Fifty years ago, it was normal — no, expected — for people to get married by their early 20s.
In 1962, for example, the average age for first marriages was 22 for American men and 20 for women, according to the U.S. Census.
Now, people who get married before age 25 are statistical outliers. In 2011, the average age for American men to get married for the first time was nearly 29. For women, it was 26.
Now, let’s pivot from raw numbers to real people.
Kendra Stickford, 21, and Andrew Donahoo, 22, of Chattanooga, are engaged to be married in October. They are aware that some people think they’re too young. They know this because those people are eager to tell them. (Tellingly, close family members think it’s great.)