meeting the family is a big relationship step. Six tips, from an honest talk with your partner to a rundown on family dynamics, can ease the stress.

A future faker talks up a life together but never follows through. Spot five signs, how they differ from slower-paced partners, and how to address it.

Five questions to ask before you commit, on shared values, non-negotiables, openness, handling conflict, and a willingness to work through hard times.

The U-Haul lesbian joke has some truth to it. Seven ways lesbian couples can slow down, from talking through boundaries to setting shared goals together.

Where monogamy came from, the myths around it, and how casual dating and shifting norms are changing whether one partner for life still feels realistic.

Relationship coach Emyli Lovz, who works with men, explains how to keep the spark and talk things through once the honeymoon phase is over.

Nonmono founder László Ágoston clears up myths about ethical non-monogamy, shares his own experience, and offers advice for people new to ENM.

What a situationship is, how it differs from real dating, eight signs you're in one, and how to move toward something more serious if you want it.

Decide to Commit's Dr. Scott Sibley, a marriage and family therapist, on commitment now, how to tell if a partner is ready, and defining the relationship.

Weddings can set off a wave of proposals, the wedding effect, but can also push couples to a breaking point. Here's why they stir up such strong feelings.

Nine stats on how long couples date before marriage, like the 70%-plus who wait 2+ years and the finding that dating over 3 years cuts divorce odds by 50%.

Leanne Yau of PolyPhilia takes on polyamory myths: why infidelity isn't a given, why it isn't all about sex, and how she teaches through memes.

Ten Christian dating books worth reading, from The Dating Manifesto by Lisa Anderson to The 5 Love Languages, for singles, engaged couples and spouses.

Fass Pass to Love founder Jessica Fass restyles Jewish singles like film stars to build confidence and help them write their own rom-com ending.

Can't stop texting your new partner? These 11 signs show you've hit the cupcake stage, plus tips to keep the spark alive once the early rush settles.

Marcia Naomi Berger, a therapist and author, on dating for marriage: know what you want, time the big talks well and build toward a lasting partnership.

From single to engaged to it's complicated, here's what each relationship status means, why defining yours keeps you on the same page, and what shapes it.

Being exclusive means agreeing not to date anyone else, often before an official label. How it differs from casual dating, when to start, and the signs.

Lead artist Kristy Rice founded Momental Designs, which hand-paints watercolor wedding stationery. Kelley Nudo shares tips for picking invitations.

How open relationships work, the 4 main types from swinging and polyamory to relationship anarchy and monogamish setups, and the benefits and hurdles.

What does it take to date with real intent? The traits of serious dating, from exclusivity and emotional investment to the consistency that makes it last.

Is he marriage material? 8 signs he's a keeper, from being selfless and honest about his intentions to listening well and talking about a future with you.

What does research say about consensual non-monogamy? How common it is, why men are most curious, whether poly people are happier, and who should skip it.

Certified Life Cycle Celebrant Alisa Tongg explains why your officiant shapes the whole wedding and how a friend or relative can prepare to lead it well.