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Article created by: Indrė Lukošiūtė

Ask your parents at what point they realized they wanted to get married, and the chance is you won’t get a straightforward answer. Because love is a difficult game, and sometimes it ends with no winners.

For the few lucky ones, however, a romantic relationship turns into something solid and long-lasting. But how exactly do people go from being a couple with their ups and downs to staying together happily forever after?

“What's the moment with your partner that confirmed that you're gonna spend your life with them?” someone posed a question on the Ask Women community on Reddit, and the responses started flowing in. Below we wrapped up the most illuminating stories!

#1

View from inside a car driving down a winding road surrounded by lush trees, capturing a wholesome moment on the journey We had just started dating in college and were driving on the interstate when we saw two old ladies and an old man who had run out of gas on the side of the road. My now-husband drove to a gas station, filled up a container and got them back on the road. I didn’t realize until then that the quality I was looking for in a partner was kindness. We’ve been together 50 years.

Icy_Figure_8776 , Cristofer Maximilian Report

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    #2

    Woman relaxing in bed with a smartwatch, holding a content tabby cat, capturing wholesome moments proving her partner was the one. My cat was always terrified of everything, especially houseguests. The first time he visited, she fell asleep on him. She never did that with anyone else, even me. We had been dating maybe 2 months. I was in a car accident and was so badly bruised I could barely move, he took care of me and was so gentle and attentive.

    GPXPMPHP , Chris Abney Report

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    #3

    Young man in a library reading books, capturing a wholesome moment that shows he could be the one partner When he learned my native language to be able to communicate with my parents.

    Melodic-Coast2149 , Dollar Gill Report

    #4

    Blue compact car parked by a stone building, representing wholesome moments that proved to these women their partner was the one. Back when I worked an extremely stressful job, I had what felt like no free time at all, and my car needed some things done. I felt so stressed about it, but didn't have the time to address it for a while. One day he offered to drive me to work, I don't remember what he said his reasoning was, but i happily agreed. While I was at work, he changed my tail light, changed the wipers and detailed the car. I was at a point in my life where multiple compounded stressors made me numb to emotion. I cried when he picked me up in my car, and I saw all the things he'd done. I knew that moment that he was my forever

    sirenrenn , Oli Woodman Report

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    #5

    Couple embracing by a lake, sharing a wholesome moment that proved their partner was the one. I'm currently 23(F), and he's 25(M), and we are high-school sweethearts dating since 2014. One night, my mom was in the hospital, and since it was during peak covid, we weren't allowed in the hospital. He stayed in the parking lot with me until like 3am, which was when my step-dad was able to leave work to be with my mom. Prior to us leaving, I was talking to him about how I was severely sleep deprived. I had worked a night shift the day before and didn't get any sleep due to my mom's condition at the time, so i had gone about 24-30hrs without sleep. He was telling me to try to nap, but my body just wasn't having it. I was also hungry and dehydrated and beyond stressed, so it was a terrible time for me. The whole time, I was just telling him that I really felt like I was going to puke, but nothing was coming out of me. I'd like to add that I have a bad gag reflex and will puke if I hear or see it. Well, I ended up throwing up in the parking lot, all over his car door, the passenger seat, and myself. My body was dry heaving so bad that I even ended up urinating myself. I started shaking, and without hesistating, he got out the car to me, cleaned me up as best as he could, and immediately took me home. We dont live with each other yet, due to him getting out of the military and us merging our lives together still, but he made sure I showered and tucked me into bed before heading home. The way that he was so gentle and nurturing to me in a way I had never felt before made me fall in love with him all over again. Never made me feel bad, made sure to clean up the car, checked up on me the following day, and I mean sure we joke about it now, but in that moment, I knew he was my forever.

    spideysense4pizza , Slavcho Malezanov Report

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    #6

    A couple sitting on a bench by the lake, sharing a peaceful and wholesome moment in nature. Lol 47 years ago I’d been goin out with my boyfriend for a few months and he just started one night talking about our lives when we got married. He’s the most unromantic person on this earth, but he’s also the kindest and generous I’ve ever met. He worked hard for 45 years to care for his family. Now he’s retired he looks after me, does much of the housework etc. and yeah gets under my feet. But he still makes me laugh. Note, I think laughter is important in a marriage. We celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary last Oct. He’s a bit of a grumpy old git nowadays, but he’s my grumpy old git and I love him to bits. Best marriage ever..

