There are no hard-and-fast rules governing the ideal age spread between married couples. A great deal depends on the two people involved. This is the kind of thing that almost always has to be determined on a case-by-case basis. What other people think is not important. While there are unique factors that ought to be considered, such as what challenges you may face later in life, essentially it all comes down to your compatibility as a couple.

What we can tell you is that, in our opinion, it's always a good idea for couples who are dating seriously to get counseling before they start thinking too much about engagement or marriage. If you and your girlfriend have been dating for at least six months, and if the two of you feel strongly that you would like to spend the rest of your lives together, we'd urge you to find a good marriage-and-family therapist and set up a series of counseling sessions. That would be the best way to get the specific answers you're looking for. Call us. Our Counseling department would be happy to discuss the options with you and provide a list of qualified counselors in your area.

The counseling process should include a personality test such as the PREPARE/ENRICH Premarital Inventory. You can find a sample test online: prepare-enrich.com.

You'll need to invest a certain amount of time and money in the process, but if you think about it you'll have to agree that it's worth spending a few months in pre-engagement counseling to make sure that your relationship is really marriage material. Doing so could save you a great deal of heartache later on.

Resources
Boundaries in Dating

When Love's in View: Finding Focus in Dating and Relationships

101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged

Finding the Right One for You: Secrets to Recognizing Your Perfect Mate

The Sacred Search: What If It's Not About Who You Marry, But Why?

The Search for a Godly Spouse

You're How Old?

Referrals
PREPARE/ENRICH

Boundless

Articles
Searching for a 'Sole' Mate

Red Flags in a Relationship