These are just some of the reasons the average age at first marriage has been rising for several decades and now hovers around 27 for women and 29 for men.

CNN: Women, don't marry young

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated median age at first marriage in 2011 was 28.7 for men and 26.5 for women, compared with 26.8 and 25.1, respectively, in 2000.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Many factors contribute to a stable marriage, including the marital status of your spouse's parents (folks with divorced parents are significantly more likely to get divorced themselves), age at first marriage, race, religious beliefs and socio-economic status.

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In the past half century, the median age for first marriage has risen by about six years for both sexes, with grooms taking their first plunge at 28.7 years and brides at 26.5 years.

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