Do you know anyone who got married very young?

[Worryaboutmybread]

I’m a teacher at a secondary with a sixth form attached. One of my year 13 girls is engaged to her boyfriend (whose 19 and finished school last year). They’re planning on getting married this summer after she’s done her a levels. She seems very exited and was talking to her friends about going dress shopping with her mum. I said congratulations as I don’t feel like it’s my place to discourage it as she’s technically an adult but I can’t lie I felt like the whole thing is quite strange. His and her family are very religious and I think that’s a part of it, they’re apparently going to live and work on his uncles farm. It just seems so young to be settling down and like both of them will miss out on a lot. I have never come across something like this before in 10 years of teaching so I guess my AIBU is do you know anyone else who’s done this and got married while still in their teens?

My best friend did. Got married at 16, nan at 37 .Divorced now though. She never went to college or uni but is now doing an access course. It doesn't have to mean your aspirations end. My mum got married at 18, had me at 19 and has been married 38 years. She didn't go to college or uni, was a sahm but now has a job and we are very proud of her.

Some of these stories are lovely :)

I only know 2 people who got married young, one friend from primary school age at 16, divorced a year later (no children) and a secondary school friend at 18, that didn't work out. I thought it wouldn't at the wedding as he was a bit childish about holding her hand.

Hope it works out for them.

I went to school with someone who married one of the teachers when she was 19 or 20. I wish I was kidding.

The Christian's get married so they can have sex though surely ? Because they can't have sex before marriage .
My dd is 19 and at uni , I can't imagine her being married but I was only 25 so I guess quite young at 23 to be engaged and bought a house etc

The Christian's what?

Yes some Christians do marry relatively young but not usually when they are teenagers. UltraOrthodox Jews, such as the Chassidic, often marry very young.

I got married at 18. First child at 20. Did my degree. Second child. Teaching qualification, Taught until retirement. Happily married for 53 years!

My DD has been with her partner since they were 17, they are now 36. A few of her friends have been in relationships since they were early twenties. I married as a teen and was married for twenty two years until I was widowed.

I was 20. Still happily married 37 years later

My mum and dad got married at 18 and were together over 25 years be for my mum died, one of my aunt's got married at 16 and was still with her husband until he died a couple of years ago.

I was 24 which is old by my family standards.

The only couples I know who have married before 24ish are from fundamentalist type religions like Jehova's witnesses and the like.

It might have worked out and made sense a for generations past but to get married this young in this day and age I think it's very misguided and unhealthy. Mad to commit for a lifetime when you are still a kid and have no idea who you are and what you're looking for in life and in a partner.

I was 22, and have been married for 41 years. DD is 22 and I think she is far too young to be thinking of marriage

When i was at school all the christians got married immediately after uni so at 21/22. I can think of 6 couples immediately. They are all still married, but 2 of the 6 seem to live very separate lives now 15 years on, with little in common etc. Divorce is quite taboo among some branches of christianity.

Mind you ive been with DH since we were 20 but didnt get married til 28.

I married when I was 22 in 2015. DH was 24. We met at university and fell in love but were from different countries!

My parents at 22 and 23. Possibly not as young as you mean though?

My sister was engaged at 17, married at 18 and they've just celebrated their 25th anniversary (4 children aged between 19 and 13). She's now 43 and he's 46 and I would say they're happy as they laugh a lot and are quite affectionate with each other.

My parents also married young at 19 and 21, but it wasn't that unusual then (1970's).

I met my husband when I was 15 and he was 18, we dated through my O and A levels, basically lived together at his mum’s house, and got married at 20 once he had built our first house. We were so very happy for 39 years until his death in 2020.

My NDNs were married young. She was 18 and he was 22. They’ve been married 12 years now and have 3 DC. They are a lovely couple, they’ve definitely had their bumps in the road but they’ve worked through them and adore each other.

I was 22. Still married 10 years later. Honestly I look back and think what was I thinking?? Haha not about my husband, Just doing it so young. He is 10 years older

My brother and SIL got together at 16 - they're now in their 40s with 3 kids and still SO in love, they leave each other love notes around the house etc.

DH’s parents were 21 which means they’re young grandparents and will probably live to see great grandchildren.
Far better that what my demographic were sold - career career career oh shit I’m 35 and it’s bloody difficult to find a decent bloke!

22, celebrating 36 years in April (assuming we make it! )

Really not that unusual unfortunately.

I was 21 in May 75, and got married in June of the same year. We were married for 46 years, until I lost him in January 2022.

There are a few people from high school that I know that married right after school and are still together almost 35 years later.

My ex fiance got married at 21 and is still married over 35 years later. (We were long distance and I guess he didn't want to wait for me to finish college so he dumped me and married his wife)

I wish that I'd gotten married young. I have had no luck meeting anyone and I'm now over 50 and have been single for many years after being cheated on and wasting my time with someone I don't like very much. I'm jealous of all the people that got married young and have stayed together for decades.

However, oddly I wouldn't want my DD to marry that young. I'm hoping she will wait til she's at least 30 - she's almost 27. But I think it's more that I don't want to be a grand mother any time soon. 😂