congrats to TS to get what she wanted in life.

Some observations:

1) one should take into consideration the community he/she is in as well. A marriage goes better with the support of the community, family, friends. You receive their blessings and help.

2) using TS analogy of 'testing' candidate via 1v1 scenario lacks context. While it works, either party will quickly feel about the rules of the game, and will likely to approach it with a lot of covering, make-up, stories. Just not your true self. A relationship with too much covering here and there will not last.

3) The whole idea about 'getting' him/her comes with one's subjective criteria of what fits to be the partner of life. This again sounds like a merit-based contest, i.e., i am rich, so i win the game, or, I know the table manner, so I'm at an advantage.

While there's still value to extract in this thread, I humbly propose another alternative.

1) At whatever stage in your life, be sincere about yourself.
2) Work will very much define who you are, so does the opportunity arises from it. Your community will also be very much defined in such a context.
3) When opportunity arises, with solid network of community, approach your desired potential partner, but remember you are only a friend to him/her at this stage.
4) The common traits like sacrificing for the loved one, love and trust, patience and hardwork, diligence and attention will all show up in your test of loving someone. Love is a verb, and action. Whether you like it or not, it will show up as either love or a farce.

All the best.