Decision

Extreme

Benchmark Period

Extreme

1. Age when married

Teenage elopement

21-27

No marriage or marriage in mid-40s

2. Length of courtship

Love at first sight-10 days

6 months-1 year

5 years of going steady of living together

3. Length of engagement

Eloping right after decision to get married

3-6 months

Many years of putting it off

4. Time to birth of first child

Pregnancy before marriage

2-3 years

Childless for whatever reasons

5. Time between separation and divorce

Attempt to hasten legal limits

1-2 years after legal limits

Never separated/divorced ('til death do us part), but withdrawal from mate and/or promiscuity with others

6. Time between separation from one mate and going steady with future mate

Affair with future mate

2-4 years

Same as example 5

7. Time between divorce and remarriage

Same as examples 5 and 6.

2-5 years

Same as example 5