What are you waiting for to get married? The dreaded question asked at every holiday gathering followed by a story about your cousin who got married six months after meeting her husband because, "That man knew what he wanted."

The truth is, I don't know the answer to this question.

The yesteryear hope of being married by 30 is no longer prevalent in today's society. David Gibson, writer for Marriage Today, points out that an increasing proportion of young adults had not married yet and sited many benefits to marrying later in life (2021). Individuals who marry after 30 are more likely to be financially stable and more mature. More importantly, they are staying together longer. The 2018 U.S Census Bureau listed 28 as the average age for marriage among women and 30 for men.

So why are singles 35 and up being treated like used tires? How late is "late is late in life?" Is 35 beyond the threshold?

I attended a wedding over the weekend where the bride was 39 and the groom was 41. The couple seemed happy to have finally found love, however the bride quickly addressed her age in her vows by grimacing over the fact that it had taken her 39 years to find a husband. I immediately wondered what made her mention this point on what should be deemed as the happiest day of her life. How many times after her 35th birthday had she been asked, "What are you waiting for to get married?" She seemed to put the question to rest for the last time for anyone who was still wondering.

The pressure from society to fit into their chaotic box of norms may have relaxed a bit but not enough for anyone to comfortably live outside the box beyond ostracization. Individuals should be focused on marrying when it feels right, not because they're past the desired age. Some may argue that the dating pool starts to dry up as you get older. I disagree, I think you're more likely to find a mature mate who is serious about pursuing a healthy relationship but what do I know? I'm 36 and still not married.