Fashion and Entertainment

That scene in the rain at the end of Four Weddings and a Funeral when Hugh Grant asks Andie MacDowell… NOT to marry him marked a change in the social tide marvellously. Modern couples are afforded more freedom in terms of whether or not they marry. With the number of co-habiting couples on the rise and marriage numbers falling in the UK for 2010, the contemporary committed couple still have options.

The Commitment of Co-Habiting Countless unmarried couples opt to buy a house together rather than marry. Many say the decision isn’t a conscious “one or the other” judgment, but rather a weighing up of options and priorities. Fiscal responsibility is the name of the game for committed couples, and investing in their future by buying a property together can feel like more of a commitment than a marriage.

Personal Choice No Wedding doesn’t necessarily mean No Diamonds! Hatton Garden jewellers Quality Diamonds cite many of their customers as being committed couples looking to make their own mark of commitment with bespoke jewellery. Diamond solitaire rings are particularly popular with women, whilst men tend to favour diamond-set bands or something a little more off-the-wall like cufflinks.

Happiness Over Expectation For many couples, an “out” clause isn’t what they need (that’s what divorce is for), and so the decision to stay together simply because of love and commitment is highlighted in the lives of committed, unmarried couples.

Trends and hearts change, but with marriage rates falling and divorce rates rising, the unmarried couple looks set to gradually become the norm.