Don't let it get you down. I used to feel that way. My one friend that I was very envious of when she got married, has since gotten divorced, twice. Your time will come. Just think of all the headache's you are avoiding right now - planning a wedding can be very expensive and overwhelming. You have to go through life at your own pace. Good luck!

I'm kinda in the same situation. It sucks and its really hard to be patient! But I try...

I think the important thing is that you are both on the same page in terms of your future plans -- which is to eventually marry.

Everyone is on a different life schedule, and comparing yourself to other people will only make you feel down (unless you start comparing yourself to couples like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell

Keep your chin up and just try to enjoy your relationship!

This happened to me last summer. Its like right when you hit 23-24 everyone starts getting engaged (especially all the couples that started dating in college). It was pretty interesting, all of a sudden swarms of my friends were getting engaged, even a few who had only been dating a very short time. I kind of felt left behind, and just wanted my boyfriend to do it all ready since we talked about it all the time. Eventually when the mad-engagement-dash wore down, I relaxed a bit and now this spring it was my turn!
I also think if you have been a long-term couple and marriage has been discussed as a strong future possibility, once everyone starts getting engaged around you it kind of gives the guy an extra push to get things started (if the cards are already laid out in that direction mind you)

I AM FEELING THE SAME WAY RIGHT NOW!! THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS JUST WAIT!

At least you have a boyfriend.

EVERYTHING WILL HAPPEN WITH TIME..JUST BE PATIENT..AND MAKE SURE THATS WHAT HE WANTS AND ALSO WHAT YOU WANT..

We're always going to be jealous of something. I'm married and it seems like everyone around me is getting pregnant but me!

Your relationship needs to move at its own speed. It can be difficult not to feel competitive with friend's relationships, but trust me, it'll work out in the long run if you just communicate and are on the same page.

Just wait till you are thirty and all those couples start having babies! I am still waiting for the ring, but damn if my clock didn't start ticking louder, Louder and LOUDER!!

Hang in there! Better to be safe and secure than to be divorced and alone!

I am in the same situation, and thought I was the only one...seems that most of us are! Not only are all of my friends wither getting engaged or getting married, but they are also having babies!n I am trying to be okay with my situation because i have a realtionship with my boyf that all of my single friends (and some of the married ones) envy, but it is hard, esp when everyone you went to highschool with, and those younger than you are carrying on, and then on top of it your paretns are telling you that you are wasting the best years of your life waiting for someone that may never marry you....(i am 99.9% sure we will get married as he have talked about tstuff and i feel comforatble with our coversations, but still)

Last year a whole bunch of my friends got engaged, and their weddings were all in the space of a few weeks of each other. This year I'm the only one getting married, and it's much better this way, cos all the excitement is all about me So in a year or so, when you and your lovey are REALLY ready, all of your friend's weddings will be a distant memory, and you'll be centre of attention

there's no "right" time to get engaged. having said that, i don't think it's fair for your bf to talk out of both sides of his mouth "it will happen"/not ready to take that step.

since you feel ready to be married you might consider telling him that. and also saying that while you honor his feelings you feel differently. this will open the discussion a bit. he might not be the one for you and it's better to find out now than down the road when you friends all have children and you feel doubly left out.

I agree with Lickety. I know how frustrated and disappointed you must feel right now, almost to the point of tears about all this. You said that you and your bf have already been together for years, and that you two are older than everyone else, so what else could he be waiting for? If he's not 100% sure by now, then you need to talk to him and find out just WHAT would make him 100% sure. Don't let him dance around the subject or start talking finances and all that nonsense. If he can't give you a straight answer, then leave.

What if the reason is financial and he can't afford a ring? I know a couple of guys in this situation, prolonging the inevitable just because they want to blow her out of the water with a really nice rock. You might think you know his motivations for stalling, but then again you might not!

Cry me a river! Try when all of your friends are getting married and you're not even dating anyone. Then you can complain.

Prissy...although not having someone when all your friends are getting married you know that you could meet that someone and then get married...when you have been with someone for more than say, 5 years and they don't want to commit to marriage you start feeling like there is a problem with you, or that you have wasted your time when the right person could have come and gone...I think both situations are equally as bad to the person exerpiencing them, so try not to be so one-sided on your thinking.

Being married is no picnic and divorcing is easier than getting out of an apartment lease, so I can assure you that it isn't much security. Every time I feel bad about being single or not married, I rent the movie "Closer." If that doesn't cure you of your rush to the altar, go to a divorce support group meeting. If anything, your boyfriend will have to convince you, not the other way around!

27, single, and wouldn't have it any other way.

I am one of those that are in the .. try not having someone at all club. I'm just bitter that all my friends have found the 'one' and I can't seem to find one that I can stand. It's incredibly daunting, frustrating, and terrifying to think that I may never find him. At least you've found someone that you love and loves you back.. marriage isn't the most important thing.

