Marriage Age

[KSUViolet06]

I think 23-24 is probably the average in my area, since that's the age when most people are graduating from college and getting into their careers.

I know I might get flamed a bit, but I personally think any of the girls I've ever met who were 18, 19, 20 and married were just kind of, weird.

Where I'm from, the girls who got married young like that were the girls who "didn't go to college because they were married and didn't need to, because they wanted to start their families and you don't need an education to be a mommy (actual quote from my friend's married cousin who's 19)" and thought that Stanford was in Japan (yes, a girl actually said that to me). Either that, or they had some sort of reason like a baby or an impending deployment, which made them feel like they had to get married.

I also find that the girls who got married right after HS were divorced within two years and left with typically 2 kids. They then became the "socially awkward 22 year old divorcee" who parties like I did when I was 18 (because her social growth is a bit stunted).

Now I am NOT saying that every single young married girl is like that, but that's just my experience with my regional area. People just generally don't get married young under normal circumstances around here. I know that there are some areas, like where my extended family is from in Alabama, where getting married immediately after HS is completely normal.

[amanda6035]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I think 22-24 is probably the average in my circle, since that's the age when most people are graduating from college and getting into their careers.

I know I might get flamed a bit, but I personally think any of the girls I've ever met who were 18, 19, 20 and married were just kind of, weird.

Where I'm from, the girls who got married young like that were the girls who "didn't go to college because they were married and didn't need to, because they wanted to start their families" and thought that Stanford was in Japan (yes, a girl actually said that to me). Either that, or they had some sort of reason like a baby or an impending deployment, which made them feel like they had to get married.

I also find that the girls who got married right after HS were divorced within two years and left with typically 2 kids. They then became the "socially awkward 22 year old divorcee" who parties like I did when I was 18 (because her social growth is a bit stunted).

Now I am NOT saying that every single young married girl is like that, but that's just my experience with my regional area. I know that there are some areas, like where my extended family is from in Alabama, where getting married immediately after HS is completely normal.

Nope. That sounds about right. Bravo for saying it like it is.

*edit* I was 26, my husband, who had been married once before (at 19) was 29 when we got married.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I also find that the girls who got married right after HS were divorced within two years and left with typically 2 kids. They then became the "socially awkward 22 year old divorcee" who parties like I did when I was 18 (because her social growth is a bit stunted).

My sorority sisters, who are all generally from this area (Northwestern, PA) seem to get married younger (21, 22, 23)

One of them was engaged after her first year of college, she left to marry her fiance and live with him in Virginia (he was in the Navy and was stationed there), and they were divorced within 2 years. Now she's back around here and she parties like crazy. Definitely happens. Fortunately, there weren't any kids involved.

Three of my sisters graduated college and were engaged by mid-summer. Another sister graduated and was hoping for a proposal from her bf of a year, but things happened and they broke up, and she was devastated that she wasn't getting married. Another sister was proposed to during the winter break before her last semestser of college.

Also, a guy that my bf works with just got engaged. Him and his gf have been together for about a year. He's turning 20 in a couple weeks. He won't even be old enough to drink at his wedding, which is planned for summer 2009.

I don't know if it's a trend around here, but it's insane to me.

I also know a couple from back home (MA), and they started going out in September of 07, they were engaged by January of 08, and they're getting married in summer of 09. The guy is 25 and the girl just turned 21.

I'm 24 and I can't imagine myself being married right now. My boyfriend is younger than I am, and I think that when he's ready to get married, I'll be at least 26. Perfect

[Taualumna]

Around my circle, 26-30 seems to be the age range for marriage. All of us have an undergraduate degree and many have grad/professional degrees as well.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I also find that the girls who got married right after HS were divorced within two years and left with typically 2 kids. They then became the "socially awkward 22 year old divorcee" who parties like I did when I was 18 (because her social growth is a bit stunted).

I just friended a HS classmate on Facebook who just got divorced. She got married within a year of graduation (to a church guy, I believe), and now she's got 2 kids. Dude, as much as I party (and I'm hungover right now), I think she's got me beat. It's fine for me because I don't have kids.

I think I've mentioned this a few times elsewhere on the site, but where I grew up, most people got married between 21-24. A lot of the girls I grew up went to strict Christian colleges and ended up getting married while they were still in college. As far as college friends go, none of my close friends have gotten married. A few acquaintances have started families, and some of my chapter sisters are married now. We'll see how it pans out.

I would like to be on the path to marriage, or married, around my 30th birthday because I want to start having children before I'm 35. I've seen all of the stuff that women over 35 have to go through to get pregnant, and all the stuff they have to go through when they actually do get pregnant. I don't want to go through that.