Warning: This post contains mentions of pregnancy loss.
Here’s what they had to say:
1.
“We met when we were just about to enter high school.
We didn’t start dating until we were 19.
We were our firsts as in first dates, first everything.
It’s been a long and sometimes bumpy road.
We got married at 24.
We’re now 68.
We’ve been married for almost 44 years.
It’s been tough, but I’d do it all again.”
u/sbguiney
2.
“Met him when I was 17, and he was 22.
On the other hand, when it ends, you grieve for the life you had planned out.”
“I don’t think I’d encourage my daughter to marry her first partner.
I’d want her to explore the world first.”
haribohannah91
3.
“I met my now-husband in grade 7.
He asked me to prom on MSN Messenger (circa year 2000).
We started dating just after grade 12 finished.
We have two kids later and have been together 24 years.”
u/redpepper83
4.
“I didn’t date in high school.
I met my husband through mutual friends when we were 21.
He asked me out, and I initially told him no, too.
I expected him to ruin the friendship like past guys, but he didn’t.
He accepted the ‘no’ and continued to be my friend he actually valued me and our friendship.”
We dated for two years and have been married for six."
weindrasi
5.
“We met teaching at the same high school when I was 23, and he was 29.
I’m currently waiting for my divorce decree to arrive in the mail.
I’m 30.”
moderndaisy76
6.
“My husband is the only person I ever dated.
He was my first for everything.
We met online, did long distance, and married in a year.
This timeline (understandably) sounds wild to some.
But for context, I was 24, and he was 27.
We were ready.”
jcismybestfriend
7.
“I met my husband during our first year of college.
He was my first boyfriend, but I wasn’t his first girlfriend.
We dated for a year, then broke up.
Still stupidly happy.”
sparklyshark64
8.
“Married my high school sweetheart at 19, we started dating at 16.
There have been ups and downs, but the main thing is we never give up on each other.
When you get married that young, you change, and your partner changes.”
We all have so much fun together and are such a tight group!
37, Minnesota
9.
“I met him when I was 19 while interning in Florida.
Ultimately, I moved from my home in California to his hometown in Tennessee.
We got married when I was 23 years old.
We were essentially growing up together.
He was a great support to me when I had an injury that took me away from work.
Then came the miscarriages.
Apparently, I don’t date; I marry.”
quirkyhawk21
10.
“We met in 1992, and I moved in with him after a month of dating.
We got married in 2004, and while it was rough, including a three-year trial separation.
He’s the best, and I love him.”
smellytortoise841
11.
“I was extremely naive growing up, and I didn’t really date in high school.
When I was 19 and in college, I met my current spouse.
His family was toxic, so we spent a lot of time alone or with my family.
I flunked out of college.
My parents were tired of footing the bill for us, so we struggled to make it ourselves.
He’s immature and used to being micromanaged by his abusive mother.
It took quite a while for him to grow up.
He got a great job and insurance for the first time.
Fifteen years into our relationship, he was diagnosed with a serious disease.”
“After HUGE health setbacks, we moved back in with my family.
I don’t know if I’m still in love.
Being a full-time caregiver is exhausting and thankless.
46, Michigan
12.
“We’ve been married 15 years, and I hope we’re just getting started.
We have grown up together in some ways, and I see how that has made married life easier.
So we started choosing one another early and are still doing it today.
Whether or not I feel ‘in love’ doesn’t impact whether we act lovingly towards one another.”
I can’t imagine a sweeter life.”
36, Texas
13.
He truly was my first and only love.
We endured pregnancy losses, grief, and stress, but we finally had a wonderful rainbow baby.
Just before they turned 2, he abruptly walked out and refused counseling.
But I dont regret it; our child is my world."
Anonymous, Canada
14.
“We got together when we were 15.
We were married for seven and a half years and together for 17.5 years.
Thought we were happy.
The problem with getting together so young is you haven’t finished becoming you.
I learned last year that my husband was cheating on me and was a narcissist (legitimately).
I was controlled and gaslighted for years.
There was serious red flags from very early on I accepted as I didn’t know any better.”
0sureal
15.
“I married my first boyfriend.
We met when I was 20 at a community concert in the park.
We dated for two years before we were engaged and were married while I was still in college.
He made me feel seen, safe, and cherished.
He took feedback better than most people I knew, and he was thoughtful and kind.
It’s why I felt confident in marrying him.
36, California
16.
So, I’m stuck with this miserable turd.”
51, Wyoming
17.
“We were married at 19 and 20, and we had 55 wonderful years.
He was my one and only love.
We also had two wonderful sons and now have five grandchildren.”
74, Anonymous
18.
“I have been married to my first and only boyfriend for 21 years next month.
It’s been hard, of course, but it’s also been the best adventure.
But we got to do that growing and learning together, thankfully!
We are both better people today because of what we have been through together.
One of my only pieces of marriage advice is to communicate.”
Having that rock to lean on and being his rock has been a blessing.
It blows my mind that I get to spend all my time with my best friend."
crunchysunflower21
And finally…
19.
“Does it count if you dated other people afterwards but married the first one?
We broke up because I didn’t want to be his little Alabama barefoot housewife.
We did our own thing, but he waited to marry me.
We were made for each other.
It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
All the relationship issues we had with other people don’t exist in our marriage.”
“We’re the kind of happy that’s annoying but still real.
38, Alabama
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
