If you married young (under 25)

[Anonymous]

Married at 22 to my college love. Kid came at 28, and we celebrated 12 years of marriage this year.

I wouldn’t change it. I am so grateful we got to grow up together. We had time to adventure together before becoming parents. I suppose the same could have happened if we dated longer/lived together, but we came from religious pressure not to.

[Anonymous]

Married at 25, kids at 32. We had lots of time together before raising a family. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Married 26/27. After 3 kids and 32 years later, still very happy. Life’s been good to us.

[Anonymous]

DH here. Married at 24, kids at 26, 28, 31. Still very happy 16 years later.

This wasn't the reason we did it, but there is a major economic benefit to it when you combine two incomes at an early age, and two maxed 401ks with profit sharing, and one house that's getting paid off quickly. Like I said, it shouldn't be the reason, but it's also wrong to say that there's not an economic purpose or benefit any longer. There definitely is.

Overall, we were, and are, two mature people. Some people are not mature enough at 24, but many of them won't be any better at 34 or 44.

[Anonymous]

Met at 22, engaged at 23, married at 24, kids at 25. 19 years and we’re very happy. We were both mature, committed and compatible. No regrets. I wish we would have had more time together before kids (oops!) but we’re happy. Love that I’ve done a lot of growing up together with him and watching what we’ve built from college on up.

[Anonymous]

Married at 24, kids at 33 and 35. Celebrating 15 years married this year. He's my partner. We grew up together and developed shared values, which makes life easier, I think.

[Anonymous]

I married at 22. Still married to the same guy at almost 50. Things worked out great.

[Anonymous]

Married at 25. Divorced at 28.

[Anonymous]

Got married at 25, divorced at 27. Remarried at 29, still married 13 years later.

[Anonymous]

Married at 24 to the love of my life. We dated for 4 years prior, kids came at 30, 32 and 35 (we are 35). We were able to save together for homes (I had bought a small townhouse prior to marriage by myself) and living together helped save a lot more money. We went to grad school after we got married and supported each other. We travel a lot and our jobs are very international, we've been to all 7 continents. I think that when DH and I met, we were just struck by seeing ourselves in another person. It's been bliss so far and I couldn't imagine a better husband or father.

People are so concerned about those that marry early, but in my own social circle, those that marry around 30 seem to be the most worrisome. I've had quite a few friends who married at 30-35 after 6 months of dating, had two kids and then promptly divorced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Married at 24 to the love of my life. We dated for 4 years prior, kids came at 30, 32 and 35 (we are 35). We were able to save together for homes (I had bought a small townhouse prior to marriage by myself) and living together helped save a lot more money. We went to grad school after we got married and supported each other. We travel a lot and our jobs are very international, we've been to all 7 continents. I think that when DH and I met, we were just struck by seeing ourselves in another person. It's been bliss so far and I couldn't imagine a better husband or father.

People are so concerned about those that marry early, but in my own social circle, those that marry around 30 seem to be the most worrisome. I've had quite a few friends who married at 30-35 after 6 months of dating, had two kids and then promptly divorced.

Same!

[Anonymous]

I married at 22. I knew who I was, I was educated and didn't have to commit to being poor. My husband was 25. Instead of having a big wedding we used the money for a downpayment on a house. We both had good careers. He was and still is my best friend. Our marriage has been relatively easy. The biggest hurdles was making career moves to different cities, and an unexpected illness, but overall our marriage has been 95% happy/non-conflict. We were very mature, responsible, and committed to each other. I wouldn't change a thing.

We are still happily married, in our mid-40s, and have three teenagers. One starts his first day of college classes today. If he meets the right person and together they are able to provide and create a life together, then I'm fine with him marrying at 22.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I married at 22. I knew who I was, I was educated and didn't have to commit to being poor. My husband was 25. Instead of having a big wedding we used the money for a downpayment on a house. We both had good careers. He was and still is my best friend. Our marriage has been relatively easy. The biggest hurdles was making career moves to different cities, and an unexpected illness, but overall our marriage has been 95% happy/non-conflict. We were very mature, responsible, and committed to each other. I wouldn't change a thing.

We are still happily married, in our mid-40s, and have three teenagers. One starts his first day of college classes today. If he meets the right person and together they are able to provide and create a life together, then I'm fine with him marrying at 22.

And we are not religious BTW. I often read that people assume if you marry in your 20s it's a religious thing. Neither of us were each other's "first", and we didn't know each other until after college, and moving away from our families.

[Anonymous]

Although my story is the opposite, I love all these early marriage stories! I think that society/parents should respect young peoples’ relationships a lot more than they do. You never know!

[Anonymous]

Married at 24, divorced at 28. Remarried in my 30s. Did a lot of growing up between 24 and 30, gained a lot more self respect, put up with less crap, much happier now.