Liz Keneski Timothy J. Loving The University of Texas at Austin Saying “Yes!” and saying “I do.”: The Effects of Engagements, Wedding Planning, & Weddings on Couples’ Relationships Liz Keneski Timothy J. Loving The University of Texas at Austin

Liz Keneski The University of Texas at Austin Discussing Plans to Marry Prior to Engagement: Is there such a thing as planning too far ahead? Discussing the future of one’s romantic relationship—including the possibility of marriage—can be an exciting, novel experience for couple members, but also incredibly stressful. Are some discussions more helpful than others on the path to a (hopefully) happy and long-lasting relationship? Participants in the U.S. (N = 392) completed an online survey about being engaged or recently married (ns = 215 to be married in the next year; 177 married in the last year). For engaged individuals, discussing the possibility of getting married more frequently before becoming engaged was associated with higher levels of current relationship satisfaction and commitment. However, the frequency with which couples discussed the proposal, ring, and wedding prior to getting engaged was not related to current relationship or commitment or to individuals’ satisfaction with the proposal, ring, or planned wedding. For married individuals, discussing the possibility of getting married more frequently prior to becoming engaged was not related to current relationship satisfaction or commitment. But interestingly, more frequent discussions of the specifics of the engagement (i.e., proposal and engagement ring(s)) were associated with lower levels of current relationship satisfaction and commitment and discussing the wedding before becoming engaged was also associated with lower levels of relationship commitment. Further, and similar to engaged individuals, discussing the ring(s) and wedding before becoming engaged was not associated with satisfaction with the ring(s) or wedding. Liz Keneski The University of Texas at Austin

Mturk Survey 215 respondents engaged to be married in the next year 177 respondents married in the last 12 months U.S. only Mage = 29.60 years 24.86% “some college” 47.49% “liberal” or “extremely liberal” 22.07% “conservative” or “extremely conservative”

Measures “Before you became engaged, how frequently did you and your partner discuss… the possibility of getting married?” “…the possibility of when or how a proposal would take place?” “…the type of ring or token that might be exchanged?” “…the type of wedding you each wanted?” Satisfaction w/ Proposal, Ring(s), and [Planned] Wedding Relationship Satisfaction Relationship Commitment 1 = never to 5 = all the time 1 = very dissatisfied to 7 = very satisfied IVMS – I feel satisfied with our relationship; I want our relationship to last forever. From 1 = do not agree at all to 9 = agree completely

Are engagement and wedding-related satisfaction associated with relationship outcomes? Discussing the future of one’s romantic relationship—including the possibility of marriage—can be an exciting, novel experience for couple members, but also incredibly stressful. Are some discussions more helpful than others on the path to a (hopefully) happy and long-lasting relationship? Participants in the U.S. (N = 392) completed an online survey about being engaged or recently married (ns = 215 to be married in the next year; 177 married in the last year). For engaged individuals, discussing the possibility of getting married more frequently before becoming engaged was associated with higher levels of current relationship satisfaction and commitment. However, the frequency with which couples discussed the proposal, ring, and wedding prior to getting engaged was not related to current relationship or commitment or to individuals’ satisfaction with the proposal, ring, or planned wedding. For married individuals, discussing the possibility of getting married more frequently prior to becoming engaged was not related to current relationship satisfaction or commitment. But interestingly, more frequent discussions of the specifics of the engagement (i.e., proposal and engagement ring(s)) were associated with lower levels of current relationship satisfaction and commitment and discussing the wedding before becoming engaged was also associated with lower levels of relationship commitment. Further, and similar to engaged individuals, discussing the ring(s) and wedding before becoming engaged was not associated with satisfaction with the ring(s) or wedding.

