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Marriage rate lowest ever

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Wedding rings

We might all love leafing through bridal magazines (shh, we know you do, too), but marriage rates are dropping at an alarming degree and currently stand at the lowest rate since records began.

According to statistics released yesterday, the number of men and women tying the knot is at the lowest level since 1862 – the year the figure was first calculated.

In 2006, the marriage rate for men was just 22.8 per 1,000 and for women it was just 20.5. The actual number of marriages? 236,980. There hasn't been a year with fewer in England and Wales since 1895.

In fact, the only thing on the up is the age at which we marry, with men, on average, getting married for the first time at 31.8 and women at 29.7-years-old.

'According to recent official data, two thirds of the population now feel that there is little difference socially between living together and being married,' Claire Tyler from Relate tells The Times.

'We are also finding that those who marry today tend to be older and wealthier. It seems that society is separating along socio-economic lines and the common experience of marriage no longer exists in the way it used to.'

Still believe in love? Click here for our 10 Best Celebrity Weddings.

Alternatively, if you are getting hitched this year, get inspiration with our wedding directory and our 10 Best Bridesmaid Dresses.

Thursday 27 March 2008

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I think the main difference is that when married you tend to fight for your relationship a little harder, giving more patience and time to your partner as a divorve is a messy and expensive thing to go through. Hence a reason why it may be avoided no-one knows if its going to work 5,10, or 20 years later so just stay 'safe' and easily escapable. But i do see the flipside too, do you need to prove and show your love and commitment to each other through a very very expensive wedding... looking back i could have used that money to put a bigger deposit on the house; but then again if you do love each other why not celebrate, after all you love each other today and for the foreseeable future. No ones perfect, and theres no right answer, but everyone loves a wedding!
:)
Comment by Em on March 28 11:55