10 reasons he hasn't asked you to marry him

Still waiting on your ring? Here are ten possible reasons why your boo hasn’t gotten down on bended knee. (Real talk alert!)

My brother recently got married, and the guys got together for some “male bonding.” After a few too many, the gathering turned into a contentious debate, led by the single men, directed at the already married fellas about “how we got lucky” finding the right women. When I responded back, especially asking the single brothas who came with women they appeared to be in committed relationships with, “why haven’t you asked her to marry you yet?” I got some fascinating, and very real, answers. Here are what I heard to be the top 10 reasons he hasn’t asked you to marry him.


You Are Already Playing House

You live together. You have children. You share bills. You cook, clean and wash clothes. Sometimes people even assume you are married although he still tells people you’re his girlfriend. You have essentially taken on traditional wife duties without the title. Why should he get married?

He’s Already Said No, You’re Just Not Listening

I’m very serious about this. Many guys, early in the relationship, have straight up said they don’t want to get married. He said something like: “Marriage ain’t for everyone!” or “My parents weren’t married and I’m doing well!” Or maybe even, “No, Jennifer, I’m not interested in marrying you.” But you persisted, thinking you would be the one to change him. Please keep in mind that no amount of love can make someone do something they don’t want to do.

You Are a Liability

I’ve noticed that as men get older, we become more analytical about a woman’s worth. (But get this, not simply her value but her “relative value”.) The guys I know are constantly making subconscious calculations about what’s being offered versus what it’s going to cost them. Do you have excessive debt, several children (not his) or other responsibilities he doesn’t want? Bottom line, most men “hold on an average hand” and only marry when the perception is we’re gaining an asset.

You Are His Vegas Girl

I hadn’t heard this expression before but once explained, I got it. Think “good time girl.” If you always get the call to hang out with him and his boys, or to accompany him on the business trip to a fun city but you don’t get the invite to any company events or family gatherings, he’s basically saying, we can have a good time together but it stops there.

His Other Woman Doesn’t Like You

If he grew up in a household with mama or grandma (or big sis, auntie, etc.) at the helm, chances are, no matter his age, those “other” women carry heavy influence on his decisions. If his family doesn’t like you — especially if as a collective they don’t think highly of you — that alone could permanently keep you in girlfriend zone.

You Are a Nag

I hate to say this so bluntly, but there is no other way to explain it. If your words or actions create constant irritation, there is no way he’s going to want to bond with you for life.

He Doesn’t Respect Your Boundaries

You came into the relationship saying you have rules and standards. He then broke every rule and you lowered your standards to accommodate being with him. Even worse, you never enforced anything you originally claimed you would. At this point, you have created bully material, not husband material.

He Doesn’t Respect Your Boundaries

You came into the relationship saying you have rules and standards. He then broke every rule and you lowered your standards to accommodate being with him. Even worse, you never enforced anything you originally claimed you would. At this point, you have created bully material, not husband material.

He Doesn’t Feel Like You Need Him

Everyone on this earth wants to feel like they matter. The key ingredient in a relationship is taking that thought a step further and knowing that you matter to your partner. If he doesn’t feel like you need him for anything, why would he marry you?

He’s Simply Not Ready

Getting married is serious business. I applaud those who take time to assess not only if their partner is a good fit, but also if they are mature enough for marriage. Studies show that 1 to 2 years is not only adequate, but optimal for, the dating/courting/assessment period. If you’re in a relationship less than two years, it’s very reasonable that he hasn’t yet asked you to marry him. If you’re past the three-year mark in a committed relationship and your partner still is not ready, it’s going to be a gamble to wait. (Note: most gamblers end up broke!)