WE’RE IN LOVE SO WHY WON’T HE GET HITCHED? Coleen says

Dear Coleen

AFTER years of bad relationships (and bad men), I’ve finally found a great partner and we’ve been together for a couple of years. I’m completely in love with him and have never felt this way about any other guy I’ve dated – I’m certain he’s my soulmate and life partner.

But there’s one problem. I’m desperate for us to get married and his response is lukewarm to say the least. I’ve even proposed to him a couple of times – it’s been lighthearted, but he’s just brushed it off and changed the subject.

Prior to getting together with me, he’d been engaged to a long-term girlfriend who dumped him for someone else. This has clearly scarred him, but isn’t it about time he left the past behind and moved on?

I’M not sure desperation is very appealing or very sexy! As I’ve said many times on this page, the quality of your relationship is far more important than a marriage certificate.

You shouldn’t have to force someone down the aisle – you should want your partner to want it as much as you do.

If he’s been very hurt by an ex and suffered a broken engagement, then of course it’s going to make him think long and hard about going down the marriage road again.

Rather than being all jokey and light-hearted about the question of marriage, try talking to him honestly about your future together, what he wants and what his fears are. Don’t shy away from confronting subjects that are important to you because you’re worried about the answers.