    KimmyStand , Sven Mieke Report

    #7

    Smiling woman relaxing in car seat with feet up, enjoying a wholesome moment that shows her partner is the one. A month into the relationship I decided to surprise him at his house on a Friday evening after work. We had plans to meet up on Saturday but I couldn't wait. Keep in mind, we lived three hours apart. I was halfway to his city when my roommate called and said he had shown up at our house in an effort to surprise me too. I knew right then that he was something special. We got married a few years later and we often joke that we're the same person - one Christmas we got each other the same gift, we finish each other's puns, we'll stop at the store on the way home (separately) and pick up the same cookies. It's the best.

    johnske01 , David Suarez Report

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    #8

    Dimly lit bedroom with a cozy bed and soft lighting, evoking wholesome moments of love and comfort. Kind of silly, but I'm afraid of the dark and use a nightlight in my bedroom when I'm sleeping alone. When my SO and I first started dating, he'd stay over a few nights out of the week, but he needs it dark when he sleeps, so I unplugged the night light while he was over. One time he stayed over for like a week straight and then wasn't staying that night, so when I got into bed and turned off the light I had a moment of panic about the dark until I realized it wasn't dark. He had remembered to plug in my night light before leaving that day so I wouldn't be in the dark. That was my first "wow, he really cares" moment and he continues to show me to this day :)

    the_molarbear , Susan Q Yin Report

    #9

    Hospital room with a single bed and seating area, representing wholesome moments proving partner was the one. I met my current husband online in 2000 when he was 21 and I was 19. He was in the Navy and stationed close to where I lived in Southern California. We had dated exclusively for about 8 months when I became very sick and was hospitalized so that doctors could run diagnostic tests to determine what was wrong with me. (It ended up being my gall bladder). He took leave earlier than he had planned and instead of going home to see his family and friends, he stayed at the hospital with me for 2 weeks. The first night, there weren't enough chairs and no extra beds, so he took a sheet out of the cabinet in my room and slept on the floor because he knew I was scared to stay by myself. We had to get permission from my hospital roommate for him to stay overnight for the rest of my stay. She was recovering from a double mastectomy and when I was off for testing, they spent a lot of time talking. She told me once, while he was out grabbing some lunch, that he was a keeper and that he loved me a lot. We got married September 2, 2001, nine days before the world changed. We're still together. Things haven't always been perfect, there was even a time that I thought we might divorce, but we always came back together. My mom still sometimes mentions him staying in the hospital with me and tells people that that's when she fell in love with him.

    Lavenders_Blue , Martha Dominguez de Gouveia Report

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    #10

    Couple sharing a warm embrace outdoors at sunset, capturing a wholesome moment proving partner was the one. We have been long distance for most of our relationship. I had a really bad day at work. He called me when I was finished and told me to walk to a place 5 minutes away. I was due to get the train home so I was confused. I went anyway out of curiosity. I called him back and said what am I meant to be looking for? He told me to turn around and he was stood behind me. I had been having such a terrible week so unbeknown to me he had spoken to his boss and taken the afternoon off work. He drove three hours out of his way just to come and give me a hug. We had dinner together and then he had to drive home. I was so overwhelmed by how thoughtful it was I cried. I knew from that day that I wanted to marry him. We got engaged in November and I consider myself very lucky.

    brunettescatterbrain , Igor Érico Report

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    #11

    Woman sleeping peacefully in bed, capturing one of the wholesome moments that proved her partner was the one. We were dating for six months when I got really sick. For a week I was looking like Gollum, with high fever and snot and everything. He took care of me the entire week, got off work early to bring me food and comfort, slept by my side even though I told him to go away because I didn‘t want him to catch my flu. The way he looked at me when I was the most vulnerable unshowered goblin - like I was the most beautiful thing in the world - made it clear to me.

