Is love to strong a word? I [19 F] and my boyfriend [18 M] have been together for almost a year but he says he feels the term love should be used majority during marriage…

I [19 F] and my boyfriend [18 M] have been together for almost a year but he says he feels the term love should be used majority during marriage.

I recently talked with my boyfriend about why he doesn’t want to say love or send anything involving a heart. He said it was because he feels it’s a strong word and shouldn’t be used till marriage. I personally am very strong with how I feel and make sure to take time to know if I truly love someone as to which in this case o truly love him and he knows that. I want to understand his side but I feel I can’t because what difference would marriage truely make just besides rings and official papers. Maybe it’s something small and I am just overthinking it but I feel he does love me I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me, and feel it in the way he interacts with me which of course is good enough even if he can’t say it. But apart of it breaks my heart because I am so very big in feelings and I feel waiting till marriage to hear him genuinely say it would feel to long but I’m certain I could wait till then because to me that is love waiting even if it might feel to long it should never be to to long if you love the person… but at the same time I don’t know if I wanna ever get married due to the fact I don’t want to get married by church or state if anything I’d rather it just be strictly me and him saying our vows underneath an alter and still yet having a dreamy magical night, or maybe even not that. Of course we are still young and have a life to plan out and work out and this little hear break of mine will pass and be mended but I can’t help my thoughts.