help me

My best advice would be to make this a long engagement. There's no need to rush into a wedding. You're only 18 so you have so much time to figure out your place in the world and sometimes S.O. don't always grow in the same direction. You guys may not end up wanting the same things in life. I'm almost 30 and I can say when I was in the 11th grade, the boys I dated are not guys I would want to marry now. You guys may end up getting married, but I would focus on high schoolers issues. Graduate, go to college or get a job. Get your first apartment. Those are the important things now.

I know that you're very excited! And all these people mean well, and have a lot of life experience that as a new adult you haven't had a chance to obtain yet. They don't mean to rain on your parade, they just want to make sure your float doesnt catch fire during the parade. If you really think that you all should go ahead and plan, start to look at the prices of weddings, and all the stuff that goes with them. Find out what you want and would like at your wedding. Now for most people to be able to afford what they want, they have to be very financially stable, financially independent, and have saved for several years. Not many people have rich parents that actually pay for it. And after your wedding, you'll need to be able to rent or buy a home, so you'll also have to be able to afford that, or have very understanding parents who will let you both live with them. I'd suggest making your wedding planning saving and working and figuring out how you can reach and afford these goals. That should give you a few years, and you'll have had achieved some of those life experiences these ladies have and be able to make a better informed choice. By then you'll know exactly why and how these ladies gave you the advice that they did. If its going to be forever, it doesn't mean it has to be right now- you'll have a lifetime together to make it happen anyway. A quick marriage, especially when you're young, doesnt always seal the deal.

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I really, really miss the "like" button.... It saved so much time & effort!

OP -- our daughter, at 24, just married her HS sweetheart. They met freshman year, and have been together as a couple since their sophomore year. Even back then, they were pretty sure they'd be "together forever," but knew they had a LOT to accomplish first in order to be independent adults who were ready for marriage. They graduated from HS, and then college (during which each of them worked at least 20-35 hrs a week). They moved in together their senior year of college -- which they say was awesome, but also a huge adjustment, even knowing each other as well as they did at that point. They got engaged after college graduation, and had an 18-month engagement. During that time, daughter started her first career position and completed several advanced certificates in her field. Our now SIL earned an advanced degree and started his career. They got married earlier this year, the week of their 8-year dating anniversary. They are fully functioning adults -- and have been for a couple years. It's wonderful if you and fiance have already found each other, but as pp's have said, if you are truly meant to be together, do everything else you need to do to be ready for the legal, financial, and emotional commitments of marriage. It will only make you and your relationship stronger. Good luck to you!

I completely agree with everyone here about graduating high school and going to college. However, my FH and I began dating junior year of high school and he purposed right before I started my junior year of college. I graduate college next week (May 11th) and our wedding is Sept 28th. We are both 22, have very good jobs (I already have my dream job before even graduating college), and have been financially on our own since we were 19.

So basically I'm saying you don't need to wait until mid 20s to pursue this wedding, just make sure you guys are grown up enough and able to survive on your own before taking this step into marriage together. Make sure you speak to him about your future plans before you get too far down the road and realize you want opposite things for life.

Congratulations! I wish you both lots of joy and happiness. I do agree that you need to focus on graduating. Be absolutely CERTAIN that you two can support yourselves fully. This means paying for rent, insurance, having an emergency fun of at LEAST $1000 in case anything comes up (accidents happen!), car payments, phone payments, groceries, gas, etc.

I do strongly encourage you to consider waiting and having an engagement that is at least a year or more so that you can see how you guys do "on your own". Being engaged is super exciting and I am sure you're over the moon, as you should be!

My fiancé and I weren't "allowed" to get engaged until we knew we could support ourselves fully. We both have students loans and are professional dancers who don't make lots of money, but we are both managers now at our respective jobs and we know we are ready now.

I think you two should take time to figure out a life plan and also CELEBRATE!! Congratulations, can't wait to see a photo of the ring!

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Thax imma take what yo usid to heart but i am not still going to tell her yet

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I say thank you to you bc wat u have siad has touched my heart and we will be getting our priorities together and ill make him wait a while bc i would die with out him in my life and i am going to do everything in my power to hold us down

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I need help to raise money for my wedding my mo wont help and bc of my disabilty i cant work.

If it’s meant to be it will be!! me and my fiancé have been together since 7th grade. We grew apart went to college did our thing and reunited through college. It was meant for us! Now we are 31 with two beautiful kids and we will finally be getting married next year. No race, but obstacles in between. We had to make sure that’s what we wanted college will make or break ya. But being financially ready is a priority. Congrats!!