Feeling Anxious about Matrimonials at 22 - Need Advice

I’m hoping to hear from people who got married through matrimonial arrangements.

I’m 22 (turning 23 this year), the eldest child, and my parents have recently started looking into matrimonials for me. I understand they’re probably just trying to learn the process early, but the whole idea makes me feel very anxious.

I’ve never seriously dated and honestly don’t even want to find a boyfriend on my own, so I feel stuck between not being ready and my parents wanting to plan ahead.

One of my biggest concerns is age difference. I’d be comfortable with someone about 3–4 years older, but my parents keep saying men only “settle down” around 29. Then they say weddings take at least a year to plan, and I’d want at least a year to get to know someone before marrying. So they’re talking about finding someone now so I can marry at 25–26.

If the groom is already 29–30 now, he’d be 32–33 when we marry, and that makes me icky. It feels like I’m giving my mid-20s to someone already in their mid-30s. I know age gaps can work, but emotionally I’m struggling with it.

I feel torn between respecting my parents’ wishes and listening to my own comfort level, and I don’t know how to find a middle ground.

For people who went through matrimonials:

• How old were you when your parents started looking?
• What age difference did you expect vs. what actually happened?
• Did the age gap matter in your marriage?
• Any advice on handling conversations with parents about this?