    queenofskys , Ivan Oboleninov Report

    #12

    Couple holding hands and running joyfully in a field during sunset, capturing wholesome moments with partner as the one. There are many things he's done to make me feel like this is forever. One thing that truly stands out is the fact that he's made me feel secure the entire 10 years we've been together. I don't feel like I have to hide my true self from him. I don't have to be someone I'm not and that I truly know that this man cares about me. Loyalty is a huge thing for him and he's shown me time and time again that I don't ever have to worry or wonder where I stand. I'm thankful to have found someone like him.

    Lillyloaf1 , sept commercial Report

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    #13

    Close-up of a passport and international flight boarding pass symbolizing wholesome moments and travel with a loved one. He travels for work a lot, and staying in the country is dependent on his work (on visa right now). While he was out of town a couple family members were having health issues, and I was really struggling. On a call I told him how much I missed him and that I wished he was here because I could just use his support and presence. 5 minutes after hanging up the phone he calls me again and said he had booked the next flight home. Called his boss and said he had been away a lot and he needed to be home with me right now. I would have never asked him to do that, but it showed me how completely he loves me and will do what is within his power to be there.

    JackieET1987 , Nicole Geri Report

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    #14

    Couple sharing a wholesome moment sitting together on a bean bag in a cozy room, showing love and connection. It wasn't a single moment, but just this overwhelming lack of tension and anxiety he brings. I’m a happy person naturally and I’ve had plenty of good relationships in the past, I’ve loved, I’ve been loved, but this man is just… everything with him feels new and so incredibly easy. Since we met, it’s like someone turned life on easy mode. He’s had issues come up with work and his family, I’ve had issues come up with work, life and my family, but it doesn’t touch our relationship, which is so solid and so reassuring and so secure - that it literally feels like nothing can touch me. It’s not a single moment, it’s the endless ways in which this amazing person shows up for me and other people in his life, without asking for anything in return. It’s the looking back at our time together and realising there isn’t a single moment we spent together that wasn’t made better by him being there.

    neveraftet , Toa Heftiba Report

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    #15

    Woman and partner holding hands on a scenic overlook, capturing a wholesome moment proving they are the one. We were friends, and had been for awhile. We were walking together one night for exercise when we decided to go across this old railroad bridge as a shortcut. I'm scared of heights, so I grabbed his hand and by the time we got to the other side I knew I was going to marry him. Asked him out the next week after all my hints flew over his head. Friends, I did indeed marry him and he is the best husband and father.

    Shabettsannony , Christopher Alvarenga Report

    #16

    Couple sharing a wholesome moment dancing together in a sunlit forest path, capturing true partner connection. When we had just started dating, he was visiting me and a well-known pop song started playing on the radio. He asked me to dance to it in the kitchen and sang the entire lyrics (very off-key) along. It was clear to me at that moment that we would be doing dances like that forever, me laughing at his non-existent singing skills (six years later I can report we still do it :)).

    isla_21 , Scott Broome Report

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    #17

    Couple sharing a quiet moment together in a cozy kitchen, capturing wholesome moments that prove true love. They pop up all the time really, even to this day. I don't remember the first one exactly but the most recent was last night. I heard him in his office, having issues with his computer, cursing under his breath and getting aggravated. He's never ever been the type to take his moods out on me, but in past relationships my ex's did it all the time so Im programmed to just immediately get anxious by it, thinking I'd be walking on eggshells all night now. After a few minutes he stopped fiddling with his computer and left his office to come to mine, and I prepped myself for the incoming attitude. But all he did was smile and say "when we go out this weekend can we stop by microcenter?" Then he laughed and said, "my monitor keeps going black and I died in my game cause of it!" I laughed too, we shared the aggravation he felt and went to go lay down together. No fights, no misplaced anger, no random attitude thrown my way from misplaced frustrated, just love and support. It might sound like the bar is on the floor, but I've had so many ex's in the past who just loved to take their problems out on the world around them, and I love that my current never does. He's incredibly emotionally intelligent and caring and he really has become my safe space, a person I can depend on and relax around. We never fight, he's always my number one cheerleader, and he's 100% the person I want to be with forever.

