If he wants to marry you, he probably knows it after the first date, but modern men feel no rush, so they drag it out for years or even decades. He knew, twenty years ago, that he was never going to marry you, but you never asked.

AFTER the first date? You mean you didn't show up to church on your first date 30 minutes after meeting in person for the first time, only to have mass relocated to the basement "Cana Chapel" because of a schedule conflict with a wedding?

We held out on getting married for a year and a week, because there are procedures.