For women who want to get married, yeah, I won’t make an assumption that every woman desires this.
But for those who do, being proposed to is one of the most memorable moments in a woman’s life.
It’s the moment when you and your partner decide to take your relationship to the next level and commit to spending the rest of your lives together.
However, sometimes things don’t go as planned, and men can get cold feet or start regretting their decision to propose.
It’s disheartening to think that the person you thought wanted to spend the rest of his life with you may be second-guessing his decision.
Before you conclude, though, let’s discuss some signs he regrets proposing and what you can do about it.
10 Signs He Regrets Proposing
1. He is distant and avoids wedding planning discussions
Getting engaged doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll start planning your wedding right away, but this is not a reason for your fiance to become distant and completely avoid any discussions related to the wedding.
So, one of the most obvious signs that your guy may be regretting his proposal is his sudden change in behavior.
Engagement is a thing of joy, and your man should be excited about it.
Yes, there are wedding costs to consider and other planning stressors, but he should have known what he was getting into when he proposed.
If he’s suddenly avoiding any wedding discussions or acting distant and disinterested, getting you worried and making you question if he’s still committed, he might be having second thoughts.
2. He avoids talking about the future
When you are engaged, naturally, you start discussing your future together as a couple.
Not just wedding plans now but also where you see yourselves living, how many kids you want, and other important life decisions.
A wedding is just the beginning; it’s the first day (if you haven’t been living together) of the rest of your lives together.
It’s okay if you weren’t having these conversations before, but now that you are engaged and he’s avoiding them, it’s not funny.
It could mean that he’s not sure about his decision and is having doubts about spending his future with you.
3. You feel his lack of enthusiasm
You know your man best, and you can sense if there is something wrong with him.
One cannot pretend to be happy for so long, and if he’s been distant and uninterested in your engagement or the wedding planning process, you will feel it.
When a man regrets proposing, that joy and excitement of being engaged are replaced with anxiety and worry.
If you feel something is off with your partner, trust your gut, something is off.
4. He doesn’t want to set a wedding date
Some couples have long engagements for different reasons, and that’s okay.
But if you’ve been engaged for months or even years, and he hasn’t made any effort to set a wedding date, it could be a sign that he regrets his proposal.
A man who is genuinely committed and excited about getting married to you will want to start planning for the big day as soon as possible, especially if there’s nothing like financial constraints holding him back.
If he’s stalling or pushing back on setting a date, it could be because he’s not ready to take that big step with you.
5. He constantly brings up postponing the wedding
While there are some practical reasons for postponing a wedding, such as financial struggles, illnesses, or family emergencies, if he is constantly bringing up postponing the wedding without valid reasons, the dude might regret his proposal.
He may use excuses like wanting to save more money or waiting for the perfect time, but in reality, he might just be buying himself more time before making a decision about the marriage.
6. He shows signs of hesitation and uncertainty
Before proposing, most men have already thought things through and are sure they want to take this step.
We know how men dread commitment like the plague, and if he managed to overcome his fears and propose, he should be certain of his decision.
However, if your man seems hesitant or uncertain when talking about your future together, it could be a sign that he’s not ready for a lifelong commitment.
Examples of hesitancy or uncertainty?
Check these:
He’s hesitant to introduce you as his fiance or talk about your engagement with others.
He expresses doubts or fears about marriage in general and how it will change things between you.
He avoids saying “I love you” or other loving gestures that were once a part of your daily routine.
He might even say things like, ‘”I’m not sure I’m cut out for this.”
These aren’t the words or actions of a man who’s ready to spend the rest of his life with you.
7. He starts picking fights and becoming overly critical
One common behavior of someone who regrets their decision is to start picking fights over small things.
He may become overly critical of you and your actions or even start arguments over silly matters.
This behavior may be a way for him to push you away and create distance between the two of you since he’s not sure he wants to be with you anymore.
If this is something that wasn’t present in your relationship before the proposal, he might be having doubts about his decision.
8. He doesn’t wear his engagement ring
Wearing an engagement ring is a symbol of commitment and love, and some engaged men are proud to wear it.
If your soon-to-be-husband is not wearing his engagement ring, especially if he was excited to show it off at first, there’s definitely a shift in his feelings towards the engagement.
He may even say that he doesn’t want to lose or damage the ring before the wedding, but you know deep down, it’s just an excuse for not wearing it.
9. He starts comparing your relationship to others
Another sign that your man might regret his proposal is if he starts comparing your relationship to others.
This can play out in different ways like:
He may mention how your friends or family members have a better relationship than you do and if what you have is strong enough to lead to marriage or make a marriage work.
He may bring up stories about couples who got engaged and then broke up soon after, trying to hint at something.
He may point your attention to couples who are not married but still have a happy and committed relationship.
He may become obsessed with divorce statistics and how high the chances of divorce are these days.
These comparisons are a way for him to justify his doubts and regret about the proposal.
10. He starts distancing himself from your friends and family
When you marry someone, you don’t just marry the person, but also their family and friends.
And it’s important to have a good relationship with each other’s loved ones for a healthy marriage.
If your man regrets his proposal, he may start distancing himself from your friends and family, even if they were once close.
He might avoid spending time with them, not show interest in getting to know them better or make excuses to skip events and gatherings.
Conclusion
Getting engaged is an exciting and joyful experience, but it’s also a major step in any relationship.
So, it’s natural for someone to second-guess their decision or feel anxious about the future.
But when these doubts and fears turn into regret, that’s a problem.
If you have noticed any of these signs in your fiance, the first thing to do is talk to him.
Talk to him about your concerns, and make sure you listen to his side without jumping to conclusions.
He might be dealing with other issues that have nothing to do with the engagement.
But if, after talking it out, you still feel like he’s not ready for marriage or having second thoughts about the proposal, reassess things and make a decision that is best for both of you.
Getting married requires two fully committed individuals who are sure they want to spend the rest of their lives together.
Don’t rush into a marriage with someone who isn’t 100% sure, as it will only lead to heartache and regret.
Trust your gut and listen to your intuition because, at the end of the day, you deserve someone who is fully committed and excited about marrying you.
If you drag him to the altar, you may end up dragging him out of your life later on when he finally admits that he was never ready.