The long-term decline in marriage rates is likely due to the fact that more men and women are delaying marriage or that couples are choosing to live together instead
Figures show that fewer of the different sexes are choosing to get married in Northamptonshire.
The data from the Office of National Statistics shows that 2,944 couples of different sexes tied the knot in the region in 2018 – the latest data available.
That was 71 fewer than the year before.
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Across England and Wales, there were 227,870 straight marriages recorded in 2018 – the lowest number since 226,449 in 1894.
That was 20.1 marriages per 1,000 unmarried men and 18.6 per 1,000 unmarried women – the lowest figure since 1862.
However, a new record is expected to be set when marriage registration numbers are released for 2020, when weddings were prevented during the strictest period of coronavirus restrictions.
The ONS said the long-term decline in marriage rates in 2018 was likely due to more men and women delaying marriage or couples choosing to be cohabitant instead.
Kanak Ghosh of the ONS ‘Major Statistics Division said, “Despite this overall decline, more and more people are choosing to get married at an older age, particularly those 65 and over.
“This is the fifth year since same-sex marriages have been possible, and about one in 35 marriages is now with same-sex couples.”
In 2018, Northamptonshire also saw 71 same-sex marriages – 21 marriages by male couples and 50 by female couples.
Alice Rogers, a senior executive at Hall Brown Family Law, said the nationwide decline in heterosexual marriages highlighted a change in attitudes among couples.
She added, “The increase in cohabitation makes it clear that men and women still develop solid relationships but do not have the need for the formalities and costs associated with marriage.
“Couples are now placing more emphasis on investing the sums they may have spent on their wedding day to deposit a house deposit instead.
“The fact that the decline in the number of marriages predates the Covid pandemic would suggest that we will see an even bigger decline because people would not be able to get married at all.”
But Harry Benson, director of research at the Marriage Foundation charity, said the decline needs to be seen in context.
He said, “The divorce rate is at its lowest level in 30 years, suggesting that those who get married are much more likely to stick together.”
Figures do not include marriages of English and Welsh residents abroad, although they do include marriages between non-residents in England and Wales.
The ONS estimates that 94,000 UK residents went abroad to get married in 2018, while an estimated 13,000 foreign residents got married in the UK.