what is the ideal age to get engaged/married?

get married when you're 60

*shrug* im married and i'm 26

Too many people are wasting their youth in my opinion on relationships! Have fun while you are young!

What part of being married is wasting my youth? My husband and I have fun every day.

I don't think you have the same experience when you're in a relationship. My friends in relationships and my single friends are so different. My relationship friends hate the bars and want to go home early, would rather stay in than go out anyway, and they worry about what their partner thinks all the time. Young singles can do what you want on a moment's notice without having to check with others and they don't have to worry about what your partner says..I could write a list all day! It's not the same having fun being single and having fun in a relationship.
I'm not faulting those in relationships at a young age. But I am saying don't rush into relationships at a young age, because being young is when you're supposed to have fun and be carefree, and if you're in a relationship, you're sometimes held down by the other person, whether intentionally or not.

Not everyone WANTS that experience though. I've never been much of a party person. Even in college I wanted to stay in instead of go out and get hammered. I go out once in a while now but I'd never want to do that all the time. There's just more important things to do.

Me either. I was never interested in having the "typical college experience" and going out and partying. In fact, I think I've had BETTER experiences with my husband than I would have had without him. (especially since we didn't get married because of a child)

Too many people are wasting their youth in my opinion on relationships! Have fun while you are young!

What part of being married is wasting my youth? My husband and I have fun every day.

I don't think you have the same experience when you're in a relationship. My friends in relationships and my single friends are so different. My relationship friends hate the bars and want to go home early, would rather stay in than go out anyway, and they worry about what their partner thinks all the time. Young singles can do what you want on a moment's notice without having to check with others and they don't have to worry about what your partner says..I could write a list all day! It's not the same having fun being single and having fun in a relationship.
I'm not faulting those in relationships at a young age. But I am saying don't rush into relationships at a young age, because being young is when you're supposed to have fun and be carefree, and if you're in a relationship, you're sometimes held down by the other person, whether intentionally or not.

Not everyone WANTS that experience though. I've never been much of a party person. Even in college I wanted to stay in instead of go out and get hammered. I go out once in a while now but I'd never want to do that all the time. There's just more important things to do.

Me either. I was never interested in having the "typical college experience" and going out and partying. In fact, I think I've had BETTER experiences with my husband than I would have had without him. (especially since we didn't get married because of a child)

Agree. I hate parties. The only time I have ever gone to one was when a friend begged me to...and I didn't enjoy myself that much.

never. the end.

Depends on the couple and situation. Also depends on their maturity. My husband and I got married young. I was 20 and he was 21, we have been married almost 8 years now with two kids. I would never change anything. We already had an apartment together...both had good paying jobs and were very responsible for our age. We bought a house after we got married, and never looked back. (btw we didn't get married because of a baby, we didn't have our first son till two years after we were married)


But I wouldn't say all 20 year olds are ready to get married.

Too many people are wasting their youth in my opinion on relationships! Have fun while you are young!

What part of being married is wasting my youth? My husband and I have fun every day.

I don't think you have the same experience when you're in a relationship. My friends in relationships and my single friends are so different. My relationship friends hate the bars and want to go home early, would rather stay in than go out anyway, and they worry about what their partner thinks all the time. Young singles can do what you want on a moment's notice without having to check with others and they don't have to worry about what your partner says..I could write a list all day! It's not the same having fun being single and having fun in a relationship.
I'm not faulting those in relationships at a young age. But I am saying don't rush into relationships at a young age, because being young is when you're supposed to have fun and be carefree, and if you're in a relationship, you're sometimes held down by the other person, whether intentionally or not.

Not everyone WANTS that experience though. I've never been much of a party person. Even in college I wanted to stay in instead of go out and get hammered. I go out once in a while now but I'd never want to do that all the time. There's just more important things to do.

Me either. I was never interested in having the "typical college experience" and going out and partying. In fact, I think I've had BETTER experiences with my husband than I would have had without him. (especially since we didn't get married because of a child)

Agree. I hate parties. The only time I have ever gone to one was when a friend begged me to...and I didn't enjoy myself that much.

Well I'm not gonna win this one clearly. And I go out almost every weekend and I barely drink so it's not about drinking to me. I'm just personally really glad I didn't miss out on my fun and crazy college days that'll I'll never get back! But that's just me, I get that some people aren't that way.

early 30s, definitely

I'll say 25 simply because that's the age I was...makes no sense I know..,but seriously, when you find the right person that makes you feel complete!

Too many people are wasting their youth in my opinion on relationships! Have fun while you are young!

What part of being married is wasting my youth? My husband and I have fun every day.

