(P-O-P-S) Fewer heterosexual couples are marrying than ever before in American history, according to the US Census Bureau. Still, TheWeddingReport.com predicts marriages will continue to increase in the next six years. Perhaps that indicates that the recent boon in same sex marriages will keep the industry an incredible cash cow even during difficult economic times.
(P-O-P-S) Jenna Bush opted out of a public, pompous White House wedding as the daughter of an incumbent unpopular President, unlike marrying presidential daughters before her. Still her wedding could hardly be described as a simple family affair although it took place in a small town in Texas. The majority of marrying couples in 2008 will opt for traditional celebrations of between 100 -200 guests, according to The Wedding Report.com, a web site that uncovers the details of wedding receptions for industry planners and media alike.
Depending on your level of interest in the statistics on this site -- the information is free or acquired at a cost level that suits your needs—the Wedding Report.com appears to be a current way to get the insiders view regarding the celebration of marriage in this country. What’s more, if you are in any niche of the wedding industry, they provide you with constant leads on potential customers. For example, The Wedding Report, Inc. estimates that California same-sex marriages could reach 33,800 and generate $1 billion in revenue the first year.
Some of the trends noted on the Internet in term of receptions for 2008 include individual wedding cupcakes in lieu of tiered cakes, recycled invitation paper and other green elements, even the use of black wedding gowns for those who want to mirror French haute couture. Then again, others want strapless, white gowns and ornately decorated cakes with real flowers.
More revealing about what place marriage has in the lives of Americans are the actual statistics compiled by the US Census Bureau and other sources indicating the state of the institution of marriage. According to the latest US Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics updates through September, 2006:
o Total Marriages showed a sharp drop in 1998.
o Marital status for women 15 and over (1950 - 2005) shows that the population of unmarried women will soon surpass the number of married women
o The number of Unmarried Couple Households (live-ins) is increasing steadily
Two Wharton School assistant professors took the economic route for analyzing marriage in the more current working paper “Marriage and Divorce: Changes and Their Driving Forces.” Some of their conclusions are:
o The evidence suggests that married people, specially married men, are better off than unmarried. The elderly are more likely to require marriage for assistance with medical problems, sex and companionship.
o Unilateral divorce has benefited the institution of marriage, making couples work harder to stay together. In fact, the divorce rate for married couples peaked in the U.S. in 1979, and has continuously declined, to 16.7 divorces per 1,000 married couples in 2005.
o Marriage is at its lowest rate in recorded American history and marriages are shorter than before. If fewer weddings mean fewer divorces, individuals are probably making better matches.
o Furthermore, the women least likely to remarry are highly educated with high income, namely those who are best able to handle single life.
o Men and women are more likely to pair off on the basis of similar education, similar interests and similar tastes in consumption. So modern marriage is more fun than when marriage was based on division of labor; i.e., the man was meant to earn the income and the woman would take care of the household.
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