Very true.  I suppose I should've been more specific either way, given who made the thread.

There is no specific age in my opinion (of course over 18 though). It depends on relationship. Do you really love your partner and can you imagine to live with her/him rest of your live. So anything from 18 to rest of your life.

fun fact: you can get married at 16 over here, but you can't drink or get a credit card til you're 18.

age means nothing. my bestest friend got engaged last autumn after being with her boyfriend for 3 months. seems short, but they've actually known each other since they were 3. they'll be getting married next summer, when they're 22, but i know that she wouldnt have become committed unless she knew this guy was special.

i think, people need to see marriage for what it is before they can commit to it. its a ritual, a promise. its not going to make things better if there's something wrong, and equally its not going to make anything any worse. you'll still wake up to the same person next to you every morning. (i would expect).

im not slating marriage, i have absolutely no feelngs towards it either way. but really, its just a ritual. nothing to get over-excited OR scared about.

A year ago! ..according to my girlfriend... >_> but I don't agree on that... *runs away tooo frreeeeeddddooooommm*

is not neccesary to be in love, because marriage is a compromise between two people, it can be for love, for money, arranged( some religions do this), ect.

Interesting question. I am not so much concerned with age as I am length of courtship/engagement and level of maturity and financial stability.

If you don't wish to live with someone's parents as a married couple, don't get married till you can afford to move out on your combined incomes.

I went on a few dates with a girl early last year. She was very nice, but I was slow to get my act together (I was just out of a serious relationship) and it went nowhere. We stayed friends afterwards though, and she quickly went out with someone else.

She was nineteen. Three weeks after we last went on a date, she called me to tell me she was engaged. She had met a 25 year old, fallen head over heels in love (apparently so had he) and they got engaged. Whilst I was happy for her, if you asked me then (or now, despite them still being 'engaged') I would tell you that it was too soon.

So whilst I couldn't give you a specific courtship time before engagement should reasonably occur, I do think there are some ridiculous scenarios. Still, unless you get ridiculous, I don't think there is anything wrong with getting engaged anytime in your twenties. Personally though, I'd wait another few years, probably till at least my late twenties, or perhaps early thirties.

no earlier than 25

yrs ago people were gettin married like 18-22 now its moved up to like 27-33

maybe its b/c of the tough times and people are more shady then they were in the 50-80s

outlaw, you planning on getting married or something? Can I be the best man?

When you have spent a few years with that person, and know that you'll never divorce them, sans infidelity.

Age is irrelevant - you could be ready at 20, or not ready at 25. The key is focused on how long you've actually been with that person to know their highs and lows, and understand that your inseparable.

Usually, that takes about 4 years or more. I am always shocked when I see (retarded) people get married in a matter of 6-9 months without knowing that person much longer than that....Far too many people take the bonds of marriage frivolously, and cause a lot of divorce.

I look at it this way:

People are expected to go to college, study for 4, 6, or 8 years to prepare for a career that may last 20, 30 or maybe 40 years if your lucky. Yet when it comes to living with someone, and spending the rest of your life (up to 80 years), people tend to not care....I think that is a great 'evil' towards your spouse. Personally, I've waited 6 years so far (plus a few months of knowing the person prior to going out with them), and I can honestly say that we're 1000% better off than the other people I know.

Well I'd believe there is on age limit once you get pass the age of innocence. Although in our country of course outlaw, getting married before 18 seems to be seen as irresponsible and senseless so I guess I'll make the age minimum of 18.

Personally falling in love and getting married are just two different things. The falling in love is the emotional part and the getting married is the business part. Meaning, just like any form of business you have to be smart about it. First, know that you are actually in love with this person because they are stuck there for life... unless you weasel yourself out like most people do in my country haha. Second, make sure you have a steady job and comfortable setup so that you can support a family and not just you. Finally, make sure you have well planned out the future for things such as insurance, payments, and other things.

So old enough to marry is really kinda ambiguous because marriage is a contract and pretty much a business agreement. Don't sign until you are sure you that your signature means something. There is of course the love part but that's not the whole of marriage in our time and that is something that needs to be recognized.