[MTSUGURL]

I've broken off two. I think that deep down (maybe not no deep down...) I knew it would end even if we did get married, but honestly, for a long time I bought into the lie that you were nothing if you weren't married by 25. The first fiance was the one that I've shared my story about in other threads in this forum. I thought I was pregnant, and my first thought was, "There's no way this man is raising my child." Then it hit me: Why was I planning to marry him?

The second guy came clean about several large things in his life that he had lied about, one being a 6 year old daughter that he had fathered. This wouldn't have been a problem - I would've loved her like she was my own given the opportunity. However, there were no pictures, no visits, no calls... He had basically just decided he didn't want anything to do with her. After learning that, I decided I didn't want anything to do with him.

I've been proposed to several times, but not by anyone that has inspired a feeling of permanence in me.

If you have solid, real, genuine reasons, not just cold feet that might go away after a long reassuring talk, for breaking off an engagement, it doesn't matter how far you are into the planning process. As messy and disappointing as a breaking of an engagement can be, it's no where near as messy, expensive or involved as a divorce would be.