how long a courtship should be

the real question is: how long does it takes to develop the type of friendship that leads to long-lasting marriage.source

"Some marital experts would argue that two years is a good amount of time to wait. If you are looking for a general rule of thumb, then two years is probably a good length of time for most people...Real compatibility is hard to assess based on limited opportunities for interaction...Sure, a handful of marriages might thrive after short courtships, but for every one of these examples, a much greater number end in divorce."SOURCE

+ (OTHER DETERMINANTS)

- Do you know what your goals and values really are? Paul Coleman, PsyD, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Intimacy states that, While you don’t want to marry someone just like you, marriage is a lot easier if you two share a similar outlook on life.

-Have you completed some education e.g. earned a degree?"The more years of higher education a woman has under her belt on her wedding day, the lower the chances that she’ll get divorced.Educated women tend to be more confident about who they are and less willing to settle for a man who doesn’t meet their standards,” explains Terri Orbuch, PhD, author of Five Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good to Great.

-working and having money of your own : so there’s less incentive for you to rush into marriage because you’re seeking financial security from him.