    nothoughtsnosleep , Soroush Karimi Report

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    #18

    i had a severe depressive episode right around the time we moved in together and at one point i was lying down on the floor, staring at the ceiling, trying to cry as silently as possible, and he just laid down next to me and asked if there was anything he could do. i told him he was already doing it ❤️

    imhavinganemotion Report

    #19

    Woman enjoying a relaxing bath with a glass of wine, capturing a wholesome moment with her partner at a scenic retreat. There's so many. I get reminded of the fact that neither of are going anywhere often. Most recently tho I came home from work to a hot bath with a bath bomb, a candle lit, tacos, and a bowl packed *AND* he did all the laundry.

    RobotDeathQueen , Roberto Nickson Report

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    #20

    Couple sharing a joyful moment outdoors, illustrating wholesome moments that proved their partner was the one. I didn’t have a ah-ha moment; it was a series of a ton of little things. How we loved the same movies, worked in similar industries, had the same EXACT type of humor, how when we went to the mall a few weeks after dating he offered to be my friend’s underage cousin’s step dad so she could get her ears pierced (it didn’t work lol). He made sure we went to Applebee’s on our first date bc back then I really loved their nachos (they’ve since changed 😫) he replaced a broken Sun visor in my dad’s truck so my dad wouldn’t know I broke it, he took me to a cool playground on our second date, he cooked me the only recipe he knew and borrowed pots & pans from his coworkers for it (he was SUCH a single guy lol). We have been together 18 years now and I cannot imagine being with anyone else. He keeps getting better and better. He’s forever thoughtful. You all should see how he treats our dogs. It’s incredibly sweet. He’s recently stepped up and has become an advocate for homeless dogs. Gahhhh I have an amazing husband.

    buttfl0ss , Devon Divine Report

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    #21

    Couple enjoying a cozy outdoor cafe date, sharing wholesome moments that prove their partner is the one. He has never once made me doubt his intentions or how he feels about me. My calls were always returned and my texts always replied to eventually, almost always same day. He’s always been very clear on where he wants to be with me. After our first date he met with the woman he was casually seeing before me and ended things with her and promptly told me so, even told me about her on our date since I asked if he was seeing anyone. I felt so much respect for him that he went to her in person, and was honest, and told her he met someone that he’s really interested in getting to know better, full transparency. And he’s always been like that.

    wazitooya , Wiktor Karkocha Report

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    #22

    It’s hard for strangers to make my Dad laugh. Like a proper laugh. I read out a funny text he sent me while we were dating. Cracked my Dad up, and that made me feel warm inside and that he’s already part of the family.

    Mischiefandmagic Report

    #23

    Woman in striped shirt hugging partner, sharing a wholesome moment that shows their love and bond together. Not married yet but mine was more of several small moments. He always knows if I'm not okay, even if I pretend to be, he always asks and offers hugs and physical comfort. He often doesn't say much but his gestures are so kind. He puts in the effort. Every time I communicate with him how I would like to be loved or things that trigger me due to past trauma, I notice how he puts in the effort to accommodate what I need each time. He makes want to be a better person. He deserves my best efforts too and that has helped me overcome so much. He accepts me as I am along with all of my anxiety and insecurities with such patience and grace and I love him so much. Writing this out makes me want to marry him right now.

    pancakemonkey21 , Nishanth Avva Report

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    #24

    A woman resting on a bed holding a flower, representing wholesome moments proving their partner was the one. The way he took care of me when I was really sick. Sealed the deal that he was my person, so we did a courthouse wedding shortly after I was better!

    lbiddy2727 , Zohre Nemati Report