I don't think you have the same experience when you're in a relationship. My friends in relationships and my single friends are so different. My relationship friends hate the bars and want to go home early, would rather stay in than go out anyway, and they worry about what their partner thinks all the time. Young singles can do what you want on a moment's notice without having to check with others and they don't have to worry about what your partner says..I could write a list all day! It's not the same having fun being single and having fun in a relationship.
I'm not faulting those in relationships at a young age. But I am saying don't rush into relationships at a young age, because being young is when you're supposed to have fun and be carefree, and if you're in a relationship, you're sometimes held down by the other person, whether intentionally or not.

Not everyone WANTS that experience though. I've never been much of a party person. Even in college I wanted to stay in instead of go out and get hammered. I go out once in a while now but I'd never want to do that all the time. There's just more important things to do.

Me either. I was never interested in having the "typical college experience" and going out and partying. In fact, I think I've had BETTER experiences with my husband than I would have had without him. (especially since we didn't get married because of a child)

Agree. I hate parties. The only time I have ever gone to one was when a friend begged me to...and I didn't enjoy myself that much.

Well I'm not gonna win this one clearly. And I go out almost every weekend and I barely drink so it's not about drinking to me. I'm just personally really glad I didn't miss out on my fun and crazy college days that'll I'll never get back! But that's just me, I get that some people aren't that way.

I don't think there is a winner or loser on this one, everyone has had some equally valid points. I think it depends on individuals and what they prefer. Some are ready to settle down much younger than others, and some need to get the fun, spontaneous things out of the way before they can...
And believe it or not, there are some couples that can still be extremely spontaneous and not need to check in with their spouse with every little move they make! It really is a case by case basis.

I was definitely not one for the partying either... I chose to go to a military high school and college and have never been 'wild' really... definitely still spontaneous though!

I got married at 23. We were right out of college and totally in love with no jobs. We have been able to make it work for 19 years and counting. However, ever time I hear my daughters speak of getting married as young as we did, I shudder. It was way too young. And honestly, had we lived together before getting married, I don't think I would have gone through with the wedding (My husband changed a lot after we married. Thankfully, we were able to adapt and remain the best of friends) Given all this, I believe 26ish is a good age to marry... you have time to find yourself and have given yourself enough time to experience what you want in a husband. And even marrying at that age, I would wait a few years before having children. Oh, that's when the real fun begins!

61

Agree. I hate parties. The only time I have ever gone to one was when a friend begged me to...and I didn't enjoy myself that much.

Well I'm not gonna win this one clearly. And I go out almost every weekend and I barely drink so it's not about drinking to me. I'm just personally really glad I didn't miss out on my fun and crazy college days that'll I'll never get back! But that's just me, I get that some people aren't that way.

Haha, the funny thing is with me I love to drink (not get drunk, but try drinks and stuff) but I hate going out. I LOVE hanging out with friends at their places or mine and drinking and acting goofy and having spa days and watching movies and dancing like idiots and swimming at midnight in their pool, etc, etc. I hate going out though. Some of my most fun friends EVER are actually my boyfriend's cousins who I see all the time.

wow there are so many pessimistic answers lol. I would say mid 20's to mid 30's. I was 24 when I got married and to me it was perfect timing. There is no set age , it just depends when you are ready.

Probbbabbblyyyy because some of us have been at that lovey-dovey stage thought it was the "right one" and went years and then a divorce came...I dont think anyone marries someone being like 'ehhh he may be the right one he may not be, what the hell lets get married'....they do because they feel that person is.

If someone would have told me years ago that my wonderful marriage would end leaving me with three children to raise, I wouldn't have believed them *obviously* I am not opposed to marriage, but I dont think people should think it wont happen to them, nor should they rush, and I do believe quite a few people who have lasting relationships, most likely their parents did, and their parents etc. If you come from a broken home so-to-speak it is said you are at a higher risk of divorce.

But yeah, we are prob pessimistic because if someone would have asked this to us pre-divorce time, we would have responded the same as some of these answers lol, fact is people get divorced months into a marriage, a few years into it, and decades into it. Sometimes you see it coming sometimes you dont, the few (well what seems like few) who do last into old age, should consider themselves lucky, and I guarantee all of them got married at various ages. Just depends..but people shouldnt be naive in thinking it will never happen to them because they are 'so in love' right now. You may be ready and your partner might realize down the line they thought they were but werent. :noway:

I want to add that marriage is a commitment; it's also a decision. Mike and I decided from the very beginning that divorce was not an option for us; it was off the table. We would make it work. Abuse and infidelity are the only 2 acceptable reasons for divorce as far as I'm concerned.