Fewer couples get married in Worcester, many choose to live together instead.
The data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in 2018 2,544 different-sex couples in the region tied the knot, a decrease of 7.6 percent compared to the previous year.
Across England and Wales, there were 227,870 straight marriages recorded in 2018 – the lowest number since 226,449 in 1894.
However, a new record is expected to be set when marriage registration numbers are released for 2020, when weddings were prevented during the strictest period of coronavirus restrictions.
Kanak Ghosh of the ONS ‘Major Statistics Division said, “Despite this overall decline, more and more people are choosing to get married at an older age, particularly those 65 and over.
“This is also the fifth year since same-sex marriages have been possible, and about every 35th marriage is now a same-sex couple.”
In 2018, Worcestershire had 65 same-sex marriages – 23 marriages by male couples and 42 by female couples.
Alice Rogers, a senior executive at Hall Brown Family Law, said the nationwide decline in heterosexual marriages highlighted a change in attitudes among couples.
She said, “The increase in coexistence makes it clear that men and women still develop solid relationships but have no need for the formalities and costs associated with marriage.
“Couples are now placing more emphasis on investing the sums they may have spent on their wedding day to deposit a house deposit instead.
“The fact that the decline in the number of marriages predates the Covid pandemic would suggest that we will see an even bigger decline because people would not be able to get married at all.”
But Harry Benson, director of research at the Marriage Foundation charity, said the decline needs to be seen in context.
He said, “The divorce rate is at its lowest level in 30 years, suggesting that those who get married are much more likely to stick together.”
Figures do not include English and Welsh resident marriages that took place overseas.
The ONS estimates that 94,000 UK residents went abroad to get married in 2018, while an estimated 13,000 foreign residents got married in the UK.