In Other Words: “Should I Marry a Guy I’ve Only Known a Few Days?”

This letter is from a recent “Ask a Lady” column from The Hairpin. Be sure to read the columnist’s response, which is pitch-perfect and relevant to so many people (not just those contemplating a quickie marriage):

I’m not really sure whom to ask. I’ll try to keep this short: I recently met a guy who’s my age (30, if it matters), and even though we only spent about four days together (I was in the process of moving), we really got on well. My soul is always just screaming “I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU,” but I thought I was old enough to be past that (that is, for lack of a better word, “puppy love”). Basically, we barely know each other, but it seems that we’re perfect together. I’m thinking of pulling a Britney and getting married in Vegas next month. He feels the same; he brought it up. Is this the worst idea in the world? It worked for Dharma and Greg … right. I’d love your opinion and also love to hear what the Hairpinners have to say.

P.S. Oh gosh, you’re going to point out that “we barely know each other” part, aren’t you? But again. It worked for a sitcom couple so can it work for me?

Read more here.

***************

You can follow me on Facebook here an Twitter here.

If you have a relationship/dating question I can help answer, you can send me your letters at wendy@dearwendy.com.

by Wendy on September 20, 2012 · in In Other Words (Letters from other advice columns)

{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }

avatar bethany September 20, 2012 at 1:07 pm

I didn’t read the bit about how it was from another website, so my first thought was “Is this written by Addie Pray about her new boyfriend?!”

:)

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avatar jlyfsh September 20, 2012 at 1:09 pm

haha i actually thought maybe it was AP writing in somewhere else ;)

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avatar Addie Pray September 20, 2012 at 1:47 pm

I’m pretty sure Wendy posted this JUST SO I COULD READ IT! HAHA.

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avatar Addie Pray September 20, 2012 at 1:50 pm

Also, I would NEVER write in somewhere else, rest assured! That would be cheating. Don’t cheat on Wendy, people!

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avatar jlyfsh September 20, 2012 at 1:54 pm

well the problem is you already know what Wendy would have said! if you were hoping that someone would tell you to follow sir textsalot to the 24 hour chapel of love you might write to someone else ;)

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avatar Addie Pray September 20, 2012 at 3:06 pm

Haha, good point. The good news is sir textsalot is much more level headed than I am. Thank goodness.

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TaraMonster TaraMonster September 20, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Is that his nickname?! Jesus. I’m too busy to DW for like two days and everyone starts going crazy with the new terms. I was calling him Mr. Sexy-Time-Weekend in my head, but I like Sir Textsalot a helluva lot more. :)

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TaraMonster TaraMonster September 20, 2012 at 3:25 pm

PS I’m a forum lurker. :D

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MackenzieLee MackenzieLee September 21, 2012 at 9:46 am

I was just about to say AP would never cheat on wendy

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avatar CG September 20, 2012 at 1:18 pm

Christ, is the LW SERIOUSLY thinking that because it worked for Dharma and Greg, it can work for her in real life???? Please tell me she’s joking. If not, I’m just going to leave this here: http://jezebel.com/5944458/being-really-into-tv-romances-makes-people-a-little-weird-about-real+life-relationships

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Tracey Tracey September 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm

You said exactly what I was going to say, CG.

Oh, and one last thing LW: “Dharma and Greg” got cancelled after four seasons, so….

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Guy Friday Guy Friday September 20, 2012 at 3:41 pm

But they were still together for the beginning of Two and a Half Men last season! They were a cameo as one of the people looking to buy Charlie’s house! I found it hilarious, only because Thomas Gibson is an amazing actor and to watch him slip back into the Greg role after doing so many seasons of Hotchner on Criminal Minds was just awesome :-)

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MackenzieLee MackenzieLee September 21, 2012 at 9:48 am

Hotchner is Greg??? My mind is blown!!!

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avatar MsMisery September 21, 2012 at 1:54 pm

I know… I’ve been watching Criminal Minds all these years and just now made the connection with you, too. >_<

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avatar BecBoo84 September 20, 2012 at 1:23 pm

I can’t really comment on this letter, because I ended up reading the second letter on the site too and now can’t stop thinking, “WTF is wrong with people?!” I guess that would be applicable to this letter too though.

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TaraMonster TaraMonster September 20, 2012 at 3:43 pm

I read the second letter too. As someone who just ended a very long interracial relationship, I can tell you firsthand that some people can be SUCH HUGE ASSHOLES when it comes to interracial couples. Everyone likes to go “YAY OBAMA POST RACIAL SOCIETY BLAH BLAH BLAH” but then the idea of their kid dating outside their race gives them heart palpitations. It’s very common.

