The young getting married

GoodNewmover

The minimum legal age for getting married is 16 years old. Would you allow, accept your child to get married at that age? Has it happened to you or someone you know?

McKneff

Two of my brothers got married at 16, divorced before 20

I was married at 18, still going strong 42 years later.

But 16 is far too young for the majority

Counting_Pennies_2

I don't think you could refuse.

GoodNewmover

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I don't think you could refuse.

Hmm, would you advice him/her to leave it until they were say 18?

LillythePink

I would refuse definately.

It can be hard being married at any age but at least being older you have more life experience.

Anyway - what would you toast the happy couple with...lemonade???

Whilst I don't think that the law should be changed to 18, 16 is too young to make a sensible informed decision - it's bad enough that there are mothers that are that age or younger - it's just sad really.

Chakani

I don't know anyone whose relationship has survived from the age of 16, I know several who got together at 18 and are still together, and many more who met in their early twenties who are still happily together. On that basis alone I would ask them to wait a couple of years, as people change so much so quickly at that age, I would rather they wait to see how they both change before making a permanent commitment.

littlerat

I think there shouldn't be a period whee "if parents agree" - if the parents say no and they break up due to it, they're probably going to be blamed. If they say yes and new hubby/wife cheats or thy get a divorce, parents will probably be blamed. Not fair on anybody.

I don't really care what the age is, some people will be able to commit at 16, others will do it far too spontaneously at twice that age. Age and maturity have a casual link at best.

I'd probably say no, but I hope by the time I have kids if ever, there'd be no such choice to make!

Julie67

I was 15 when I met my husband he was 21. I knew straight away he was the one and we married at 18. 4 children and 25yrs later still love each other to bits. I do realise this is quite rare but it does work sometimes.

angelicmary85

My parents mother got married 3 weeks after my mother's 16th birthday. They are still together after 27 years.

thatgirlsam

my ex-inlaws got together age 14 and they are still very happily married 50 years later

i would struggle to be happy if my dd wanted to get married aged 16

i think i would ask/encourage/beg her to wait untill she was 18 at least

i know the travelling community tend to get married very young, i think the majority stay together too

GobbledyGook

I would advise what I thought, but I think that seriously objecting or trying to "not allow" would destroy my relationship with my child forever so if they were utterly determined to do it then they would have my support.

I think it's a similar situation to how would you handle your child marrying someone you really, really couldn't stand? Or someone who you felt would let them down or hurt them? You either have to support them 100% and be there to pick up the pieces or you speak up and risk alienating them forever.