by Tara Pringle Jefferson
In the summer/fall of 2007, my husband and I went to weddings almost every weekend. Weddings were (and still are) one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday afternoon/evening.
There’s the beauty of the wedding itself, with the decorations, color-coordinated bridesmaids dresses and the predictably cute flower girl and ring bearer. My personal favorite moment is when the groom gets a look at his bride-to-be. The look on his face says it all. Then it’s the fun at the reception. Music, good decent food, memorable toasts – and a chance to slow dance with your loved one. What’s not to love?
But then I noticed the following year we only went to one. The following year? Zero. This year? Zero. I’m pretty up-to-date with all my friends so I would know if they’re getting married or not. And it’s not a matter of whether we’re just not invited – it’s pretty clear: no one in our circle of friends is getting married anytime soon.
I thought that as we got older, more people would be tying the knot. Most of the people in my circle of friends are mid-to-late 20s, with a few in their early 30s. My husband’s friends are all 30+.
If I really sit down and think about it, all I’m really seeing is the recent marriage data at work. People are waiting longer to get married – heck, in some cases, they’re waiting longer to even date anyone seriously. They’re busy with launching careers, traveling the globe, and saving away for a rainy day. They’re loving the single life and I can’t fault them for that.
What about you? Have you seen a decrease in the number of friends getting married? How many weddings have you been to lately?
Tara Pringle Jefferson is managing editor of BlackAndMarriedWithKids.com. She’s also the author of Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating The Career You Crave. Follow her on Twitter or check out her blog for her insights on what it means to be a mom, wife, student, writer, and about three other labels she’s too tired to remember.