I was talking to my friend last night, and we were talking about life and marriage. And it's like...I'm not sure I want to get married. (I think one day I'd like to.) However, we were talking about the "right age" to get married. While, we both agreed, it would be good to know the person 1-2 years, we were way off with when we wanted to. He suggested like late twenties. (Were 22/23) and I always just figured like late 30s...To which he said, "Damn, that is late." Is it?

I know there isn't a set year..but I've heard people who got married young, said they weren't happy or wish they had dated more. What determines this? However, I'm sure to combat that, there are the couples who got married young and were really happy together FOREVER.

I'd love to get into this.

What is the orgs thought on marriage/the right age to get married, if there is one, what factors there are to consider.

Thanks guys!

It depends on you and the relationship

depends on a million factors. age is only one of them but not the most important. depends on the couple.

26 or 27 leaves a few years to yourself as a couple
before starting a family if that is the road you wish to go down.
as that door does not stay open indefinitely

heybaby said:

True. Some people are perfect for marriage immediately, some people only after some time.

You just need time to figure out what you really want out of life. One should give themselves room to experience life, make some indiviual mistakes and test the waters and their abilities first. By 30 or a little less you should have done that.

emm said:

Mariaaaaa! Close that damn door!

You will know when you are ready and have the perfect partner.

If you take it as a deadline it might obsess you.
I know a woman who decided she'd be married by 30. At 29 she didn't even have a boyfriend and that became her number one priority. She met this guy online and they even set a date for her wedding so it would be before she was 30.
My parents (she's my sister) convinced her to hang on for a while but still she married the following year.
Luckily it all turned right but it was the craziest thing she's ever done

I'll say 30 but don't wait too long after that to start having babies.

when free ass stops coming to your door at 3 am with a cat o nine tails and some honey

I was 18 when I got married, and I'm 35 now. My husband was 22, he's turning 39 in December.

It totally depends on the people. I knew at 18 that I would never love another man like I loved him. For many years, I was blind to all of his faults. Whatever he did, I didn't care. I always forgave him for everything immediately. To say I adored him, is just not enough. I mean, "Automatic" should have been my life theme song!

When I turned 30, and also got breast cancer, I stopped being so consumed with him. I still love him immensely, and we are still married, but I don't put up with so much crap as I used to.

Which brings me to my point. An 18 year old, or heck, even anyone in their early 20's might have enough love for someone to marry them, but are too immature to have a solid marriage and be independent at the same time.

My personal opinion is never, but since that's not the popular choice, my next suggestion would be to wait until after your 20s.

When you're old enough to know what you're doing, and when both parties are 100% certain they want to spend their lives together, and are thinking clearly and maturly about it. No age number, since everybody is different.

This is why the divorce rate is so high.

There is no "right age".


You may never meet that person, or you do. there's no timeframe on it.
people that decide that "it's time to get married" usually get divorced.

There are real advantages and disadvantages to younger and older.

If you marry very young, you may not know who you are or what you want. On the other hand, making your life mesh seamlessly with the other person's is easy. You're less likely to miss what you never had (ie. lots of your own time and space). You also don't have years of heartbreak that you're going to have to sort out in THIS relationship.

If you marry older, you're more likely to have your shit figured out, but you've also got more baggage. Hopefully you have the confidence that comes from knowing you can be ok on your own, but you may also be set in your ways and unwilling to give much up in compromise.


Take-home message: marriage is a disaster at all ages, don't do it.
[Edited 10/22/07 7:03am]