Is he The One…or should you run?

The journey of many a single girl will eventually take her down the aisle to forever…her final destination as a “Ms.” before riding off into the sunset as a “Mrs.” One of the most precious and important decisions in the life of a woman is the one that joins her to her Prince Charming forevermore. The beautiful moment when she says “I do” is likely the moment she has been dreaming of her entire life, since dressing up her Barbie Dolls in wedding clothes at age six and beaming as Barbie pledged her undying love to Ken in front of Skipper and the gang. But what happens when Barbie is secretly wishing she had worn her fastest running shoes instead of her glass slippers and praying that someone, anyone, will stand up and protest during the whole “If any man can show just cause” bit? What happens when she’s screaming “I don’t!” on the inside even as she hears herself say “I do”? And what happens when “With this ring, I thee wed” becomes “With this ring, I thee DREAD”?

Anne Milford and Jennifer Gauvain are shedding new light on the difference between settling down and just plain settling in their new book, “How (Not) to Marry the Wrong Guy.” With their no-nonsense approach, the ladies break from tradition of most relationship books by not just sharing advice on how to find the right guy, but by showing you how to detach yourself from the wrong one. Having canceled her own wedding in 1992 after acknowledging numerous red flags in her relationship, Anne’s voice of experience encourages women to heed the red flags in their own relationships by listening to their gut and letting their inner voice guide them. Here are a few of Anne and Jennifer’s signs that you might be settling for Mr. Good Enough instead of Mr. Right:

You know you don’t want to get married but you don’t want to have to go through the trouble of calling off the wedding, returning the presents, disappointing the families, etc. C’mon – would you rather exchange the REST OF YOUR LIFE for a gravy boat from Target? Forever is a huge commitment, and the biggest disappointment to everyone concerned would be if you marry someone you don’t love so as not to inconvenience anyone.

You think you can change him. If he is not the man of your dreams now, he’s certainly not going to magically transform into Mr. Wonderful after you are married. “I do” does not = “Abracadabra.” If you want him to be someone completely different, could it be that maybe you just need to find someone completely different?

You’re afraid to be alone. Marilyn Monroe once said: “It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.” ‘Nuff said.

“How (Not) to Marry the Wrong Guy” is very much a proponent of Happily Ever After…as long as it’s with the right person. After Ann called off her engagement in 1992, she went on to marry the love of her life and has been happily married for 15 years. While it takes guts and courage and bravery to call off a wedding or a relationship in progress, it is a bold and necessary act when you know in your heart that it’s not right. And besides, wouldn’t you rather have a soulmate than just a mate? Ultimately, finding the right guy begins with YOU. “How (Not) to Marry the Wrong Guy” is like the voice of your best friend reminding you that when you BECOME the love of your life, you will ATTRACT the love of your life.

“How (Not) to Marry the Wrong Guy” is available nationwide at Borders and Barnes and Noble, or on Amazon.com. Learn more by visiting www.coldfeetpress.com.