MUSLIMS: If it's haram to have a boyfriend or to even date then how do you get married.?

I asked my mom this and all she said was its in the qu'ran BTW I'm younger than you think it's not like i'm getting married right away. Anyway it's not like it's a forced marriage because then that's not true love. But wouldn't you have a boyfriend while your getting to know your husband in law and don't you go out to dinner or something then its a date because technically that means going somewhere with someone of the opposite /or not. I AM SO CONFUSED and please short answers are wayyy better