Marriage is back in fashion. According to The Irish Voice, more Irish couples are preparing to wed than ever before.
In 1999, more than 18,500 couples married in either religious or civil ceremonies, up from 15,000 in 1995. Last year’s figures are expected to be even better as many couples scheduled their weddings for the millennium year. Marriage counselors are struggling to keep up with couples lining up for the obligatory marriage preparation courses.
Hotels are also feeling the wedding boom, reporting that couples hoping to have a Saturday wedding will have to wait over a year if they want to be the only couple holding their reception that day. It is estimated that couples spend between £10,000 and £12,000 on their wedding.
According to Liz Early of Accord Ireland’s Catholic marriage counseling agency, the increase in weddings is due to the increasing number of single men and women. “There are more people in the marriageable age group today than there were in the 1980s when so many people emigrated,” she told The Irish Voice. “Marriage is still a popular choice for couples and it still seems to be what couples want.”
Civic weddings have also increased as the legalization of divorce has made remarriage a possibility. ♦