Allow yourself time to get to know your mate through good and terrible times. As a starting point, Ian Kerner, PhD, LMFT, licensed psychotherapist, couple's therapist, and author of She Comes First, recommends dating for one to two years before getting engaged. And once you're married, don't expect your relationship to be perfect after your wedding day; work on it every day. Here are some other factors to consider: Your spouse's health. If your partner has a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease, you need to decide how committed you are to each other before you marry him or her. A person with a serious medical condition may not be able to give you the marriage you want - or need - from time to time. Your finances. It's important to have a similar income level before you tie the knot. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a situation where you have to borrow money from friends and family just to make ends meet. Before you take this step, be sure that you can handle any unexpected expenses that might come up. Your age. Most experts agree that people should wait at least five years between marriages and seven years between partners of different sexes. This is because most people want to avoid being married again before they've had a chance to grow up (and go crazy) first. But there are exceptions to every rule.