Is Marriage On The Wain?

[Bobbisox1]

Mixed sex civil partnerships becomes law today, is the traditional wedding becoming less and less ?
Maybe it’s the cost of being married now, the church or registry office, the dress,cake,bridesmaid etc?

[Zacs-Master]

In 2016, there were 249,793 marriages in England and Wales, 1.7% more than in 2015, but 1.0% fewer than in 2014.
97.2% of all marriages were between opposite-sex couples and 2.8% were between same-sex couples.
There were 7,019 marriages between same-sex couples in 2016, an increase of 8.1% from 2015; of these marriages, 55.7% were between female couples.
Marriage rates for opposite-sex couples in 2016 were lower at all ages compared with 2006, except for men aged 60 years and over and women aged 50 years and over.
For the first time ever, less than one-quarter (24%) of all marriages in 2016 were religious ceremonies.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/bulletins/marriagesinenglandandwalesprovisional/2016

[bednobs]

i guess the cost is whatever you want it to be (who needs all that shizzle anyway?)
personally i cant really see a difference between a civil marriage and a civil partnership

[Bobbisox1]

Me either bednobs, they’d still share everything a married couple would,so still don’t know the difference

[Jackdaw33]

Wane, Bobbi. A wain is a horse-drawn cart.

[woofgang]

I have always thought it was totally stupid that so much attention is paid to (and megabucks spent on) the wedding and so little thought seemingly given to the marriage, by which I mean the partnership. The cost of the wedding is what you make it.

[Bobbisox1]

That’s the fancy carriage they use then JD when they blow it all on a big white one, :0)

[Khandro]

Mrs Khandro & I are celebrating our 54th wedding anniversary today.
How's that?

[Bobbisox1]

Happy Anniversary to both of you Khandro

[Zacs-Master]

Wow, congrats, Khandro!

[KARL]

I see things exactly like bednobs does: The cost is no more than you decide it to be. Due to complicated reasons my wife and I got married at a registrar's with two witnesses plus a guest. Then the five of us went home, we cooked a meal and enjoyed ourselves into the evening. I set up a camera on a tripod for one of the witnesses to snap a picture of the two of us. Looking through the eyepiece she said it needed adjusting and took a photo where our heads are missing - this was in the days of roll film so we have no wedding photo of us, the bride and groom. We have been very happily married for very nearly 50 years.

By contrast I know a couple getting married soon who have hired an entire hotel for their "small" wedding of probably 50 or so (will see when the time comes). They are going to the Maldive Islands for their honeymoon. Others have their weddings in Thailand, Sri Lanka and all over the world, expecting the invited guests to get themselves there. I think this is absurd and a huge waste of money which the couple could put to far better use (if they have the sense) - but no doubt they would decry me for my "lack of taste/style". Statistically, the chances of today's marriages lasting are less than 50%.

[KARL]

Congratulations Khandro.

[Old_Geezer]

Dunno. Never been married. Never really wanted to comply with that social ritual.

[Jordyboy9]

Congratulations to you and your wife khandro,
For us it will be 61years in May.

[Zacs-Master]

Crikey, Karl, I wondered where that was going when you wrote:
‘ with two witnesses plus a guest....... I set up a camera on a tripod’

;-)

[maggiebee]

Weddings do not need to cost the earth - why spend all that dosh on one day? I married in a registry office with two witnesses. We then went for a meal and later jumped on a train to Glasgow. Spent three days there seeing the sights then home. Very frugal by today's standards.

[Khandro]

We got married in All Saints, Manchester, Register Office & went to 'The Sportsman' a jazz pub in Market Street - which was below street level.
In fact when I think of it we were all in there at exactly this moment all that time ago.

Thanks for the congratulations everyone.

[Zacs-Master]

Yep, we had a cheap one. Leeds registry office with a few family members. Mum and dads golf club for reception (for just us two) and then local pub in evening. Splendid day!

[KARL]

Z-M, in hindsight I can see what you mean. truly sorry if I disappointed anyone ;)

[maggiebee]

Congratulations to you and your good wife Khandro. Hope you have many more happy years together.

[bednobs]

hear hear mr and mrs k