Why would a woman not be happy about a sudden, surprise proposal?

[Anonymous]

My younger 22 year-old cousin got proposed on March. Her now fiance is 5 years older than her. She said yes. However, she then admitted to saying yes out of pressure because he proposed in front of our family and friends. She had no idea we were all invited. It was really a surprise party. Yet, she didn't seem excited at all. She looked very nervous, not out happiness. Her expression was a ''What the hell is going on'' type... not a happy face.

Their date wedding was orginally set for Sept. She postponed it without a date set on, claiming she isn't ready for marriage yet. What? Not ready? Even if the woman were to be clueless that he's going to propose... wouldn't that generally be every woman's happiness, what most want? Why wouldn't a woman be happy about a sudden, surprise proposal?

[OlderAndWiser]

People stay in ruts when dating because it's easier than breaking up and starting over. Then the guy PROPOSES! "What an idiot!" she is thinking but everyone is there so she says "yes." Now she wants out, and it is easier for her to say "I am not ready for marriage" than it is to say "I don't want to be married to you."

[Asker]

She admitted that she couldn't find it in her to say no to him (basically to spare his feelings) and that we were all there waiting for her answer that she felt very pressured. For the moment she's staying as his fiance but without a wedding date. She wants to finished college, save money and do other goals but not get married yet. She feels too young for it.
Wow... a woman not ready for married, not wanting to get married... I was impressed that she wasn't happy about it.

[Gent207]

You clearly are not as close to her as you think you are in reality. Otherwise you would know the state of their relationship, my money is on her not being ready because of him and their relationship.
Other possibility is her truly not wanting to get married but instead just wants a live-in boyfriend. Which is okay in mondern times as long as bills are paid lol

[Anonymous]

She needs more time to know for sure whether he is the one for her. Some people know immediately but others would rather not lock themselves down until they are completely sure that there are no other options. They like to know they have a way out. Nobody likes to feel trapped. Some women as some men also don’t like the idea of marriage, period.

[Asker]

She does want to get married and have kids one day but doesn't feel ready yet. She felt completely taken by surprise.

[Opinion Owner]

Ok so she just isn’t ready to be committed to him yet. It’s a big step to lock yourself down with someone, even if it is just the psychological knowledge of having to now say you’re married and have a “husband” and not a “boyfriend”. Takes some people a long time to get to that place of being ready to settle down.

[Anonymous]

obviously because she's not that in love with him anymore. she's also 22 years old... way too young.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Always propose in private.

[Asker]

I thought any woman would be happy with any proposal from her boyfriend, esp if she's been dating him for a year or more.