Married…As Children

It’s all good to play wedding as a kid—you know, put on the pillowcase as a veil and hum “Here Comes the Bride.” But no one wants children to plan a real wedding—except in Arkansas.

No backwoods jokes, please. The state meant to prevent teen marriage with a bill passed last year, but inadvertently created language that repealed the minimum age to marry altogether. According to the Associated Press, the law read “In order for a person who is younger than eighteen (18) years of age and who is not pregnant to obtain a marriage license, the person must provide the county clerk with evidence of parental consent to the marriage.”  Apparently, that made it OK for anyone who wasn’t pregnant to go ahead and tie the knot, regardless of age.

Thankfully, legislators have reinstated the minimum age for marriage—17 for boys, 16 for girls—and parents of toddlers in Arkansas can once again rest easy. At least for a few more years! [Associated Press]