Newlyweds test the water before taking the plunge
A new study by relationship site eHarmony highlights the different path young couples today, such as Prince William and Kate Middleton, travel to marriage, compared to the paths their parents took a generation ago.
When Prince Charles married Diana Spencer in 1981, he was 32 and she was 20 years old. Back then, the typical age to marry was 24 for men and 22 for women. Prince William and Kate Middleton are both approaching 30, which puts them on par with the national average for first-time brides and grooms.
While living together prior to marriage would have been frowned upon for their parents – only 10 percent of married couples did so 25 years ago – it now occurs frequently for people of William and Kate’s generation. A staggering 92% of newlyweds now say they lived together before their wedding, with one-third of those cohabiting for one to two years. It is also more common today for couples to get separated at some time during their relationship, only to get back together and eventually get married. Half of the newlyweds surveyed had spent some time “on a break” from their partner before going on to marry them, compared to only 20% of those married 25 years ago.
Not raising any children prior to marriage is one way in which William and Kate deviate from their peers. More than one-third (38%) of newlyweds today are raising a child together, compared to just 9% of newlyweds three decades ago who had children before they were married.
The reasons couples cite for marriage have also changed remarkably over the past generation. More than one-third of newlyweds today (36%) say that being married provides the best foundation in which to bring up children, and they cite that most often as their primary reasons for getting married. By comparison, their parents were more inclined to view marriage as the best way to celebrate love.
Young couples today and their parents agree that good communication and supportiveness are the most crucial ingredients to have a successful marriage.
Dr Gian Gonzaga, Senior Relationship Scientist at eHarmony.co.uk said: “Whilst a lot has changed in the journey couples take to marriage, one thing remains true. It is important to take the time to understand if you and your partner will be compatible across the long haul. Research tells us that people who get married to a partner that they are not truly compatible with have a significantly higher risk of getting divorced. Living together, having a short separation or having children together before marriage are highly personal decisions, but whatever individual choices people make it’s most critical that they enter into a relationship with the right person.”