Should you give him an ultimatum? You don't have to let him take forever to pop the question. Here, how to have the wedding talk.(LOVE AND LUST)

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* It's a relationship myth that giving your guy an ultimatum will mess things up. As a matter of fact, it may be exactly what he needs. "If you've been together for a while and he's not moving things forward with a proposal, you really should have a serious conversation to get what you need," says relationship therapist Krista Bloom, PhD, author of The Ultimate Compatibility Quiz. Here's the catch: Men are notoriously skittish about "till death do us part," so having The Talk is a delicate business.

When to Bring It Up

Every couple sets a different relationship pace, so there's no rule that says you should be discussing a proposal after X amount of time. That said, there are some guidelines you can abide by. If you've been together for only four or five months, it's too soon to detail what kind of ring you lust after. At this point, you're still getting to know each other, and it may weird him out. At the same time, it's not realistic to wait years before bringing it up. "After you've been in a serious, monogamous relationship for a year, it's reasonable to want to talk to him about your future," says Bloom.

How to Do It

If you're not careful, issuing an ultimatum can sound like a threat and make your guy feel like a caged animal. To avoid freaking him out, it's vital to be firm but calm.

The best way to make sure you'll stay relaxed is to talk to him as soon as you ...