Since 1992, there have been more civil marriage ceremonies in England and Wales than religious ceremonies.

The Marriage Act 1994 provided for civil marriages to take place in approved premises from 1 April 1995.

In 2004, there were 270,700 recorded marriages and of those 183,550 (67.8%) were civil marriages. 85,000 ceremonies took place in approved premises. 161,300 of those that were marrying were doing so for the first time.

In 2004, 31 per cent of all marriages in England and Wales took place in approved premises, compared with 5 per cent in 1996.

In 2004, the average age for first marriages in England and Wales was 31 for men and 29 for women. This compares with 25 and 23 for men and women respectively 40 years earlier.