Marriage in France : the age of newlyweds reaches a record high

People in France are waiting longer than ever to get married. According to the latest data from Insee, the average age at marriage in 2025 reaches an unprecedented level, confirming a long-term trend that began half a century ago. This development does not reflect a loss of interest in marriage, but a different way of arriving at it.

A historic record confirmed by Insee

According to Insee's provisional 2025 statistics, the average age at marriage for opposite-sex couples stands at 37.5 years for women and 39.8 years for men. For same-sex couples, the average climbs further, to 39 years for women and 44.5 years for men. To put the change into perspective: in 1975, women married on average at 25.1 years, nearly twelve years younger than today.

Marrying later, but not less often

Contrary to a common misconception, this postponement of marriage is not accompanied by a lack of interest in the institution. Around 251,000 marriages were celebrated in France in 2025, including nearly 7,000 between same-sex partners, a slight increase compared with 2024. Marriage has mainly changed its place in life courses: it is no longer the starting point of a couple, but the culmination of an already established relationship.

• Longer periods of study and later entry into professional life.
• Financial stability sought before taking the step.
• Widespread cohabitation before marriage.
• Growth of the Pacs, which has become an intermediate step or a lasting alternative for many couples.

A later marriage, but also more thoughtful about the budget

Marrying later often means couples have more established incomes, but are also more demanding about their expenses. This financial maturity fuels a booming trend in the weddings and relationships world: the market for second-hand wedding dresses. Several specialized platforms, like Stillwhite or Once Wed, have turned the resale of designer dresses into an organized circuit, where a used dress typically sells for half or even a third of its new price. Renting, meanwhile, could save up to 70% compared with buying new.

This search for balance between desire and budget is seen more broadly in the planning of the event, a topic closely followed in sections devoted to practical life and to the family organization of couples who embark on the preparations, often alongside family life projects.

Marriage that changes in meaning more than in popularity

For the demographers cited by the specialist event press, this shift reflects a choice that has matured rather than a social obligation: couples marry when they feel ready, often after several years of living together, and no longer according to an expected social timetable. A profound cultural change that Insee's figures confirm year after year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the average age at marriage increasing so much in France?

The main reasons cited are longer periods of study, later entry into professional life, the search for financial stability before marriage, as well as the spread of the Pacs and cohabitation before marriage.

Is the number of marriages decreasing in France?

No: around 251,000 marriages were celebrated in 2025, a slight increase compared with 2024, according to Insee. It is the age at which people marry that is increasing, not the desire to marry.

How can couples reduce a wedding budget without giving up what they want?

More and more couples turn to second-hand wedding dresses via specialized platforms, or to renting, which can significantly reduce the cost compared with buying new while still following current trends.

Sources

Insee — Average age of spouses by sex
ABC Salles — Marriage in France: the average age reaches an unprecedented level
Exaronews — Wedding season 2026: people marry more, but later and at higher cost

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence. Editorial policy