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Love is a beautiful thing. As humans, we all want someone we can spend the rest of our lives with. The process of engagement and even getting married is an exciting moment for most people, especially when they've found a special one.

What is Engagement in a relationship ?

In my opinion, engagement is the point where two people who are dating choose to take their relationship to the next level by deciding to get married to each other. It is a bold step in the life of a couple. In many societies, it involves the man going down on one knee and presenting a ring to the lady, asking her to marry him.

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Engagement is a huge step in people's lives. Taking that decision to spend the rest of your life with someone is massive. However, when you love someone, and you've seen the qualities of that person, both good and bad, a time will come when you're absolutely sure that you want nothing more than to spend the rest of your life with that person.

At what age should a guy or lady be engaged ?

I think that from the age of 20 and above, an individual, whether a man or woman, is qualified to be engaged. I believe that by age 20, a person has experience of love matters, relationship issues, and is also aware of the concept of marriage, what comes with it, and how it changes peoples' lives.

I also believe that a 20-year-old individual is supposed to be emotionally and mentally mature to go into something as serious as marriage.

What are the things you consider in a person before engaging or accepting engagement ?

There are a lot of things to consider, but for me, character is at the top of that list.

A guy or a lady may have all the beauty in the world. The person may be very attractive physically, but when it comes to engagement, one needs to see beyond all of this and look at the person's character.

Before getting engaged, you need to ask yourself if that person has a character you can live with for the rest of your life. You need to ask yourself if the person you're getting engaged to has the character and ability to provide solutions and fix things when they go wrong. You need to determine if the person has a mature mind. You have to determine if you are okay with the way the person thinks. Character and personality are intertwined. It's so important.
Love is not enough. It never is.

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Another thing to consider is financial status. Before you choose to get engaged, you have to consider if you and your partner are financially stable enough to start a family. Finance is really important. It makes the relationship sweeter and easier. Love blossoms better in the midst of finance.

How long is right for engagement before marriage ?

I would say 3 months is right. I believe engagement should not take too long before marriage. So 3 months is enough before choosing to tie the knot.

Are there things that can change someone's mind after engagement ?

Yes there are. One of them is domestic violence. If the person you're engaged to hits you or beats you even once, you should change your mind about that engagement and run out.

It's better to change your mind during the engagement than after you have gotten married. Also, if your partner is too verbally abusive, you should think twice about the engagement.

Another thing that can make someone change their mind is if their partner cheats. Cheating is a lot and if it happens, it's a sign that the individual should think twice about that engagement.

Is engagement a guarantee for marriage ?

Engagement is definitely not a guarantee of marriage. During the period of engagement, one can see things that can make him or her decide not to continue with that relationship. A lot can be unraveled during that period. Once again, I will reiterate that engagement is not a guarantee for marriage.

Conclusion

Engagement is a crucial stage in a relationship leading to marriage. It determines so much. That is why one should be absolutely sure before deciding to get engaged.

I am inviting @rossnenye, @yakspeace and @ugochukwuprosper to participate in this contest

Special thanks to @okere-blessing for this contest.