Almost 247,000 marriages took place in 2022 across England and Wales, which represents a return to pre-pandemic numbers.

However, these figures, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), probably reflect more of a post-Covid bounce than a long-term trend.

The ONS data showed a steady shift in living arrangements over the past 30 years, with nine out of 10 opposite-sex couples now cohabiting prior to marriage, compared to 59.6 per cent in 1994. The comparable figure was even higher for same-sex couples.

The total number of cohabiting couples increased from around 1.5 million in the mid-1990s to around 3.6 million in 2021, an increase of 144 per cent.

Commenting on the statistics Sarah Jane Boon, a partner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, told The Times: “When life somewhat returned to normality post-pandemic, many couples who had postponed their nuptials then tied the knot, alongside those who had already planned to get married in 2021 and 2022.

“We can expect to see the figures fall again for 2023, with increasing numbers of people delaying marriage, or couples choosing to live together rather than marry, either as a precursor to marriage or as an alternative. 

“The cost-of-living crisis also means it is likely we will see evidence of financial pressures and hardships impacting marriage rates.”

Ben Glassman, financial planning partner at UK wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, meanwhile emphasised that couples should understand the financial implications of their choices.

“Even if they intend to get married, people need to be aware of how the law and tax rules treat couples who live together differently to those who are married, with often fewer rights and benefits conferred than they might think.

“Those who do get married, meanwhile, can often do themselves a favour by recognising some of the tax advantages that come their way as a result.”