It's that time of year: graduations (both high school and college), which leads to engagement and wedding season. It seems like in the weeks leading up to, and following, graduation, girlies everywhere are posting pics of their new halo engagement rings or in their pretty white dresses. It's the ring by spring season, and it's a freakin' epidemic. Do I want a ring by spring, or a marriage by spring? Absolutely not.

Before I go on, I want to make one thing clear: I get it. You've met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and you want that to start as soon as possible. And that's great, it really, truly is. But an early engagement, followed by an early marriage, isn't something that I want for myself.

I'm not a bitter single girl, that's jealously hating on all the happy couples flooding my Facebook and Instagram feed. On the contrary, I'm in a happy, stable, (somewhat) adult relationship and I can't wait to eventually plan a wedding. Though, that wedding won't come for a very long time.

Here's why the ring by spring idea isn't for me. I'm spoiled. I want my dream ring, I want my dream wedding, and I want a long honeymoon. Most likely, none of these things will be possible right out of college, or even a few years into a career. I want the time to save, so that I, or my mother, won't be dirt poor afterwards. I want the luxury of a long honeymoon, something that will be hard to swing even after I have vacation days saved up. And most importantly, I want the time for my future spouse and I to find ourselves.

I've never worked full-time, I've never lived on my own (besides in a dorm), and I'm only twenty years old. I don't have my life together at all, and it's going to take me a while to get there. In my opinion, marriage is a serious, and very adult thing. I'm no where near serious, or adult, and I don't want to be either of those things until I absolutely have to.

I'm selfish, whiny, and needy. I have no control of my temper, and I still get upset over stupid, irrelevant things. Because of all this, I know a young, graduation sprung engagement would end badly. It might work for you, but it's okay if you're like me and it won't.

Ring by spring? No thanks. I'll take a diploma, a career, and maybe a nice apartment by spring. A marriage can wait.