I can't speak on this TOO much, 'cause I had my first boyfriend at like, 10, hahaha.
But if I had it to do over again, (in the truth, obviously) I think I would prefer to go the "unless you're ready to marry them" route. That's the way my husband and I did it....he wouldn't even TALK to me about maybe dating, until he could see himself marrying me. Yeah, very frustrating, but I am grateful to him for it. I think it made us better as a couple, because we got to know each other well. He was 27 when we got married, and the time he spent being single really gave him the chance to figure out who HE was, which meant he was better prepared to be a good husband and a good spiritual head of the household. Plus, he made a lot of friends along the way, some of them girls, of course, and it helped him to figure out what he did and didn't want in a wife.
So I give you credit for not rushing to the altar yet....I've seen lots of couples jump into it early, and a few years later are divorced, and some not even in the truth. (On the flipside, I've seen some young marriages also work out VERY well....it goes both ways).
But seriously, consider it a blessing.....just keep focusing on spiritual things, and serving Jehovah, and things will go well for you. :)