My family had just gotten around to accepting it when I ended mine too. Figures!

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avatar MissDre September 20, 2012 at 4:38 pm

Sorry to hear that it ended, TaraMonster. I hope you’re doing ok!

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JK JK September 20, 2012 at 1:28 pm

Wow.
Also, I´m guessing the LW doesnt watch 2 and a Half Men, since on one of the first episodes of the latest (unwatchable) season, Dharma and Greg appeared on it, and they were arguing non stop.

And seriously? A 30 year old is going to base her life decisions on a sitcom??? I´d at least choose a soap, or a good drama. :)

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avatar bethany September 20, 2012 at 1:43 pm

I want to base my life on Friends!!

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Guy Friday Guy Friday September 20, 2012 at 3:41 pm

Damn it, JK. You beat me to my point :-P

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L L September 20, 2012 at 1:31 pm

Yikes.

The honeymoon stage is a very real thing in relationships. Sounds like she has a seriously bad case of it. You REALLY need to get to know the person after the honeymoon stage in order to really *know* them. Why can’t people see that??

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TaraMonster TaraMonster September 20, 2012 at 3:24 pm

They’re not even on the honeymoon yet. They’re still on the goddamn plane!

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Lili Lili September 20, 2012 at 3:45 pm

AHAHHA I love this. And it ties in perfectly to where I need a man to see me in all seasons. Like Football tailgate season, spring–bikini anxiety season. Summer Social Season. and the list goes on and on for him to figure out if he loves Me, or just football season Lili. Or bikini body lili–she doesn’t exist yet, but next year, she MIGHT!

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avatar temperance September 20, 2012 at 1:37 pm

My first thought is, does he need a green card?

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avatar bethany September 20, 2012 at 1:42 pm

I agree with “the Lady”… What’s the rush? If it really is love, it won’t fade in another 4 days, 4 weeks, 4 months or 4 years while they get to know eachother. In my opinion 4 days is not enough time to know a person at all. Even if you spend 24 hours a day with them!
I can’t really see any harm in waiting to get married, while on the other hand, I can see a lot of potential harm by rushing into it.

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avatar rangerchic September 20, 2012 at 1:58 pm

I agree – and it takes a while to really know someone…if you ever really do. After 4 days all she knows is how she feels in the moment. She is not thinking about anything else. Skip the marriage and get to know him a bit before jumping in…good grief!

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avatar painted_lady September 20, 2012 at 4:10 pm

I’ve actually always wondered if the “I’ve just met him but we must get married nowwww!” people are under some sort of false impression that “they” are going to take marriage away, and soon. As in, if they don’t marry now, they will literally not have another chance. Folks, no matter what the right-wingers say, they’re not taking away marriage.

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avatar Addie Pray September 20, 2012 at 4:29 pm

I can explain. Because some of us are crazy and emotional, and we struggle with boundries and protocol and… when you know YOU JUST KNOW and you think LET’S GET OUR ASSES TO THE LITTLE CHAPEL OF LURVE TOUTE SUITE!!!!

Thank god – seriously – thank you thank you thank you – that I have never fallen for someone equally dumb and spontaneous and careless – because I would have already had an-elopment-after-one-month happen to me, or five.

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avatar painted_lady September 20, 2012 at 4:54 pm

AP, I adore you. I am also very happy Sir Textsalot has a cooler head than yours or I’d be forced to fly up to Chicago and Katie and I will physically sit on you till this urge passes.

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avatar GatorGirl September 20, 2012 at 2:03 pm

No. My answer is no.

But if you’re going to go through with this LW, please over the next month before your nuptuals go over this list of questions Wendy wrote.

http://dearwendy.com/15-things-every-couple-must-discuss-before-getting-married/

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avatar HmC September 20, 2012 at 2:06 pm

I wasn’t expecting to feel this way based on the headline, but I actually thought the letter was kind of cute- I felt like she was clearly being humorous with the Dharma and Greg comment. I also liked the advice. I thought that the easy answer would have been to belittle the letter writer, but instead the advice put forth things that really should be considered, by anyone who is contemplating marriage. Namely, what does marriage mean to you and why does it mean that?

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Fabelle Fabelle September 20, 2012 at 2:16 pm

Yes– the letter writer is definitely being cute & humorous; most of the LWs in The Hairpin’s “Ask a…” columns have a similiar tone when they write in. And I agree that the advice is stellar! I’m a big fan of that site & their compassionate advice, & I love that Wendy posted this :)

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bittergaymark bittergaymark September 20, 2012 at 2:23 pm

Can somebody please explain to me why is it so many women agonize more over buying a pair of shoes than they do over who they should be dating — much less marry?

