Social changes
The past 30 years have seen a sharp increase in the number of couples that decide to live together before marriage, if they marry at all. Cohabitation is now seen as an alternative way of living together; gone are the days when such couples were regarded as living in sin.
Divorce horror stories
The news headlines over the past few years have been punctuated by stories of bitter divorces and costly divorce settlements. It is therefore unsurprising that people in general are put off by the idea of tying the knot; after all, who wants to be the next Heather Mills and Paul McCartney?
Cost
With the average cost of a wedding now in excess of £15,000 it is understandable that more and more people are opting out of married life. Such costs are astronomical in themselves, but when judged in the context of high property prices and the generally high cost of living these days, they act as a real barrier to marriage.
Social mobility
Society is far more dynamic today than in the past. As a result, there are more opportunities to meet new people and form new relationships; why get hitched when the grass is, supposedly, always greener?
But……
Faced with such doom and gloom, it’s easy to lose sight of the positive aspects to marriage: statistically speaking, it is still the most stable way for two people to share and build a life together, which is particularly important if they have children. Happily married couples also tend to healthier and financially more secure, which is probably due to the increased stability that the institution brings.
There is no need to spend a fortune on your wedding day. Yes it’s nice to put on a party for your family and friends and be the centre of attention for the day, but is it worth not getting married if you can’t afford to do so? Your family and friends will be just as happy for you if you have a more modest wedding.
If the relationship does break down, the law is available to help re-establish both the husband and wife in their new lives through the wide ranging financial orders available to the courts on divorce; cohabiting couples don’t have the same level of protection as married couples and are unlikely to do so for many years to come.
If the prospect of divorce is putting you off, it is important to remember that even with a high divorce rate, more marriages last than end in divorce. If you’re still not convinced, consider having a pre-nuptial agreement drawn up to help limit the financial impact if you do get divorced. So if you’re planning on getting married any time soon, don’t be put off by the headlines. There’s every reason to think that it will be the best thing you will ever do.