I got married to my soulmate in 2019 when I was just 24 years old. By today’s standards, that’s considered pretty young — and trust me, people haven’t been shy about reminding me. For every handful of kind, supportive comments we’ve received, there have been twice as many surprised reactions and curious questions.
Some people are genuinely happy for us, while others can’t quite wrap their heads around the idea of committing so early. That’s why I wanted to write this post, to share my thoughts on marrying young, why we made that decision, and whether we still stand by it now.
Our Relationship
To understand our story, you need a little background. My husband and I met at work when we were both 19 years old. At the time, it was my second serious relationship, but it was his first — and honestly, from the very beginning, things just felt easy.
We started out casually, both still living with our parents, but it didn’t take long for things to get serious. After about three months of dating, he was unofficially moved in — meaning he was at my place so often that one day, we just realised half his wardrobe was already there. From then on, we’ve never looked back.
We’ve always had a calm, stable relationship. No screaming matches, no big drama — just two people who genuinely enjoy being together. When I look around at some of our friends’ relationships, I realise how lucky we are that ours has always been so steady.
The Proposal
After seven years together, my now-husband proposed to me in our favourite place in the world — Florence, Italy. It was perfect. I don’t even think I let him finish his sentence before I said yes. It made me so excited for what our wedding and future could look like.
Even though I don’t necessarily believe in all the traditional aspects of marriage, I do think there’s something really special about loving someone so deeply that you want to make that commitment in front of everyone you care about.
We both come from big families, so we knew any wedding would naturally turn into a huge celebration. We started making plans slowly, wanting to enjoy the engagement and not rush into anything. But then life, as it does, had other ideas.
Where Things Went Wrong — and Then Right
The year after we got engaged was incredibly tough. Our relationship remained strong, but everything around us seemed to fall apart. One of our closest friends was killed in a car accident. My husband’s dad was diagnosed with cancer. My grandfather — who was also my best friend — passed away suddenly, and not long after, my nan was diagnosed with two different forms of cancer while she was still grieving.
It was one of those years that tests you to your core. Through all of it, the one constant we had was each other. We became even closer. Stronger. After attending our friend’s funeral and seeing the rawness of grief, my husband took my hand and said, “Let’s just do it. Let’s get married. Life is too short.” And three months later, we did.
Setting the Date
When we told our families, they were overjoyed. They’d seen firsthand how solid our relationship was and how we’d supported each other through everything. They couldn’t have been happier for us.
Our friends, on the other hand — especially my husband’s mates — were a bit more hesitant. I think for guys in their early twenties, marriage feels like a big, scary leap. Some probably worried they were “losing” their friend to married life. But deep down, we knew it wasn’t personal. Once the initial shock wore off, most people saw it for what it was: two people doing what felt right for them.
Was It the Right Decision?
Absolutely. Blissfully happy doesn’t even come close to describing how it’s been. Marriage didn’t really change our relationship — it just strengthened it. It gave us a new sense of stability and unity.
That old saying, “when you know, you know”, might sound cliché, but it’s true. I knew from early on that he was the one, and I have no doubt in my mind that I married my soulmate.
Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a single thing about our decision to get married young. It wasn’t about timelines, pressure, or ticking boxes — it was about love, commitment, and choosing each other every day.