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avatar jlyfsh September 20, 2012 at 2:29 pm

hey now mark shoes are important! i’ve had some of my shoes longer than my husband ;)

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landygirl landygirl September 20, 2012 at 3:05 pm

You failed to mention that the guy is also on board with this, you can’t place the stupidity entirely on her.

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avatar Sue Jones September 20, 2012 at 3:25 pm

2 stupids don’t make a smart, they just make DOUBLY STUPID! I just don’t believe these people! Perhaps they are BOTH bipolar???? So my suggestion is: go ahead, get married right away and pregnant immediately after, then when you find out one of both of you have (choose one or more as is the case) 1. Massive debilitating credit card debt 2. A nasty drug habit 3. An undiagnosed mental health problem 4. A diagnosed but untreated mental health problem 5. A criminal history 6. A history of getting away with crimes i.e. nobody suspects that it was YOU who murdered your ex 7. A history of cheating 8. An inability to be and remain gainfully employed … then you can get back to us with a Dear Wendy Update and BGM and I will have a field day doing our respective , routine!

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avatar Sue Jones September 20, 2012 at 3:26 pm

Meant to say BGM and I will do our respective facepalm headdesk routine!

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landygirl landygirl September 20, 2012 at 6:19 pm

That sounds like a plan! Thank goodness you sorted it out for them so they didn’t have to! Thinking hurts their brains.

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landygirl landygirl September 20, 2012 at 3:04 pm

Yes because life should be lived without aforethought or planning. If it doesn’t work out you can just get a divorce instead of trying to work any issues out. Life is disposable, why can’t relationships be disposable too? While you’re at it, you should both get large tattoos of each other’s names on your arms.

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MELH MELH September 20, 2012 at 4:37 pm

New rule: If you are considering an act taken by Brittney in her crazy days, the answer to “should I do this” is no

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avatar painted_lady September 20, 2012 at 4:59 pm

Good call. This is a good rule of thumb for so many things: should I sleep with and marry the guy whose baby mama is still knocked up? NO. Should I subsist on Starbucks? NO. Should I shave my head on a whim? NO.

I could play this game all day. Also? Probably considering the Britney Spears route is a good indicator you might need a 5150 of your very own.

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avatar Addie Pray September 20, 2012 at 5:02 pm

I love rules! And this is probably a good one.

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avatar A guy September 20, 2012 at 11:12 pm

Capital idea! Marry immediately! Provide weekly updates to this site.

/pulling popcorn from microwave and settling in for show

More seriously, 90% of misery or happiness will come from your choice of partner in life, someone once said. If that is true, or even close to true, I think more than a few days is necessary to select the right one.

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avatar muffy September 21, 2012 at 9:06 am

My dad asked my mom to marry him after their second date. She told him he was ridiculous so they dated for like 3 months. And THEN got married. They never really had an engagement. They’re still married years and years later. This is usually the exception not the rule but it can work. Also my mom had kids (me and my brothers from a previous marriage) at the time but when you know you know I guess. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting married early. But maybe you can get engaged and then get married. My dad ended up being a good candidate because he wanted to adopt her kids and actually become their father. LW should see in the next few months if the man is more than words. I wouldn’t get married after 4 days but getting engaged would be a happy medium and then you can see if things still work out

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avatar SweetPeaG September 21, 2012 at 12:29 pm

I would really like to open up a discussion on the third letter… please go back and read it if you haven’t. That one was really something else.

On the one hand, I totally understand her need to hear nice things about herself from a guy that she is spending sexy time with. On the other hand, what does she mean that guys actually say “Eh, B+” or “You’re fine, no supermodel” when they see her naked? Who says those things? Or at least, who says those things unless they are outright ASKED to give a ranking? Is this woman asking her special friends to actually rate her body? Isn’t that weird?!

Maybe I am lucky or maybe I just always fall for guys that are very generous with compliments (could be a “love language” thing). I don’t think I’m anywhere near supermodel, but I have gotten some fantastic reactions from men in that department. I guess I would be sad if anyone ever said to me “Eh, B+” (not that that is a bad grade in the grand scheme of things!)… but on the other hand, I’d never ask for a grade. That’s kind of icky, no?

What did you all think of this? How important is for you that the person you are getting it on with thinks you are hot stuff?

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