Hello MKTK -- You certainly have a lot to think about. There are 2 other threads in the Relationships Forum that may have info of interest to you:

What is love?

and

How do you know if it's the one?

You can find these threads by using the "search" feature at the bottom of the forum. Just scroll backward through the lists of messages til you find the most recent msg and click on it to access the forum. I tried to cut and paste the page addresses, but they are so long that they did not scroll correctly and messed up the window reply box.

I guess I'd just add another thought that has occurred to me, because others brought it up. Who, indeed, are these "friends" who make it their business to comment negatively on a woman you have been seeing for quite some time and have announced you intend to marry?

Their behavior is disrespectful of you -- as well as of her. Polite behaviors toward each other would suggest not commenting on her appearance. How rude and insensitive.

The only exception should be if the partner has a history (or present) that the friend seems oblivious to -- Do you know that she spent time in prison for murdering her last husband? You know, I saw him kissing a tall blond at the movies last Saturday.

Even then, only a very close friend will tackle the subject, in private, in a conversation that is respectful of your feelings. Best friends are usually reluctant to tackle this kind of thing bec. they know they risk being told to "get out of my life and mind your own business. I love X and I intended ot marry him/her."

So why ARE you putting up with this disrespect?