Almost all of my pals got married before we were old enough to rent a car. They somehow locked lips with the guy or woman of their dreams and then made a pinky promise to each other that they would spend the rest of their lives with… no matter what. But by my 25th birthday, I was on my eighth dating app of the month, looking for a guy who didn’t make me roll my eyes before the dinner rolls were even served.

In less than a year and a half, I will be thirty. I’m writing this while staring down at my left hand. It only has one ring on it, which I purchased for myself at Forever 21 last month. I’m about as far from walking down the aisle as a bride as most Millennials are from cashing out their 401(k). I’m also irritated when people tell me, both directly and indirectly, that I missed my chance at marriage.

People will try to tell me that I should have spent more time in college hunting for Mr. Right rather than the cafeteria’s free ice cream machine. Some of my young, married acquaintances advise me to abandon some of my lofty career goals and instead devote that energy to serial dating until I find the right guy. Most recently, a lady I sat next to on a plane flight back to my parent’s residence in Boca Raton, Florida, informed me that I could easily pass for a 24-year-old woman and that I should lie about my age on dating profiles.

Lie about my age? I am only 28. Let’s not let the tiny creases on my forehead fool you. That’s why I decided to get some professional counsel. I wasn’t prepared to see a therapist since I knew they’d tell me to quit moaning and start dating. I wasn’t prepared for a matchmaker because I was afraid they’d tell me I needed to take a spaceship to Mars to meet my ideal match.

So instead, I spoke with three relationship experts and a psychic medium. They all basically said the same thing: I still have a shot. The good news is that they all agreed that the optimal time to marry is in your late twenties or early thirties. It appears that I am in my prime period to hear wedding bells any day now, correct? The optimal time to get married is in your late twenties and early thirties. Well, I still need to find the proper individual. But before then, here’s why the ages between 28 and 32 are the finest times in your life to say “I do:”

1. You’ve already experienced growing pains. The ideal wedding age ranges from late 20s to early 30s. Getting married too young is a bit risky. Someone may still have a lot of maturing to do. Marni Feuerman, a registered couples therapist in Boca Raton, Florida, believes that as people age, they tend to make better decisions in all aspects of their lives.

2. You understand what you desire. According to statistics compiled by Nick Wolfinger [Editor’s note: Nick Wolfinger is a Professor of Family and Consumer Studies and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the University of Utah], the best time to marry is between the ages of 28 and 32 for those hoping to have a long-term marriage. Individuals in this age group have identified themselves and what they desire, both personally and professionally.

At this period, the woman’s body is fertile for individuals hoping to conceive and start a family. Sarah Lisovich is a content strategist at CIA Medical. 3. It is inscribed in the stars. Astrology suggests that the ideal age is 29 years or older. The Saturn Return influences this year of maturity. When Saturn returns to our lives and completes a full cycle around our natal chart, it will link with Saturn’s natal planet 29 years after birth.

Saturn Returns are watershed moments that can indicate marriage, the birth of a child, a shift in career, or a change in residency. It is seen as the transition that brings about full maturity. Most people who marry before their Saturn Return eventually divorce, as they mature and outgrow their mate. – Amira Celon, relationship expert and psychic medium.

4. Do the math. There have been multiple studies on this, and it is actually easier to rule out certain ages. Men can usually rule out two to three years following a life-changing incident. For example, after graduating from college, most males will not consider marriage or even a serious relationship for at least two to three years. The same is true for personal bankruptcy, divorce, and a big work relocation.

So, while we can claim that the optimal age for marriage is ‘x,’ there are several mitigating circumstances that people must consider. If ‘x’ is 27, but the person has recently completed their MBA and is joining the corporate world, they will be extremely focused on their profession for at least two to three years. – Phillip Petree, the author of “The Man Puzzle: A Guide to Understanding Men”