Ok, so I've noticed a growing trend over the past year or so: People getting married young. More than a handful of my friends are either married or engaged to be married soon. And I couldn't be happier for them! Depending on who you talk to, this could be a good thing or a bad thing. You have those who believe that you couldn't possibly find someone to spend the rest of your life with at such a young age, and that in the grand scheme of things, 20-24 years old is still very young and that you should experience life to the fullest before "settling down". And I am definitely not knocking those of you who believe in that, because it's a very good way of looking at the situation, especially with skyrocketing divorce rates and broken homes. However, I want to look at it from another angle. I am 23 years old, and I am not married or even engaged, so I'd like to think I'm a pretty unbiased opinion here.
Marrying young could be a growing trend due to the fact that many young men and women my age grew up in broken homes of divorce. Maybe they are looking for lasting relationships at an earlier age so we can have that love and affection that they didn't see in their parents relationships. Another possibility for this new trend of early nuptials could be because young adults today want to "experience life to the fullest before 'settling down'" but figure, why do it alone? They may want to experience people, places and events with someone they truly love. I mean isn't that what marriage is about? Sharing it with the one you love?
Back in the days I wish I had known (See my 'housewife' posting) people proposed quickly because that engagement period was when you figured out how much you really loved the person and whether or not you wanted to go through with the marriage. Today everything is so drawn out...dating for YEARS before getting engaged, having extended engagement periods in order to plan the 'perfect dream wedding', and then getting married only because your bored. or "it was the right thing to do". Why not get married and take the plunge because you know how much you love that person and couldn't bare to see them with someone else! Maybe, just maybe, romance is still alive and making a comeback. That's the way I am going to look at it!
Since we're on the subject weddings, checkout 2 of my favorite photographers in the local area who do weddings and take AMAZING pictures and some other helpful wedding websites:
Thanks for the mention, Mindy! You're the best!
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