IT’S NEVER TOO LATE – HERE’S HOW OLD THE OLDEST GROOM IN BANJA LUKA IS

In the city on the Vrbas River, 892 marriages were registered last year, and the oldest groom to “tie the knot” was an impressive 85 years old.

The numbers speak for themselves:

A total of 892 marriages were concluded in Banja Luka last year.

The oldest groom was 85, while the youngest was 18.

By law, marriage is allowed from the age of 18, with an exception from 16 with court approval.

These figures come from the Banja Luka City Administration, which told Nezavisne novine that there were no wedding cancellations, only date changes.

The Oldest Groom Was 85

The oldest groom was born in 1940, and the youngest in 2007. The oldest bride was born in 1953, while the youngest was also born in 2007, officials said.

Among last year’s weddings, one attracted special attention when the groom wrote “astronaut” in the occupation field.

The groom, Savo Babić, decided to list that profession without much thought.

“I asked the registrar if I could write anything. They said yes, and ‘astronaut’ was the first thing that came to mind,” Babić told Nezavisne novine.

So this “space pioneer” landed straight at the altar, where his chosen one, pediatric nurse Mirela Galić, was waiting.

What Does the Law Say?

According to the law, marriage is concluded by two persons of the opposite sex through freely expressed consent before a competent local authority.

Based on the application and submitted documents, the registrar checks whether the legal conditions for concluding a valid marriage are met.

If the requirements are not fulfilled, the registrar informs the applicants verbally and records the decision officially.

The law also states that a person under 18 cannot marry.

For justified reasons, a court may allow a minor older than 16 to marry, if it determines that the person is physically and mentally capable of exercising the rights and duties arising from marriage.

Vasić: Marriage Is Not Disappearing, It’s Transforming

Sociologist Vladimir Vasić told Nezavisne novine that these numbers show that, despite economic insecurity, migration, and demographic decline, marriage remains an important form of emotional and social security.

“It’s especially indicative that we have both very young and very old newlyweds. This points to a polarization of life strategies: some enter marriage early seeking stability, while others formalize partnerships later in life, often out of a need for closeness and support,” he said.

He adds that, sociologically, this reflects a society in transition where traditional values collide with modern living conditions.

“Marriage is not disappearing — it is transforming, adapting to new economic and cultural realities,” Vasić concluded.