Woman marries 18-year-old in record-breaking wedding with 78-year age gap

Official marriage statistics record a 96-year-old woman marrying an 18-year-old man in Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo, Mexico, in 2025 – with a 78-year age gap between the two.

A 96-year-old woman has shattered matrimonial records after walking down the aisle with a teenager nearly 80 years younger than her. The unnamed bride wed an 18-year-old groom in what’s believed to be Mexico’s most extreme age-gap marriage – an eye-watering 78-year difference.

The nuptials took place in Quintana Roo, a state on the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico – the same region that houses Cancún, a beloved holiday hotspot for Brits.

The union emerged in Marriage Statistics (EMAT) from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), though due to the official nature of these records, few other details about the wedding are available.

However, the Othón P. Blanco municipality ceremony wasn’t the only remarkable age-gap marriage to occur in Mexico in 2025. Taking second place was a comparable ceremony in Morelia, Michoacán, which narrowly missed claiming the top spot.

At this celebration, the bride was 96 while the groom was 19, creating a 77-year age divide. Third place went to a wedding in Xicoténcatl, Tamaulipas, with roles reversed – the groom aged 90 and the bride 18, marking a 72-year age difference. EMAT data is gathered from records submitted by civil registry offices.

This follows revelations from a 61-year-old woman in a relationship with a 35-year-old man, who disclosed the surprising secret behind their partnership.

Sundari, a mother to two sons aged 29 and 33, encountered Maxi at a cacao ceremony. Sundari and Maxi, both hailing from Argentina, maintain separate homes and only reunite at weekends, though this arrangement appears to suit them perfectly.

She explained: “Plans might come up during the week, but we mostly see each other at the weekends.

“I like it this way. I like having my own time. I was married and lived with my partner for 20 years. I’ve never lived with anyone since, and I love having a boyfriend.”

She continued: “On Saturdays, Maxi comes round and stays with us until Monday. During the week, we send each other lots of little love messages in the morning and before bed. We’re very respectful of each other’s time. It’s lovely to see each other again at the weekend.”

Back in July, research involving 2,000 adults revealed that 71 per cent aren’t bothered by a considerable age difference in relationships, as long as both parties share similar maturity levels and relationship goals.

Even substantial age gaps spanning 10 to 20 years were deemed acceptable by more than half of those surveyed. The study also uncovered that one in five would actually favour dating someone older: 32 per cent of women and 8 per cent of men.

Blokes were more inclined to seek younger partners (33 per cent) rather than someone their own age. Lee Mason, vice president of Scripted, Disney + EMEA, commented: “Our research highlights just how complex relationships are, and how easy it is to rely on assumptions until we’re faced with real situations.

“While people may have concerns about age-gap relationships or pass judgement, it’s fascinating to see how many would consider being in one and how people are ultimately focused on shared values, life goals and emotional compatibility.”