I don't think you really need another relationship to compare to a current one with to know if you are really in love. I have a friend who has only had one girlfriend ( they've been together for 3 years now!), and there is no doubt in his mind that he is in love. In my opinion, love is never quite what you expect it to be. You don't get obvious signs that you're in love like you do when you get a crush on someone ( like the whole heart-pounding light-headed thing) It really defies explination, but makes total sense if you've been in love before. Also I think that physical attraction is impotaint, you can't wake up to a woman everyday and think to yourself "yuck, I could have done better." but it should never be the sole factor, after all, most peoples apperence changes when they age, and marriage is FOREVER (even when you are both all wrinkly).

You proposed, right? What make you think "This is the one. This is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, the mother of my children (If you plan on having kids), the love of my life, the one I want to wake up next to everyday until I die!"? Let me tell you right now the follwing reasons are NOT GOOD! "I got swept up in the moment" "I felt bad about myself and she gave me attention" "It just seemed like the thing to do" GOOD answers might include "I know she's not going to win any beauty competetions anytime soon, but she is the most terriffic person I have ever met, I can not live without her!" and don't take my advice like I'm a pro, I'm only 18 and am just speaking from the things I've seen go on around me. Please make your decision wisely, I don't want you to leave a perfectly deserving girl, but I also don't want to see you stuck in a passionless, unsatisfactory marriage. Friendship is a key element, and you have that mastered (or at least it sounds like it) so that's a good starting point... but only you know if what you have is marriage material.

About your teasing friends, I'd tell 'em to shove it! It's totally none of their business. How old are they? 5? You can marry whoever you deem worthy! You can marry the worlds ugliest woman, and it still is nothing to be made fun of for! Tell them to get off your back, because they can make fun of her all they want, but they would be LUCKY to marry a woman as awesome and wonderful as she is!