Marriage More Popular than ever from ABC news

Australian marriages making a comeback
By Simon Santow for AM
Last year the number of couples tying the knot reached a 20-year high. (www.sxc.hu: Anka Zolnierzak)
For a while it seemed that if you ever heard marriage mentioned, all the talk was about how unpopular it was.
But the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal the institution has been making something of a comeback in recent years.
In fact, last year the number of couples tying the knot reached a 20-year high.
And on top of that, 2008 was also a very good year for the longevity of relationships, with divorce rates at their lowest in a generation.
The Rector of Applecross Anglican Church in suburban Perth, Reverend Andrew Williams, says you cannot beat an aisle, a choir, some nice flowers and the presence of God for a good wedding.
Reverend Williams might see a few couples as they prepare to embark on married life but he also knows that organised religion is fast losing its grip as the natural home of marriage.
The national vice-president of the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants, Maxine Lowry, says celebrants have always known that marriage has never really gone out of fashion.
"I wonder, when we live in uncertain times, that people value tradition and value things that are very grounding and things that do bring certainty," she said.
The latest ABS figures reveal celebrants now officiate at two-thirds of all marriages.
"I think if you can choose how you marry, where you marry, if you feel like it's about your commitment to one another and you can say the things you want to say, I think that says a great deal for what motivates people," Ms Lowry said.
"Most of the couples that we do meet have known each other for a considerable time, just about all of them are living together in relationship."

Fewer divorces
Last year was the best year in 20 for marriages, with 118,000 registered and 47,000 divorces were granted in Australia.
It is now taking, on average, more than 12 years before relationships become unstuck.
The national vice-president of Relationships Australia, Anne Hollonds, sees some benefits in couples taking their time before getting married.
"Divorce rates are certainly trending in a positive direction, that is downwards, and I think what that's about is that basically we're much more cautious about marrying anyway, and we're also now much more knowledgeable about the negative effects of divorce than we used to be," she said.
"There's been a lot more research that's been publicly discussed in the last decade, particularly about the negative effects on children.
"We've seen the average age of first marriage creeping up over those years as well, and that's a lot to do with the higher levels of education that we're engaging in now."
If you are contemplating joining the rush towards marriage, a handy hint for the wedding planning: remember November is officially the most popular month, followed closely by March and October.