Millenials have changed the status-quo of many things, including marriage. In years gone by, it was generally expected that you get married early in your twenties. These days, people are taking a longer route to the destination.

Data from Pew Research has shown that the median age of people getting married (men and women) is the highest it’s ever been. But this doesn’t mean that millenials are against marriage. It simply shows that they are delaying it.

So why is an entire generation opting to push back their plans for nuptials? Well, there are a few reasons.

The most commonly cited reason is that millenials prefer to have their own lives in order before taking on a life-long partner. Careers, goals, bucket lists, travelling, studying, job promotions – these are all things millenials want to accomplish before marriage.

They are more concerned with establishing themselves as individuals, instead of rushing to share their lives with another person. Experts have reported that this, in fact, results in a more fulfilling marriage in the end.

Another reason is that divorce rates are high. Many millenials have been children of divorce. Having experienced this, they would prefer to ensure that they protect their own children from it. In order to do this, they are postponing marriage to be certain of their readiness and their compatibility with partners.

Quite notably, the importance of marriage has also decreased. This has also resulted in delayed marriages. In the past, marriage was a huge part of peoples lives and was even used to define people, especially women. Marriage no longer adds to (or lessens) a womans value, so women are in less of a hurry to go through with it.

Finally, the social norms have changed. Previously, you could not have kids without being married or it would be a scandal. You could not live with your partner without it being the talk of the town. These rules, in most places, are no longer a factor in the marriage equation. People are more free to live their lives and do as they please.

Of course, if you want to get married early in life that’s okay too. However, the trend seems to be that the age at which people marry is increasing.

So if you’re planning on marrying later in life, and you’re being questioned as to why you’re 28 and not married yet, feel free to provide your examiner with any of the reasons listed above!

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Calling off a wedding is tremendously stressful. The emotional toll alone is enough to justify this claim. So we hope that you will never need to know how to go about it. However, with the spread of coronavirus, many couples are deciding that cancelling the wedding is the best way to go.

If you decide that you’re cancelling, instead of postponing, you have to consider how many people that will affect. Vendors, guests, family and so on will all be affected by this change of plan. Of course, the wedding is and has always been about you, but these people have made arrangements for you and it’s best to keep this in mind while going about the cancellation process.

Here’s how you should handle it:

– Check your insurance 

If you have wedding insurance, your insurer should be the first call you make. Financially, this will help a lot.

– Cancellation policies

First and foremost, you should reread all contracts with each vendor. This will give you an idea of where you stand. In most cases, deposits are non-refundable, however you may be able to get some money back. Suppliers generally try to be accommodating, depending on timing and circumstances of course.

– Make contact 

After you’ve gone through the contracts, inform all your vendors and suppliers that the wedding has been cancelled. Suppliers online have claimed that some couples essentially just ghost. This is not acceptable. Apart from this being disrespectful, it also affects the livelihoods of vendors.

– Guests

Let your guests know. Be sure to prioritise those who are travelling long distances to be at your wedding, so that they have time to cancel their flights and possibly get a refund. People have spent money to ensure they’re present on your special day, don’t forget that.

Don’t forget to let you bridal party know too! (And thank them for anything they’ve done thus far)

– Be honest

It’s always best to keep things simple and just be upfront about the circumstances. This goes for every conversation you’ll have about your wedding cancellation, but especially in conversations with your vendors. People appreciate honesty.

– Be quick 

We know its a tough time, and you’re probably very disappointed, but acting quickly will benefit you in the end. It increases the likelihood of getting money back and will place less strain on guests and vendors.

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