Engaged & Married Respondents Relationship Satisfaction Satisfaction w/ Proposal Engaged & Married Respondents

Engaged & Married Respondents Relationship Satisfaction Satisfaction w/ Ring(s) Engaged & Married Respondents

Engaged & Married Respondents Relationship Satisfaction Satisfaction w/ Wedding Engaged & Married Respondents

Engaged & Married Respondents Relationship Commitment Satisfaction w/ Wedding Engaged & Married Respondents

“I told him exactly what kind of ring I want—pear shaped with a diamond-encrusted band—and that he better make the proposal big and in front of a lot of people.” Discussing the future of one’s romantic relationship—including the possibility of marriage—can be an exciting, novel experience for couple members, but also incredibly stressful. Are some discussions more helpful than others on the path to a (hopefully) happy and long-lasting relationship? Participants in the U.S. (N = 392) completed an online survey about being engaged or recently married (ns = 215 to be married in the next year; 177 married in the last year). For engaged individuals, discussing the possibility of getting married more frequently before becoming engaged was associated with higher levels of current relationship satisfaction and commitment. However, the frequency with which couples discussed the proposal, ring, and wedding prior to getting engaged was not related to current relationship or commitment or to individuals’ satisfaction with the proposal, ring, or planned wedding. For married individuals, discussing the possibility of getting married more frequently prior to becoming engaged was not related to current relationship satisfaction or commitment. But interestingly, more frequent discussions of the specifics of the engagement (i.e., proposal and engagement ring(s)) were associated with lower levels of current relationship satisfaction and commitment and discussing the wedding before becoming engaged was also associated with lower levels of relationship commitment. Further, and similar to engaged individuals, discussing the ring(s) and wedding before becoming engaged was not associated with satisfaction with the ring(s) or wedding.

Engaged Respondents Discussing possibility of marriage Relationship Satisfaction Discussing possibility of marriage Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Discussing possibility of marriage Relationship Commitment Discussing possibility of marriage Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Discussing desired proposal Relationship Satisfaction Discussing desired proposal Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Discussing desired proposal Relationship Commitment Discussing desired proposal Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Discussing desired proposal Satisfaction w/ Proposal Discussing desired proposal Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Discussing desired ring(s) Relationship Satisfaction Discussing desired ring(s) Engaged Respondents

Relationship Commitment Discussing desired ring(s) Engaged Respondents

Discussing desired ring(s) Satisfaction w/ Rings Discussing desired ring(s) Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Discussing desired wedding Relationship Satisfaction Discussing desired wedding Engaged Respondents

Relationship Commitment Discussing desired wedding Engaged Respondents

Engaged Respondents Satisfaction w/ Planned Wedding Discussing desired wedding Engaged Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing possibility of marriage Relationship Satisfaction Discussing possibility of marriage Married Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing possibility of marriage Relationship Commitment Discussing possibility of marriage Married Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing desired proposal Relationship Satisfaction Discussing desired proposal Married Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing desired proposal Relationship Commitment Discussing desired proposal Married Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing desired proposal Satisfaction w/ Proposal Discussing desired proposal Married Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing desired ring(s) Relationship Satisfaction Discussing desired ring(s) Married Respondents

Relationship Commitment Discussing desired ring(s) Married Respondents

Discussing desired ring(s) Satisfaction w/ Rings Discussing desired ring(s) Married Respondents

Married Respondents Discussing desired wedding Relationship Satisfaction Discussing desired wedding Married Respondents

Relationship Commitment Discussing desired wedding Married Respondents

Married Respondents Satisfaction w/ Planned Wedding Discussing desired wedding Married Respondents

Implications

A cross-sectional association between satisfaction w/ engagement and wedding & relationship outcomes.

A cross-sectional association between the recollection of discussing future engagement & wedding-related events & relationship outcomes.

More questions!

Future Directions

Longitudinal Follow-Up

Expectations of change & actual change Uncertainty pre- & post-wedding Conflicts – conversations about marriage Satisfaction with wedding Honeymoon Post-wedding outcomes

In-lab Study Add pie in the sky image

Wedding planning discussion Proposal reflections Physiological outcomes

Thank you! A big thanks to… Our wonderful undergraduate research assistants: Paige Harris – check out her poster on vows! Tatiana Arevalo Kacie Kerlee