Getting married out of college?

[Anonymous]

Is this happening at an accelerated rate these days? I've been to two weddings of 2025 college grads this summer and all the kids are 21/22. They're headed off to medical school and law school and are the kids of professional parents who married in their early 30s.
My teens say early marriage is all over instagram as well.

Sample size bias or is this a trend?

[Anonymous]

I'm noticing the same thing myself. I have boys. They both go to elite T20 colleges. They both have serious girlfriends. If they were to pop the proposal, they'd be married next month.

I don't care for it. But I understand. College is when you are most likely to meet an equal partner that you click with in a natural, organic way. That's no small thing. The post college dating world - apps, hook ups, etc - isn't wonderful for people looking for a life partner. Gen Z seems to be locking things down very early - especially the girls.

[Anonymous]

My DD and nephew are also at a T20 college and I definitely do not see kids marrying early. Actually I see kids worrying about the next step whether it’s grad school or a job. They are not at all looking to get married. So, I think it must depend on the group of people you are around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm noticing the same thing myself. I have boys. They both go to elite T20 colleges. They both have serious girlfriends. If they were to pop the proposal, they'd be married next month.

I don't care for it. But I understand. College is when you are most likely to meet an equal partner that you click with in a natural, organic way. That's no small thing. The post college dating world - apps, hook ups, etc - isn't wonderful for people looking for a life partner. Gen Z seems to be locking things down very early - especially the girls.

OLD has made dating toxic. GenZ knows that college or grad school is the best time to find a partner, full stop. All downhill from there.

[Anonymous]

I love how OP mentions two anecdotes, Instagram pages sample size bias in the same sentence as if they somehow logically make sense together as “evidence.”

Sadly, while they are all words, the way you have linked them together do not make sense

[Anonymous]

Frankly I think that is positive. College is a great time to find a partner. I have been discouraging schools with male / female balance in the 40/60 range because of this. But I married straight out of college and were celebrating our 25th shortly so am kind of biased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how OP mentions two anecdotes, Instagram pages sample size bias in the same sentence as if they somehow logically make sense together as “evidence.”

Sadly, while they are all words, the way you have linked them together do not make sense

NP. Actually, I am not understanding what you are saying.

[Anonymous]

Those are starter marriages. Too immature to know what they want in life, it's hard, divorce and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this happening at an accelerated rate these days? I've been to two weddings of 2025 college grads this summer and all the kids are 21/22. They're headed off to medical school and law school and are the kids of professional parents who married in their early 30s.
My teens say early marriage is all over instagram as well.

Sample size bias or is this a trend?

If so, it’s a trend in the right direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this happening at an accelerated rate these days? I've been to two weddings of 2025 college grads this summer and all the kids are 21/22. They're headed off to medical school and law school and are the kids of professional parents who married in their early 30s.
My teens say early marriage is all over instagram as well.

Sample size bias or is this a trend?

If so, it’s a trend in the right direction.

Why?

[Anonymous]

I was just wondering the same thing! Anecdotal for me and not on social media, but I've heard enough about it lately to make me wonder. That "traditional wife" trend seems to be taking off, too. Is the pendulum swinging back to the 1950's?

[Anonymous]

I do not think marriage straight out of college is either more or less common now versus before. UVa’s chapel has always been busy with weddings for the first few months after graduation. It is neither more nor less busy than past years.

It is possible that people are spreading the news of their marriage differently or more often, which is different from the marriage rate going up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this happening at an accelerated rate these days? I've been to two weddings of 2025 college grads this summer and all the kids are 21/22. They're headed off to medical school and law school and are the kids of professional parents who married in their early 30s.
My teens say early marriage is all over instagram as well.

Sample size bias or is this a trend?

If so, it’s a trend in the right direction.

Why, so they can get divorced? The minister at my wedding said he never likes to marry anyone over the age of 30 so they have a better idea of what they might be getting into.

[Anonymous]

I highly doubt it's a trend, but if it is, they're adults. Not everyone is as divorce happy as you boomers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not think marriage straight out of college is either more or less common now versus before. UVa’s chapel has always been busy with weddings for the first few months after graduation. It is neither more nor less busy than past years.

It is possible that people are spreading the news of their marriage differently or more often, which is different from the marriage rate going up.

I’ve been to at least 10 summer weddings at the UVa chapel and none of those people got married right out of college.