WEDDINGS appear to be going out of fashion for lovers in Ireland as marriage rates have fallen to their lowest level in a decade. Figures show couples are also waiting longer before tying the knot as the average age of brides and grooms continues to rise.
A study of all registered marriages in 2008 by the Central Statistics Office shows that 22,187 marriage were recorded that year.
It equates to a marriage rate of 5 per 1,000 population — the lowest level since 2001.
The average age of grooms and brides were 33.8 years and 31.7 respectively.
However, couples in civil marriages are generally older than counterparts who walk down the aisle in a religious ceremony.
The average age of grooms in Catholic marriage ceremonies in 2008 was 32.4 years and 37.9 years for civil marriages.
The corresponding average for bridges in church weddings was 30.6 years and 34.9 years in civil ceremonies.
Grooms were older than their brides in 63% of marriages, while brides were the "older woman" in 24% of cases.
Civil marriages accounted for almost one in four of all marriages in 2008. The popularity of civil marriages has grown steadily since the mid-1990s when they accounted for just 6% of all weddings at a time when divorce was not yet legalised.
There was a total of 5,299 civil marriages in the Republic in 2008, of which 38% involved at least one divorced person and 3% where one or both parties was a widow or widower.
Traditional church weddings accounted for 72% of all marriages in 2008 — a decrease of 2% on the previous year and down from 90% in 1996.
One in ten of all marriages involved at least one partner who was living outside Ireland before their wedding.
August remains the most popular month for weddings, with the prospect of good weather undoubtedly explaining why the three months of July-September account for almost 40% of all marriages.
A study of all registered marriages in 2008 by the Central Statistics Office shows that 22,187 marriage were recorded that year.
It equates to a marriage rate of 5 per 1,000 population — the lowest level since 2001.
The average age of grooms and brides were 33.8 years and 31.7 respectively.
However, couples in civil marriages are generally older than counterparts who walk down the aisle in a religious ceremony.
The average age of grooms in Catholic marriage ceremonies in 2008 was 32.4 years and 37.9 years for civil marriages.
The corresponding average for bridges in church weddings was 30.6 years and 34.9 years in civil ceremonies.
Grooms were older than their brides in 63% of marriages, while brides were the "older woman" in 24% of cases.
Civil marriages accounted for almost one in four of all marriages in 2008. The popularity of civil marriages has grown steadily since the mid-1990s when they accounted for just 6% of all weddings at a time when divorce was not yet legalised.
There was a total of 5,299 civil marriages in the Republic in 2008, of which 38% involved at least one divorced person and 3% where one or both parties was a widow or widower.
Traditional church weddings accounted for 72% of all marriages in 2008 — a decrease of 2% on the previous year and down from 90% in 1996.
One in ten of all marriages involved at least one partner who was living outside Ireland before their wedding.
August remains the most popular month for weddings, with the prospect of good weather undoubtedly explaining why the three months of July-September account for almost 40% of all marriages.
Conversely, January is the least popular month for getting hitched with just 3% of marriages taking place that month.
Fridays and Saturdays are also the preferred weekdays for getting married, accounting for 73% of all marriage ceremonies.
Fridays and Saturdays are also the preferred weekdays for getting married, accounting for 73% of all marriage ceremonies.
The least popular day is Sunday when just over 1% of marriages were recorded.
The study also revealed a high rate of civil marriage ceremonies in Dublin, where they accounted for almost half of all marriages.
The study also revealed a high rate of civil marriage ceremonies in Dublin, where they accounted for almost half of all marriages.
In contrast, only 8% of weddings in Monaghan were civil marriages.
On a sadder note, there were 3,630 legally recognised divorces granted in 2008 — a decrease of 54 on the previous year.
On a sadder note, there were 3,630 legally recognised divorces granted in 2008 — a decrease of 54 on the previous year.