12 Traits Men Are Searching For In The Woman They’re Going To Marry

This is most men’s wishlist in their ideal woman.

A couple embraces outdoors, smiling warmly. The woman is wearing a denim jacket, and the man has a light denim shirt layered under a red and white checkered blanket. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a peaceful and sunny rural setting.

Although everyone has preferred traits and attributes that they look for in their partners, there are certain ones that most men find invaluable in the women they’d like by their sides as spouses or life partners.

1. Integrity.

A person with long, blonde hair smiles while lying on a couch with their head resting on another person's lap. The person whose lap is being used is wearing a blue shirt and jeans, gently holding the head of the person lying down.

A man wants to know that if he leaves his phone unlocked beside his lady, she isn’t going to overstep boundaries and go through it. She’ll keep her word when she makes a promise, can be trusted with his secrets, and behaves in a manner that respects and honors both of them.

2. Reliability.

A man and a woman are embracing and looking at each other warmly. The woman, with curly hair and wearing a plaid shirt, has her arms around the man's shoulders. The man, with short hair and a beard, is wearing a light-colored shirt. The background is softly blurred.

If he needs something important taken care of and entrusts that responsibility to her, he wants to know that she can be relied upon to take care of it. Similarly, should a crisis occur, he knows that she’ll stand by him instead of taking off at the first sign of trouble.

3. Honesty.

A woman and a man are embracing each other joyfully. The woman is smiling widely, and they are looking into each other's eyes, conveying a sense of happiness and affection. She has her arms around his shoulders, and he is holding her close.

She’ll be honest with him about how she’s feeling about something, and bring up topics that need to be resolved, even if they’re difficult to negotiate. She’ll let him know if others are speaking ill of him to her, and she will be completely transparent about purchases made with joint finances.

4. Capability.

A woman and a man are sitting closely together, smiling with their foreheads touching. The woman has brown hair and is wearing a blue shirt, while the man has gray hair and is wearing a black sweater. They both appear to be happy and content.

While the “manic pixie” dream waifs may be fun to date for a while, men generally want wives or life partners who can hold their own, and who both adapt to and surmount a variety of life challenges as they arise. Otherwise, they’ll be clearing sink blockages and moving fridges by themselves.

5. Beauty.

A young couple stands close to each other by a window. The man has a beard and is whispering or speaking softly to the woman, who is smiling and looking out the window. Sunlight streams through the window, creating a warm, glowing atmosphere.

Everyone “eats” with their eyes first and would like to gaze upon their own perception of beauty for as long as possible. If you’re working on a construction site and perpetually getting unwanted eyefuls of Joe’s “builder’s bum”, you’ll look forward to seeing your lovely wife as eye balm.

6. Peaceful temperament.

A man and woman are walking arm in arm on a sandy beach. Both are dressed in casual sweaters and jeans. The woman is wearing boots, and the man is in shoes. The background shows greenery and a cloudy sky. They appear to be enjoying a pleasant, relaxed stroll.

Men have to fight and strive constantly to both attain and maintain their positions in life, so they don’t want more infighting and strife at home. They look to their wives for solace and resolve, not more unnecessary conflict.

7. Willingness to work as part of a united team.

A couple is sitting together in a cozy room decorated for the holidays. The woman, wearing a light-colored sweater, is smiling and leaning back against the man, who is hugging her from behind. There is a wreath on the wall and holiday decorations in the background.

If one partner needs to take on more work hours, the other will step up and do more cooking and childcare. Should finances be tight, they’ll both cut back on expenses in order to meet the shared goal. The idea here is to be a united front.

8. Support.

Two people are sitting close together on a couch. One leans their head on the other's shoulder. The person on the left wears an orange shirt, while the person on the right, with short blond hair, wears a dark gray shirt. Both hold hands, conveying a sense of comfort and intimacy.

This doesn’t mean that men want women to bear life’s burdens for them, but rather that their wives will offer them encouragement, approval, and support for their various endeavors and challenges. It’s nice to know that one’s partner will have their back equally through a marathon race or difficult medical treatment.

9. Matched intimacy drive.

A couple sits on the floor in front of a bed. The man is seated with his legs stretched out, and the woman kneels behind him, hugging him around the neck and smiling. The room has a cozy, intimate atmosphere with soft lighting.

A man who enjoys very regular physical intimacy isn’t going to be happy in a long-term relationship with a woman who has zero desire for that sort of thing. Lack of intimacy is a major cause of marriage breakdown and failure, as is a mismatch of intimate preferences.

10. Aligned life goals.

A smiling couple walks hand-in-hand through a hallway of a modern home. Wooden cabinets and an integrated microwave are on the left, while a staircase with metal railings ascends to the right. The hallway is well-lit with recessed lighting.

If two people’s dreams and goals are very dissimilar, such as if one partner wants kids and the other one doesn’t, it’s going to cause significant discord. As such, men generally look for women whose long-term life goals align with their own, without one person sacrificing their dreams for the other’s benefit.

11. A great (shared) sense of humor.

A couple lies on the floor, their heads close together. The man, wearing a yellow sweater, looks lovingly at the woman, who wears a lavender top. Both appear relaxed and happy, sharing an intimate moment.

Life will inevitably get difficult at times, but if you’re able to find humor in dire circumstances, that’ll help get you through it. It’s also important for both partners to share amusement at the same things: tensions can arise if one person has dry, sarcastic humor while the other loves slapstick silliness.

12. Fun.

A joyful couple with long blonde hair is outdoors. The woman is on the man's back with her arms stretched out like wings, and he has his arms extended as well. Both are smiling and appear playful. They are wearing casual clothes, and there's an industrial background.

People have different ideas of what constitutes “fun”, but if a couple can enjoy recreation and fun pastimes together, that’s going to keep the marriage solid for years to come. We love women with whom we can share fun experiences, whether it’s evening board games or weekend LARPing and paintball excursions.