BBC News | UK | Church weddings losing favour

Couples are rejecting church weddings in their droves, opting to tie the knot in stately homes, hotels, and even - Madonna-style - in castles.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show a longstanding trend to hold weddings anywhere but in a church, is continuing.

In 1999, 62% of couples opted for a civil ceremony rather than a church service, compared with 49% in 1991.

But a much more recent trend - permitted only after a law change in April 1995 - is to exchange vows outside the formal confines of both churches and registry offices.

London Eye-do

In 1995, fewer than 2,500 weddings were held in the newly "approved premises" but by 1999, the figure had soared to nearly 38,000 as the list of permitted venues grew.

Couples-to-be can now opt for a bewildering choice of stately homes, restaurants, castles and even the London Eye - although no one has yet been tempted to say "I do" inside the giant observation wheel.

One couple who were not afraid to say their vows before a potential audience of millions was Ravi Ram, 38, and Mamta Patel, 24.

Ravi Ram and wife Marnta at Brent registry office
Internet vows for Ravi Ram and Marnta Patel
They married at the Brent registry office in north-west London, in August last year - and broadcast their ceremony live on the worldwide web.

But this ever expanding choice of romantic, and not-so-romantic venues is not tempting more men and women to get married, it seems.

The number of marriages fell 1.4% between 1998 and 1999 to a total of 263,515.

Delaying the big day

Among those who did marry in 1999 were Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell who met each other for the first time on their wedding day in a Birmingham hotel as part of a radio stunt.

Marriage rates are also falling. In 1999 an average of 28.1 men per 1,000 aged 16 were married compared with 29.2 the previous year.

For women, numbers fell to 25.6 in 1999 from 26.3 the previous year.

And we are delaying the big day more than ever, figures suggest.

The average woman gets married for the first time at 28, slightly up on 27.7 in 1998.

Men are even older, losing their bachelorhood at 30.1 years compared to 29.8 in 1998.


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