1. 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

2. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

12. “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.

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

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

15. Engaged Respondents Discussing desired proposal
Relationship Satisfaction
Discussing desired proposal
Engaged Respondents

16. Engaged Respondents Discussing desired proposal
Relationship Commitment
Discussing desired proposal
Engaged Respondents

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

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

19. Relationship Commitment
Discussing desired ring(s)
Engaged Respondents

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

21. Engaged Respondents Discussing desired wedding
Relationship Satisfaction
Discussing desired wedding
Engaged Respondents

22. Relationship Commitment
Discussing desired wedding
Engaged Respondents

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

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

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

26. Married Respondents Discussing desired proposal
Relationship Satisfaction
Discussing desired proposal
Married Respondents

27. Married Respondents Discussing desired proposal
Relationship Commitment
Discussing desired proposal
Married Respondents

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

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

30. Relationship Commitment
Discussing desired ring(s)
Married Respondents

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

32. Married Respondents Discussing desired wedding
Relationship Satisfaction
Discussing desired wedding
Married Respondents

33. Relationship Commitment
Discussing desired wedding
Married Respondents

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

35. Implications

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

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

38. More questions!

39. Future Directions

40. Longitudinal Follow-Up

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

42. In-lab Study
Add pie in the sky image

44. Wedding planning discussion Proposal reflections Physiological outcomes

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