The Magic Number
Experts swear couples have the best odds  of making it for the long haul if they wait until 25 to get hitched. And at 29  (JB) and 30 (JT), these two are in a great position to have a happy, stable  marriage. There are practical reasons for the mid-20s dividing line, and most of  them boil down to two biggies: education and money. Turns out, the more years of  higher education a woman has under her belt on her wedding day, the lower the  chances that she’ll get divorced…and by 25, you’re more likely to have earned a  degree or two. “Educated women tend to be more confident about who they are and  less willing to settle for a man who doesn’t meet their standards,” explains Terri Orbuch, PhD, author of Five Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good to Great.

Odds are that by 25 you’re also supporting yourself, so there’s less  incentive for you to rush into marriage because you’re seeking financial  security from him.

But the marriage-related benefits of working and having money of your own go  beyond feeling secure, says Pepper Schwartz, PhD, author of Finding Your  Perfect Match. Learning to budget your cash carefully when you’re single  will help you avoid financial problems—one of the main causes of couple  fights—for the rest of your life. And juggling responsibilities, dealing with  differing personalities, and resolving conflicts on the job force you to develop skills that are necessary for maintaining long-term love.

Knowing the Real You
At 25, you’ve had time for some crucial life experiences, including a relationship or two that may have  improved your Mr. Right radar. Jessica, for example, was linked to Captain  America star Chris Evans and Derek Jeter before she started dating Justin.  “You’ve probably dated enough to have a better idea of what you don’t want in a  man, which makes it easier to know what you can live with and can’t live  without,” says Orbuch.

Perhaps the most important aspect of waiting is that you’ll know what your  goals and values really are, says Paul Coleman, PsyD, author of The Complete  Idiot’s Guide to Intimacy. While you don’t want to marry someone just like  you, marriage is a lot easier if you two share a similar outlook on life.

Twenty-four and already married to the man of your dreams? Don’t worry: Many  young marriages survive. But given the choice, you might consider putting off  the big day until your mid-20s or later.