Key Points
- In Australia, there was a steady trend from the mid-1970s until 2018 for the age of people getting married for the first time. In 2020 the median age of men was 30.6 years, and women was 29.2 years.
- Couple Jesse and Gayle Davie may come from two different culture but with the right mindset and commitment, they've planned to raise a biracial family.
- For biracial couples like the Davie's, it's important to accept and appreciate each partner's culture to stregthen relationships.
Unconventional
Queensland couple Jesse and Gayle Davie got married at the age of 21 and 23 respectively.
Their age may be considered way younger from the average age Australians are getting married, but both their families gave their blessing for their marital union.
According to a research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, there was an upward trend on the average age of Australians getting married for the first time from the mid-1970s and 2018. In 2020 the median age of men was 30.6 years, and women 29.2 years.
Couple Jesse and Gayle met in Manila while they were both missionaries for one of the Christian churches in the Philippines.
Jesse just graduated from High School then, while Gayle was in university studying dentistry.
"We're batchmates but from different classes so we don't really mingle that much, it just so happen that our classrooms were just next to each other," Mrs Davie shares.
"It was a forgettable thing except for one time that I really remember.
"Jesse truly loves attention and there's this one time during lunch time, I was staring off into space and he suddenly grabbed my attention with his cheeky comments."
Beyond their differences in culture and young age, Jesse and Gayle, who first met as missionaries, were certain they were ready to commit to a lifetime of relationship. Credit: Supplied by Jesse Davie
It is only after their missions ended and Jesse went back to Australia that the two admitted their feelings towards each other. They officially became boyfriend and girlfriend on September 24, 2018 and a year after they got married.
Beyond culture
"It was cultural in our Church, that if you like someone and you have the same feelings, then you can get married the soonest possible time," paralegal Jesse Davie points out.
Jesse admits that although they have church members who had long courtship or engagement, "we knew it was right for us to get married straight away. We had spiritual experiences that we have gone through."
Gayle adds "both our parents are very supportive and understanding of us especially my own parents who also had a whirlwind relationship."
"My dad never asked my mum to be his girlfriend. His first question to my mum was for her to be his wife straightaway," Gayle reveals.
The Davie's supportive family was a big factor in their decision to marry.
"I was not afraid to take that leap of faith to marry at a young age, as long as you both have plans and you will take responsibility for it," Gayle firmly believes.
Jesse and Gayle may have two different cultures but with the right mindset and commitment, they've planned to raise a biracial family.
"We want to raise our son in a mix culture. We want him to know both his parent's Filipino and Australian ways." Credit: Supplied by Jesse Davie
Raising a biracial family
Two months prior to Jesse and Gayle celebrating their first wedding anniversary, Mrs Davie gave birth to their first child.
And almost three years on, the couple has planned to raise their child in a mix culture.
It's an easy decision the two had agreed on with Jesse's immersion to the Filipino culture after couple of years living in the Philippines, his awareness and appreciation of his wife's ways and tradition help a lot.
"We want our child to learn both our culture. At the moment, we would usually bring him to Filipino festivals and events just so he's aware of his mum's culture," Gayle says.
Mr Davie agrees, adding that "there's a lot in the Filipino culture that I truly appreciate. The respectful ways of children towards their parents."
"While for some things that we might disagree on, it's very important to talk about it and compromise," Jesse vocalises.
The Davie's value the importance of learning about their partner's culture to strengthen their relationship.
