Can someone explain step-by-step how Americans become a married couple, starting from the very beginning? What is engagement and how is it different from marriage? Are there different rings or just one ring, when are they given? At which point a proposal is made? How do you call your SOs during different stages of that process?
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After the proposal is accepted the couple is engaged to be married. The engagement ring is given at the proposal. Nothing is yet legally binding, either party can just end it, but cheating while engaged is a super bad idea.
durring an engagement your SO is your fiance or fiancee (gendered) (I have only ever heard fiancee)
The wedding has its own ring and a legally and socially binding contract after which the couple is married and would have to go through a legal process to end it. When married, you have a spouse with husband/wife (again gendered terms). There are certain legal benefits/detriments to being married.
None of this is set in stone other than the actual government contracts.
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