Love is a rollercoaster, and while every relationship is different, we’re all guilty of time-checking our coupledom against our friends and family.
While you might have watched a series of engagements and baby announcements flood your Facebook feed over Christmas, it seems there’s now a rough guideline for when you can expect that ring, wedding party and pitter patter of tiny feet.
Match.com interviewed more than 2,000 people about the intricate details of their relationships – including everything from becoming ‘Facebook official’ to the harder questions of commitment and long-term plans.
So if you both agree that you’ve found your other half, how long before you’re talking rings, wedding patterns and baby names?
While a survey determined the average age you’ll be when you finally expect to meet ‘The One’, now you can judge your relationship along a timeline (although it may cause unneccesary panicking).
Well according to the survey, 33 per cent of couples have their first serious conversation about a long-term future within the first year of their relationship, with engagements typically happening after two years.
As for tying the knot, you might want to start saving for that wedding, as most people tend to host their big day a year after their proposal, followed swiftly with the average couple now expecting their first child after four years together.
But you shouldn’t panic if you’re not falling into the same patterns, with dating expert Kate Taylor explaining the study:
“While each relationship moves at its own pace, daters are often reassured by comparing their experiences with others.
“We all ask our friends, “When did you know your partner was The One?” or, “How long did you wait before you kissed?” If your relationship isn’t falling within these time frames, use them to adjust your expectations.”
