Marriage engagements promises love??...so confusing

My bf tells me he loves me more than anything else in the world. he calls me his wife his everything. he tells me he wants to marry me someday...but, when i ask him about getting engaged(not technically married) he says that he's not sure when that could happen, he says that thats a big step...what i wanna know is...if he really does love me and he promises to be with me forever and he considers me his wife..then how is it a big step?if he is already promising me forever and he KNOWS he wants to be with me forever then how is it a big step?i would be ok with being engaged and not marrying for years until we're financially ready and ready with everything else..id be ok with not getting married for years and instead planning our futures and preparing until we ARE ready...why is it a big step?it makes me feel like he's not 100% sure about our love..i dunno what to think..its so confusing. help me please...help me understand..

Amanda pretty much said it all.

The thing is, if you can tell a bunch of people on the internet about this, then you should tell him. If he so sweet then he will listen and understand your feelings. Tell him everything you just typed.

Thank you all for your resposes and amanda that was a very eye opening answer. although i am soooo sooo far from wanting attention. its not that i want a ring or want to show off or anything like that cuz other ppl are not the issue. im not like that trust me. i dont care what ppl think because its not about that. the only reason i wanted to know other ppl's opinion is because at the moment i felt kind of scared that maybe he just doesnt think im the one..but amanda made me realize that i dont need the ring as proof of his love, i just need his LOVE! :) i feel much better now. i know he loves me and i pushed him because ive been hurt b4 and the world is such a trouble place and im nervous to lose someone so so special. instead of focusing on getting engaged or anything i should focus on the fact that he calls me his wife and that he loves me and that he promised me forever..i shouldve just listened to him when he told me that his "Words should be more than enough"...thank you guys for the help..i will back off from him, besides, whats the rush? i completely understand so thanks again :)

^Ditto

Awww that was so sweet:) i really do understand what youre saying and its true! i should be content and i am! i guess for a moment i forgot whats important..i know im lucky and that he loves me.. thanks again :)

Not only that. Some men are very... conflicted about doing anything potentially... err... permanent. He might be one of those guys thats terrified of commitment. And im NOT saying hes afraid of commitment with YOU. Just commitment period. You never know tho, give him time, your still young and have the rest of your life to think about it. And he does his. Maybe he just needs to get his thoughts in line, and decide whats best for the future. You are still very young.