Yes, I am 18.
Yes, I am engaged.
And yes, I will be getting married at 19-years-old.
No, my life is not over.
No, this does not mean I am going to miss out on anything either, other then the things I WANT to miss out on. Partying, drinking, messing around with multiples of the opposite sex isn't appealing to me.
I met my significant other years ago, and he has always been my best friend. I spend my weeknights working then coming home to watch movies and eat Chinese takeout with my fiancé. I am sure you will be totally shocked to hear that on my weekends I don't sit home alone doing nothing because I should be sad that my "young life is over" because I am getting married, we have friends who come over all the time! Not that I need to explain myself to anybody.
If you're a young couple like us who have been together for years and are getting ready to not only tie the knot but to also hear a lot of comments like "are you sure?," "But this is the best time of your life!," and my favorite "there is so many fish in the sea are you sure this is your best catch?"
Well, the answer is yes this is my best catch. This is the man I want to be with for the rest of my life. He has been by my side since I was 14-years-old, he has seen me grow from a goofy young girl to a woman that he shares a home and various pets with. He has been the one to stand beside me through all of the good and bad, the happy and the sad. This guy has completely taken over a role in my life and proven to me that he loves me in so many ways, and believe me I am not easy to love. When I am down he knows how to bring me up, whether it's playing a video game, going to get taco bell, or letting me pick what we watch on Netflix.
Many years ago it was normal to get married at this age, even younger! In my eyes, age does not matter. If you are in love and know that you can stay committed and want to be faithful to this person for the rest of your life, then what is stopping you? Not every 19-year-old wants to go out and get drunk and party, some people like myself actually would rather NOT do that.
Most adults won't take me seriously. Getting married is a joke at my age because apparently, it can't possibly last! If you feel this way about young marriage please hear me out.
However old you are does not measure much you can love somebody and just know they are the person for you. My fiancé is a great man who goes to work and pays our bills and treats me well. We can laugh and play games like children, while affording a home and all of the things we have for amusement.
Some days I wake up cranky for no reason, some days I wake up sad and vulnerable, and some days I just want somebody to talk to. And on each and every one of those days it is him, he is always there when I wake up or when I go to sleep.
I am 18, I will be married at 19. I can first hand tell you waiting 10 more years to get married would not magically make me love him more than I already do, and just because your elopement at 18 didn't work out doesn't mean my marriage won't.
Yes I am young, yes I do love cleaning the house and making my soon-to-be husband dinner, I also love that I have my family's support. Marriage is a beautiful thing. It represents love, trust, and faith.
I have faith that our love is strong enough to last. Whether we are 19 or 90.