see you at the wedding

a few days ago i told a friend
that my girlfriend and i were pretty serious
about our relationship
to the point where we have been talking about marriage
in our future.

so when i made the joke,
"see you at the wedding"
she freaked out and went
"REALLY? YOU'RE THAT SERIOUS?"
and i laughed at that.
but we had this discussion
about dating for experience
or dating for marriage.
i obviously live for the latter
but apparently, it's "common"
to live for the former.

i mean, to me, what sense does it make
if your girlfriend/boyfriend
goes up to you and says,

"hey. i don't really love you
i just say that i do because
i want to know how it feels like
to say it to someone,"

or

"hey. i know we're dating and all
but i don't really care about the
personal relationship that we have right now
i just want experience.
you are ultimately not much more to me
than the experience and knowledge
that i gain. after that, there's nothing between us."

that's heartless. ridiculously heartless.
i wouldn't date anyone at all
if i didn't think that that person could be
the one that i could spend my whole life with.

dating is so much more than just experience and knowledge
dating is supposed to lead up to something
so much more meaningful,
a loving relationship centred around God
the unity of two people under God
and the greatest love stories.

where did all of that go?