What is the ideal age to be married and what is the best age difference?

married couple - At the wedding reception.
@yanzalong (18981)
Indonesia
January 27, 2012 11:25pm CST
As we know people got married at different ages among them. Some got married very young at the age of 17, while some others at the age of over 40. How old should your spouse be? This is interesting to discuss, I think. What is the best difference in age in order that your marriage life in the next 20 years will be happier in terms of biological need. Does age matter? What's your opinion on this?
2 people like this
12 responses
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
31 Jan 12
'Marriage is a necessary crime which a man must commit and accept the guilty verdict honourably'. Say NO to all else except ONE. Get married when you are matured and stable. Stability should include emotional and financial; not when your mom is still detecting and controlling every area of your life otherwise your wife is in for it. I expect an average man to hook at around 30-35years and a woman should not stay beyond 28 if she still wants to get married and comfortably have children. I also would give an age difference of 10 years minimum otherwise they may become mates and with this Beijing Conference thing, equality may disrupt their free flow. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule here. older people may still want to marry at later age. Teenage marriage is more likely to hit the rocks unless the parents are very supportive. Infact, many of the divorced under 30s I have seen were married just about 20. The man moves along quickly and the lady seems stranded 'cos he was the only one she ever got to know....mmmm...
@Galena (9110)
31 Jan 12
why do you think equality in a marriage is disruptive?
@Galena (9110)
2 Feb 12
I am very happily married. he is not the head of the house. we are equals. otherwise it simply wouldn't work.
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
3 Feb 12
Interesting. You are not equals but you have probably succeded in the short run in turning the head into a 'handbag'. It sounds like you make some more money and claim equality. Don't worry, the real man would soon emerge.
• Kenya
28 Jan 12
For the guys, the best age is 32 and for women 28. The age difference for wife should be about 5-6 years below the age of the husband.
@yanzalong (18981)
• Indonesia
29 Jan 12
I still wouldn't agree to you on this point. I'd rather like my wife to be 15 years younger. Why? The answer is I reach the age of 50, my wife is still 35 years of age, still young enough and I am at 50 still energetic. With thise 15 years different, I and my wife will look more or less the same in appearance. If your wife is at the same age, don't you think people will think that my wife looks older?
@Galena (9110)
29 Jan 12
you're kidding right? you think you look fifteen years younger than a woman the same age as you? if you get a man and a woman the same age, chances are that the woman will look younger, as women tend to take much better care of their skin. even now, it's considered unusual behaviour for a man to moisturise. whearas nearly all women do. if at thirty five I was considered to look the same age as a fifty year old man, I would be deeply insulted.
@yanzalong (18981)
• Indonesia
31 Jan 12
Of course this does not apply to women who can take care of their health. But mostly I noticed a couple look the same age, while I know his wife is 10 years younger.
• India
3 Feb 12
Things are different in different places, it is also changing with time. I was married long back in 1966, i was 33 than and my wife was 16, my sons married when they were 30+ Thnxs for this good discussion
@yanzalong (18981)
• Indonesia
3 Feb 12
You are welcome, Professor2010. I also hope that this discussion will be of uselful information regarding marriage life. Most of us forget how married couples will be like when both have reached their old age.
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
31 Jan 12
There shouldn't be an ideal age to get married unless children are concerned. There's a risk for child bearing when a woman is too old while there's not much of a problem for man. Some people put their careers above anything else but it doesn't mean they are not eligible or desirable at all. A lot depends on individual, things they want in life, and of course priority. Marriage is about responsibility, if one feels they are not ready yet, they should not commit.
@yanzalong (18981)
• Indonesia
31 Jan 12
I'd rather have a difference of 10 years. If a man is 35, a woman should be 25 years of age. What about you, Sanitary?
1 person likes this
@deodavid (4150)
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
hey there yanzalong, for me i think that there should be no age barrier or restriction to getting married, you marry when you want to marry and be happy, dont be restricted with age or age gaps life is too short to worry too much just love when you want to.
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
31 Jan 12
sugar mommy, is that what you mean?
@nyang1984 (464)
• Philippines
2 Feb 12
I think age does not matter. As long as both partners love and respect each other and their capability to raise their family.
@soulist (2985)
• United States
31 Jan 12
I think it really depends on the people getting married. I know some young couples who are really doing well and young couples who aren't. At the same time I also know people who are older who are happily married and others who aren't. It depends on who is involved and what their relationship is like. I am 29 and haven't been ready to get married until now. It was something I knew. I wanted to get married when I was younger, but wasn't ready.
@Galena (9110)
28 Jan 12
there is no ideal age to get married. the right time to marry is when you're in a stable, long term relationship with someone and you both want to be married. however I would say that it's probably best to be at least 25. you change a lot in your teens and early twenties. someone who is right for you at twenty could be completely wrong for you at twenty five, and it's not really a good chance to take. there is no ideal age gap. people who are closer in age are likely to have more in common, but that's not always the case. some relationships with large age gaps work very well and some do not. and it doesn't matter whether it's the man or woman who is older. just that their personalities are compatible.
@dodo19 (47133)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
28 Jan 12
I don't think that there's an ideal age to get married. I think that it will vary from person to person. I don't really think that age really matters all that much. So long as there's love in the relationship.
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
If the issue involves biological, I think it would be better if you marry at an age less than 35 if you're planning to have kids since according to some doctors, there would be some risks involved if women gave birth past that age. But just getting married doesn't necessarily need to have some sort of age cap. Although personally it would be better if couples get married at an age where they are mature enough to know the responsibilities that comes with married life.
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
When it comes to love age doesn't matter. The same as goes when it comes to marriage. I do believe that their is no ideal age and best age difference. Age is just a number, What matters most is that you are prepared to get married and you are ready to commit with the relationship that you started.
@mavil85 (348)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
i guess the ideal age would be when you are ready holistically. i know some people who married young and are still together and successful. age doesn't matter as long as you know how to work your relationship and put God in the center