Wedding Goddess Wisdom ®

Divorce Stats Down, Marriages Up?

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Could it be that weddings are working better? Or at least sticking longer?

News on the marriage front is not very romantic or sexy, but it tells us that the divorce rate is down. It is the lowest its been since 1970. In 1981 we were a country with a 50 per cent divorce rate. Recent statistics say that could be changing. The only problem: No one is quite sure if relationships are any better or if Americans have gotten better at choosing the right mates.

The Associate Press conducted an interesting probe into this topic, sorting through statistics and interviewing many experts on the topics. They pondered the questions: Is divorce declining because marriage is better, people are more grown up about it, or we take commitment more seriously?

The answer: Not necessarily.

It could be there are just less people marrying, and more are living together "out of wedlock." You wouldn't know if by this culture's increased interest in "everything wedding" but AP reported the divorce rate is down because:

* The number of couples who live together without marrying has increased tenfold since 1960

* The marriage rate has dropped nearly 30 percent in the past 25 years.

* Americans are waiting about five years longer to marry than they did in 1970.

They report: "The national per capita divorce rate has declined steadily since its peak in 1981."

Some experts says the real story lies in what they call the "The Divorce Divide." College educated couples seem less likely to split up, while couples who are not as educated or affluent tend to divorce more.

Does this mean people who've gone to college and have good jobs appreciate love, partnership and family more? Experts say that it could just be that having a few bucks helps ease some of the tensions of modern family life.

The more upbeat experts attribute it to new attitudes toward marriage that lead people to want to honor an uphold their vows, and stick together, for better or for worse. Ouch. It is so sad to talk about marriage without thinking of a bride and groom, a happy couple, the love that brings them together... and the possibility that even when things become, dull, tough, and seem hopeless for love, there might still be a spark that two grown up people can choose to reignite to bring love alive again.

When life gets tough, it sometimes helps to remember what it is that made you fall in love with your mate, and look one another in the eyes and repeat your vows.

I take you to be my husband/wife.

To have and to hold from this day forward,

In good times and bad times,

In sickness and in health.

To love, honor and cherish,

All the days of my life.

The Knot Says 38,000 Couples Will Wed on 7-7-07

By Laurie Sue Brockway

I am probably the only wedding officiant on the planet who does not have a wedding booked on 7-7-07. Interestingly, I have barely gotten inquiries about that date.

I'm not worried though, I think God left my calendar free so I can trade my clergy robe for reporters pen and pad, and cover the exciting and possibly crazed wedding activities of the day. Whether it is the biggest wedding day of the century, or the biggest wedding hype of modern times, 7-7-07 remains a hot wedding story!

As a far as I can tell there are no formal national statistics on the actual numbers of people getting hitched but obviously, Las Vegas will see a healthy percentage of them, as one of the selling points of 7-7-07 is that it represents the winning numbers of a lucky jackpot.

Stories are spreading like wildfire and even those with a local angle often has a Las Vegas mention. See today's piece in the LA Times.

Estimates have been pouring out from TheKnot.com, the nation's leading wedding planning website. I've seen their estimate at 31,000 and, more recently, seems to be up to 38,000 "knotties" (the bride, and her groom) who plan to say "I do" on that day nationwide.

That's a lotta weddings!

TheKnot.com says that on an average summer Saturday about 12,000 couples get hitched. 7-7-07 stats from The Knot indicate that three time as many couples are getting hitched on that day.

Yes, the triple seven fever has spread. It's happening in Vegas. It's happing in New York (even if not in my wedding ministry). It's happening in from the Heartland to Hawaii!

Are you getting married on 7-7-07. Leave a comment and let us know what made you choose that date.

That's a lotta weddings!

TheKnot.com says that on an average summer Saturday about 12,000 couples get hitched. 7-7-07 stats from The Knot indicate that three time as many couples are getting hitched on that day.

Yes, the triple seven fever has spread. It's happening in Vegas. It's happing in New York (even if not in my wedding ministry). It's happening in from the Heartland to Hawaii!

Are you getting married on 7-7-07. Leave a comment and let us know what made you choose that date.

Help For Couples and Families Facing Cancer

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Elizabeth Edwards revelation of the return of her cancer has created a demand for insight and information on how individuals, couples and their families can cope with the diagnosis and the disease.

In our wedding ministries, both my husband and I have helped brides and grooms who are dealing with cancer. Sometimes we are called to marry a couple where bride or groom has just been through chemo and is starting to heal again, or to work to include a family member who is ill. My husband has done bedside weddings on occasion, if a family member is too sick to come to the wedding.

In light of the need for more information and encouragement, Beliefnet.com is doing some wonderful work in sharing spiritual insights on cancer. I am really proud to report that my husband, Rev. Vic Fuhrman, was asked to lend his expertise and amazing voice. His article and meditation on "Supporting a Loved One Through Cancer" is the cover story on www.beliefnet.com today!

Although Rev. Vic and I are both wedding officiants, he is also a healer who has long specialized in helping cancer patients and their loved ones in his capacity as a spiritual counselor and Reiki Master. He has helped people through the healing process, and through transition, and he has not only great compassion but amazing spiritual insight and expertise in this area.

He also has personal experience of helping a loved one through cancer.

Before I met him 10 years ago, he loved and lost a partner to breast cancer, and having gone through the illness with her it became part of his mission as a minister. Because of his deep and soulful voice -- he's a former radio broadcaster -- one of the ways he helps is with recorded meditations.

My hope and prayer is that this is not an article you will need to read or a meditation you will ever have to listen to. But unfortunately, this is a topic that effects so many of us -- too many of us. Our prayers go out to the Edwards family and all the couples and families who must learn how to cope with cancer and find a way to heal, thrive, and live!

If you are trying to help a loved one through a cancer experience, please give Rev. Vic's meditation a listen and check out his article on how to deal with a loved one's illness.

You can also check out his website www.Enervision.org and contact him at ReikiVic@aol.com .

© 2007, Reverend Laurie Sue Brockway

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway is a leading interfaith and non-denominational wedding officiant. She creates unique ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds and faiths, and is also widely recognized as a relationship coach, bridal stress expert and columnist. She is author of WEDDING GODDESS: A Divine Guide To Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss. Visit Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway at www.WeddingGoddess.com.