All of my friends were getting engaged a few months back and I felt left out too. I absolutely agree that you cannot rush him into proposing. As hard as it is you just have to let him do it when he feels ready. If you pressure him he's going to do it because you forced him, and he won't feel comfortable. It will be ok you just have to give it time. Guys like to take their sweet time with these things lol

Look at it this way, all your friends are getting married around the same time. Many people get sick of going to wedding after wedding. When it comes time for your turn, you can stand out and have a great one!

Stay strong! In a year, I had 15 friends get engaged. It was ridiculous. During that time it was easy to want to do all the fun stuff that comes along with being engaged, but we weren't in the right place to take that step. A year and half later, he got out of debt and saved to buy me a ring. The engagement was simple and no pressure and I, like I imagine you, wouldn't have it any other way. Comparison is the death of, well, most things. This is your time, your relationship. Enjoy the time together and find ways to have a fun and exciting dating life--something that married couples are quick to lose.

Yeah, it sucks waiting for him to propose... but it's important to be emotionally and financially secure in your relationship so you can start out on the right foot! Hang in there!

most of my friends are married and some even have children! and I have to wait even more maybe when I'm married I'll be 28 yo virgin!!

Be happy for your friends in relationships but, enjoy your life.
As women we need to make ourselves happy.
Your life should not revolve around getting married and having children.
That's a piece of the pie. When your confident, happy, active and enjoying
life that's when everything starts to improve.
I was in a relationship for 2 years waiting around. He keep saying let's take our time.
One excuse after another. I joined a kickboxing class and just got into the gym thing and I met a way better guy. Personality wise and he had a better job. I learned from the past and I fit him into my world" put him on the calander"..He is lucky to have you. I pump myself up with that confident attitude. I did not let the new guy see me get all emotional about a permanant commitment
This new way of thinking worked and I keep my options open until the new guy actually said I want to only be with you. No more dating others. I keep my time for myself a few days a week so he would not get to comfortable like the last guy and it worked.
Guys like women they feel they have to grab because, your so busy living, they are afraid you could find someone else
He has told me that he liked me because I had my own interset and was not like the nagging women always asking about a commitment.24/7 and moving in without being asked.
We did stuff together and I did my own stuff..
I won my guy!!

i tend to bring up marriage often with my bf but he does too so at least we're on equal ground he does want to get married by the end of the year but he just bought a new car and he cant afford a rin'g at this time.

I'm with lickety split & Masqueraded Angel & feel that with a guy like that, he will always find a reason why "now is not good".

There are jewelry sales all of the time, he can buy you a nice ring for under $1,000 - heck, he can get you a "pre-engagement" ring for under $500. Go to ebay, there's tons of beautiful rings cheap.

Ever hear of long engagements? Why do people feel the need to be married within a year of the engagement? What's wrong with 2 years? This would satisfy you, since you would have the ring, you both talk of marriage any way. He should put his money where his mouth is. If he can't commit to a longish engagement, time to hit the road.

You don't say if you live together, but I would assume you don't - he probably isn't ready for that either, right? Life is too short to wait for the "right time", some times you have to live in the here & now.

If it was me, I would start finding other things to do like one poster said. Start having interests that don't include him. Start blowing him off. He should want you more. If he doesn't and it puts you apart, then you know this wasn't meant to be.

The real Mr right may very well be around the corner.

Men suck

i'd rather wait until the time is right rather than jump on the bandwagon of proposals. your time will come, trust me.
i became engaged and was engaged for 5 years. during that time my sister, brother and mother all married and i felt like crap. now i'm just dating someone and i feel fine.

Cheer up... who isn't waiting for the dreamy ring?

don't stress too much. at least you aren't about to dish out 10K or 20K or more. i know that's why i'm still waiting. we have no money! best wishes girlie!

Don't even get me started on this one. I'm 19 years old, a college junior, and two people from my high school graduating class are already engaged. One of them got engaged about two years ago at the beginning of senior year but they have the sense to wait until after college graduation to marry and the other got engaged to her boyfriend a week ago and she's marrying him in a few months! He's going to be a sophomore in college. She actually moved across the country! Heck, I even think she dropped out of college to get married! Why are people my age in such a hurry to marry? I thought it was supposed to be the time for our generation to gain their independence from their parents and explore different job opportunities! Why be in such a hurry to get married? My dad married my mom while they were in their mid thirties. All I'm going to say is, if you've married before you're ready, you're going to miss the freedom you had as a single woman. Don't get married just because your friends are.

i agree with Kayden. women can be so needy, it sometimes comes off as sounding pathetic. a few of my friends from high school/college have gotten married recently (im 25). i have been with my boyfriend for 3 years and never once did i pressure him about getting married. i know how that deters guys and i didnt want to be 'that girl.' now, he talks about it WAY more than i ever would have because i let him come to that conclusion on his own w.o every making him feel like he had to or that i was vying for a ring like some girls. my father just recently told me that my boyfriend came and asked for my hand. i am more than ready to be engaged, but by giving my boyfriend his space and never houding him about it, things are going along perfectly.
be your own person, be strong, be confident and things will go your way. potential husbands, and people alike, will be drawn to that.

At least she has a boyfriend! Iam 25 and single!!