Marriage Thoughts

I've been in a relationship for almost seven years (May 6th, 2013 is our anniversary); since I was 15; since I was a freshman in High School and I am now a Senior in college. I have (basically) only ever been with him and I've never really wanted to be with anyone else. Of course I have thought about it, I'm human after all, but whenever I truly weigh the different outcomes I always choose him. I do want to get married, he does too, but to a lesser extent; he's just not that into it. So I've been thinking...there's no law that says he has to propose, or that someone has to propose at all. I feel that proposals are for those relationships which are newer, when they haven't been together for almost a decade. When you're with someone for this long it just seems silly to get down on one knee, maybe it's just me.

So, again, I've been thinking; and I think I know what I want to do. I do want a wedding, where my friends and family get all gussied up and watch me marry the man I love. But, we won't be able to afford anything until we both at least have our bachelor's degree. Instead I want to first get married at the courthouse, anyone who wants to can come, but no one really has to. I want to get a wedding-like dress (from modcloth.com) and I want to already have rings, non-expensive ones, but rings all the same. Basically I just want to be married; I want to be able to call him my husband. I know he won't get the ball rolling because he just doesn't care that much, which isn't a bad thing, per say. He's just a different type of man, a different type of person (people who know him will definitely agree).

I know that a lot of women would detest this idea, but it works for me and it's relatively inexpensive. All we have to pay for is the marriage license, the dress, tux, and rings. We could even cut out the dress, tux and rings if we wanted/needed to (although I don't want to!).

That's what I'm planning right now, he doesn't really know, but it won't be a surprise thing. We'll have to talk about it to make it work. That's what our relationship is about, communication. We'd be long broken up if not for that.