NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages figures show that celebrants performed 60.6 percent of ceremonies in 2008, compared to 39.4 percent for religious weddings. The figures show that couples are shunning religious wedding ceremonies in record numbers and going down the civil path to marriage to gain control and avoid pre-marital counselling, the Sunday Telegraph says.
Religious weddings outnumbered civil ceremonies until 2001 when they reached a 50-50 split.
The number of civil marriages has steadily risen to hit a high last year, the paper says.
Social researchers say the trend is driven by second and subsequent marriages, older brides and grooms, along with the decline of religious observance in Australia and couples' desire for greater freedom in designing their ceremony.
"Most churches have a reasonably non-negotiable policy of having to have some pre-marriage counselling or be involved in some sort of premarital course," demographer Mark McCrindle said.
"In a commitment free era that is one of the limitations."
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(Source: CTHN)