Last week Mark Wahlberg announced that, after several years together, he and the mother of his three children, Rhea Durham, will tie the knot next August. Jewel also took the long road to marriage -- this summer, she wed her man of ten years, Ty Murray, in a secret ceremony in the Bahamas.

There are many reasons why people opt for long-term engagements. In Wahlberg's case, the onetime party-animal attributes his drawn-out decision to settle down to the fact that, well, he's stopped partying.

For many Hollywooders -- and free-thinkers in general -- it's often hard to embrace such a traditional construct, says Dr. Tseday Aberra, a relationship and marriage expert. "Without having to deal with 'traditional' marriage issues or the legal aspects of getting married, many people are happy to enjoy each other's company," she says. Another factor: A-listers don't feel the same financial pressures as the rest of us, so they're less likely to partner up to save money.

While some people rush into marriage, there are also those who dwell on the "what ifs"... for ages. What if we fizzle? What if our sex life dies? What if he cheats on me? What if I cheat on him? What if he annoys me to death?

But of course, there's no way to know for sure what will happen. So how can you tell when it's time to take the leap of faith and commit anyway? "There is no 'right' person, merely the person you love," Aberra explains. "When you are sure -- not just assuming -- that you can tolerate even the tendencies you don't love in your partner, then you have found the right person. Once you do, there is no reason or benefit to waiting longer."

Tell us: How long were you with your man before getting married? How did you know you made the right decision?